5. Rig Veda — Mandala 5

✦ Sukta 1 · 12 verses ✦

5.1.1

अबो॑ध्य॒ग्निः स॒मिधा॒ जना॑नां॒ प्रति॑ धे॒नुमि॑वाय॒तीमु॒षास॑म् । य॒ह्वाइ॑व॒ प्र व॒यामु॒ज्जिहा॑नाः॒ प्र भा॒नवः॑ सिस्रते॒ नाक॒मच्छ॑ ॥

Agni is seen and known while rising by the burning samidhas lighted by the yajakas at dawn coming up like a cow early in the morning, and the flames, like branches of a mighty tree, rise brilliantly and touch the sky where there is no pain, no darkness.

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5.1.2

अबो॑धि॒ होता॑ य॒जथा॑य दे॒वानू॒र्ध्वो अ॒ग्निः सु॒मनाः॑ प्रा॒तर॑स्थात् । समि॑द्धस्य॒ रुश॑ददर्शि॒ पाजो॑ म॒हान्दे॒वस्तम॑सो॒ निर॑मोचि ॥

The yajakaAgni, good at heart, is seen to invoke the divinities and noble sages to the yajna and rises high while the fire keeps burning and rising. The light of the burning fire is seen as a blissful divine power and then the great refulgent sun rises from the night’s darkness.

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5.1.3

यदीं॑ ग॒णस्य॑ रश॒नामजी॑गः॒ शुचि॑रङ्क्ते॒ शुचि॑भि॒र्गोभि॑र॒ग्निः । आद्दक्षि॑णा युज्यते वाज॒यन्त्यु॑त्ता॒नामू॒र्ध्वो अ॑धयज्जु॒हूभिः॑ ॥

When the pure and lustrous fire of yajna, as the sun, rises with its pure bright flames and takes over the reins of the conduct of the yajnic world around, then the invigorating and powerful dakshina offering is made with the ladles, the flames of fire rise high, and the fire higher and higher up voraciously consumes the offering.

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5.1.4

अ॒ग्निमच्छा॑ देवय॒तां मनां॑सि॒ चक्षूं॑षीव॒ सूर्ये॒ सं च॑रन्ति । यदीं॒ सुवा॑ते उ॒षसा॒ विरू॑पे श्वे॒तो वा॒जी जा॑यते॒ अग्रे॒ अह्ना॑म् ॥

The minds of holy celebrants of Divinity turn intently to Agni as their eyes wait for and turn to the rising sun. And when the heaven and earth, both different of form, one bright and the other dark and green, bring forth this Agni at the rise of the dawn, day light appears and the world grows bright.

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5.1.5

जनि॑ष्ट॒ हि जेन्यो॒ अग्रे॒ अह्नां॑ हि॒तो हि॒तेष्व॑रु॒षो वने॑षु । दमे॑दमे स॒प्त रत्ना॒ दधा॑नो॒ऽग्निर्होता॒ नि ष॑सादा॒ यजी॑यान् ॥

Arises Agni, victorious yajaka, the fire and the sun, for sure in advance of the day every morning, benevolent, active in everything good and holy, bright in the woods and every home, bearing sevenfold jewels of light and flame, and then settles in yajnic business, carrying the yajna on and on. The yajna must go on.

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5.1.6

अ॒ग्निर्होता॒ न्य॑सीद॒द्यजी॑यानु॒पस्थे॑ मा॒तुः सु॑र॒भा उ॑ लो॒के । युवा॑ क॒विः पु॑रुनिः॒ष्ठ ऋ॒तावा॑ ध॒र्ता कृ॑ष्टी॒नामु॒त मध्य॑ इ॒द्धः ॥

Agni, host and performer of yajna, settles in the lap of the mother, earth and nature, in the beautiful fragrant world and its people, conducting the yajnic business of life which must go on. Young and bold, bright, intelligent and creative, imaginative as a poet, dedicated to all without exception, committed to truth and the law divine, sustainer and controller of the people, he goes on at the centre of everything, bright and blazing, never relenting, never slackening. The yajna must go on.

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5.1.7

प्र णु त्यं विप्र॑मध्व॒रेषु॑ सा॒धुम॒ग्निं होता॑रमीळते॒ नमो॑भिः । आ यस्त॒तान॒ रोद॑सी ऋ॒तेन॒ नित्यं॑ मृजन्ति वा॒जिनं॑ घृ॒तेन॑ ॥

Ever and onward, with food, surrender and service in faith, people light, praise and worship that Agni, wise and vibrating, excellent in the accomplishment of yajnic projects, host, priest and organiser of life’s business, who pervades heaven and earth with light and fragrance and blesses the people with enlightenment. Daily they renew their dedication and commitment with vows of truth, feed the power with ghrta, and refine the light and power to shine it more and more.

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5.1.8

मा॒र्जा॒ल्यो॑ मृज्यते॒ स्वे दमू॑नाः कविप्रश॒स्तो अति॑थिः शि॒वो नः॑ । स॒हस्र॑शृङ्गो वृष॒भस्तदो॑जा॒ विश्वाँ॑ अग्ने॒ सह॑सा॒ प्रास्य॒न्यान् ॥

Agni, pure and purifying catalytic power, is refined in itself. Self-controlled and a powerful controller, sung and celebrated by poets, it is a welcome guest, auspicious and beneficent for all of us as a breeze of peace and freshness. Agni, O light of a thousand flames of eminence, generous as cloud showers, blazing lustrous, you are the pioneer, overtaking, conquering, and leading all others forward with your power and force.

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5.1.9

प्र स॒द्यो अ॑ग्ने॒ अत्ये॑ष्य॒न्याना॒विर्यस्मै॒ चारु॑तमो ब॒भूथ॑ । ई॒ळेन्यो॑ वपु॒ष्यो॑ वि॒भावा॑ प्रि॒यो वि॒शामति॑थि॒र्मानु॑षीणाम् ॥

Agni, lord of light and power, for whosoever you rise on the vedi, light up in the home, or shine in flame in the cave of the heart most lovely and gracious, for him you excel and surpass everything else instantly and forever: adorable, sublime, effulgent, dearest and most welcome guest of all communities and habitations of men and women.

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5.1.10

तुभ्यं॑ भरन्ति क्षि॒तयो॑ यविष्ठ ब॒लिम॑ग्ने॒ अन्ति॑त॒ ओत दू॒रात् । आ भन्दि॑ष्ठस्य सुम॒तिं चि॑किद्धि बृ॒हत्ते॑ अग्ने॒ महि॒ शर्म॑ भ॒द्रम् ॥

Agni, most youthful power and presence, devoted people from far and near bear and bring and offer homage and yajaka to you. Listen, know and accept the praise and prayer of the celebrant. May your shelter and protection for us be wide and great, full of peace and well being.

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5.1.11

आद्य रथं॑ भानुमो भानु॒मन्त॒मग्ने॒ तिष्ठ॑ यज॒तेभिः॒ सम॑न्तम् । वि॒द्वान्प॑थी॒नामु॒र्व१॒॑न्तरि॑क्ष॒मेह दे॒वान्ह॑वि॒रद्या॑य वक्षि ॥

Agni, refulgent lord of knowledge, ascend your strong and brilliant chariot of light today with your adorable powers and associates, and across the wide paths of space bring here the nobilities of eminence of your alliance for joining and sharing our feast of yajnic offerings to the divinities.

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5.1.12

अवो॑चाम क॒वये॒ मेध्या॑य॒ वचो॑ व॒न्दारु॑ वृष॒भाय॒ वृष्णे॑ । गवि॑ष्ठिरो॒ नम॑सा॒ स्तोम॑म॒ग्नौ दि॒वी॑व रु॒क्ममु॑रु॒व्यञ्च॑मश्रेत् ॥

We sing this song of adoration in honour of the lord of light and knowledge, holy, potent, and generous. The holy yajaka dedicated to sacred speech and light of heaven, thus, ought to direct his beautiful song of praise and prayer with oblations and salutations rising high to the skies as to the sun in heaven.

✦ Sukta 2 · 12 verses ✦

5.2.1

कु॒मा॒रं मा॒ता यु॑व॒तिः समु॑ब्धं॒ गुहा॑ बिभर्ति॒ न द॑दाति पि॒त्रे । अनी॑कमस्य॒ न मि॒नज्जना॑सः पु॒रः प॑श्यन्ति॒ निहि॑तमर॒तौ ॥

The youthful mother bears and supports the foetus concealed in the womb, she does not, cannot, give it to the father in the state of immaturity. People cannot hurt its strength and vitality hidden in secret. But when it is born, they see its beauty and vitality before their eyes.

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5.2.2

कमे॒तं त्वं यु॑वते कुमा॒रं पेषी॑ बिभर्षि॒ महि॑षी जजान । पू॒र्वार्हि गर्भः॑ श॒रदो॑ व॒वर्धाप॑श्यं जा॒तं यदसू॑त मा॒ता ॥

O youthful lady, sweet is this baby you carry which the consecrated mother bore. I saw the foetus grow and grow for many many years many times before. And I see it born of the mother when she delivered it.

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5.2.4

क्षेत्रा॑दपश्यं सनु॒तश्चर॑न्तं सु॒मद्यू॒थं न पु॒रु शोभ॑मानम् । न ता अ॑गृभ्र॒न्नज॑निष्ट॒ हि षः पलि॑क्नी॒रिद्यु॑व॒तयो॑ भवन्ति ॥

I see him born of the mother’s womb far and near with a golden spoon in his month, pure and bright of form, wielding his weapons of essential potential. And I give him the feed of immortal elixir for life. What can those deny Indra, the soul? What can those who reject knowledge and celebration of Divinity do against me? Nothing.

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5.2.3

हिर॑ण्यदन्तं॒ शुचि॑वर्णमा॒रात्क्षेत्रा॑दपश्य॒मायु॑धा॒ मिमा॑नम् । द॒दा॒नो अ॑स्मा अ॒मृतं॑ वि॒पृक्व॒त्किं माम॑नि॒न्द्राः कृ॑णवन्ननु॒क्थाः ॥

I see him born of the mother, mother earth and Mother Nature, see him roaming around since eternity by himself like an army on the march, commanding great beauty and grace. When he is born they hold him not, withhold him not, they cannot, and the young mothers, having given him birth, grow old and grey haired, and then they grow youthful again.

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5.2.5

के मे॑ मर्य॒कं वि य॑वन्त॒ गोभि॒र्न येषां॑ गो॒पा अर॑णश्चि॒दास॑ । य ईं॑ जगृ॒भुरव॒ ते सृ॑ज॒न्त्वाजा॑ति प॒श्व उप॑ नश्चिकि॒त्वान् ॥

Who can take away my wealth alongwith my lands and cows, sense and mind, feeling as if they are the cowherd stealing away my bull alongwith the cows, when in fact Agni himself is their protector and energiser? And those who try to grab them must despair and give up since the lord omniscient continues to protect, create and recreate the human wealth.

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5.2.6

व॒सां राजा॑नं वस॒तिं जना॑ना॒मरा॑तयो॒ नि द॑धु॒र्मर्त्ये॑षु । ब्रह्मा॒ण्यत्रे॒रव॒ तं सृ॑जन्तु निन्दि॒तारो॒ निन्द्या॑सो भवन्तु ॥

The law and order of humanity and the human habitations, negative forces try to obstruct and sabotage in the communities among themselves. But the power, potential and intelligence of Atri, enlightened people free from physical, mental and spiritual fears and limitations disinflate that negative effort and the saboteurs themselves become self-condemned.

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5.2.7

शुन॑श्चि॒च्छेपं॒ निदि॑तं स॒हस्रा॒द्यूपा॑दमुञ्चो॒ अश॑मिष्ट॒ हि षः । ए॒वास्मद॑ग्ने॒ वि मु॑मुग्धि॒ पाशा॒न्होत॑श्चिकित्व इ॒ह तू नि॒षद्य॑ ॥

Agni, O lord of light and ruler of the world, you save even shunah-shepa, the connoisseur lost in senses, reviled and condemned; you save him from a thousand snares of the world so that the man settles back in peace of mind. Same way, O lord and light of the world, come, O highpriest of the yajna of life, grace our yajna here and snap the snares of suffering and slavery off our body, mind and soul.

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5.2.8

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

The observer of the laws of righteousness and divinity says: Let the element of hate and anger be away from me. Indra, man of knowledge and power, who knows and speaks of you, O Agni, destroyer of the pollution and impurity of body, mind and soul, has spoken to me and, instructed by him, I come to you in search of purity and purgation.

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5.2.9

वि ज्योति॑षा बृह॒ता भा॑त्य॒ग्निरा॒विर्विश्वा॑नि कृणुते महि॒त्वा । प्रादे॑वीर्मा॒याः स॑हते दु॒रेवाः॒ शिशी॑ते॒ शृङ्गे॒ रक्ष॑से वि॒निक्षे॑ ॥

Agni shines and blazes expansively with mighty rising flames of light, and with its lustre and power illuminates and reveals all things of the world. It sharpens and extends its arms of light and power for the destruction of evil and challenges and throws out the strength and wiles and acts of the clever forces of negation and destruction.

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5.2.10

उ॒त स्वा॒नासो॑ दि॒वि ष॑न्त्व॒ग्नेस्ति॒ग्मायु॑धा॒ रक्ष॑से॒ हन्त॒वा उ॑ । मदे॑ चिदस्य॒ प्र रु॑जन्ति॒ भामा॒ न व॑रन्ते परि॒बाधो॒ अदे॑वीः ॥

And let the blazing weapons of fire roaring in the heights of the skies be raised for the destruction of evil forces, for as they strike for the joy and victory of life’s positive forces as the very flames of terror, the obstructive forces of evil would fail to avert or oppose them.

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5.2.11

ए॒तं ते॒ स्तोमं॑ तुविजात॒ विप्रो॒ रथं॒ न धीरः॒ स्वपा॑ अतक्षम् । यदीद॑ग्ने॒ प्रति॒ त्वं दे॑व॒ हर्याः॒ स्व॑र्वतीर॒प ए॑ना जयेम ॥

Agni, light and power divine among the strong and wise, I, dedicated to knowledge and service, bold and patient, keen to do good in word and action, structure this song of celebration like a skillful engineer designing and making a chariot for you. O lord refulgent, if you are kind and gracious to accept it, then by the same song we would win sweet and heavenly waters of life, light and energy for the joy of life.

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5.2.12

तु॒वि॒ग्रीवो॑ वृष॒भो वा॑वृधा॒नो॑ऽश॒त्र्व१॒॑र्यः सम॑जाति॒ वेदः॑ । इती॒मम॒ग्निम॒मृता॑ अवोचन्ब॒र्हिष्म॑ते॒ मन॑वे॒ शर्म॑ यंसद्ध॒विष्म॑ते॒ मन॑वे॒ शर्म॑ यंसत् ॥

Agni, strong and graceful power and flame, roaring as a bull and generous as cloud showers, growing and promoting, free from enemies, master ruler and sustainer, creates and bestows wealth and power of the noblest kind: Thus do men of spiritual vision and divine wisdom celebrate this Agni in holy words. May Agni bless the man of generosity and self sacrifice, man of thought and discrimination, with a happy and peaceful life, holy family and a happy home.

✦ Sukta 3 · 12 verses ✦

5.3.1

त्वम॑ग्ने॒ वरु॑णो॒ जाय॑से॒ यत्त्वं मि॒त्रो भ॑वसि॒ यत्समि॑द्धः । त्वे विश्वे॑ सहसस्पुत्र दे॒वास्त्वमिन्द्रो॑ दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य ॥

Agni, flaming fire, light of knowledge and power of the world, when you are born, you shine like Varuna, light of the dawn and spirit of justice and discrimination in mankind. When you are in full blaze of your glory, you are like Mitra, bright sun, friend of all. In you reside and abide all the powers of nature’s divinity, O child of omnipotence, and you are Indra, giver of honour and excellence for the man of charity and generosity.

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5.3.2

त्वम॑र्य॒मा भ॑वसि॒ यत्क॒नीनां॒ नाम॑ स्वधाव॒न्गुह्यं॑ बिभर्षि । अ॒ञ्जन्ति॑ मि॒त्रं सुधि॑तं॒ न गोभि॒र्यद्दम्प॑ती॒ सम॑नसा कृ॒णोषि॑ ॥

Agni, lord of energy and living vitality, when you bear the mysterious name of youth among men and women, you become Aryama and assume the role of a judge with discrimination. When you join man and woman in wedlock, with equal love of mind and heart, they celebrate you with holy words and hospitality with cow’s milk and butter.

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5.3.3

तव॑ श्रि॒ये म॒रुतो॑ मर्जयन्त॒ रुद्र॒ यत्ते॒ जनि॑म॒ चारु॑ चि॒त्रम् । प॒दं यद्विष्णो॑रुप॒मं नि॒धायि॒ तेन॑ पासि॒ गुह्यं॒ नाम॒ गोना॑म् ॥

Agni, you are Rudra, lord of justice and dispensation. For your honour and excellence vibrant people come to you and anoint you and glorify the beautiful and wonderful name that is yours. The office of Vishnu, protector and sustainer, is vested in you, by that you protect and maintain the secret name and identity of the lights of stars.

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5.3.4

तव॑ श्रि॒या सु॒दृशो॑ देव दे॒वाः पु॒रू दधा॑ना अ॒मृतं॑ सपन्त । होता॑रम॒ग्निं मनु॑षो॒ नि षे॑दुर्दश॒स्यन्त॑ उ॒शिजः॒ शंस॑मा॒योः ॥

O lord of light and generosity, ruler of the world, by virtue of your light, honour and grace, brilliant scholars of vision, commanding wide powers and immortal knowledge, and the people in general, loving and desiring admirable wealth and beauty of life, establish, serve and expand the fire of various forms of yajna of social and scientific projects, in your honour, holy yajaka and giver of life’s benefits.

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5.3.5

न त्वद्धोता॒ पूर्वो॑ अग्ने॒ यजी॑या॒न्न काव्यैः॑ प॒रो अ॑स्ति स्वधावः । वि॒शश्च॒ यस्या॒ अति॑थि॒र्भवा॑सि॒ स य॒ज्ञेन॑ वनवद्देव॒ मर्ता॑न् ॥

Agni, there never is a generous giver and yajnic performer before you, nor is there any one higher celebrated by poets in hymns, lord of your own essential wealth and power as you are, worthy of homage. Lord of light and generosity, whoever the host where you are invoked and invited as yajnic deity, you bless the people by the yajna with fulfilment.

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5.3.6

व॒यम॑ग्ने वनुयाम॒ त्वोता॑ वसू॒यवो॑ ह॒विषा॒ बुध्य॑मानाः । व॒यं स॑म॒र्ये वि॒दथे॒ष्वह्नां॑ व॒यं रा॒या स॑हसस्पुत्र॒ मर्ता॑न् ॥

Agni, lord refulgent ruler of the world, may we grow and prosper, we pray, under your protection, searching for wealth, raising the fire with havi offerings and ourselves rising in wealth and knowledge with the yajna. Let us win in life’s contests, in yajnas, day by day, O child of strength and protector of power and valour, and let us be blest with children and grand children.

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5.3.7

यो न॒ आगो॑ अ॒भ्येनो॒ भरा॒त्यधीद॒घम॒घशं॑से दधात । ज॒ही चि॑कित्वो अ॒भिश॑स्तिमे॒तामग्ने॒ यो नो॑ म॒र्चय॑ति द्व॒येन॑ ॥

Whoever commits sin and crime against us, may Agni, lord ruler and dispenser of justice, turn that sin and crime upon the sinner and calumniator. May the lord of light and knowledge, Agni, silence that imprecation, whoever be the person that hurts us with double dealing, sin and scandal.

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5.3.8

त्वाम॒स्या व्युषि॑ देव॒ पूर्वे॑ दू॒तं कृ॑ण्वा॒ना अ॑यजन्त ह॒व्यैः । सं॒स्थे यद॑ग्न॒ ईय॑से रयी॒णां दे॒वो मर्तै॒र्वसु॑भिरि॒ध्यमा॑नः ॥

Agni, refulgent power of light and generosity settled in the midst of this people, yajakas ever since time immemorial honouring you as harbinger of nature’s wealth join you and adore you in yajna with oblations of havi. And when you join them and settle in their midst then, raised and fed by the people on fragrant materials, you rise in flames as brilliant lord giver of the wealth of life.

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5.3.9

अव॑ स्पृधि पि॒तरं॒ योधि॑ वि॒द्वान्पु॒त्रो यस्ते॑ सहसः सून ऊ॒हे । क॒दा चि॑कित्वो अ॒भि च॑क्षसे॒ नोऽग्ने॑ क॒दाँ ऋ॑त॒चिद्या॑तयासे ॥

Agni, born of omnipotence, I think of you, meditate on you: You are the saviour from suffering and mortality as a child is for the parent. You are the scholar of science, visionary of existence and observer of the eternal laws of Dharma. Emulate, excel and save the parent, the protector and the yajaka who lights you in the vedi, fight out and eliminate suffering, sufferance, evil and destruction. Pray when would your eye of grace favour us? When would you inspire us and show the path of rectitude to guide us?

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5.3.10

भूरि॒ नाम॒ वन्द॑मानो दधाति पि॒ता व॑सो॒ यदि॒ तज्जो॒षया॑से । कु॒विद्दे॒वस्य॒ सह॑सा चका॒नः सु॒म्नम॒ग्निर्व॑नते वावृधा॒नः ॥

O shelter home of life,Agni, father and sustainer of living beings as you are, the worshipper adores you by many names which adoration if you accept and acknowledge with pleasure then the worshipper, loving, adoring and growing like fire by the light and power of the generous lord, creates joy and well being for himself, and Agni too, loving and favouring the adorer by his own divine knowledge and power, waxing with love and kindness, bestows the joy and well being of life upon the supplicant.

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5.3.11

त्वम॒ङ्ग ज॑रि॒तारं॑ यविष्ठ॒ विश्वा॑न्यग्ने दुरि॒ताति॑ पर्षि । स्ते॒ना अ॑दृश्रन्रि॒पवो॒ जना॒सोऽज्ञा॑तकेता वृजि॒ना अ॑भूवन् ॥

Dearest ruler of the earth, most youthful power of the world, Agni, save the celebrant, purge the supplicant of all the evil and sufferings of the world: thieves are seen prowling around, enemies lying in wait, ignorant people lying in hidden corners, all following crooked ways, flags flying.

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5.3.12

इ॒मे यामा॑सस्त्व॒द्रिग॑भूव॒न्वस॑वे वा॒ तदिदागो॑ अवाचि । नाहा॒यम॒ग्निर॒भिश॑स्तये नो॒ न रीष॑ते वावृधा॒नः परा॑ दात् ॥

These celebrants and supplicants observing the law divine are dedicated to you, O lord Agni. Also, whatever their weakness or trespass, that too has been confessed to the lord protector and sustainer. We pray may this Agni, lord omniscient and omnipotent, increasingly pleased and gracious, never forsake us and never deliver us unto the maligner or the injurer or the evil of failure and disaster.

✦ Sukta 4 · 11 verses ✦

5.4.1

त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ वसु॑पतिं॒ वसू॑नाम॒भि प्र म॑न्दे अध्व॒रेषु॑ राजन् । त्वया॒ वाजं॑ वाज॒यन्तो॑ जयेमा॒भि ष्या॑म पृत्सु॒तीर्मर्त्या॑नाम् ॥

Agni, lord and brilliant ruler of the world, protector and sustainer of the wealths of life, I serve and celebrate you in the constructive business of cooperative living without hate and violence. With you and under your guidance and inspiration, collecting speed and strength for progress, let us, we pray, win the battles of mortal humanity and be happy.

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5.4.2

ह॒व्य॒वाळ॒ग्निर॒जरः॑ पि॒ता नो॑ वि॒भुर्वि॒भावा॑ सु॒दृशी॑को अ॒स्मे । सु॒गा॒र्ह॒प॒त्याः समिषो॑ दिदीह्यस्म॒द्र्य१॒॑क्सं मि॑मीहि॒ श्रवां॑सि ॥

Agni, our father, sustainer and ruler, ever youthful and unaging, carrier of holy materials and fragrances over and across the world is all pervasive in power and presence, resplendent, all illuminative and all revealing, and blissful in form and appearance. May he provide for us all the healthful food, and energies for a happy household and may he, knowing us well and what is good for us, measure out, determine and grant all the bounds and laws of our wealth and properties, rights and duties, which we must not violate or neglect.

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5.4.3

वि॒शां क॒विं वि॒श्पतिं॒ मानु॑षीणां॒ शुचिं॑ पाव॒कं घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठम॒ग्निम् । नि होता॑रं विश्व॒विदं॑ दधिध्वे॒ स दे॒वेषु॑ वनते॒ वार्या॑णि ॥

Install Agni in the seat of power, protection and creative governance, Agni the poetic sage and visionary of the people, chief of human settlements, pure and unsullied, the light and fire of the world, strongly based in ghrta and waters, highpriest of the yajnic human organisation, conversant with every detail of the social order, and he procures and rules the choice gifts which people love and desire.

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5.4.4

जु॒षस्वा॑ग्न॒ इळ॑या स॒जोषा॒ यत॑मानो र॒श्मिभिः॒ सूर्य॑स्य । जु॒षस्व॑ नः स॒मिधं॑ जातवेद॒ आ च॑ दे॒वान्ह॑वि॒रद्या॑य वक्षि ॥

Agni, all knowing lord of light and destroyer of enemies, pervasive across the earth and pleased with world voice, joining the sunrays and working with them, come, join our yajna lighted and rising with the fuel on fire, enjoy yourself and bring the noblest generous powers of nature and humanity along to partake of the fruits of our corporate endeavour of yajna.

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5.4.5

जुष्टो॒ दमू॑ना॒ अति॑थिर्दुरो॒ण इ॒मं नो॑ य॒ज्ञमुप॑ याहि वि॒द्वान् । विश्वा॑ अग्ने अभि॒युजो॑ वि॒हत्या॑ शत्रूय॒तामा भ॑रा॒ भोज॑नानि ॥

Agni, enlightened scholar, ruler of the world, loved and honoured as a member of the family and welcome visitor to the house, having challenged and eliminated all the opposing forces of hate and enmity in the world, come to this yajna of ours and bring us cherished foods and delicacies.

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5.4.6

व॒धेन॒ दस्युं॒ प्र हि चा॒तय॑स्व॒ वयः॑ कृण्वा॒नस्त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ स्वायै॑ । पिप॑र्षि॒ यत्स॑हसस्पुत्र दे॒वान्त्सो अ॑ग्ने पाहि नृतम॒ वाजे॑ अ॒स्मान् ॥

Agni, enlightened ruler of the world, born and risen as the very child of strength and honour, drive away the wicked, thieves and robbers, augmenting the food and energy for your own body politic. O best of men and leaders, protect and promote the noble enlightened people and replenish the powers of nature and thus strengthen and promote us in our joint endeavour of living.

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5.4.7

व॒यं ते॑ अग्न उ॒क्थैर्वि॑धेम व॒यं ह॒व्यैः पा॑वक भद्रशोचे । अ॒स्मे र॒यिं वि॒श्ववा॑रं॒ समि॑न्वा॒स्मे विश्वा॑नि॒ द्रवि॑णानि धेहि ॥

Agni, noble ruler of life and humanity of the earth, pure and purifying power, rising in flames of piety and well being, with holy songs of celebrative knowledge and practical work and with correct inputs of yajnic materials, we offer you homage and service for human progress and all round welfare. For us, create, collect and receive the wealth of universal value and hold in trust the honour and prestige of the entire human nation.

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5.4.8

अ॒स्माक॑मग्ने अध्व॒रं जु॑षस्व॒ सह॑सः सूनो त्रिषधस्थ ह॒व्यम् । व॒यं दे॒वेषु॑ सु॒कृतः॑ स्याम॒ शर्म॑णा नस्त्रि॒वरू॑थेन पाहि ॥

Agni, blazing light and fire, child of omnipotence, ruler of three worlds, join and bless our nonviolent yajna of creation and production for the good of life. Let us be blest, we pray, to be followers of universal Dharma and piety of action, and protect and promote us with peace and comfort in a happy home of threefold bliss for body, mind and soul through three seasons for the human family.

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5.4.9

विश्वा॑नि नो दु॒र्गहा॑ जातवेदः॒ सिन्धुं॒ न ना॒वा दु॑रि॒ताति॑ पर्षि । अग्ने॑ अत्रि॒वन्नम॑सा गृणा॒नो॒३॒॑स्माकं॑ बोध्यवि॒ता त॒नूना॑म् ॥

Agni, lord ruler commanding knowledge of the world of existence, constantly supported by relentless active assistants, as a sailor helps travellers to cross the sea by boat, so do you, we pray, help us cross the most difficult obstacles of the world. Served and celebrated with homage and service with surrender, you are the protector and sustainer of our bodies and material interests, this be gracious to know we know.

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5.4.10

यस्त्वा॑ हृ॒दा की॒रिणा॒ मन्य॑मा॒नोऽम॑र्त्यं॒ मर्त्यो॒ जोह॑वीमि । जात॑वेदो॒ यशो॑ अ॒स्मासु॑ धेहि प्र॒जाभि॑रग्ने अमृत॒त्वम॑श्याम् ॥

While I, a mortal man, invoke, sing and celebrate your gifts and glory, immortal lord omnipresent in the world of existence, I pray with a sincere heart in full awareness of your omniscience and omnipotence as a supplicant, give us the gift of honour and excellence and bless us that with good progeny we may attain the state of immortality and ultimate freedom.

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5.4.11

यस्मै॒ त्वं सु॒कृते॑ जातवेद उ लो॒कम॑ग्ने कृ॒णवः॑ स्यो॒नम् । अ॒श्विनं॒ स पु॒त्रिणं॑ वी॒रव॑न्तं॒ गोम॑न्तं र॒यिं न॑शते स्व॒स्ति ॥

Whoever the person doing noble work in piety, for whom, O Jataveda, lord all knowing the things born, Agni, lord refulgent ruler of the world, you create and provide a lovely life of freedom and action, he attains a wealth of horses, dynamic self-progress, noble children, brave warriors, lands and cows, and above all the bliss of well being.

✦ Sukta 5 · 11 verses ✦

5.5.1

सुस॑मिद्धाय शो॒चिषे॑ घृ॒तं ती॒व्रं जु॑होतन । अ॒ग्नये॑ जा॒तवे॑दसे ॥

For success and self-fulfilment, ardenly offer hot and sharply catalytic ghrta into the intense fire, lighted, rising and radiant in the vedi, Jataveda, fire of life vibrating in everything in existence including yourself. For self-realisation in meditation, collect and concentrate your mind and consciousness into focus and direct it into the light of Divinity all pervasive, and shining in the cave of your heart also.

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5.5.2

नरा॒शंसः॑ सुषूदती॒मं य॒ज्ञमदा॑भ्यः । क॒विर्हि मधु॑हस्त्यः ॥

Only the best of men admired by humanity effects such a yajna, the man intrepidable, whatever the circumstances, the man of poetic vision, so generous that sweetness and charity flows from his hand like honey dripping from the honey suckle.

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5.5.3

ई॒ळि॒तो अ॑ग्न॒ आ व॒हेन्द्रं॑ चि॒त्रमि॒ह प्रि॒यम् । सु॒खै रथे॑भिरू॒तये॑ ॥

Served and celebrated in yajna, O light of life, Agni, hastening hither-ward by holy chariots for our protection and advancement, bring into the world the dearest wonderful wealth of honour and excellence with peace, comfort and freedom from fear.

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5.5.4

ऊर्ण॑म्रदा॒ वि प्र॑थस्वा॒भ्य१॒॑र्का अ॑नूषत । भवा॑ नः शुभ्र सा॒तये॑ ॥

O ruling light of the world, soft, softening and protective, the mantric songs resound, arise and expand, bright and pure. Be gracious for our good and give us our share of wealth, honour and enlightenment in the social system.

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5.5.5

देवी॑र्द्वारो॒ वि श्र॑यध्वं सुप्राय॒णा न॑ ऊ॒तये॑ । प्रप्र॑ य॒ज्ञं पृ॑णीतन ॥

O celestial doors of light divine, open welcome wide for us to walk through to the heavenly shades of peace and protection, expand, beautify and beatify the yajna of life for us.

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5.5.6

सु॒प्रती॑के वयो॒वृधा॑ य॒ह्वी ऋ॒तस्य॑ मा॒तरा॑ । दो॒षामु॒षास॑मीमहे ॥

We arise, welcome and honour the night and the dawn of day, both gracious and blissful of form, energisers of life, mighty strong, observers of nature’s law and makers of yajna.

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5.5.7

वात॑स्य॒ पत्म॑न्नीळि॒ता दैव्या॒ होता॑रा॒ मनु॑षः । इ॒मं नो॑ य॒ज्ञमा ग॑तम् ॥

Divine performers of yajna, night and the dawn of day, blessed benefactors of humanity, celebrated in songs of praise and prayer, come by flight of the winds to grace this yajna of ours.

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5.5.8

इळा॒ सर॑स्वती म॒ही ति॒स्रो दे॒वीर्म॑यो॒भुवः॑ । ब॒र्हिः सी॑दन्त्व॒स्रिधः॑ ॥

Ila, divine knowledge of infinite omniscience, Sarasvati, divine language of existencial knowledge, and the divine spirit of mother earth, three divine givers of material, mental and spiritual bliss, may, we pray, come and sanctify our holy grass on the vedi and bless our yajna without delay and without fail.

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5.5.9

शि॒वस्त्व॑ष्टरि॒हा ग॑हि वि॒भुः पोष॑ उ॒त त्मना॑ । य॒ज्ञेय॑ज्ञे न॒ उद॑व ॥

Shiva, lord of peace and bliss, Tvashta, destroyer of suffering, spirit of the universe all pervasive, come to us in our business of health and growth by your own love and grace and protect and advance us all round in every performance of ours, yajna by yajna.

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5.5.10

यत्र॒ वेत्थ॑ वनस्पते दे॒वानां॒ गुह्या॒ नामा॑नि । तत्र॑ ह॒व्यानि॑ गामय ॥

Lord of sun rays and master of vegetation and forests, wherever you know are the secret abodes of the divine powers of nature and their names and definitions, there guide our yajna to reach for knowledge and further development.

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5.5.11

स्वाहा॒ग्नये॒ वरु॑णाय॒ स्वाहेन्द्रा॑य म॒रुद्भ्यः॑ । स्वाहा॑ दे॒वेभ्यो॑ ह॒विः ॥

Let there be right words of description and exact definition for Agni, light and fire energy. Let there be right words of knowledge and choice for Varuna, right values and judgement. Let there be right actions for Indra, power, energy, honour and excellence for the Maruts, the people. Let there be honour and holy care for the divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity. Let there be right materials as inputs for the holy scientific yajna of development and growth in gratitude to nature and the Lord Divine.

✦ Sukta 6 · 10 verses ✦

5.6.1

अ॒ग्निं तं म॑न्ये॒ यो वसु॒रस्तं॒ यं यन्ति॑ धे॒नवः॑ । अस्त॒मर्व॑न्त आ॒शवोऽस्तं॒ नित्या॑सो वा॒जिन॒ इषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Agni is that power and presence of energy, I believe, which pervades everything and in which and by which all things abide and function. The cows abide in it, move by it and end up into it. Horses abide in it, move by it and end into it. So do all fast moving streams and objects, permanent forms, and all forms of energy move by it and retire into it. O scholar of Agni, universal energy, produce and bring up food and energy for the celebrants and supplicants for Agni. This energy is originally set in motion byAgni, the Cosmic omnipotent Spirit. (In the mantra agni is described as astam, i.e.,set into motion.)

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5.6.2

सो अ॒ग्निर्यो वसु॑र्गृ॒णे सं यमा॒यन्ति॑ धे॒नवः॑ । समर्व॑न्तो रघु॒द्रुवः॒ सं सु॑जा॒तासः॑ सू॒रय॒ इषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

That is Agni which is the abiding power, pervasive and moving force, and that is what I study and celebrate. The cows and horses, stars and planets and the rays of light, and sound and word come from, move by and go unto it, from which and into which and by which the slow moving ones move and function; and by which and toward which brave and eminent scholars rise to fame and create and produce the wealth of food and energy for the celebrants and supplicants.

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5.6.3

अ॒ग्निर्हि वा॒जिनं॑ वि॒शे ददा॑ति वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिः । अ॒ग्नी रा॒ये स्वा॒भुवं॒ स प्री॒तो या॑ति॒ वार्य॒मिषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Agni, light and energy of existence, alone provides fast modes of transport for the people. Studied and developed for wealth, Agni provides automatic and self-sustaining energy for the people. O scholar scientist, create and bring choice foods and energies for the celebrants and supplicants.

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5.6.4

आ ते॑ अग्न इधीमहि द्यु॒मन्तं॑ देवा॒जर॑म् । यद्ध॒ स्या ते॒ पनी॑यसी स॒मिद्दी॒दय॑ति॒ द्यवीषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Let us kindle you, light and fire of life, generous divinity, refulgent and unaging so that the wonderfully admirable light of your blaze shines in heaven and you bring food and energy for the celebrants.

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5.6.5

आ ते॑ अग्न ऋ॒चा ह॒विः शुक्र॑स्य शोचिषस्पते । सुश्च॑न्द्र॒ दस्म॒ विश्प॑ते॒ हव्य॑वा॒ट् तुभ्यं॑ हूयत॒ इषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Agni, light of life, lord of power, purity and splendour, golden beautiful, generous, sustainer of the people and carrier of fragrant oblations across the spaces, fragrant offers are made to you with the chant of holy verses in praise of your identity, attributes and functions. Generous creative power, create and bring food and energy for the celebrants.

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5.6.6

प्रो त्ये अ॒ग्नयो॒ऽग्निषु॒ विश्वं॑ पुष्यन्ति॒ वार्य॑म् । ते हि॑न्विरे॒ त इ॑न्विरे॒ त इ॑षण्यन्त्यानु॒षगिषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Those radiations of your energy into other forms of energies feed, invigorate and develop the wealth and growth of life in existence. They inspire, impel and collect, they expel, expand and organise, and thus they animate the circuitous dynamics of centripetal and centrifugal forces in systemic unison of the universe. O living power, create and bring food and energy for the celebrants.

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5.6.7

तव॒ त्ये अ॑ग्ने अ॒र्चयो॒ महि॑ व्राधन्त वा॒जिनः॑ । ये पत्व॑भिः श॒फानां॑ व्र॒जा भु॒रन्त॒ गोना॒मिषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Agni, O mighty power of the universe, those mighty radiations of your flames of energy feed and animate all objects into motion in space and they, with the radiating waves of your power, energise, expand and hold in poise the orbits of motions for the stars, planets and the galaxies. O mighty power, create and hold the food and energy of life and bless the celebrants.

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5.6.8

नवा॑ नो अग्न॒ आ भ॑र स्तो॒तृभ्यः॑ सुक्षि॒तीरिषः॑ । ते स्या॑म॒ य आ॑नृ॒चुस्त्वादू॑तासो॒ दमे॑दम॒ इषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Agni, mighty power and light of knowledge, bring us new forms of food and energy and give us new revelations of blissful earths and stars in existence. And we pray, may we, who worship and celebrate you, be your messengers in every home. O lord, bring us the food and energy of life and light of knowledge ever new for us, your celebrants and supplicants.

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5.6.9

उ॒भे सु॑श्चन्द्र स॒र्पिषो॒ दर्वी॑ श्रीणीष आ॒सनि॑ । उ॒तो न॒ उत्पु॑पूर्या उ॒क्थेषु॑ शवसस्पत॒ इषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Agni, mighty lord of golden glory in form, creator and wielder of universal energy, you catalyse two ladlefuls of liquid fuel in your crucible for impulsion and expulsion in cosmic metabolism. Thus, O lord, fulfil us too in holy tasks of yajna and create and bring food and energy for the celebrants.

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5.6.10

ए॒वाँ अ॒ग्निम॑जुर्यमुर्गी॒र्भिर्य॒ज्ञेभि॑रानु॒षक् । दध॑द॒स्मे सु॒वीर्य॑मु॒त त्यदा॒श्वश्व्य॒मिषं॑ स्तो॒तृभ्य॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Thus do the celebrants and supplicants positively dedicated to Agni study and apply natural energy for practical purposes by holy speech and yajnic structures of research and experimentation, so that agni may hold and bring us lustrous strength and dynamic energy of electric speed and success. O lord of power and energy, create and bring food and energy for the celebrants.

✦ Sukta 7 · 10 verses ✦

5.7.1

सखा॑यः॒ सं वः॑ स॒म्यञ्च॒मिषं॒ स्तोमं॑ चा॒ग्नये॑ । वर्षि॑ष्ठाय क्षिती॒नामू॒र्जो नप्त्रे॒ सह॑स्वते ॥

O friends, all your food and energy well collected and all your song of description and celebration is for Agni and is dedicated to Agni, lord giver of light and energy, highest of the powers and abodes in the universe, power manifest in divine manifestations of energy and the power omnipotent over all.

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5.7.2

कुत्रा॑ चि॒द्यस्य॒ समृ॑तौ र॒ण्वा नरो॑ नृ॒षद॑ने । अर्ह॑न्तश्चि॒द्यमि॑न्ध॒ते सं॑ज॒नय॑न्ति ज॒न्तवः॑ ॥

Where is that Agni on whose revelation and arrival in the home-steads of humanity, people, the best and highest of them, rejoice? which scholars and sages light and raise? and which even the least of living beings generate?

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5.7.3

सं यदि॒षो वना॑महे॒ सं ह॒व्या मानु॑षाणाम् । उ॒त द्यु॒म्नस्य॒ शव॑स ऋ॒तस्य॑ र॒श्मिमा द॑दे ॥

When we join together and pray for foods and energy forms, and the oblations of holy materials into the fire for the good of humanity rise in fragrance, then Agni with its power takes over the reins of rain showers and abundance of wealth and well being.

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5.7.4

स स्मा॑ कृणोति के॒तुमा नक्तं॑ चिद्दू॒र आ स॒ते । पा॒व॒को यद्वन॒स्पती॒न्प्र स्मा॑ मि॒नात्य॒जरः॑ ॥

He, the power unaging, pure and purifying, gives signals of his light and guidance even for those who are far away when he leaves behind the night and rides the waves of light over the tops of trees.

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5.7.5

अव॑ स्म॒ यस्य॒ वेष॑णे॒ स्वेदं॑ प॒थिषु॒ जुह्व॑ति । अ॒भीमह॒ स्वजे॑न्यं॒ भूमा॑ पृ॒ष्ठेव॑ रुरुहुः ॥

On whose rise, as the sun’s, and in whose service people shed the sweat of their brow in pursuit of the paths of life, to that Agni and the sun, the entire people of the earth look up and rise as children rise on the back of the parent.

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5.7.6

यं मर्त्यः॑ पुरु॒स्पृहं॑ वि॒दद्विश्व॑स्य॒ धाय॑से । प्र स्वाद॑नं पितू॒नामस्त॑तातिं चिदा॒यवे॑ ॥

For the service of Agni, unaging sustainer of the world, let mortal man know and attain to Agni, favourite love of all, because Agni is supreme among the pleasures of life and Agni is the ultimate home of living beings, in fact, of everything in existence.

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5.7.7

स हि ष्मा॒ धन्वाक्षि॑तं॒ दाता॒ न दात्या प॒शुः । हिरि॑श्मश्रुः॒ शुचि॑दन्नृ॒भुरनि॑भृष्टतविषिः ॥

Like a generous man with a golden beard and pure white teeth, Agni, wise and expert with his forces intact, his effulgence undiminished, watches all and, like a liberal giver, gives to the dedicated supplicant a dwelling in the skies.

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5.7.8

शुचिः॑ ष्म॒ यस्मा॑ अत्रि॒वत्प्र स्वधि॑तीव॒ रीय॑ते । सु॒षूर॑सूत मा॒ता क्रा॒णा यदा॑न॒शे भग॑म् ॥

For him, i.e., the supplicant yajaka, the man free from threefold suffering of body, mind and soul, Agni, bright and pure, releases the honour and splendour of life like currents of thunder power, which mother nature spontaneously generates for him and which flows to him incessantly.

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5.7.9

आ यस्ते॑ सर्पिरासु॒तेऽग्ने॒ शमस्ति॒ धाय॑से । ऐषु॑ द्यु॒म्नमु॒त श्रव॒ आ चि॒त्तं मर्त्ये॑षु धाः ॥

Agni, lord of light, giver of peace and power, when the ghrta has been offered into the fire and the flames arise, then let there be a shower of peace for the bearer of oblations, your gift for the yajaka. O lord, bear and bring wealth of honour and excellence, food and energy, and a noble mind with wisdom and vision and vest the same in these dedicated people.

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5.7.10

इति॑ चिन्म॒न्युम॒ध्रिज॒स्त्वादा॑त॒मा प॒शुं द॑दे । आद॑ग्ने॒ अपृ॑ण॒तोऽत्रिः॑ सासह्या॒द्दस्यू॑नि॒षः सा॑सह्या॒न्नॄन् ॥

This is the song of praise and prayer, O lord, Agni, giver of light, peace and power. Born among the dedicated aspirants, I accept the gift of peace and passion, power and property and cattle wealth. Let man be Atri, free from threefold suffering of body, mind and soul. Let man challenge the ungenerous and fight out the impending dangers, human as well as natural, and hold on to noble men and aspirations.

✦ Sukta 8 · 7 verses ✦

5.8.1

त्वाम॑ग्न ऋता॒यवः॒ समी॑धिरे प्र॒त्नं प्र॒त्नास॑ ऊ॒तये॑ सहस्कृत । पु॒रु॒श्च॒न्द्रं य॑ज॒तं वि॒श्वधा॑यसं॒ दमू॑नसं गृ॒हप॑तिं॒ वरे॑ण्यम् ॥

You, light of the world, life of life, Agni, the lovers of Truth and universal law dedicated to yajna since time immemorial kindle and install in the home for protection and progress: Agni, ancient and eternal born of omnipotence, golden glorious, worthy of reverence, sustainer of the universe, self-controlled and abiding in divine law, head of human family, chosen and worthy of choice. (Swami Dayananda applies this hymn by implication and extension to home life and the homely fire yajna, of which the head and yajamana is the married couple. Agni, further, may be interpreted as the head of a state and of the world government elected and anointed by common consent.)

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5.8.2

त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ अति॑थिं पू॒र्व्यं विशः॑ शो॒चिष्के॑शं गृ॒हप॑तिं॒ नि षे॑दिरे । बृ॒हत्के॑तुं पुरु॒रूपं॑ धन॒स्पृतं॑ सु॒शर्मा॑णं॒ स्वव॑सं जर॒द्विष॑म् ॥

Agni, light of life, people have enshrined and consecrated you in their heart and home: Agni, a welcome guest on the rounds, ancient presence with flames of fire for locks of hair, master of the home, high beacon of light, pervasive in all forms of the world, creator, lover and giver of wealth, neatly settled in homes, commanding noble and sure modes of protection and progress, pure, cleansed and free from hate and poisonous enmity.

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5.8.3

त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ मानु॑षीरीळते॒ विशो॑ होत्रा॒विदं॒ विवि॑चिं रत्न॒धात॑मम् । गुहा॒ सन्तं॑ सुभग वि॒श्वद॑र्शतं तुविष्व॒णसं॑ सु॒यजं॑ घृत॒श्रिय॑म् ॥

Agni, human communities all adore you enshrined in the heart, knower of the yajakas and the delicacies of yajna, discriminator between right and wrong, positive and negative, good and evil, highest treasurehold of the jewels of wealth, gracious

and glorious with honour and excellence, light of the universe, loud and bold in universal service, directly accessible in yajna and rising in flames by ghrta.

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5.8.4

त्वाम॑ग्ने धर्ण॒सिं वि॒श्वधा॑ व॒यं गी॒र्भिर्गृ॒णन्तो॒ नम॒सोप॑ सेदिम । स नो॑ जुषस्व समिधा॒नो अ॑ङ्गिरो दे॒वो मर्त॑स्य य॒शसा॑ सुदी॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and sustainer of the world, celebrating you in many ways with holy songs of praise and prayer, we sit by you with reverence, with offers of oblations in the holy fire. O lord Angira, pervasive in every particle of the universe, bright and generous, kindled and rising in flames by the mortals’ offers of havi, be gracious, accept our homage and bless us with honour and excellence in life.

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5.8.5

त्वम॑ग्ने पुरु॒रूपो॑ वि॒शेवि॑शे॒ वयो॑ दधासि प्र॒त्नथा॑ पुरुष्टुत । पु॒रूण्यन्ना॒ सह॑सा॒ वि रा॑जसि॒ त्विषिः॒ सा ते॑ तित्विषा॒णस्य॒ नाधृषे॑ ॥

Agni, pervading in all the many forms of existence, praised and celebrated by all since time immemorial, you bear and bring abundant food and health and life for every individual and every community. You shine with might and splendour, and that splendour of yours, glorious one, no one dare challenge.

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5.8.6

त्वाम॑ग्ने समिधा॒नं य॑विष्ठ्य दे॒वा दू॒तं च॑क्रिरे हव्य॒वाह॑नम् । उ॒रु॒ज्रय॑सं घृ॒तयो॑नि॒माहु॑तं त्वे॒षं चक्षु॑र्दधिरे चोद॒यन्म॑ति ॥

Agni, ever youngest, unaging power of existence, kindled and shining in flames, bright and generous sages and scholars among humanity and divinities of nature make you the carrier and disseminator of fragrant energies of life and health, and install and enshrine you in the vedi, ghrta fed, wide expansive, brilliant, watchful and inspirer of intelligence, ever invoked and invited.

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5.8.7

त्वाम॑ग्ने प्र॒दिव॒ आहु॑तं घृ॒तैः सु॑म्ना॒यवः॑ सुष॒मिधा॒ समी॑धिरे । स वा॑वृधा॒न ओष॑धीभिरुक्षि॒तो॒३॒॑भि ज्रयां॑सि॒ पार्थि॑वा॒ वि ति॑ष्ठसे ॥

Agni, light of life invoked and received from the revelations of heaven, enlightened people in pursuit of self-realisation enkindle and raise you in the vedi with fuel and ghrta of the holiest kind. They light you in the heart with the fuel of their sense and mind and self-awareness. And you, rising with the fuel and sprinkled with ghrta, ever abide expansive in all their business of earthly existence.

✦ Sukta 9 · 7 verses ✦

5.9.1

त्वाम॑ग्ने ह॒विष्म॑न्तो दे॒वं मर्ता॑स ईळते । मन्ये॑ त्वा जा॒तवे॑दसं॒ स ह॒व्या व॑क्ष्यानु॒षक् ॥

You, O fire divine, mortals bearing havis with reverence in homage, honour, celebrate and worship, and I meditate on your presence in omniscience to pray: Radiate the holy light and fragrance all round and let it come to me also, generous one.

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5.9.2

अ॒ग्निर्होता॒ दास्व॑तः॒ क्षय॑स्य वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । यं य॒ज्ञास॒श्चर॑न्ति॒ यं सं वाजा॑सः श्रव॒स्यवः॑ ॥

Agni is the high-priest of Nature’s abundance for humanity, blessing the house of the liberal devotee ready to kindle the holy fire, since all nutriments, energies and all yajnic gifts of Divinity coexist and work with Agni.

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5.9.3

उ॒त स्म॒ यं शिशुं॑ यथा॒ नवं॒ जनि॑ष्टा॒रणी॑ । ध॒र्तारं॒ मानु॑षीणां वि॒शाम॒ग्निं स्व॑ध्व॒रम् ॥

And just as two arani woods produce the fire, and just as mother and father beget and nurse a new born baby, so do we kindle, raise and serve the holy fire of yajna and worship the lord of life, sustainer of human communities and high-priest of cosmic yajna.

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5.9.4

उ॒त स्म॑ दुर्गृभीयसे पु॒त्रो न ह्वा॒र्याणा॑म् । पु॒रू यो दग्धासि॒ वनाग्ने॑ प॒शुर्न यव॑से ॥

You who burn up vast forests and devour grasses like a hungry animal are a product of tortuous waves of energy, too tempestuous and too difficult to grab.

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5.9.5

अध॑ स्म॒ यस्या॒र्चयः॑ स॒म्यक्सं॒यन्ति॑ धू॒मिनः॑ । यदी॒मह॑ त्रि॒तो दि॒व्युप॒ ध्माते॑व॒ धम॑ति॒ शिशी॑ते ध्मा॒तरी॑ यथा ॥

Fire whose flames mixed together with smoke rise up and shine when the yajaka or the yogi, thrice excelling others in body, mind and soul, lights up the fire, refines, intensifies and raises the flames close to and into the heights of heaven just like a smelter blowing and intensifying the fire with the blower.

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5.9.6

तवा॒हम॑ग्न ऊ॒तिभि॑र्मि॒त्रस्य॑ च॒ प्रश॑स्तिभिः । द्वे॒षो॒युतो॒ न दु॑रि॒ता तु॒र्याम॒ मर्त्या॑नाम् ॥

O light and fire of life, Agni, may we, with your protections and friendly exhortations, cross over the sins and weaknesses of mortal humanity as we overcome the hate and enmity of the wicked.

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5.9.7

तं नो॑ अग्ने अ॒भी नरो॑ र॒यिं स॑हस्व॒ आ भ॑र । स क्षे॑पय॒त्स पो॑षय॒द्भुव॒द्वाज॑स्य सा॒तय॑ उ॒तैधि॑ पृ॒त्सु नो॑ वृ॒धे ॥

O lord of patience and power, Agni, create the right leaders among us. Bless us with the wealth of life. Inspire and move us to act. Come, be with us for the achievement of food, energy and prosperity. Help us win and make progress in our battles of life.

✦ Sukta 10 · 7 verses ✦

5.10.1

अग्न॒ ओजि॑ष्ठ॒मा भ॑र द्यु॒म्नम॒स्मभ्य॑मध्रिगो । प्र नो॑ रा॒या परी॑णसा॒ रत्सि॒ वाजा॑य॒ पन्था॑म् ॥

Agni, irresistible power of motion and advancement for the aspirants, bring us the most brilliant honour and excellence of life. Bless us with abundant wealth, open the path of progress and guide us on the way.

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5.10.2

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने अद्भुत॒ क्रत्वा॒ दक्ष॑स्य मं॒हना॑ । त्वे अ॑सु॒र्य१॒॑मारु॑हत्क्रा॒णा मि॒त्रो न य॒ज्ञियः॑ ॥

Agni, unique unrivalled power of the world, help us advance by yajnic action and the greatness of our experts. The man rising in divine strength and intelligence and acting in your service is adorable for us.

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5.10.3

त्वं नो॑ अग्न एषां॒ गयं॑ पु॒ष्टिं च॑ वर्धय । ये स्तोमे॑भिः॒ प्र सू॒रयो॒ नरो॑ म॒घान्या॑न॒शुः ॥

For us, Agni, lord of light and knowledge, increase and exalt the health and home of these, men of vision and splendour, sages, scholars, teachers, leaders and all, bright and brave who, with songs of praise and prayer, have come to attain the honour and excellence of existence.

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5.10.4

ये अ॑ग्ने चन्द्र ते॒ गिरः॑ शु॒म्भन्त्यश्व॑राधसः । शुष्मे॑भिः शु॒ष्मिणो॒ नरो॑ दि॒वश्चि॒द्येषां॑ बृ॒हत्सु॑की॒र्तिर्बोध॑ति॒ त्मना॑ ॥

Agni, lord of beauty, majesty and ecstasy, the words of your voice, potent and pregnant with sense and power, shine and reverberate all round in space with the message of action and achievement at the fastest, the wise expansive vibrancy of which, a shower from heaven, by itself, awakens and inspires the leading people of imagination with flames of fire.

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5.10.5

तव॒ त्ये अ॑ग्ने अ॒र्चयो॒ भ्राज॑न्तो यन्ति धृष्णु॒या । परि॑ज्मानो॒ न वि॒द्युतः॑ स्वा॒नो रथो॒ न वा॑ज॒युः ॥

Agni, those flames of your light and fire, bright and blazing, go round with might and majesty like cosmic waves of lightning energy commanding the kingdom of the world, as if by a roaring chariot leading to victory.

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5.10.6

नू नो॑ अग्न ऊ॒तये॑ स॒बाध॑सश्च रा॒तये॑ । अ॒स्माका॑सश्च सू॒रयो॒ विश्वा॒ आशा॑स्तरी॒षणि॑ ॥

And now Agni, for our protection and progress and for the relief and advancement bound in limitations, come so that all our leaders, bright and bold, may cross over all the bounds in all the directions of space.

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5.10.7

त्वं नो॑ अग्ने अङ्गिरः स्तु॒तः स्तवा॑न॒ आ भ॑र । होत॑र्विभ्वा॒सहं॑ र॒यिं स्तो॒तृभ्यः॒ स्तव॑से च न उ॒तैधि॑ पृ॒त्सु नो॑ वृ॒धे ॥

Agni, light of the world, dear as breath of life, generous sage and scholarly yajaka, liberal giver, praised by devotees and approving and praising the celebrants, bring us wealth for the devotees and the worshipper good enough to challenge the mighty, and come for us so that we may win the battles of life and grow higher and higher.

✦ Sukta 11 · 6 verses ✦

5.11.1

जन॑स्य गो॒पा अ॑जनिष्ट॒ जागृ॑विर॒ग्निः सु॒दक्षः॑ सुवि॒ताय॒ नव्य॑से । घृ॒तप्र॑तीको बृह॒ता दि॑वि॒स्पृशा॑ द्यु॒मद्वि भा॑ति भर॒तेभ्यः॒ शुचिः॑ ॥

Agni, fire energy, friend and protector of man, ever awake, versatile power, it arises for the latest good of humanity. Feeding and rising on the fuel of ghrta, shining pure and magnificent with heat and light touching the skies, it shines and gives light for those who feed and keep the fire burning.

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5.11.2

य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुं प्र॑थ॒मं पु॒रोहि॑तम॒ग्निं नर॑स्त्रिषध॒स्थे समी॑धिरे । इन्द्रे॑ण दे॒वैः स॒रथं॒ स ब॒र्हिषि॒ सीद॒न्नि होता॑ य॒जथा॑य सु॒क्रतुः॑ ॥

Agni is the leader, mark of the science of yajna, first highpriest in the process, which the leading lights among people kindle and establish in three stages of life in three departments of the acquisition of knowledge, observance of Dharma and performance of karma, in three regions of earth, sky and the solar sphere. And Agni takes the prime seat on the grass on the vedi with Indra, power, devas, divine givers of nature, as it comes with its chariot which carries it with fragrance to all regions. It is the sanctifier for yajnic initiation, conduct and congregation, and it is the very light, beauty and grace of the holy project.

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5.11.3

असं॑मृष्टो जायसे मा॒त्रोः शुचि॑र्म॒न्द्रः क॒विरुद॑तिष्ठो वि॒वस्व॑तः । घृ॒तेन॑ त्वावर्धयन्नग्न आहुत धू॒मस्ते॑ के॒तुर॑भवद्दि॒वि श्रि॒तः ॥

Agni, born of parents natural, unadorned and free, pure and radiant, charming, with the gift of being the leading light rising from the sun, when you are invoked and invited, people raise and advance you with oblations of ghrta and then your light and fragrance as the flag of your majesty rises to the regions of the sun.

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5.11.4

अ॒ग्निर्नो॑ य॒ज्ञमुप॑ वेतु साधु॒याग्निं नरो॒ वि भ॑रन्ते गृ॒हेगृ॑हे । अ॒ग्निर्दू॒तो अ॑भवद्धव्य॒वाह॑नो॒ऽग्निं वृ॑णा॒ना वृ॑णते क॒विक्र॑तुम् ॥

May Agni come straight to our yajnic actions of social value. Leading and enlightened people light and raise Agni in every home. Agni is the disseminator of the fragrance of yajna over lands and spaces. Intelligent people of holy action take toAgni, the power that effects creative actions of the enlightened for social good. (Swami Dayananda interprets agni in the sense of the enlightened leading heights of society who help people to do good to the community. Agni is thus not only the divine fire but also the leader, teacher and the preacher.)

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5.11.5

तुभ्ये॒दम॑ग्ने॒ मधु॑मत्तमं॒ वच॒स्तुभ्यं॑ मनी॒षा इ॒यम॑स्तु॒ शं हृ॒दे । त्वां गिरः॒ सिन्धु॑मिवा॒वनी॑र्म॒हीरा पृ॑णन्ति॒ शव॑सा व॒र्धय॑न्ति च ॥

Agni, this sweetest song of honour and adoration is presented to you. The holy sentiment and prayer is addressed to you in praise of your holiness and peace at heart. The great holy voices protect, promote and fulfil you and make you stronger with power just as great rivers flow and add to the depth and power of the sea.

· · ·

5.11.6

त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ अङ्गि॑रसो॒ गुहा॑ हि॒तमन्व॑विन्दञ्छिश्रिया॒णं वने॑वने । य जा॑यसे म॒थ्यमा॑नः॒ सहो॑ म॒हत्त्वामा॑हुः॒ सह॑सस्पु॒त्रम॑ङ्गिरः ॥

Angira, life breath of the universe, light and fire of the world, Agni, pervading every forest, every ray of light and every living being, holy yajakas dedicated to you as to the breath of life awaken and realise you through meditation in the cave of the heart when you are hidden as a mysterious flame, and you, stirred through contemplation, concentrated and enkindled, rise as a great power of light and victory. Rightly they call you manifestation of the omnipotent.

✦ Sukta 12 · 6 verses ✦

5.12.1

प्राग्नये॑ बृह॒ते य॒ज्ञिया॑य ऋ॒तस्य॒ वृष्णे॒ असु॑राय॒ मन्म॑ । घृ॒तं न य॒ज्ञ आ॒स्ये॒३॒॑ सुपू॑तं॒ गिरं॑ भरे वृष॒भाय॑ प्रती॒चीम् ॥

As in yajna, we bear and bring and offer oblations of ghrta into the vedi, so do I compose and bring the language of inner consciousness purified in meditation and offer it in honour ofAgni, great, adorable in yajna, giver of the showers of water and the light of truth, life breath of the world, inspirer of thought, and generous giver of strength and power.

· · ·

5.12.2

ऋ॒तं चि॑कित्व ऋ॒तमिच्चि॑किद्ध्यृ॒तस्य॒ धारा॒ अनु॑ तृन्धि पू॒र्वीः । नाहं या॒तुं सह॑सा॒ न द्व॒येन॑ ऋ॒तं स॑पाम्यरु॒षस्य॒ वृष्णः॑ ॥

Agni, light of the world, you know the law and dynamics of world order. Know the truth and sincerity of our yajna and worship, and release the showers of eternal light of truth and open the doors of nature’s generosity. I follow the generous and brilliant lord’s path of truth and rectitude but not by violence nor with duplicity. I follow the path of honesty and sincerity.

· · ·

5.12.3

कया॑ नो अग्न ऋ॒तय॑न्नृ॒तेन॒ भुवो॒ नवे॑दा उ॒चथ॑स्य॒ नव्यः॑ । वेदा॑ मे दे॒व ऋ॑तु॒पा ऋ॑तू॒नां नाहं पतिं॑ सनि॒तुर॒स्य रा॒यः ॥

For what reason, Agni, you being the latest scholar and observer of the laws of truth by the laws of truth, would you not know of the earth and of our songs of adoration? Lord protector and observer of the laws and cycle of the seasons, generous and brilliant, give me the knowledge. I do not well know the lord giver and protector of the wealth of life.

· · ·

5.12.4

के ते॑ अग्ने रि॒पवे॒ बन्ध॑नासः॒ के पा॒यवः॑ सनिषन्त द्यु॒मन्तः॑ । के धा॒सिम॑ग्ने॒ अनृ॑तस्य पान्ति॒ क आस॑तो॒ वच॑सः सन्ति गो॒पाः ॥

Agni, ruler of humanity, what are your injunctions and prohibitions of law and order to deal with the opposite forces? Who are the guards and what are the safeguards? Who are your allies? Who the leading lights? Who preserve and maintain food supplies and food resources? Who are the people and what the elements that shelter falsehood? What are the safeguards against false and malicious words and reports?

· · ·

5.12.5

सखा॑यस्ते॒ विषु॑णा अग्न ए॒ते शि॒वासः॒ सन्तो॒ अशि॑वा अभूवन् । अधू॑र्षत स्व॒यमे॒ते वचो॑भिर्ऋजूय॒ते वृ॑जि॒नानि॑ ब्रु॒वन्तः॑ ॥

Agni, bright ruler, those friends and allies of yours, wide spread and intelligent, who were favourable earlier but have become unfavourable and negative later would of themselves be destroyed, all these, by their own words, speaking crooked things to simple people of rectitude. See they are eliminated.

· · ·

5.12.6

यस्ते॑ अग्ने॒ नम॑सा य॒ज्ञमीट्ट॑ ऋ॒तं स पा॑त्यरु॒षस्य॒ वृष्णः॑ । तस्य॒ क्षयः॑ पृ॒थुरा सा॒धुरे॑तु प्र॒सर्स्रा॑णस्य॒ नहु॑षस्य॒ शेषः॑ ॥

O brilliant ruler, Agni, whoever the man with reverence and holy oblations in yajna serves your yajna of the social order, he protects and promotes the rule of truth and rectitude, the rule of the generous, brilliant and non-violent ruler. May his house as the house of the ruler go on rising high and higher, from good to better, the house of the progressive man on sound foundations of economic surplus and all round security.

✦ Sukta 13 · 6 verses ✦

5.13.1

अर्च॑न्तस्त्वा हवाम॒हेऽर्च॑न्तः॒ समि॑धीमहि । अग्ने॒ अर्च॑न्त ऊ॒तये॑ ॥

Agni, light of life, brilliant ruler, reverend teacher and scholar, singing hymns of adoration we invoke you. Singing songs of joy we enkindle and celebrate you. With homage and reverence, we come and pray for protection, light and advancement.

· · ·

5.13.2

अ॒ग्नेः स्तोमं॑ मनामहे सि॒ध्रम॒द्य दि॑वि॒स्पृशः॑ । दे॒वस्य॑ द्रविण॒स्यवः॑ ॥

With desire for the creation and achievement of the wealth and power of brilliant Agni, we study and concentrate on fire energy in focus and structure a joyous song of success in praise of the rich and generous power touching the lights of heaven and for sure that would make the achievement possible.

· · ·

5.13.3

अ॒ग्निर्जु॑षत नो॒ गिरो॒ होता॒ यो मानु॑षे॒ष्वा । स य॑क्ष॒द्दैव्यं॒ जन॑म् ॥

May Agni, life and light and fire of the world, yajaka, creator and giver of wealth among the people, hear and accept our prayer, come and join the brilliant creative geniuses and bless us with wealth.

· · ·

5.13.4

त्वम॑ग्ने स॒प्रथा॑ असि॒ जुष्टो॒ होता॒ वरे॑ण्यः । त्वया॑ य॒ज्ञं वि त॑न्वते ॥

Agni, you are all pervasive, loving and integrative, creator and giver, cherished and venerable leader for choice. By you is the yajna of life and the yajna of the social order enacted and extended.

· · ·

5.13.5

त्वाम॑ग्ने वाज॒सात॑मं॒ विप्रा॑ वर्धन्ति॒ सुष्टु॑तम् । स नो॑ रास्व सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

Agni, praised and celebrated power, creator giver of food and energy and winner of victories, intelligent people serve, develop and raise you to the heights. May Agni give us valour, virility and honour.

· · ·

5.13.6

अग्ने॑ ने॒मिर॒राँ इ॑व दे॒वाँस्त्वं प॑रि॒भूर॑सि । आ राध॑श्चि॒त्रमृ॑ञ्जसे ॥

Agni, just as the felly of a wheel holds and surrounds the spokes of the wheel, you hold and reign over the brilliancies and divinities of nature and humanity, and you create and refine all the wonderful varieties of the world’s wealth for us.

✦ Sukta 14 · 6 verses ✦

5.14.1

अ॒ग्निं स्तोमे॑न बोधय समिधा॒नो अम॑र्त्यम् । ह॒व्या दे॒वेषु॑ नो दधत् ॥

Light the immortal holy fire, physical, mental and spiritual, with a celebrative song of its attributes and qualities. Refulgent, it bears the wealth of life in nature’s variations, carries the fragrance of oblations to these divinities and brings us the gifts of divinity to bless the nobilities of humanity.

· · ·

5.14.2

तम॑ध्व॒रेष्वी॑ळते दे॒वं मर्ता॒ अम॑र्त्यम् । यजि॑ष्ठं॒ मानु॑षे॒ जने॑ ॥

That refulgent immortal divine fire bearing rich gifts, loved and most loving among the human community, the mortals light, serve and worship in creative, productive and holiest projects of yajna, love and non-violence in the service of the Lord and humanity.

· · ·

5.14.3

तं हि शश्व॑न्त॒ ईळ॑ते स्रु॒चा दे॒वं घृ॑त॒श्चुता॑ । अ॒ग्निं ह॒व्याय॒ वोळ्ह॑वे ॥

Agni, that divine refulgent generous power, the humans, immortal souls, with ladles dripping with ghrta, sprinkle, serve and worship so that it may carry their offerings across the spaces and bring them the sweets of yajna.

· · ·

5.14.4

अ॒ग्निर्जा॒तो अ॑रोचत॒ घ्नन्दस्यू॒ञ्ज्योति॑षा॒ तमः॑ । अवि॑न्द॒द्गा अ॒पः स्वः॑ ॥

Agni, lighted, raised and manifesting, rises radiant and, destroying the negativities, dispelling the darkness and driving away the wicked with its blazing light, reaches over the earth and rays of the sun, waters in the middle regions of the skies and touches the lights of heaven.

· · ·

5.14.5

अ॒ग्निमी॒ळेन्यं॑ क॒विं घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठं सपर्यत । वेतु॑ मे शृ॒णव॒द्धव॑म् ॥

Serve, develop, honour and worship Agni, adorable, poetic visionary of omniscience, shining bright on ghrta and rooted in fertility. May Agni hear and accept my invocation and prayer and come to bless my yajnic business of life.

· · ·

5.14.6

अ॒ग्निं घृ॒तेन॑ वावृधुः॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिम् । स्वा॒धीभि॑र्वच॒स्युभिः॑ ॥

The devotees light, raise and exalt Agni, light of life, ever wakeful watcher of the world, with songs of adoration, deeply meditative and highly eloquent, created by realised souls with words of Divinity in the state of samadhi.

✦ Sukta 15 · 5 verses ✦

5.15.1

प्र वे॒धसे॑ क॒वये॒ वेद्या॑य॒ गिरं॑ भरे य॒शसे॑ पू॒र्व्याय॑ । घृ॒तप्र॑सत्तो॒ असु॑रः सु॒शेवो॑ रा॒यो ध॒र्ता ध॒रुणो॒ वस्वो॑ अ॒ग्निः ॥

I bear and offer words of adoration in honour ofAgni, omniscient presence, visionary creator, glorious and eternal lord worth knowing. Pleased with the offer of ghrta and sincere devotion in yajna,Agni is the breath of life, gracious, giver and commander of the wealth of existence, sustainer of the universe and ultimate haven of the world.

· · ·

5.15.2

ऋ॒तेन॑ ऋ॒तं ध॒रुणं॑ धारयन्त य॒ज्ञस्य॑ शा॒के प॑र॒मे व्यो॑मन् । दि॒वो धर्म॑न्ध॒रुणे॑ से॒दुषो॒ नॄञ्जा॒तैरजा॑ताँ अ॒भि ये न॑न॒क्षुः ॥

Those who know and realise the unborn eternals of existence by the forms and functioning of the manifested mutables, and sit by the leading lights abiding by the sustainer of the laws of heavenly stars, would know the mysteries and power of yajna in the highest heaven, abide by the sustainer of the laws of Rtam, and realise the Truth, observing the laws by themselves.

· · ·

5.15.3

अं॒हो॒युव॑स्त॒न्व॑स्तन्वते॒ वि वयो॑ म॒हद्दु॒ष्टरं॑ पू॒र्व्याय॑ । स सं॒वतो॒ नव॑जातस्तुतुर्यात्सिं॒हं न क्रु॒द्धम॒भितः॒ परि॑ ष्ठुः ॥

Those who eliminate sin and perplexity grow inwardly in the self and offer incomparable gifts of austerities and meditation for the eternal power, Agni within. And he, the lordly power newly arisen in the soul, would, like a passionate lion, destroy the hostile powers prowling around.

· · ·

5.15.4

मा॒तेव॒ यद्भर॑से पप्रथा॒नो जनं॑जनं॒ धाय॑से॒ चक्ष॑से च । वयो॑वयो जरसे॒ यद्दधा॑नः॒ परि॒ त्मना॒ विषु॑रूपो जिगासि ॥

Agni, rising and expansive, you bear and sustain every person like a mother, taking and giving food for nourishment and enlightenment. You go to everyone, shine as fire within for a new lease of life even for the weak, and in this way you glorify life, and by yourself go on self-revealing, taking on new and universal forms of life.

· · ·

5.15.5

वाजो॒ नु ते॒ शव॑सस्पा॒त्वन्त॑मु॒रुं दोधं॑ ध॒रुणं॑ देव रा॒यः । प॒दं न ता॒युर्गुहा॒ दधा॑नो म॒हो रा॒ये चि॒तय॒न्नत्रि॑मस्पः ॥

Agni, light of life, generous giver, may your omnipotence protect the strength and courage of humanity to the highest degree, our plenty and prosperity to the utmost bounds, and may you, we pray, protect the wealth of humanity like a guard holding his foot firmly down. And revealing the light of divinity in the cave of the heart, enlightening the devotee for great spiritual wealth, you bless all with the vision of Divinity.

✦ Sukta 16 · 5 verses ✦

5.16.1

बृ॒हद्वयो॒ हि भा॒नवेऽर्चा॑ दे॒वाया॒ग्नये॑ । यं मि॒त्रं न प्रश॑स्तिभि॒र्मर्ता॑सो दधि॒रे पु॒रः ॥

For heat and light, energy and power, and for vision and excellence in life, study, develop and revere that mighty inexhaustibleAgni with vast and rich inputs, which like a friend, people have lighted and instituted as a prime and divine power with high praise and celebrations since the earliest times.

· · ·

5.16.2

स हि द्युभि॒र्जना॑नां॒ होता॒ दक्ष॑स्य बा॒ह्वोः । वि ह॒व्यम॒ग्निरा॑नु॒षग्भगो॒ न वार॑मृण्वति ॥

With light and power, and with holy acts, Agni, highpriest of humanity, giver of the strength of arms, bears our inputs to the divinities of nature and, like a friend, brings us cherished gifts of nature and Divinity. Agni makes the development and achievement possible like Bhaga, excellence incarnate.

· · ·

5.16.3

अ॒स्य स्तोमे॑ म॒घोनः॑ स॒ख्ये वृ॒द्धशो॑चिषः । विश्वा॒ यस्मि॑न्तुवि॒ष्वणि॒ सम॒र्ये शुष्म॑माद॒धुः ॥

In the song and celebration of this mighty power of excellence, in the friendship of this lord of high light and majesty, in this roaring power and energy, in this noble master of wealth and all round prosperity, Agni, in which all mankind place their faith and trust, let us all abide, invest, preserve and develop our power and potential, and from this let us receive our strength and fragrance of life.

· · ·

5.16.4

अधा॒ ह्य॑ग्न एषां सु॒वीर्य॑स्य मं॒हना॑ । तमिद्य॒ह्वं न रोद॑सी॒ परि॒ श्रवो॑ बभूवतुः ॥

Agni, lord refulgent of power and glory, bless these heroes with the gifts of strength and noble valour. As the heaven and earth go round that mighty sun in orbit and homage, so do the honour and valour of life’s dynamics move round you.

· · ·

5.16.5

नू न॒ एहि॒ वार्य॒मग्ने॑ गृणा॒न आ भ॑र । ये व॒यं ये च॑ सू॒रयः॑ स्व॒स्ति धाम॑हे॒ सचो॒तैधि॑ पृ॒त्सु नो॑ वृ॒धे ॥

Agni, come and bless us now as ever, come roaring, rejoicing and joining our celebration, bring us the gifts we cherish. All of us here and all the brilliant brave wholly dedicated to you pray for peace and joy. Come as a friend, our own, promote and advance us in the battles of life’s dynamics.

✦ Sukta 17 · 5 verses ✦

5.17.1

आ य॒ज्ञैर्दे॑व॒ मर्त्य॑ इ॒त्था तव्यां॑समू॒तये॑ । अ॒ग्निं कृ॒ते स्व॑ध्व॒रे पू॒रुरी॑ळी॒ताव॑से ॥

Come Agni, generous self-refulgent life of the world, the entire humanity thus, having organised holy projects of peace and non-violence, invokes and invites you, potent power, with yajnas for the sake of protection and advancement in knowledge, power and achievement.

· · ·

5.17.2

अस्य॒ हि स्वय॑शस्तर आ॒सा वि॑धर्म॒न्मन्य॑से । तं नाकं॑ चि॒त्रशो॑चिषं म॒न्द्रं प॒रो म॑नी॒षया॑ ॥

O man, honourable in your own right by your own virtue, dedicated to your particular duties of Dharma, with best of thought and mind, with your words of mouth, for sure, praise that Agni, bliss beyond suffering, wonderfully brilliant, charming and gracious, and supreme over all.

· · ·

5.17.3

अ॒स्य वासा उ॑ अ॒र्चिषा॒ य आयु॑क्त तु॒जा गि॒रा । दि॒वो न यस्य॒ रेत॑सा बृ॒हच्छोच॑न्त्य॒र्चयः॑ ॥

O man, blest with the holy speech of communion and the divine light of this Agni, by whose energyshowers streams of adoration shine all round widely like rays of the sun, by that same holy light and divine speech destroy the want and suffering of existence.

· · ·

5.17.4

अ॒स्य क्रत्वा॒ विचे॑तसो द॒स्मस्य॒ वसु॒ रथ॒ आ । अधा॒ विश्वा॑सु॒ हव्यो॒ऽग्निर्वि॒क्षु प्र श॑स्यते ॥

By the yajna and holy action of this brilliant generous power, creators of positives and destroyers of negatives, men of wisdom and discernment, achieve wealth and circulation of wealth by modes of transport and communication. And then Agni, venerable power for development, is valued and honoured among all human habitations.

· · ·

5.17.5

नू न॒ इद्धि वार्य॑मा॒सा स॑चन्त सू॒रयः॑ । ऊर्जो॑ नपाद॒भिष्ट॑ये पा॒हि श॒ग्धि स्व॒स्तय॑ उ॒तैधि॑ पृ॒त्सु नो॑ वृ॒धे ॥

Brave men of knowledge, wisdom and brilliance study, produce and bring us cherished gifts of Agni, fire and electricity, gifts of divinity, by word of mouth and steady application. Agni, O power of permanence, for all our good, protect and promote energy, be strong and strengthen us for all our good and well-being, and stand by us for our success and advancement in our battles of the business of life.

✦ Sukta 18 · 5 verses ✦

5.18.1

प्रा॒तर॒ग्निः पु॑रुप्रि॒यो वि॒शः स्त॑वे॒ताति॑थिः । विश्वा॑नि॒ यो अम॑र्त्यो ह॒व्या मर्ते॑षु॒ रण्य॑ति ॥

Let Agni, beloved of all people, freely roaming around as a visitor, be welcomed and honoured early morning, the immortal spirit and power which pervades, energises and beatifies all acts and things worth doing, giving and receiving among the mortals.

· · ·

5.18.2

द्वि॒ताय॑ मृ॒क्तवा॑हसे॒ स्वस्य॒ दक्ष॑स्य मं॒हना॑ । इन्दुं॒ स ध॑त्त आनु॒षक्स्तो॒ता चि॑त्ते अमर्त्य ॥

Agni, immortal spirit and power, by virtue of the grandeur of your own potential bring light and sweetness, power and prosperity for dvita, dedicated celebrant twice born, educated and cultured, who loves free knowledge and bears the knowledge and power for your service only.

· · ·

5.18.3

तं वो॑ दी॒र्घायु॑शोचिषं गि॒रा हु॑वे म॒घोना॑म् । अरि॑ष्टो॒ येषां॒ रथो॒ व्य॑श्वदाव॒न्नीय॑ते ॥

O dedicated celebrants, for you with holy words of prayer I invoke Agni, harbinger of light and power, good health and long age, that presiding power of yajna, that welcome visitor. O lord giver of speed, power and progress, Agni, I pray for them whose chariot, blest with light, power and prosperity as they are, rolls on unchallenged.

· · ·

5.18.4

चि॒त्रा वा॒ येषु॒ दीधि॑तिरा॒सन्नु॒क्था पान्ति॒ ये । स्ती॒र्णं ब॒र्हिः स्व॑र्णरे॒ श्रवां॑सि दधिरे॒ परि॑ ॥

Who are the holy visitors like Agni? Who are the dedicated celebrants and yajnic devotees of Agni? Those in whom the light of Divinity shines bright and various, who preserve and promote holy songs of dedication and pursue yajnic actions, and who spread holy grass on the vedi, propagate knowledge, and bear and offer holy materials in yajnic projects of love and non-violence among people for the sake of peace and ultimate freedom of salvation.

· · ·

5.18.5

ये मे॑ पञ्चा॒शतं॑ द॒दुरश्वा॑नां स॒धस्तु॑ति । द्यु॒मद॑ग्ने॒ महि॒ श्रवो॑ बृ॒हत्कृ॑धि म॒घोनां॑ नृ॒वद॑मृत नृ॒णाम् ॥

Those who give me fifty modes of speed and progress in life alongwith their description and words of thanks to Divinity, for those men of power and excellence among the leaders of humanity, O lord of light and heavenly knowledge, Agni, spirit of immortality, just like a human friend and leader, create and bring honour and glory of vast and universal order.

✦ Sukta 19 · 5 verses ✦

5.19.1

अ॒भ्य॑व॒स्थाः प्र जा॑यन्ते॒ प्र व॒व्रेर्व॒व्रिश्चि॑केत । उ॒पस्थे॑ मा॒तुर्वि च॑ष्टे ॥

For the man of attainment, adverse circumstances do arise. Let the man in the real situation accept this eventuality. And then, let him be close to mother Divinity for light and rise to face it successfully.

· · ·

5.19.2

जु॒हु॒रे वि चि॒तय॒न्तोऽनि॑मिषं नृ॒म्णं पा॑न्ति । आ दृ॒ळ्हां पुरं॑ विविशुः ॥

Those who challenge adverse circumstances and sit by Agni, light of Divinity, day and night without a wink of sleep, they enter the adamantine city celestial.

· · ·

5.19.3

आ श्वै॑त्रे॒यस्य॑ ज॒न्तवो॑ द्यु॒मद्व॑र्धन्त कृ॒ष्टयः॑ । नि॒ष्कग्री॑वो बृ॒हदु॑क्थ ए॒ना मध्वा॒ न वा॑ज॒युः ॥

Living beings of spatial waters, common men on earth, the man wearing a golden necklace, and the priest chanting loud hymns, loving and wanting food and energy sweet as honey, all grow by the energy of vital fire and, with holy chant and yajnic action, develop the light and power of brilliant Agni.

· · ·

5.19.4

प्रि॒यं दु॒ग्धं न काम्य॒मजा॑मि जा॒म्योः सचा॑ । घ॒र्मो न वाज॑जठ॒रोऽद॑ब्धः॒ शश्व॑तो॒ दभः॑ ॥

Friend and associate of heaven and earth, intrepidable, eternal, dynamic, like the vital fire of the body which assimilates all it receives for energy, I, living fire of existence, receive and assimilate all I love as delicious milk and remain unconquered.

· · ·

5.19.5

क्रीळ॑न्नो रश्म॒ आ भु॑वः॒ सं भस्म॑ना वा॒युना॒ वेवि॑दानः । ता अ॑स्य सन्धृ॒षजो॒ न ति॒ग्माः सुसं॑शिता व॒क्ष्यो॑ वक्षणे॒स्थाः ॥

Agni, radiant as rays of the sun, sporting with the wind and self-declaring with heat and ash, come and be good to us, and so too may be those potent flames of yours, fierce, fiery, sharp and penetrating, fully collected and intensified in form in vehicles and batteries for transport and communication.

✦ Sukta 20 · 4 verses ✦

5.20.1

यम॑ग्ने वाजसातम॒ त्वं चि॒न्मन्य॑से र॒यिम् । तं नो॑ गी॒र्भिः श्र॒वाय्यं॑ देव॒त्रा प॑नया॒ युज॑म् ॥

Agni, scholar of eminence, expert in matters of food, energy, success and victory in the affairs of life, whatever you think is the real wealth worthy to be heard of, acknowledged, and, accepted for application as friendly and companionable power, speak to us among the generous and illuminative divines in words of truth in faith with admiration.

· · ·

5.20.2

ये अ॑ग्ने॒ नेरय॑न्ति ते वृ॒द्धा उ॒ग्रस्य॒ शव॑सः । अप॒ द्वेषो॒ अप॒ ह्वरो॒ऽन्यव्र॑तस्य सश्चिरे ॥

Agni, these senior dedicated devotees of yours, who take to the strength of your power and passion for truth, do not waver in their faith, they keep away from malice, crookedness, double dealing and tortuous behaviour.

· · ·

5.20.3

होता॑रं त्वा वृणीम॒हेऽग्ने॒ दक्ष॑स्य॒ साध॑नम् । य॒ज्ञेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यं गि॒रा प्रय॑स्वन्तो हवामहे ॥

Agni, we opt for dedication to you, original yajaka, generous giver, agent and instrument of strength and success, and, creatively endeavouring in our yajnic programmes, we invoke and invite you with the holy voice of faith.

· · ·

5.20.4

इ॒त्था यथा॑ त ऊ॒तये॒ सह॑सावन्दि॒वेदि॑वे । रा॒य ऋ॒ताय॑ सुक्रतो॒ गोभिः॑ ष्याम सध॒मादो॑ वी॒रैः स्या॑म सध॒मादः॑ ॥

O lord giver of strength and light of life, enlighten us so that we may, under your protection, advance on way to wealth and rectitude day by day, and by our words and voice be your companions and codwellers in the home, blest with brave children.

✦ Sukta 21 · 4 verses ✦

5.21.1

म॒नु॒ष्वत्त्वा॒ नि धी॑महि मनु॒ष्वत्समि॑धीमहि । अग्ने॑ मनु॒ष्वद॑ङ्गिरो दे॒वान्दे॑वय॒ते य॑ज ॥

Agni, light of life, like a living human presence we meditate on you. Like a living human power, we enkindle, serve and develop you. O breath of life, Angira, like a human power and sagely presence, inspire the brilliant and generous sages with the light of life for the sake of those who love the divinities.

· · ·

5.21.2

त्वं हि मानु॑षे॒ जनेऽग्ने॒ सुप्री॑त इ॒ध्यसे॑ । स्रुच॑स्त्वा यन्त्यानु॒षक्सुजा॑त॒ सर्पि॑रासुते ॥

Agni, fire of life, loved and kindled, you shine and blaze in the human community. Excellent in form and beauty by birth and nature you are, and ladles full of ghrta move to you in love and faith and, on the oblations of ghrta, you rise and shine among humanity.

· · ·

5.21.3

त्वां विश्वे॑ स॒जोष॑सो दे॒वासो॑ दू॒तम॑क्रत । स॒प॒र्यन्त॑स्त्वा कवे य॒ज्ञेषु॑ दे॒वमी॑ळते ॥

All the divine powers of nature and all brilliant sages of humanity in one accord, with love and reverence for you, install you as the conductor and carrier of their yajna forward. Serving you, O visionary of poetic excellence, they honour and worship you as a divine power in their yajnas of creative and corporate projects.

· · ·

5.21.4

दे॒वं वो॑ देवय॒ज्यया॒ग्निमी॑ळीत॒ मर्त्यः॑ । समि॑द्धः शुक्र दीदिह्यृ॒तस्य॒ योनि॒मास॑दः स॒सस्य॒ योनि॒मास॑दः ॥

O sages and scholars, with your service in yajnas of love and non-violence in honour of the divinities of nature and noble humanity, man serves and worships the generous and radiant Agni. O radiant power and presence, Agni, pure and potent, lighted and raised to the full, shine on, illuminate the truth of existence and the flow of life from the particle onward and reveal the chain of cause and effect in the process of evolution.

✦ Sukta 22 · 4 verses ✦

5.22.1

प्र वि॑श्वसामन्नत्रि॒वदर्चा॑ पाव॒कशो॑चिषे । यो अ॑ध्व॒रेष्वीड्यो॒ होता॑ म॒न्द्रत॑मो वि॒शि ॥

O vishvasaman, master of all world power and property, songs of praise and prayer, peace and tranquillity, shine, illuminate, develop, honour and sing in celebration of Agni, blazing as fire, pure and potent power and presence of nature and humanity, yajaka, creator and giver, most enlightened and blissful among people, worthy of song and celebration in yajnic projects. Celebrate Agni like Atri, man of vast knowledge and freedom from suffering.

· · ·

5.22.2

न्य१॒॑ग्निं जा॒तवे॑दसं॒ दधा॑ता दे॒वमृ॒त्विज॑म् । प्र य॒ज्ञ ए॑त्वानु॒षग॒द्या दे॒वव्य॑चस्तमः ॥

Hold on to Agni, meditate, worship the power omnipresent in things born, generous Divinity, cosmic yajaka in seasons of time, holiest friend and companion, haven and home of divinities such as earth and heaven, and ultimately the power that winds up the cosmic game. May that Power and Presence, most intimate, reveal Itself in the heart, the friend, the Self.

· · ·

5.22.3

चि॒कि॒त्विन्म॑नसं त्वा दे॒वं मर्ता॑स ऊ॒तये॑ । वरे॑ण्यस्य॒ तेऽव॑स इया॒नासो॑ अमन्महि ॥

Agni, refulgent lord of life and giver of light, we mortals, approaching the generous lord of supreme intelligence worthy of choice for protection and enlightenment, meditate on your presence and pray for the favour of your grace.

· · ·

5.22.4

अग्ने॑ चिकि॒द्ध्य१॒॑स्य न॑ इ॒दं वचः॑ सहस्य । तं त्वा॑ सुशिप्र दम्पते॒ स्तोमै॑र्वर्ध॒न्त्यत्र॑यो गी॒र्भिः शु॑म्भ॒न्त्यत्र॑यः ॥

Agni, giver of strength and courage, listen to this word of our prayer for light, protection and advancement. O lord of gracious visor and presiding power of the home and family, celebrants free from three kinds of suffering, of body, mind and soul, exalt you with songs of celebration, supplicants free from three kinds of passion, hate, anger and greed, adore you with words of worship.

✦ Sukta 23 · 4 verses ✦

5.23.1

अग्ने॒ सह॑न्त॒मा भ॑र द्यु॒म्नस्य॑ प्रा॒सहा॑ र॒यिम् । विश्वा॒ यश्च॑र्ष॒णीर॒भ्या॒३॒॑सा वाजे॑षु सा॒सह॑त् ॥

Agni, commander of honour, power and majesty, bring us that wealth of strength and courage of the conviction, honour and dignity most forbearing, challenging and victorious which may instantly face, fight and overthrow all the opposing forces against humanity in the battles of life.

· · ·

5.23.2

तम॑ग्ने पृतना॒षहं॑ र॒यिं स॑हस्व॒ आ भ॑र । त्वं हि स॒त्यो अद्भु॑तो दा॒ता वाज॑स्य॒ गोम॑तः ॥

Agni, commander of valour and power, forbearing, challenging and victorious, bring us that overwhelming wealth of fighting force and stability which may face and overthrow the opposing forces of the enemy. You are the pillar of truth indispensable, wonderful, generous giver of food, energy and endurance, wonderful and in possession of cows, lands and the right language of communication.

· · ·

5.23.3

विश्वे॒ हि त्वा॑ स॒जोष॑सो॒ जना॑सो वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । होता॑रं॒ सद्म॑सु प्रि॒यं व्यन्ति॒ वार्या॑ पु॒रु ॥

Agni, all people, all friendly and allied forces ready in arms for the call, come and make choice offers of things required, without reservation, to you, host and yajaka, dear most welcome in homes and seats of government.

· · ·

5.23.4

स हि ष्मा॑ वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिर॒भिमा॑ति॒ सहो॑ द॒धे । अग्न॑ ए॒षु क्षये॒ष्वा रे॒वन्नः॑ शुक्र दीदिहि द्यु॒मत्पा॑वक दीदिहि ॥

Agni, that all watchful commander of the world brings us challenging strength and victorious force. Agni, light of life and ruler of the world, in these homes and places, shine, lord of wealth, shine for us, fire pure and light illuminating, shine in command of the wealth and honour of humanity.

✦ Sukta 24 · 4 verses ✦

5.24.1

अग्ने॒ त्वं नो॒ अन्त॑म उ॒त त्रा॒ता शि॒वो भ॑वा वरू॒थ्यः॑ ॥ वसु॑र॒ग्निर्वसु॑श्रवा॒ अच्छा॑ नक्षि द्यु॒मत्त॑मं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, fire of life, you are our closest friend and saviour. Be good and gracious, the very spirit and security of the home for the inmates.

· · ·

5.24.2

अग्ने॒ त्वं नो॒ अन्त॑म उ॒त त्रा॒ता शि॒वो भ॑वा वरू॒थ्यः॑ ॥ वसु॑र॒ग्निर्वसु॑श्रवा॒ अच्छा॑ नक्षि द्यु॒मत्त॑मं र॒यिं दाः॑ ॥

Agni, you are the home and shelter of the world. Pure and purifier, you create and give the food for life and energy, wealth and honour. Give us the food, energy and light of life. Come and pervade this home as the very spirit and security.

· · ·

5.24.3

स नो॑ बोधि श्रु॒धी हव॑मुरु॒ष्या णो॑ अघाय॒तः स॑मस्मात् ॥ तं त्वा॑ शोचिष्ठ दीदिवः सु॒म्नाय॑ नू॒नमी॑महे॒ सखि॑भ्यः ॥

Such is Agni. May the lord awaken us, listen, enlighten us. Hear our prayer, save us from all sin. We want no sin. We love no sin and evil.

· · ·

5.24.4

स नो॑ बोधि श्रु॒धी हव॑मुरु॒ष्या णो॑ अघाय॒तः स॑मस्मात् ॥ तं त्वा॑ शोचिष्ठ दीदिवः सु॒म्नाय॑ नू॒नमी॑महे॒ सखि॑भ्यः ॥

Lord most pure and purifying, light of illumination, with all our friends, for sure, we pray to you for peace and life’s well being.

✦ Sukta 25 · 9 verses ✦

5.25.1

अच्छा॑ वो अ॒ग्निमव॑से दे॒वं गा॑सि॒ स नो॒ वसुः॑ । रास॑त्पु॒त्र ऋ॑षू॒णामृ॒तावा॑ पर्षति द्वि॒षः ॥

Sing well of Agni, light of Divinity, with enthusiasm, for your protection and progress. He, spirit of truth and rectitude, who inspires the sages with the light of truth and life’s stability may, we pray, give us wealth and stability. Agni is a saviour as a son is, overcomes hate and enmity and takes us across the seas of life.

· · ·

5.25.2

स हि स॒त्यो यं पूर्वे॑ चिद्दे॒वास॑श्चि॒द्यमी॑धि॒रे । होता॑रं म॒न्द्रजि॑ह्व॒मित्सु॑दी॒तिभि॑र्वि॒भाव॑सुम् ॥

That alone is true, unquestionable and inviolable whom the seniors and brilliant sages kindle and install on the vedi, the leader and ruler, liberal giver and host of yajna, sweet and serious of tongue and commander of wealth and splendour by virtue of his innate light and flames of holy fire. (Swami Dayananda applies this mantra to the choice and investiture of a ruler.)

· · ·

5.25.3

स नो॑ धी॒ती वरि॑ष्ठया॒ श्रेष्ठ॑या च सुम॒त्या । अग्ने॑ रा॒यो दि॑दीहि नः सुवृ॒क्तिभि॑र्वरेण्य ॥

Agni, O lord of our love and choice, life of life, light of the world, give us the stability of mind and intelligence and, alongwith the highest, choicest and best thought and understanding, kindle and bring us splendid wealth with do’s and don’ts of holy teaching.

· · ·

5.25.4

अ॒ग्निर्दे॒वेषु॑ राजत्य॒ग्निर्मर्ते॑ष्वावि॒शन् । अ॒ग्निर्नो॑ हव्य॒वाह॑नो॒ऽग्निं धी॒भिः स॑पर्यत ॥

Agni, life of life, light of existence, revealing intelligence, natural energy, leading light, pervades, energises, inspires, shines, illuminates and enlightens as it is present in divinities such as earth, and nobilities such as

scholars and sages, and vibrates in all mortals. O scholars and sages, serve, pursue, and develop Agni with the best of your intelligence and understanding.

· · ·

5.25.5

अ॒ग्निस्तु॒विश्र॑वस्तमं तु॒विब्र॑ह्माणमुत्त॒मम् । अ॒तूर्तं॑ श्राव॒यत्प॑तिं पु॒त्रं द॑दाति दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

Agni, generous light of yajna, gives to a liberal yajaka and man of charity progeny fond of study and listening, abundant in food and wealth, widely read in sacred lore, most virtuous and invincible, who brings honour and glory to the parents.

· · ·

5.25.6

अ॒ग्निर्द॑दाति॒ सत्प॑तिं सा॒साह॒ यो यु॒धा नृभिः॑ । अ॒ग्निरत्यं॑ रघु॒ष्यदं॒ जेता॑र॒मप॑राजितम् ॥

Agni, lord of light and ruler, gives us a leader, ruler, and progeny who protects and supports the good, who fights and wins over evil with arms and forces, and to this invincible victor he gives transport and communications of fastest efficiency.

· · ·

5.25.7

यद्वाहि॑ष्ठं॒ तद॒ग्नये॑ बृ॒हद॑र्च विभावसो । महि॑षीव॒ त्वद्र॒यिस्त्वद्वाजा॒ उदी॑रते ॥

The fastest transport, fastest communication, lightning adoration is for Agni, lord of light and power. Shine high and wide and intense, blazing power, and as all greatness and grandeur flows from you, so do all wealth, all energy and all victories flow from you.

· · ·

5.25.8

तव॑ द्यु॒मन्तो॑ अ॒र्चयो॒ ग्रावे॑वोच्यते बृ॒हत् । उ॒तो ते॑ तन्य॒तुर्य॑था स्वा॒नो अ॑र्त॒ त्मना॑ दि॒वः ॥

Blazing are your flames of fire, radiant your rays of light. Your identity is proclaimed like rumble of the cloud, and your voice like thunder and lightning radiates from heavens by itself.

· · ·

5.25.9

ए॒वाँ अ॒ग्निं व॑सू॒यवः॑ सहसा॒नं व॑वन्दिम । स नो॒ विश्वा॒ अति॒ द्विषः॒ पर्ष॑न्ना॒वेव॑ सु॒क्रतुः॑ ॥

Thus do we, aspiring for wealth and power, adore and celebrate you, lord of forbearance, challenge and victory. May Agni, omnipotent lord of holy action, save us and, like a boat over seas, help us cross over all hate and enmity of the world.

✦ Sukta 26 · 9 verses ✦

5.26.1

अग्ने॑ पावक रो॒चिषा॑ म॒न्द्रया॑ देव जि॒ह्वया॑ । आ दे॒वान्व॑क्षि॒ यक्षि॑ च ॥

Agni, light of Divinity, fire of life, generous and brilliant giver of knowledge and enlightenment, with a sweet and lustrous tongue, bright and blissful, you bear and bring the divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity to the vedi and serve them from here with light and energy.

· · ·

5.26.2

तं त्वा॑ घृतस्नवीमहे॒ चित्र॑भानो स्व॒र्दृश॑म् । दे॒वाँ आ वी॒तये॑ वह ॥

Agni, pure and purifier, light of fire feeding on ghrta, showerer of life’s beauty and grace, shining with manifold lustre, indeed the very light and bliss of heaven, we pray: With a sweet and lustrous tongue of flame full of bliss, bring for us the nobilities and divinities of nature and humanity for a feast of pleasure and enlightenment and serve them with love and reverence.

· · ·

5.26.3

वी॒तिहो॑त्रं त्वा कवे द्यु॒मन्तं॒ समि॑धीमहि । अग्ने॑ बृ॒हन्त॑मध्व॒रे ॥

Agni, creative visionary of the light of heaven, in our yajnic project of love and non-violence, we invoke and enkindle you, universally great, self-refulgent and giver of the gifts of peace and enlightenment.

· · ·

5.26.4

अग्ने॒ विश्वे॑भि॒रा ग॑हि दे॒वेभि॑र्ह॒व्यदा॑तये । होता॑रं त्वा वृणीमहे ॥

Agni, light and fire of yajna, spirit of creation and cooperation, come with all the divinities and nobilities of nature and humanity for the presentation of the fruits of yajnic creation. We elect and invite you as the presiding priest and the chief yajaka.

· · ·

5.26.5

यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒त आग्ने॑ सु॒वीर्यं॑ वह । दे॒वैरा स॑त्सि ब॒र्हिषि॑ ॥

Agni, giver of the prizes of yajna, come with the divinities, sit with the nobilities on the holy grass in the holy assembly, bearing noble vigour and splendour for the host of yajna who prepares and offers the pleasure and power of peace and excellence in the yajna and bless him and all.

· · ·

5.26.6

स॒मि॒धा॒नः स॑हस्रजि॒दग्ने॒ धर्मा॑णि पुष्यसि । दे॒वानां॑ दू॒त उ॒क्थ्यः॑ ॥

Agni, burning and blazing, winning a thousand forces over, you protect and promote the universal values of knowledge and practical conduct in cooperation. Surely you are the adorable harbinger of the bounties of God and nature for humanity.

· · ·

5.26.7

न्य१॒॑ग्निं जा॒तवे॑दसं होत्र॒वाहं॒ यवि॑ष्ठ्यम् । दधा॑ता दे॒वमृ॒त्विज॑म् ॥

Hold on to Agni, light and fire of life, pervasive in all things in existence, bearer of yajna fragrance, most youthful energy, and divine yajaka of nature and humanity.

· · ·

5.26.8

प्र य॒ज्ञ ए॑त्वानु॒षग॒द्या दे॒वव्य॑चस्तमः । स्तृ॒णी॒त ब॒र्हिरा॒सदे॑ ॥

May the yajna, creative and fragrant activity of mankind and nature, spread around in due order and reach the bounds of divinities pervasive unto the ends of the expansive universe. Come ye devout performers, spread the holy grass for the yajnas and expansion of the fire and fragrance.

· · ·

5.26.9

एदं म॒रुतो॑ अ॒श्विना॑ मि॒त्रः सी॑दन्तु॒ वरु॑णः । दे॒वासः॒ सर्व॑या वि॒शा ॥

May the Maruts, dynamic leaders, Ashvins, complementary powers like teachers and preachers, friends, Varuna, judges, and brilliant nobilities with all the people come, and sit on this vedi for yajna.

✦ Sukta 27 · 6 verses ✦

5.27.1

अन॑स्वन्ता॒ सत्प॑तिर्मामहे मे॒ गावा॒ चेति॑ष्ठो॒ असु॑रो म॒घोनः॑ । त्रै॒वृ॒ष्णो अ॑ग्ने द॒शभिः॑ स॒हस्रै॒र्वैश्वा॑नर॒ त्र्य॑रुणश्चिकेत ॥

Agni, life and leader of humanity, the Lord, protector and sustainer of the true and the good, giver of higher knowledge, mighty powerful and dear as breath of life, shower of bliss for and from the earth and heaven and the sky, commanding existence, omniscience and beatitude, has blest me with tens, hundreds and thousands of cows and transports. I honour and exalt the lord of all wealth and power and pray the lord may know my people and my gifted power and potential and protect the same.

· · ·

5.27.2

यो मे॑ श॒ता च॑ विंश॒तिं च॒ गोनां॒ हरी॑ च यु॒क्ता सु॒धुरा॒ ददा॑ति । वैश्वा॑नर॒ सुष्टु॑तो वावृधा॒नोऽग्ने॒ यच्छ॒ त्र्य॑रुणाय॒ शर्म॑ ॥

Agni, life and light pervasive in the world, leader of entire humanity, honoured, exalted and exalting in the universe, you give me teams of twenty and hundred cows and horses yoked to well structured and firmly balanced chariots, pray give a happy and comfortable home for the man aspiring for the truth, beauty and goodness of life.

· · ·

5.27.3

ए॒वा ते॑ अग्ने सुम॒तिं च॑का॒नो नवि॑ष्ठाय नव॒मं त्र॒सद॑स्युः । यो मे॒ गिर॑स्तुविजा॒तस्य॑ पू॒र्वीर्यु॒क्तेना॒भि त्र्य॑रुणो गृ॒णाति॑ ॥

O lord of light and life, Agni, thus does Trasadasyu, the man terror for the wicked, aspiring for favour of your attention and kindness, Tryaruna, blest with physical health, mental insight and spiritual vision, with concentrative mind sings anew in praise of you, lord ever fresh and most youthful, who ‘for me (i.e.Trasadasyu, Tryaruna) reveal the ancient and eternal Word of omniscient awareness’.

· · ·

5.27.4

यो म॒ इति॑ प्र॒वोच॒त्यश्व॑मेधाय सू॒रये॑ । दद॑दृ॒चा स॒निं य॒ते दद॑न्मे॒धामृ॑ताय॒ते ॥

“Who for me reveals the ancient and eternal Word...”, whoever speaks thus in homage to Agni in the interest of the social order of the world and for advancement of the brave, enlightened people, to him, endeavouring with holy chant, may Agni give wealth, to him, aspiring for truth and rectitude, may the lord grant the light of divine intelligence.

· · ·

5.27.5

यस्य॑ मा परु॒षाः श॒तमु॑द्ध॒र्षय॑न्त्यु॒क्षणः॑ । अश्व॑मेधस्य॒ दानाः॒ सोमा॑इव॒ त्र्या॑शिरः ॥

The loud and bold voices, creative acts and generous gifts of ‘ashvamedha’, national yajna in relation to threefold programmes for life, environment and energy, like a drink of soma, give me pleasure in a hundred ways.

· · ·

5.27.6

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी शत॒दाव्न्यश्व॑मेधे सु॒वीर्य॑म् । क्ष॒त्रं धा॑रयतं बृ॒हद्दि॒वि सूर्य॑मिवा॒जर॑म् ॥

May Indra and Agni, knowledge and power, force of law and enlightenment, generous and giving in a hundred ways, in this ashvamedha yajna, i.e., nonviolent holy plan and programme of national development and governance, enact, uphold and sustain the social order as they hold the sun in the vast heaven. Unaging, ever young harbingers of honour and valour to the system, ever fresh they are.

✦ Sukta 28 · 6 verses ✦

5.28.1

समि॑द्धो अ॒ग्निर्दि॒वि शो॒चिर॑श्रेत्प्र॒त्यङ्ङु॒षस॑मुर्वि॒या वि भा॑ति । एति॒ प्राची॑ वि॒श्ववा॑रा॒ नमो॑भिर्दे॒वाँ ईळा॑ना ह॒विषा॑ घृ॒ताची॑ ॥

The fire of yajna, kindled and rising, reaches the light and energy in the solar sphere and, with its various and expansive lustre, extends to the dawn, and then the East. Vishvavara, laden with versatile food and energy for the world, activating nature’s bounties like a yajnic ladle full of ghrta, it illuminates and showers the world with gifts of Divinity at the end of the dewy night.

· · ·

5.28.2

स॒मि॒ध्यमा॑नो अ॒मृत॑स्य राजसि ह॒विष्कृ॒ण्वन्तं॑ सचसे स्व॒स्तये॑ । विश्वं॒ स ध॑त्ते॒ द्रवि॑णं॒ यमिन्व॑स्याति॒थ्यम॑ग्ने॒ नि च॑ धत्त॒ इत्पु॒रः ॥

Agni, O light and fire of life, kindled and raised in the vedi and in the mind, you rise and shine in the midst of immortality and abide with the supplicant yajaka as a friend for his life’s well being. Whoever you inspire, invigorate and, as a friend, take up under your care and protection, the person wins, holds and commands the world’s wealth in existence and, since then for all time, O light divine, he offers service with complete surrender in obedience to your will like hospitality in obligation to an honoured guest.

· · ·

5.28.3

अग्ने॒ शर्ध॑ मह॒ते सौभ॑गाय॒ तव॑ द्यु॒म्नान्यु॑त्त॒मानि॑ सन्तु । सं जा॑स्प॒त्यं सु॒यम॒मा कृ॑णुष्व शत्रूय॒ताम॒भि ति॑ष्ठा॒ महां॑सि ॥

Agni, mighty power, may your highest gifts of wealth, honour and splendour be for great good fortune and well being in life. Make our homes full of conjugal bliss, well maintained with discipline and control. Help us face and fight out the greatest enemies in the conflicts of life.

· · ·

5.28.4

समि॑द्धस्य॒ प्रम॑ह॒सोऽग्ने॒ वन्दे॒ तव॒ श्रिय॑म् । वृ॒ष॒भो द्यु॒म्नवाँ॑ असि॒ सम॑ध्व॒रेष्वि॑ध्यसे ॥

Agni, mighty ruling power of the world, burning bright and great, I honour and adore your wealth and splendour. Valorous and generous, prosperous and majestic, you shine glorious in the yajnic projects of the world.

· · ·

5.28.5

समि॑द्धो अग्न आहुत दे॒वान्य॑क्षि स्वध्वर । त्वं हि ह॑व्य॒वाळसि॑ ॥

Agni, invoked, kindled and raised to the full in light and splendour, you honour and inspire the nobilities of humanity and feed and replenish the bounties of nature. O noble power of the yajnas of love and non-violence, you are the receiver and disseminator of our oblations and you are the harbinger of the gifts of nature’s bounties.

· · ·

5.28.6

आ जु॑होता दुव॒स्यता॒ग्निं प्र॑य॒त्य॑ध्व॒रे । वृ॒णी॒ध्वं ह॑व्य॒वाह॑नम् ॥

O man, honour and serve Agni with offers of fragrant havi in creative and developmental programmes of love and non-violence in humanity. Select, elect and serve the light and fire of life, receiver of our oblations and giver of the gifts of life and nature. (Swami Dayananda interprets Agni as the fire of yajna, as the scholar and teacher who gives knowledge, and as the ruler who receives, creates and distributes the wealth in the social order of humanity with love and without violence.)

✦ Sukta 29 · 15 verses ✦

5.29.1

त्र्य॑र्य॒मा मनु॑षो दे॒वता॑ता॒ त्री रो॑च॒ना दि॒व्या धा॑रयन्त । अर्च॑न्ति त्वा म॒रुतः॑ पू॒तद॑क्षा॒स्त्वमे॑षा॒मृषि॑रिन्द्रासि॒ धीरः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and ruling power of the world, in the holy yajna of the social order, its governance and administration, those heroes of the speed of winds honour and serve you whose strength and expertise is pure and sanctified : men of judgement and discretion who are thrice blest with full knowledge, noble action and devotion to Divinity; men of brilliance who are self-established with health of body, mind and soul, familial joy and social commitment; and men who enjoy the favour and grace of Divinity. Indra, you are their seer, philosopher and guide, imperturbable, inviolable and unchallengeable.

· · ·

5.29.2

अनु॒ यदीं॑ म॒रुतो॑ मन्दसा॒नमार्च॒न्निन्द्रं॑ पपि॒वांसं॑ सु॒तस्य॑ । आद॑त्त॒ वज्र॑म॒भि यदहिं॒ हन्न॒पो य॒ह्वीर॑सृज॒त्सर्त॒वा उ॑ ॥

With dedication and loyalty, when the Maruts, supportive heroes of the social order, serve and honour Indra, the ruler, happy and honourable, ruling and enjoying the state entrusted to him, then, just as the sun with thunder and lightning breaks up the clouds and releases the showers and mighty streams aflow, he too takes over the thunderbolt of law and power and, striking the serpentine demons of darkness and evil, sets the mighty streams of national energy to flow in showers and creative streams.

· · ·

5.29.3

उ॒त ब्र॑ह्माणो मरुतो मे अ॒स्येन्द्रः॒ सोम॑स्य॒ सुषु॑तस्य पेयाः । तद्धि ह॒व्यं मनु॑षे॒ गा अवि॑न्द॒दह॒न्नहिं॑ पपि॒वाँ इन्द्रो॑ अस्य ॥

And may the Maruts, heroes of the winds, dedicated to Brahma and the Vedas and the ruling lord Indra, now drink of this soma of national honour and glory so well distilled by me. That honour and glory alone, dedicated to Divinity in yajna, for man can win cows and lands and holy wisdom, of which Indra alone is the guardian, having destroyed the forces of evil.

· · ·

5.29.4

आद्रोद॑सी वित॒रं वि ष्क॑भायत्संविव्या॒नश्चि॑द्भि॒यसे॑ मृ॒गं कः॑ । जिग॑र्ति॒मिन्द्रो॑ अप॒जर्गु॑राणः॒ प्रति॑ श्व॒सन्त॒मव॑ दान॒वं ह॑न् ॥

And then Indra holds and firms up the earth and heaven separate and yet together pervading both with his presence and power just like separating a fearstricken deer and a devouring tiger by the power of his presence and holding off the demon tiger snorting fiercely. (Compare the laws of gravitation separating and holding together in firm relationship two heavenly bodies according to their mass and distance under the presiding presence of the force of natural omnipotence.)

· · ·

5.29.5

अध॒ क्रत्वा॑ मघव॒न्तुभ्यं॑ दे॒वा अनु॒ विश्वे॑ अददुः सोम॒पेय॑म् । यत्सूर्य॑स्य ह॒रितः॒ पत॑न्तीः पु॒रः स॒तीरुप॑रा॒ एत॑शे॒ कः ॥

And further, O lord of honour and power of omnipotence, all the divinities of nature and humanity offer you the drink of soma in response to your yajnic action of systemic integration and sustenance when the various rays of the sun radiating forward all round and nourishing life stop on the planet on your behest (to feed life and drink up the sweet juices of soma).

· · ·

5.29.6

नव॒ यद॑स्य नव॒तिं च॑ भो॒गान्त्सा॒कं वज्रे॑ण म॒घवा॑ विवृ॒श्चत् । अर्च॒न्तीन्द्रं॑ म॒रुतः॑ स॒धस्थे॒ त्रैष्टु॑भेन॒ वच॑सा बाधत॒ द्याम् ॥

When Indra with thunder and lightning destroys ninetynine serpentine strongholds of evil and darkness obstructing the light of Divinity in this world, then the Maruts, guardian forces of humanity on earth, honour and adore the omnipotent lord with trishtubha hymns of celebration.

· · ·

5.29.7

सखा॒ सख्ये॑ अपच॒त्तूय॑म॒ग्निर॒स्य क्रत्वा॑ महि॒षा त्री श॒तानि॑ । त्री सा॒कमिन्द्रो॒ मनु॑षः॒ सरां॑सि सु॒तं पि॑बद्वृत्र॒हत्या॑य॒ सोम॑म् ॥

Agni, a friend, for a friend, Indra, alongwith Indra and the holy action of Indra, the sun, in this world soon ripens the sap in three hundred fields and forests of man, and then Indra, great and generous, drinks up the soma in order to break the clouds of rain and let the rivers flow to fill three great lakes in three worlds of heaven, earth and sky.

· · ·

5.29.8

त्री यच्छ॒ता म॑हि॒षाणा॒मघो॒ मास्त्री सरां॑सि म॒घवा॑ सो॒म्यापाः॑ । का॒रं न विश्वे॑ अह्वन्त दे॒वा भर॒मिन्द्रा॑य॒ यदहिं॑ ज॒घान॑ ॥

Indra, inviolable lord, commanding honour, power and excellence, when you ripen and mature three hundred great fields and forests and create and protect three great lakes of soma, all the divinities of the world invoke Indra like a great hero and offer homage since he breaks the cloud of serpentine hoards of showers.

· · ·

5.29.9

उ॒शना॒ यत्स॑ह॒स्यै॒३॒॑रया॑तं गृ॒हमि॑न्द्र जूजुवा॒नेभि॒रश्वैः॑ । व॒न्वा॒नो अत्र॑ स॒रथं॑ ययाथ॒ कुत्से॑न दे॒वैरव॑नोर्ह॒ शुष्ण॑म् ॥

Indra, glorious ruler, when the man of light and passion and you both come home by chariot driven by swift and robust horses, then, again with love and desire for victory, pray go with the thunderbolt and the best of the brilliancies and defend the strength and honour of the nation.

· · ·

5.29.10

प्रान्यच्च॒क्रम॑वृहः॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ कुत्सा॑या॒न्यद्वरि॑वो॒ यात॑वेऽकः । अ॒नासो॒ दस्यूँ॑रमृणो व॒धेन॒ नि दु॑र्यो॒ण आ॑वृणङ्मृ॒ध्रवा॑चः ॥

Extend the orbit of enlightenment for the thunderbolt. Clear the paths and areas for development, peace and freedom of movement. Eliminate the shameless, the wicked and the thieves with punishment, and stop the entry of the malicious, throw them in jail.

· · ·

5.29.11

स्तोमा॑सस्त्वा॒ गौरि॑वीतेरवर्ध॒न्नर॑न्धयो वैदथि॒नाय॒ पिप्रु॑म् । आ त्वामृ॒जिश्वा॑ स॒ख्याय॑ चक्रे॒ पच॑न्प॒क्तीरपि॑बः॒ सोम॑मस्य ॥

May the eulogies of the poetic lovers of song and their singers exalt you. Punish the man who exalts and raises the warring forces against you. Let the men of simple honest mind be keen to make friends with you. Maturing and completing the plans and programmes of the state, celebrate and enjoy the honour and splendour of the order.

· · ·

5.29.12

नव॑ग्वासः सु॒तसो॑मास॒ इन्द्रं॒ दश॑ग्वासो अ॒भ्य॑र्चन्त्य॒र्कैः । गव्यं॑ चिदू॒र्वम॑पि॒धान॑वन्तं॒ तं चि॒न्नरः॑ शशमा॒ना अप॑ व्रन् ॥

Men of new ideas treading new paths of knowledge and polity, men of controlled mind and senses, celebrants ready with distilled exhilarating soma, adore Indra with songs and presentations of homage and, celebrating him, the dedicated admirers, best of men and leaders, extol him revealing his vast but hidden virtues of divine knowledge.

· · ·

5.29.13

क॒थो नु ते॒ परि॑ चराणि वि॒द्वान्वी॒र्या॑ मघव॒न्या च॒कर्थ॑ । या चो॒ नु नव्या॑ कृ॒णवः॑ शविष्ठ॒ प्रेदु॒ ता ते॑ वि॒दथे॑षु ब्रवाम ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, mightiest hero commanding wealth, power, honour and excellence, sage and scholar, how shall we, in yajnic assemblies of the nation, fully describe, sing and celebrate your achievements and your potential, the exploits that you have done and those new ones you are sure to achieve henceforth ?

· · ·

5.29.14

ए॒ता विश्वा॑ चकृ॒वाँ इ॑न्द्र॒ भूर्यप॑रीतो ज॒नुषा॑ वी॒र्ये॑ण । या चि॒न्नु व॑ज्रिन्कृ॒णवो॑ दधृ॒ष्वान्न ते॑ व॒र्ता तवि॑ष्या अस्ति॒ तस्याः॑ ॥

All these many exploits of the world [from creation and sustenance to organisation, organisational elimination included], Indra, ruler and lord of power and excellence, which you have done and which you would do, unresisted and irresistible, by nature and nurture, by vigour and valour, O wielder of the thunderbolt, bold and terrific, no one can comprehend. There is none who can obstruct, hold or surpass those overwhelming powers and forces of yours.

· · ·

5.29.15

इन्द्र॒ ब्रह्म॑ क्रि॒यमा॑णा जुषस्व॒ या ते॑ शविष्ठ॒ नव्या॒ अक॑र्म । वस्त्रे॑व भ॒द्रा सुकृ॑ता वसू॒यू रथं॒ न धीरः॒ स्वपा॑ अतक्षम् ॥

Indra, the holy chant and homage of gifts, newest and latest, being offered, graciously accept and cherish, which, for you, O lord most powerful, we have created. Like a beautiful dress of thought and devotion, I, a sincere artist in pursuit of life’s wealth and peace and a steadfast and skilful maker, have designed and created the song like a chariot.

✦ Sukta 30 · 15 verses ✦

5.30.1

क्व१॒॑ स्य वी॒रः को अ॑पश्य॒दिन्द्रं॑ सु॒खर॑थ॒मीय॑मानं॒ हरि॑भ्याम् । यो रा॒या व॒ज्री सु॒तसो॑ममि॒च्छन्तदोको॒ गन्ता॑ पुरुहू॒त ऊ॒ती ॥

Where is that thunderous catalytic power? Who saw that Indra, harbinger of peace and comfort travelling like a pleasing chariot along the waves of attraction and repulsion which, laden with wealth and wielding the force of thunder moves on and, invoked and invited by many for protection and promotion, goes to the house of the host with desire for the taste of life’s pleasure?

· · ·

5.30.2

अवा॑चचक्षं प॒दम॑स्य स॒स्वरु॒ग्रं नि॑धा॒तुरन्वा॑यमि॒च्छन् । अपृ॑च्छम॒न्याँ उ॒त ते म॑ आहु॒रिन्द्रं॒ नरो॑ बुबुधा॒ना अ॑शेम ॥

With the desire to pursue and achieve success, I have discovered and described the science of this mighty source of immanent energy. Let me consult and ask others too who would speak of Indra, the energy, to me. And the best of men and leading scholars among men, enlightened all, we would realise and achieve it in full.

· · ·

5.30.3

प्र नु व॒यं सु॒ते या ते॑ कृ॒तानीन्द्र॒ ब्रवा॑म॒ यानि॑ नो॒ जुजो॑षः । वेद॒दवि॑द्वाञ्छृ॒णव॑च्च वि॒द्वान्वह॑ते॒ऽयं म॒घवा॒ सर्व॑सेनः ॥

The knowledge acquired and energy created in practice, O scholar, Indra, let us speak of and proclaim your achievements which you share with us. Let those who don’t know hear and know of it too. This scholar who bears the knowledge and power is the mighty possessor of honour and excellence, and he commands all the power and the forces.

· · ·

5.30.4

स्थि॒रं मन॑श्चकृषे जा॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ वेषीदेको॑ यु॒धये॒ भूय॑सश्चित् । अश्मा॑नं चि॒च्छव॑सा दिद्युतो॒ वि वि॒दो गवा॑मू॒र्वमु॒स्रिया॑णाम् ॥

Indra, commander of light, knowledge and power, rising, you firm and resolve the mind to stability and constancy. In battle, you alone, by yourself, overcome many. You illuminate the cloud and the firmament and break the mountain with your power and force, and you recover and reveal the vastness of earth, the sun rays, the wisdom of knowledge and the ocean fire enshrined in words.

· · ·

5.30.5

प॒रो यत्त्वं प॑र॒म आ॒जनि॑ष्ठाः परा॒वति॒ श्रुत्यं॒ नाम॒ बिभ्र॑त् । अत॑श्चि॒दिन्द्रा॑दभयन्त दे॒वा विश्वा॑ अ॒पो अ॑जयद्दा॒सप॑त्नीः ॥

When you, highest and best power, arise and manifest, bearing great name and high renown in far off regions, and win over and release the waters concealed in the cloud, since then all the forces of nature accept the power of Indra and obey the divine law.

· · ·

5.30.6

तुभ्येदे॒ते म॒रुतः॑ सु॒शेवा॒ अर्च॑न्त्य॒र्कं सु॒न्वन्त्यन्धः॑ । अहि॑मोहा॒नम॒प आ॒शया॑नं॒ प्र मा॒याभि॑र्मा॒यिनं॑ सक्ष॒दिन्द्रः॑ ॥

Vibrant heroes and these yajakas in obedient service offer you songs of adoration, prepare the food and distil the soma for you, Indra. And with his wondrous forces, Indra engages the crafty cloud holding the waters by his deceptive wiles and sleeping like a giant in apparent security.

· · ·

5.30.7

वि षू मृधो॑ ज॒नुषा॒ दान॒मिन्व॒न्नह॒न्गवा॑ मघवन्त्संचका॒नः । अत्रा॑ दा॒सस्य॒ नमु॑चेः॒ शिरो॒ यदव॑र्तयो॒ मन॑वे गा॒तुमि॒च्छन् ॥

Indra, commander of honour and valour, ruling lord of excellence, from your very emergence thirsting for battle, breaking the cloud with the roar of thunder and lightning, energising and winning prizes for humanity with the desire to make way for progress, you arise here and now and break the stronghold of the dark cloud locking up the waters of rain showers.

· · ·

5.30.8

युजं॒ हि मामकृ॑था॒ आदिदि॑न्द्र॒ शिरो॑ दा॒सस्य॒ नमु॑चेर्मथा॒यन् । अश्मा॑नं चित्स्व॒र्यं१॒॑ वर्त॑मानं॒ प्र च॒क्रिये॑व॒ रोद॑सी म॒रुद्भ्यः॑ ॥

Make me your friend and instrument since you break the top of the cloud, replete with vapours but resistant to release the rain, hold the firmament wheeling, circling and resounding, and divide space into earth and heaven and make them turn round and round like wheels for the winds to blow in the firmament and the humans to live on the earth.

· · ·

5.30.9

स्त्रियो॒ हि दा॒स आयु॑धानि च॒क्रे किं मा॑ करन्नब॒ला अ॑स्य॒ सेनाः॑ । अ॒न्तर्ह्यख्य॑दु॒भे अ॑स्य॒ धेने॒ अथोप॒ प्रैद्यु॒धये॒ दस्यु॒मिन्द्रः॑ ॥

Dasa, enemy of an inferior order, uses women as secret weapons and warriors. But what can these poor forces do against me (in violation of my discretion]. Let the ruler, Indra, see deep into both the language and warriors [of this enemy, the open policy and the secret tactics), and then advance upon the slavish enemy to engage him in battle.

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5.30.10

समत्र॒ गावो॒ऽभितो॑ऽनवन्ते॒हेह॑ व॒त्सैर्वियु॑ता॒ यदास॑न् । सं ता इन्द्रो॑ असृजदस्य शा॒कैर्यदीं॒ सोमा॑सः॒ सुषु॑ता॒ अम॑न्दन् ॥

If the cows exult in unison with calves everywhere, if the sunrays play together on the herbs, if the lands smile with greenery and the earth rejoices with her children, and then, suppose the cows were separated from the calves, the rays of the sun were intercepted from the herbs, the lands were locked off from greenery, the earth were bereft of her children, then must Indra, brilliant ruler of the earth and the skies, should join the mothers and children with his might so that the soma drinks distilled may gladden him and his ruling order.

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5.30.11

यदीं॒ सोमा॑ ब॒भ्रुधू॑ता॒ अम॑न्द॒न्नरो॑रवीद्वृष॒भः साद॑नेषु । पु॒रं॒द॒रः प॑पि॒वाँ इन्द्रो॑ अस्य॒ पुन॒र्गवा॑मददादु॒स्रिया॑णाम् ॥

When the somas, honours and pleasures of the earth, created, distilled and energised by the sagely scholars and people of yajnic creativity, exhilarate Indra, the ruler and his order, then the generous and valorous lord roars in the assemblies and in the homesteads and he, breaker of the enemy strongholds, having drunk of the honour and glory of the nation, again gives to the nation fertile lands, cows, open sunlight and words of holy speech.

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5.30.12

भ॒द्रमि॒दं रु॒शमा॑ अग्ने अक्र॒न्गवां॑ च॒त्वारि॒ दद॑तः स॒हस्रा॑ । ऋ॒णं॒च॒यस्य॒ प्रय॑ता म॒घानि॒ प्रत्य॑ग्रभीष्म॒ नृत॑मस्य नृ॒णाम् ॥

Agni, refulgent ruler, it is a great blessing of Indra, the sun, giver of four thousand rays of light, wealth of existence, and destroyers of negativities, which he collects from nature, and gives us. He is the best leader and guide of humanity, and with gratitude and best efforts we should acknowledge and benefit from these gifts of energy and power.

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5.30.13

सु॒पेश॑सं॒ माव॑ सृज॒न्त्यस्तं॒ गवां॑ स॒हस्रै॑ रु॒शमा॑सो अग्ने । ती॒व्रा इन्द्र॑मममन्दुः सु॒तासो॒ऽक्तोर्व्यु॑ष्टौ॒ परि॑तक्म्यायाः ॥

Agni, refulgent ruler, brilliant forces, destroyers of evil and darkness, create and give me a beautiful home with a thousand bright rays of light, and at the end of the departing night in the light of the dawn, blazing fires bear distilled soma oblations and rise to Indra, the sun, and give him delight.

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5.30.14

औच्छ॒त्सा रात्री॒ परि॑तक्म्या॒ याँ ऋ॑णंच॒ये राज॑नि रु॒शमा॑नाम् । अत्यो॒ न वा॒जी र॒घुर॒ज्यमा॑नो ब॒भ्रुश्च॒त्वार्य॑सनत्स॒हस्रा॑ ॥

When the fugitive night of rest and peace in the home departs, having made up the want of light at the rise of dawn, blest and beautiful, collecting and bearing nature’s gifts, then babhru, the crimson sun, sustainer of life, moving like a flying horse at instant speed, showers four thousand gifts of energy and intelligence and the creative yajaka receives and shares the gifts on and from the vedi.

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5.30.15

चतुः॑सहस्रं॒ गव्य॑स्य प॒श्वः प्रत्य॑ग्रभीष्म रु॒शमे॑ष्वग्ने । घ॒र्मश्चि॑त्त॒प्तः प्र॒वृजे॒ य आसी॑दय॒स्मय॒स्तम्वादा॑म॒ विप्राः॑ ॥

Agni, O self-refulgent light of life, glorious ruler of the world, let us receive and share four thousand gifts of the wealth of light, energy and intelligence present in the lights of the dawn, and let us, O friends of knowledge, vibrant scholars, receive and share that golden wealth and heat of life which is tempered and refined in the pravargya yajna of self sacrifice and surrender.

✦ Sukta 31 · 13 verses ✦

5.31.1

इन्द्रो॒ रथा॑य प्र॒वतं॑ कृणोति॒ यम॒ध्यस्था॑न्म॒घवा॑ वाज॒यन्त॑म् । यू॒थेव॑ प॒श्वो व्यु॑नोति गो॒पा अरि॑ष्टो याति प्रथ॒मः सिषा॑सन् ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence, commander of power and forces, accelerates whichever supersonic chariot he rides and inspires whichever region he rules for a great leap forward to the heights. All round protector and pioneer, like a shepherd who leads and drives his flock and followers forward, he gives the clarion call, gathers his forces with the desire to advance and win, and goes fast forward, unhurt and unobstructed, first and foremost leader and pioneer thirsting to realise his ambition.

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5.31.2

आ प्र द्र॑व हरिवो॒ मा वि वे॑नः॒ पिश॑ङ्गराते अ॒भि नः॑ सचस्व । न॒हि त्वदि॑न्द्र॒ वस्यो॑ अ॒न्यदस्त्य॑मे॒नाँश्चि॒ज्जनि॑वतश्चकर्थ ॥

Indra, commander of horse and speed of progress, giver of golden wealth, advance all round, be not lustful, be with us and share the honours. There is none better settled, successful and prosperous than you. Look after the unmarried, widows and widowers, help them to have a meaningful life.

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5.31.3

उद्यत्सहः॒ सह॑स॒ आज॑निष्ट॒ देदि॑ष्ट॒ इन्द्र॑ इन्द्रि॒याणि॒ विश्वा॑ । प्राचो॑दयत्सु॒दुघा॑ व॒व्रे अ॒न्तर्वि ज्योति॑षा संववृ॒त्वत्तमो॑ऽवः ॥

When strength and virility is born and matures with the growth of health and vitality, then let Indra, the disciplined soul, control and command all the senses, mind and intellect, awaken and exercise the creative potentials innate but yet dormant within, and with inner light of the soul keep off the resurgent darkness.

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5.31.4

अन॑वस्ते॒ रथ॒मश्वा॑य तक्ष॒न्त्वष्टा॒ वज्रं॑ पुरुहूत द्यु॒मन्त॑म् । ब्र॒ह्माण॒ इन्द्रं॑ म॒हय॑न्तो अ॒र्कैरव॑र्धय॒न्नह॑ये॒ हन्त॒वा उ॑ ॥

Indra, mighty ruler, expert craftsmen design and make the chariot for your fast movement and communication, the defence scientist and engineer, Tvashta, makes the blazing thunderbolt for you, and the scholars of the Veda celebrate your power and glory with hymns of adoration and exalt you to break the demonic cloud of darkness and want for showers of rain and prosperity.

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5.31.5

वृष्णे॒ यत्ते॒ वृष॑णो अ॒र्कमर्चा॒निन्द्र॒ ग्रावा॑णो॒ अदि॑तिः स॒जोषाः॑ । अ॒न॒श्वासो॒ ये प॒वयो॑ऽर॒था इन्द्रे॑षिता अ॒भ्यव॑र्तन्त॒ दस्यू॑न् ॥

Indra, ruler of honour and excellence, when the brave warriors and noble citizens offer songs of adoration to you, then, O generous lord, the clouds and the sky in unison with them and with you and those dynamic powers even without horse and chariot, inspired by your power and grace, surround the wicked and destroy them.

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5.31.6

प्र ते॒ पूर्वा॑णि॒ कर॑णानि वोचं॒ प्र नूत॑ना मघव॒न्या च॒कर्थ॑ । शक्ती॑वो॒ यद्वि॒भरा॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे जय॑न्न॒पो मन॑वे॒ दानु॑चित्राः ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, honour and excellence, commanding force and power, let me speak to you of the acts and instruments old and new which you have achieved and which you would achieve, which scholars and scientists, having immense knowledge and bearing immense possibilities of gifts for mankind, exploring both earth and the skies, would make it possible for you to win waters from the clouds and pranic energies from air.

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5.31.7

तदिन्नु ते॒ कर॑णं दस्म वि॒प्राहिं॒ यद्घ्नन्नोजो॒ अत्रामि॑मीथाः । शुष्ण॑स्य चि॒त्परि॑ मा॒या अ॑गृभ्णाः प्रपि॒त्वं यन्नप॒ दस्यूँ॑रसेधः ॥

That is your act, achievement and further possibility, generous ruler of the world, giver of gifts, and eminent scholar, since you break the clouds, destroy the serpentine demons of darkness, create prosperity and excellence for mankind here on earth, and, mastering the wondrous knowledge of the secrets of energy and techniques of power, you stall the negativities, make the waters flow and achieve further progress.

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5.31.8

त्वम॒पो यद॑वे तु॒र्वशा॒यार॑मयः सु॒दुघाः॑ पा॒र इ॑न्द्र । उ॒ग्रम॑यात॒मव॑हो ह॒ कुत्सं॒ सं ह॒ यद्वा॑मु॒शनार॑न्त दे॒वाः ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, giver of honour and glory, pioneer and helmsman of the people, you make the abundant waters flow for Yadu and Turvasha, men of management, production and control, you achieve the rare and difficult energy of electricity powerful as thunderbolt, and then the brilliant people, lovers of life and humanity all, enthusiastically admire and celebrate both you and your thunderous achievement.

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5.31.9

इन्द्रा॑कुत्सा॒ वह॑माना॒ रथे॒ना वा॒मत्या॒ अपि॒ कर्णे॑ वहन्तु । निः षी॑म॒द्भ्यो धम॑थो॒ निः ष॒धस्था॑न्म॒घोनो॑ हृ॒दो व॑रथ॒स्तमां॑सि ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, and Kutsa, creator and controller of energy and the force of power, both travelling by chariot, let the running horse powers of energy at instant speed transport you both to the centre of life’s business. Both energy and power arise from the currents of waters and waves (as of sunrays), and both of you control and complete the projects from your seat of office and residence, wherefrom you dispel the darkness and want from the centre of their power and prosperity.

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5.31.10

वात॑स्य यु॒क्तान्त्सु॒युज॑श्चि॒दश्वा॑न्क॒विश्चि॑दे॒षो अ॑जगन्नव॒स्युः । विश्वे॑ ते॒ अत्र॑ म॒रुतः॒ सखा॑य॒ इन्द्र॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि॒ तवि॑षीमवर्धन् ॥

Let this scholar of creative vision working for defence and protection, take to, explore and advance the forceful currents of winds employed as effective agents of travel and transport. All your scholars, friends and forces here, O powerful ruler, at the speed of winds increase and advance the power, prosperity and defence potential of the land.

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5.31.11

सूर॑श्चि॒द्रथं॒ परि॑तक्म्यायां॒ पूर्वं॑ कर॒दुप॑रं जूजु॒वांस॑म् । भर॑च्च॒क्रमेत॑शः॒ सं रि॑णाति पु॒रो दध॑त्सनिष्यति॒ क्रतुं॑ नः ॥

Let the brave and brilliant pilot of the chariot first steady the chariot in the initial motion in the night and then take off rising to the clouds. The craft bearing its gears and stages of motion presses forward, conducting our project onward perfectly as intended.

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5.31.12

आयं ज॑ना अभि॒चक्षे॑ जगा॒मेन्द्रः॒ सखा॑यं सु॒तसो॑ममि॒च्छन् । वद॒न्ग्रावाव॒ वेदिं॑ भ्रियाते॒ यस्य॑ जी॒रम॑ध्व॒र्यव॒श्चर॑न्ति ॥

O citizens of the land, this Indra, the ruling lord, has come to the yajna vedi to see his friends and all with the desire to observe and enjoy the finest achievements of the nation. The scholars too proclaiming their achievements are brought to the vedi where learned priests dedicated to the yajna of love and non-violence conduct and manage the programme and its progress.

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5.31.13

ये चा॒कन॑न्त चा॒कन॑न्त॒ नू ते मर्ता॑ अमृत॒ मो ते अंह॒ आर॑न् । वा॒व॒न्धि यज्यूँ॑रु॒त तेषु॑ धे॒ह्योजो॒ जने॑षु॒ येषु॑ ते॒ स्याम॑ ॥

O lord of immortality, Indra, those who love truth, knowledge and peaceful progress for themselves and others may abide loving and self sacrificing. May the mortals never come to suffer evil, never commit sin and crime. Bond with the yajakas who are committed to truth and holy action, vest them with honour and splendour, and bless us that we too, your own, be among them.

✦ Sukta 32 · 12 verses ✦

5.32.1

अद॑र्द॒रुत्स॒मसृ॑जो॒ वि खानि॒ त्वम॑र्ण॒वान्ब॑द्बधा॒नाँ अ॑रम्णाः । म॒हान्त॑मिन्द्र॒ पर्व॑तं॒ वि यद्वः सृ॒जो वि धारा॒ अव॑ दान॒वं ह॑न् ॥

Indra, maker and breaker of things, you break open the springs, open the doors, let the streams aflow, and free the bonded to live free and enjoy, you who break the cloud and the mountain, let out the streams to flow into rivers and the sea, having destroyed the demons and broken the cloud.

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5.32.2

त्वमुत्साँ॑ ऋ॒तुभि॑र्बद्बधा॒नाँ अरं॑ह॒ ऊधः॒ पर्व॑तस्य वज्रिन् । अहिं॑ चिदुग्र॒ प्रयु॑तं॒ शया॑नं जघ॒न्वाँ इ॑न्द्र॒ तवि॑षीमधत्थाः ॥

Indra, lord of the thunderbolt, you let the locked up springs of water flow like milky streams of the cloud down the mountain slopes according to the seasons. O ruling lord of light and lustre, breaker of the serpentine cloud of darkness, take up and command the blazing forces for action.

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5.32.3

त्यस्य॑ चिन्मह॒तो निर्मृ॒गस्य॒ वध॑र्जघान॒ तवि॑षीभि॒रिन्द्रः॑ । य एक॒ इद॑प्र॒तिर्मन्य॑मान॒ आद॑स्माद॒न्यो अ॑जनिष्ट॒ तव्या॑न् ॥

Indra, the ruling lord, alone by himself, unequalled and universally acknowledged and adored, destroys the might of that great informidable demon of darkness and negativities with his blazing powers and actions like the sun breaking the cloud, and then he creates other powers greater than demonic negativities.

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5.32.4

त्यं चि॑देषां स्व॒धया॒ मद॑न्तं मि॒हो नपा॑तं सु॒वृधं॑ तमो॒गाम् । वृष॑प्रभर्मा दान॒वस्य॒ भामं॒ वज्रे॑ण व॒ज्री नि ज॑घान॒ शुष्ण॑म् ॥

That demon of darkness and negativity whose might is only the drought, locking up the rains and consuming and thriving on the food and morale of these people of the earth, growing and growing and roaming around in the prevailing darkness and want is strong: yet the might and rage of that demon, shushna, drought and famine, Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, destroys with his lightning strike and rises as lord victor of the clouds and rain showers.

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5.32.5

त्यं चि॑दस्य॒ क्रतु॑भि॒र्निष॑त्तमम॒र्मणो॑ वि॒ददिद॑स्य॒ मर्म॑ । यदीं॑ सुक्षत्र॒ प्रभृ॑ता॒ मद॑स्य॒ युयु॑त्सन्तं॒ तम॑सि ह॒र्म्ये धाः ॥

O noble lord of the mighty social order, Indra, with your actions and intelligence you know and expose the hidden weakness of this otherwise incomprehensible demon thirsting for fight, and, happy and elated in the hope and thrill of victory, you shut him up in the depths of darkness.

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5.32.6

त्यं चि॑दि॒त्था क॑त्प॒यं शया॑नमसू॒र्ये तम॑सि वावृधा॒नम् । तं चि॑न्मन्दा॒नो वृ॑ष॒भः सु॒तस्यो॒च्चैरिन्द्रो॑ अप॒गूर्या॑ जघान ॥

That demon of drought and negativity thus lying and sleeping in sunless darkness with some vapours of water but still growing, Indra, ruler of the social order, great and generous, exhilarated by the hope and joy of victory and raising his thunderbolt breaks, and destroys that demon.

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5.32.7

उद्यदिन्द्रो॑ मह॒ते दा॑न॒वाय॒ वध॒र्यमि॑ष्ट॒ सहो॒ अप्र॑तीतम् । यदीं॒ वज्र॑स्य॒ प्रभृ॑तौ द॒दाभ॒ विश्व॑स्य ज॒न्तोर॑ध॒मं च॑कार ॥

And when Indra raises the thunderbolt of justice and punishment against the great demon of wickedness, in favour of the great and generous man of charity, and thus displays his mysterious force and power, and at the raising of the bolt he punishes the wicked, he reduces them to the lowest state of living beings.

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5.32.8

त्यं चि॒दर्णं॑ मधु॒पं शया॑नमसि॒न्वं व॒व्रं मह्याद॑दु॒ग्रः । अ॒पाद॑म॒त्रं म॑ह॒ता व॒धेन॒ नि दु॑र्यो॒ण आ॑वृणङ्मृ॒ध्रवा॑चम् ॥

For sure that flood of water, honey sweet, dormant, unbounded, cavernous, floating, expansive and roaring, the blazing sun, Indra, seizes with a great blow of electric charge of thunderbolt and breaks it in its own place. (So should the ruler break open the hidden treasures of the land.)

· · ·

5.32.9

को अ॑स्य॒ शुष्मं॒ तवि॑षीं वरात॒ एको॒ धना॑ भरते॒ अप्र॑तीतः । इ॒मे चि॑दस्य॒ ज्रय॑सो॒ नु दे॒वी इन्द्र॒स्यौज॑सो भि॒यसा॑ जिहाते ॥

Who can comprehend and hold his force and blaze? The One alone by himself bears all the wealths though unseen. And these two divine creations, heaven and earth, move by the awful force and blazing splendour of this mighty Indra.

· · ·

5.32.10

न्य॑स्मै दे॒वी स्वधि॑तिर्जिहीत॒ इन्द्रा॑य गा॒तुरु॑श॒तीव॑ येमे । सं यदोजो॑ यु॒वते॒ विश्व॑माभि॒रनु॑ स्व॒धाव्ने॑ क्षि॒तयो॑ नमन्त ॥

To this Indra, cosmic energy and the earth, both divine, submit in love and obedience like a maiden in love submitting herself to her lover. When Indra radiates the cosmic splendour and power with these natural phenomena, then the entire humanity and all stars and planets do homage to the divine and self-refulgent omnipotence of Indra with these acts of obedience to the law.

· · ·

5.32.11

एकं॒ नु त्वा॒ सत्प॑तिं॒ पाञ्च॑जन्यं जा॒तं शृ॑णोमि य॒शसं॒ जने॑षु । तं मे॑ जगृभ्र आ॒शसो॒ नवि॑ष्ठं दो॒षा वस्तो॒र्हव॑मानास॒ इन्द्र॑म् ॥

I hear you, feel your vibrations manifested among the people: One and only one self-existent and self-refulgent lord and protector in truth, guardian of all the five people, commanding divine excellence and majesty. I hope and pray that my people, hoping and loving, self sacrificing day and night, may attain to the latest manifestations of Indra and his newest gifts of excellence.

· · ·

5.32.12

ए॒वा हि त्वामृ॑तु॒था या॒तय॑न्तं म॒घा विप्रे॑भ्यो॒ दद॑तं शृ॒णोमि॑ । किं ते॑ ब्र॒ह्माणो॑ गृहते॒ सखा॑यो॒ ये त्वा॒या नि॑द॒धुः काम॑मिन्द्र ॥

Indra, ruling lord of the world, thus do I hear of you, I feel the vibrations, inspiring life according to the seasons, bestowing wealth and honour on noble scholars, what the sages dedicated to divine knowledge receive

and what desires and ambitions with prayers they place in you.

✦ Sukta 33 · 10 verses ✦

5.33.1

महि॑ म॒हे त॒वसे॑ दीध्ये॒ नॄनिन्द्रा॑ये॒त्था त॒वसे॒ अत॑व्यान् । यो अ॑स्मै सुम॒तिं वाज॑सातौ स्तु॒तो जने॑ सम॒र्य॑श्चि॒केत॑ ॥

For the sake of great strength and power, let me thus focus on the people who are not too strong and draw the attention of this mighty ruler, Indra, who, honoured and admired among people, is keen to fight for progress and, in the struggle onward, enlightens our mind and directs our efforts on the right path.

· · ·

5.33.2

स त्वं न॑ इन्द्र धियसा॒नो अ॒र्कैर्हरी॑णां वृष॒न्योक्त्र॑मश्रेः । या इ॒त्था म॑घव॒न्ननु॒ जोषं॒ वक्षो॑ अ॒भि प्रार्यः स॑क्षि॒ जना॑न् ॥

And you Indra, master and ruler of the nation, commanding power and prosperity, generous as showers of rain, thus addressed with reverence and listening to our prayer, take up the reins of the people, be with them and harness their energy, and with love and faith pursue the noble policies for advancement to completion.

· · ·

5.33.3

न ते त॑ इन्द्रा॒भ्य१॒॑स्मदृ॒ष्वायु॑क्तासो अब्र॒ह्मता॒ यदस॑न् । तिष्ठा॒ रथ॒मधि॒ तं व॑ज्रह॒स्ता र॒श्मिं दे॑व यमसे॒ स्वश्वः॑ ॥

Indra, mighty lord, refulgent and generous, those who are not with us and are not for you are disjoined from reality. It is their ignorance and impiety toward the motherland. O lord of the force of thunder in hand, ride the chariot, take up the reins, equipped as you are with excellent forces for advancement. Guide and lead.

· · ·

5.33.4

पु॒रू यत्त॑ इन्द्र॒ सन्त्यु॒क्था गवे॑ च॒कर्थो॒र्वरा॑सु॒ युध्य॑न् । त॒त॒क्षे सूर्या॑य चि॒दोक॑सि॒ स्वे वृषा॑ स॒मत्सु॑ दा॒सस्य॒ नाम॑ चित् ॥

Many are your acts of generosity, Indra, which you have done for the land and cattle wealth and for fertility of the fields, O generous lord, and while fighting in the battles of life in your own seat, you create the light of life like the sun and earn for yourself the name and fame of the abundant cloud of showers.

· · ·

5.33.5

व॒यं ते त॑ इन्द्र॒ ये च॒ नरः॒ शर्धो॑ जज्ञा॒ना या॒ताश्च॒ रथाः॑ । आस्माञ्ज॑गम्यादहिशुष्म॒ सत्वा॒ भगो॒ न हव्यः॑ प्रभृ॒थेषु॒ चारुः॑ ॥

Indra, lord illustrious breaker of the dark cloud of might, we are yours, and these leaders creating and forming power and force, the chariots that go round for transport, all these are yours. Come, O lord, and bless us with all your imperishable power, come like power and splendour incarnate, most welcome among the cherished ones.

· · ·

5.33.6

प॒पृ॒क्षेण्य॑मिन्द्र॒ त्वे ह्योजो॑ नृ॒म्णानि॑ च नृ॒तमा॑नो॒ अम॑र्तः । स न॒ एनीं॑ वसवानो र॒यिं दाः॒ प्रार्यः स्तु॑षे तुविम॒घस्य॒ दान॑म् ॥

Incomprehensible is the splendour in you, Indra, lord of glory, all the wealths of humanity abide in you, yours is the ongoing dance of creation, yours is immortality. Universal abode of existence, give us the pure wealth of life, wealth that is possible. You are the lord and master commanding immense wealth, honour and power. I praise, admire and pray for your grace and generosity.

· · ·

5.33.7

ए॒वा न॑ इन्द्रो॒तिभि॑रव पा॒हि गृ॑ण॒तः शू॑र का॒रून् । उ॒त त्वचं॒ दद॑तो॒ वाज॑सातौ पिप्री॒हि मध्वः॒ सुषु॑तस्य॒ चारोः॑ ॥

Thus O lord brave and fearless, Indra, protect us, the celebrants, poets, makers and artists, teachers and preachers with all modes of safety and security. And giving us the glowing corselet of self defence in the battle business of life, enjoy the beauty and sweetness of life created, distilled and offered by the admirers and worshippers.

· · ·

5.33.8

उ॒त त्ये मा॑ पौरुकु॒त्स्यस्य॑ सू॒रेस्त्र॒सद॑स्योर्हिर॒णिनो॒ ररा॑णाः । वह॑न्तु मा॒ दश॒ श्येता॑सो अस्य गैरिक्षि॒तस्य॒ क्रतु॑भि॒र्नु स॑श्चे ॥

And may those ten horses (ten senses of perception and volition or five senses of perception and five pranic energies) of the child of the wielder of the thunderbolt, wise and bold, terror of the wicked, lord of golden wealth, abiding on the heights carry me on in life. Playful yet stable are they, gifts of the bountiful, and with holiness of words and actions I abide with them, (and enjoy the beauty and sweetness of life).

· · ·

5.33.9

उ॒त त्ये मा॑ मारु॒ताश्व॑स्य॒ शोणाः॒ क्रत्वा॑मघासो वि॒दथ॑स्य रा॒तौ । स॒हस्रा॑ मे॒ च्यव॑तानो॒ ददा॑न आनू॒कम॒र्यो वपु॑षे॒ नार्च॑त् ॥

And may those vibrating gifts of the lord, who commands the winds as a charioteer drives and controls the horses, red hot in action, vested with holy perception and action, help me in the abundant creative yajna of the social order, so that the Lord and Master, inspiring me and giving me grace a thousand ways, may love and accept me like an ornament for the body.

· · ·

5.33.10

उ॒त त्ये मा॑ ध्व॒न्य॑स्य॒ जुष्टा॑ लक्ष्म॒ण्य॑स्य सु॒रुचो॒ यता॑नाः । म॒ह्ना रा॒यः सं॒वर॑णस्य॒ ऋषे॑र्व्र॒जं न गावः॒ प्रय॑ता॒ अपि॑ ग्मन् ॥

May the living voices of Vedic mantras and wealths of existence with all their grandeur of meaning and value, coexistent with the lord of original Word, loved by the scholar of holy intention and purpose, divined and envisioned in right selection of words by the Rshis, all dynamic and relevant by moving forward to modern contexts come to me like cows going to their stalls.

✦ Sukta 34 · 9 verses ✦

5.34.1

अजा॑तशत्रुम॒जरा॒ स्व॑र्व॒त्यनु॑ स्व॒धामि॑ता द॒स्ममी॑यते । सु॒नोत॑न॒ पच॑त॒ ब्रह्म॑वाहसे पुरुष्टु॒ताय॑ प्रत॒रं द॑धातन ॥

The lady of light and joy, grace unbound, unaging power, divine Shakti, as the human offering too, in yajna, follows the lord omnificent, Indra, omnipotent, free from enemies ever born. Sow the seed of piety, distil the soma, mature it for the lord creator, giver and receiver of food, energy and eternal wisdom, universally adored and worshipped, and bear and offer the fragrance that will take you across the seas of existence.

· · ·

5.34.2

आ यः सोमे॑न ज॒ठर॒मपि॑प्र॒ताम॑न्दत म॒घवा॒ मध्वो॒ अन्ध॑सः । यदीं॑ मृ॒गाय॒ हन्त॑वे म॒हाव॑धः स॒हस्र॑भृष्टिमु॒शना॑ व॒धं यम॑त् ॥

He, lord of wealth, honour and power, who satisfies his hunger with soma and exults in honey sweets of food offered, and who, wielding the mighty thunderbolt of justice and punishment, out of love for life and the people raises his bolt of a thousand potentials to punish and destroy the wild beast of violence and ferocity: that is Indra, that is the ruler.

· · ·

5.34.3

यो अ॑स्मै घ्रं॒स उ॒त वा॒ य ऊध॑नि॒ सोमं॑ सु॒नोति॒ भव॑ति द्यु॒माँ अह॑ । अपा॑प श॒क्रस्त॑त॒नुष्टि॑मूहति त॒नूशु॑भ्रं म॒घवा॒ यः क॑वास॒खः ॥

He who creates soma day and night and offers it to this lord Indra surely rises to heights of brilliance in knowledge, power and honour. But Indra, the lord commanding wealth, power, honour and excellence, disowns and throws off that man far and farther from himself who lives and works only for self-decoration and self-exhibition and associates with the selfish, miserly and wholly acquisitive.

· · ·

5.34.4

यस्याव॑धीत्पि॒तरं॒ यस्य॑ मा॒तरं॒ यस्य॑ श॒क्रो भ्रात॑रं॒ नात॑ ईषते । वेतीद्व॑स्य॒ प्रय॑ता यतंक॒रो न किल्बि॑षादीषते॒ वस्व॑ आक॒रः ॥

If the powerful ruler punishes somebody’s father or mother or brother, he does not for that reason forsake that person, nor does he go back on his decision. Indeed he expects and accepts the homage of the man since he loves effort and endeavour, and he is the shelter of all and a treasure of wealth. He does not fly away from sin and guilt, he faces it and fixes it.

· · ·

5.34.5

न प॒ञ्चभि॑र्द॒शभि॑र्वष्ट्या॒रभं॒ नासु॑न्वता सचते॒ पुष्य॑ता च॒न । जि॒नाति॒ वेद॑मु॒या हन्ति॑ वा॒ धुनि॒रा दे॑व॒युं भ॑जति॒ गोम॑ति व्र॒जे ॥

He does not wish to begin anything with the five senses and ten pranic energies in association with a selfish, slothful, unyajnic person even though he were otherwise thriving. In this manner he defeats and punishes the lazy and the selfish. But a terror as he is to the wicked, he loves and serves the pious and learned person in the place where cows roam around and the place resounds with chant of the sacred Word.

· · ·

5.34.6

वि॒त्वक्ष॑णः॒ समृ॑तौ चक्रमास॒जोऽसु॑न्वतो॒ विषु॑णः सुन्व॒तो वृ॒धः । इन्द्रो॒ विश्व॑स्य दमि॒ता वि॒भीष॑णो यथाव॒शं न॑यति॒ दास॒मार्यः॑ ॥

Brave in the battle of life, Indra destroys suffering and rides the wheel of time and cycle of the seasons. Averse to the selfish and uncreative, he helps and raises the creative men of yajna so that life may grow higher and better. Self-controlled and awe￾inspiring, Indra is the ruler and ordainer of the world, a power, dynamic, ever modern and progressive, who controls the services of the nation according to the force and pressure needed on time.

· · ·

5.34.7

समीं॑ प॒णेर॑जति॒ भोज॑नं मु॒षे वि दा॒शुषे॑ भजति सू॒नरं॒ वसु॑ । दु॒र्गे च॒न ध्रि॑यते॒ विश्व॒ आ पु॒रु जनो॒ यो अ॑स्य॒ तवि॑षी॒मचु॑क्रुधत् ॥

For sure he augments the food and comfort of the celebrant but takes away the grains of the thief, and for the charitable he gives wealth good for people. And into dungeon darkness are thrown all those people who challenge his blazing power and provoke his indignation.

· · ·

5.34.8

सं यज्जनौ॑ सु॒धनौ॑ वि॒श्वश॑र्धसा॒ववे॒दिन्द्रो॑ म॒घवा॒ गोषु॑ शु॒भ्रिषु॑ । युजं॒ ह्य१॒॑न्यमकृ॑त प्रवेप॒न्युदीं॒ गव्यं॑ सृजते॒ सत्व॑भि॒र्धुनिः॑ ॥

If Indra, lord of honour and excellence, terror of the enemies and inspirer of the people by virtues of his nature and character, were to come across and select two men possessed of honest wealth and all round strength and courage from among the brilliant people over the reputed and spotless regions of the land, he would appoint one as his assistant, and the other for economic management providing for abundant water and wealth of cows and food products.

· · ·

5.34.9

स॒ह॒स्र॒सामाग्नि॑वेशिं गृणीषे॒ शत्रि॑मग्न उप॒मां के॒तुम॒र्यः । तस्मा॒ आपः॑ सं॒यतः॑ पीपयन्त॒ तस्मि॑न्क्ष॒त्रमम॑वत्त्वे॒षम॑स्तु ॥

Agni, refulgent ruler, you adore Indra, giver of a thousand gifts of fire and electric energy, powerful, self-evident mark of honour and grandeur. Such as you are, I pray, like rivers flowing in bounds to the sea, may the disciplined people be dedicated to you and may the social order, brilliance and majesty vest in you as their very home and glory incarnate.

✦ Sukta 35 · 8 verses ✦

5.35.1

यस्ते॒ साधि॒ष्ठोऽव॑स॒ इन्द्र॒ क्रतु॒ष्टमा भ॑र । अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ चर्षणी॒सहं॒ सस्निं॒ वाजे॑षु दु॒ष्टर॑म् ॥

Indra, lord refulgent, ruler of the world, for our protection and promotion, bear and bring for us that straight and most effective vision and action of yours which is pure and most bountiful, tolerant and yet challenging for people and informidable in our battles of life, the discipline inviolable. ÿÁŒfiãºý Ãð øÃfidÊð ÿë¿Ífi®⁄U®R ‚|ãÃfi ÁÃd—– ÿmÊ ¬Üøfi ÁÿÊÃËŸÊ◊flSÃÃ÷ ‚È Ÿ •Ê ÷fi⁄UH§2H 2. Yadindra te catasro yacchµura santi tisra¨. Yad vå pa¤ca k¶it∂nåmavastat su na å bhara. Indra, refulgent ruler, bear and bring us for the protection, progress and sustenance of the people those three, four or five principles of policy and values of society which, according to you, are the best ways of the peace and advancement of the people, and let us settle and establish ourselves therein with your law and inviolable power, brave one. Note: This mantra is the basic formula of any socio-political structure and its governance and administration for the preservation, advancement and balanced sustenance of society. Details have to be worked out in the light of permanent values, history and tradition, and present and future implications. We may consider the following: (A) Three: Physical, mental and spiritual well￾being of the individual, society and the total human community, the departments of governance and administration, legislation and education; care, preservation and replenishment of the earth, environment and higher sphere; the government, the people, and the defence forces. (B) Four: The four classes of the people, i.e., teachers and researchers, defence forces and administrators, producers and businessmen, and the ancillary workers; The four stages of individual and Indra, lord refulgent, ruler of the world, for our protection and promotion, bear and bring for us that straight and most effective vision and action of yours which is pure and most bountiful, tolerant and yet challenging for people and informidable in our battles of life, the discipline inviolable. ÿÁŒfiãºý Ãð øÃfidÊð ÿë¿Ífi®⁄U®R ‚|ãÃfi ÁÃd—– ÿmÊ ¬Üøfi ÁÿÊÃËŸÊ◊flSÃÃ÷ ‚È Ÿ •Ê ÷fi⁄UH§2H 2. Yadindra te catasro yacchµura santi tisra¨. Yad vå pa¤ca k¶it∂nåmavastat su na å bhara. Indra, refulgent ruler, bear and bring us for the protection, progress and sustenance of the people those three, four or five principles of policy and values of society which, according to you, are the best ways of the peace and advancement of the people, and let us settle and establish ourselves therein with your law and inviolable power, brave one. Note: This mantra is the basic formula of any socio-political structure and its governance and administration for the preservation, advancement and balanced sustenance of society. Details have to be worked out in the light of permanent values, history and tradition, and present and future implications. We may consider the following: (A) Three: Physical, mental and spiritual well￾being of the individual, society and the total human community, the departments of governance and administration, legislation and education; care, preservation and replenishment of the earth, environment and higher sphere; the government, the people, and the defence forces. (B) Four: The four classes of the people, i.e., teachers and researchers, defence forces and administrators, producers and businessmen, and the ancillary workers; The four stages of individual and

· · ·

5.35.2

यदि॑न्द्र ते॒ चत॑स्रो॒ यच्छू॑र॒ सन्ति॑ ति॒स्रः । यद्वा॒ पञ्च॑ क्षिती॒नामव॒स्तत्सु न॒ आ भ॑र ॥

Indra, refulgent ruler, bear and bring us for the protection, progress and sustenance of the people those three, four or five principles of policy and values of society which, according to you, are the best ways of the peace and advancement of the people, and let us settle and establish ourselves therein with your law and inviolable power, brave one. Note: This mantra is the basic formula of any socio-political structure and its governance and administration for the preservation, advancement and balanced sustenance of society. Details have to be worked out in the light of permanent values, history and tradition, and present and future implications. We may consider the following: (A) Three: Physical, mental and spiritual well￾being of the individual, society and the total human community, the departments of governance and administration, legislation and education; care, preservation and replenishment of the earth, environment and higher sphere; the government, the people, and the defence forces. (B) Four: The four classes of the people, i.e., teachers and researchers, defence forces and administrators, producers and businessmen, and the ancillary workers; The four stages of individual and collective life, i.e., Brahmacharya (education, preparation and consolidation), Grhastha (family, professional life and social responsibilities and management), Vanaprastha (retirement and voluntgary community service), and Sanyas (total freedom, renunciation and social service). This is Varnashrama Dharma. (C) Five: Four classes of people and the other miscellaneous groups whosoever they be. Five levels of organisation: individual, family, professional community, nation, and the global and environmental level. Vedic suggestions are symbolic and general, particular details are to be worked out in the light of the Vedic purpose of life and living for the realisation of Dharma, righteousness in practical life, Artha, material well being, Kama, fulfilment of the Self, and Moksha, ultimate freedom.

· · ·

5.35.3

आ तेऽवो॒ वरे॑ण्यं॒ वृष॑न्तमस्य हूमहे । वृष॑जूति॒र्हि ज॑ज्ञि॒ष आ॒भूभि॑रिन्द्र तु॒र्वणिः॑ ॥

Indra, refulgent lord of power and protection, we invoke and pray for your protection, most cherished, since you are the most generous and gracious. Uninterrupted is the shower of your grace like the showers of a cloud, as you arise, instantly victorious, commanding and bearing the protective blessings of existence such as knowledge, power and humility.

· · ·

5.35.4

वृषा॒ ह्यसि॒ राध॑से जज्ञि॒षे वृष्णि॑ ते॒ शवः॑ । स्वक्ष॑त्रं ते धृ॒षन्मनः॑ सत्रा॒हमि॑न्द्र॒ पौंस्य॑म् ॥

Indra, ruling lord of the world, you rise as the shower of bliss for munificence and achievement of success. Your power is the shower of joy. Your self￾government and free social order is powerful, your mind is irresistible, your strength is for the good of the people.

· · ·

5.35.5

त्वं तमि॑न्द्र॒ मर्त्य॑ममित्र॒यन्त॑मद्रिवः । स॒र्व॒र॒था श॑तक्रतो॒ नि या॑हि शवसस्पते ॥

Indra, lord of lustre and majesty, wielder of the thunderbolt and generous as a cloud, master of knowledge doing a hundred noble creative actions, commander of forces and power, take to your chariot, deploy all the chariots of battle forces and advance upon that mortal enemy who challenges the love and friendship of the people.

· · ·

5.35.6

त्वामिद्वृ॑त्रहन्तम॒ जना॑सो वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषः । उ॒ग्रं पू॒र्वीषु॑ पू॒र्व्यं हव॑न्ते॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

O lord, all the people ready for yajnic action of defence and advancement, having touched the skies by their chant and fragrance, all ready in full gear, invoke and call upon you, breaker of the cloud and destroyer of darkness and suffering, blazing with force of grandeur, first among the best leaders old and new. This is the clarion call for victory in life’s battle for sustenance and success.

· · ·

5.35.7

अ॒स्माक॑मिन्द्र दु॒ष्टरं॑ पुरो॒यावा॑नमा॒जिषु॑ । स॒यावा॑नं॒ धने॑धने वाज॒यन्त॑मवा॒ रथ॑म् ॥

Indra, ruler and commander of the people, take over, command, lead and protect our chariot of the nation, formidable, advancing in the contests of life, going ahead with all forces of the nation in one field after another and winning victory after victory.

· · ·

5.35.8

अ॒स्माक॑मि॒न्द्रेहि॑ नो॒ रथ॑मवा॒ पुरं॑ध्या । व॒यं श॑विष्ठ॒ वार्यं॑ दि॒वि श्रवो॑ दधीमहि दि॒वि स्तोमं॑ मनामहे ॥

Indra, lord of might and blazing power of light, come, we pray, and protect our chariot by your intelligence, wisdom and tactics. O lord most potent, let us have our cherished sustenance and word of wisdom in this kingdom of love and beauty. Let us know and meditate on the holy song of success and adoration in this kingdom of light and peace.

✦ Sukta 36 · 6 verses ✦

5.36.1

स आ ग॑म॒दिन्द्रो॒ यो वसू॑नां॒ चिके॑त॒द्दातुं॒ दाम॑नो रयी॒णाम् । ध॒न्व॒च॒रो न वंस॑गस्तृषा॒णश्च॑कमा॒नः पि॑बतु दु॒ग्धमं॒शुम् ॥

Come, Indra, lord of honour and excellence, you know the wealth, beauty and excellence, of the world of existence, you know how to give, you are the giver and treasure hold of the wealth of life, golden orb of the full moon. Like a sojourner of the skies, like a bird or bull, thirsting, loving, discriminating between truth and falsehood, come, drink the nectar of refreshing, rejuvenating, regenerating milk of life, your rightful share.

· · ·

5.36.2

आ ते॒ हनू॑ हरिवः शूर॒ शिप्रे॒ रुह॒त्सोमो॒ न पर्व॑तस्य पृ॒ष्ठे । अनु॑ त्वा राज॒न्नर्व॑तो॒ न हि॒न्वन् गी॒र्भिर्म॑देम पुरुहूत॒ विश्वे॑ ॥

Indra, great and brave lord of heroic people, may love and sweetness play on your lips, let fragrance breathe from your nose, let success and glory play on your helmet like a soma creeper on mountain top. O ruler of the world all honoured and adored, like a victorious army rejoicing on victory, we all with all our voices in unison invoke and entertain you so that we all enjoy together.

· · ·

5.36.3

च॒क्रं न वृ॒त्तं पु॑रुहूत वेपते॒ मनो॑ भि॒या मे॒ अम॑ते॒रिद॑द्रिवः । रथा॒दधि॑ त्वा जरि॒ता स॑दावृध कु॒विन्नु स्तो॑षन्मघवन्पुरू॒वसुः॑ ॥

Indra, invoked and adored, blazing as sun and generous as cloud, ever greater and greater, commanding knowledge, honour, power, and treasure hold of all wealth, like a wheel in motion my mind is trembling for fear of want of intelligence and understanding and, in praise and adoration of you as commander of the chariot, it raises the voice of prayer and supplication. Listen lord, shelter, haven and home of all.

· · ·

5.36.4

ए॒ष ग्रावे॑व जरि॒ता त॑ इ॒न्द्रेय॑र्ति॒ वाचं॑ बृ॒हदा॑शुषा॒णः । प्र स॒व्येन॑ मघव॒न्यंसि॑ रा॒यः प्र द॑क्षि॒णिद्ध॑रिवो॒ मा वि वे॑नः ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, power and honour, you have attained the heights of wide spaces. This celebrant like a soma press which extracts streams of soma or like a cloud of showers sends up words of praise in your honour for your beneficence. You control and give gifts of wealth by both right and left hands. O warrior of the chariot and leader of men, we pray, do not ignore us.

· · ·

5.36.5

वृषा॑ त्वा॒ वृष॑णं वर्धतु॒ द्यौर्वृषा॒ वृष॑भ्यां वहसे॒ हरि॑भ्याम् । स नो॒ वृषा॒ वृष॑रथः सुशिप्र॒ वृष॑क्रतो॒ वृषा॑ वज्रि॒न्भरे॑ धाः ॥

Indra, you are brave and generous, may the gracious heaven elevate and exalt you. Generous and great, you move and rise by ground and powerful modes of transport and yajnic action. May the great lord of mighty chariot, clad in strong helmet, generous of action, wielder of the thunderbolt engage and protect us in the battle of life.

· · ·

5.36.6

यो रोहि॑तौ वा॒जिनौ॑ वा॒जिनी॑वान्त्रि॒भिः श॒तैः सच॑मना॒वदि॑ष्ट । यूने॒ सम॑स्मै क्षि॒तयो॑ नमन्तां श्रु॒तर॑थाय मरुतो दुवो॒या ॥

Let the people of the world bow in honour and reverence to the scholar, expert of the knowledge of motion and speed who teaches this young student the two allied subjects of the science of heat and electric energy with three hundred applications of it and designs a world famous vehicle for transport.

✦ Sukta 37 · 5 verses ✦

5.37.1

सं भा॒नुना॑ यतते॒ सूर्य॑स्या॒जुह्वा॑नो घृ॒तपृ॑ष्ठः॒ स्वञ्चाः॑ । तस्मा॒ अमृ॑ध्रा उ॒षसो॒ व्यु॑च्छा॒न्य इन्द्रा॑य सु॒नवा॒मेत्याह॑ ॥

The flame of Agni, heat and light, invoked and kindled on the base of ghrta, water, rising fast and beautifully vies with the light of the sun. “This we create in honour of Indra, the ruler”: for the scholar scientist who says this, let untiring dawns of light and excellence shine blissfully.

· · ·

5.37.2

समि॑द्धाग्निर्वनवत्स्ती॒र्णब॑र्हिर्यु॒क्तग्रा॑वा सु॒तसो॑मो जराते । ग्रावा॑णो॒ यस्ये॑षि॒रं वद॒न्त्यय॑दध्व॒र्युर्ह॒विषाव॒ सिन्धु॑म् ॥

Agni, light and fire, raised and rising, touching the skies, suffusing the clouds, creating the soma for life and energy, crackles, and adores Divinity. The roaring clouds proclaim its force and refreshing power. The yajaka scientist with his yajnic inputs into the fire rises and moves to the sea (with fragrant vibrations rising to space, with waters flowing to the seas).

· · ·

5.37.3

व॒धूरि॒यं पति॑मि॒च्छन्त्ये॑ति॒ य ईं॒ वहा॑ते॒ महि॑षीमिषि॒राम् । आस्य॑ श्रवस्या॒द्रथ॒ आ च॑ घोषात्पु॒रू स॒हस्रा॒ परि॑ वर्तयाते ॥

Just as a loving bride goes to her groom and the bridegroom receives the consecrated bride, and both together run the home and take the family forward, so do fire and water mixed and working together drive the chariot and from the power and its revolution and thunderous roar many thousands of projects are moved forward.

· · ·

5.37.4

न स राजा॑ व्यथते॒ यस्मि॒न्निन्द्र॑स्ती॒व्रं सोमं॒ पिब॑ति॒ गोस॑खायम् । आ स॑त्व॒नैरज॑ति॒ हन्ति॑ वृ॒त्रं क्षेति॑ क्षि॒तीः सु॒भगो॒ नाम॒ पुष्य॑न् ॥

That ruler does not face want and trouble in whose realm Indra, fire or electric energy, consumes intense liquid, friendly with earth connection, and goes forward with various forms of power. The ruler moves forward, breaks the clouds for rain, destroys the demon of darkness with light and knowledge, and settles his people in homes, thus progressing all forward in health and sustenance and earning a name for wealth and power.

· · ·

5.37.5

पुष्या॒त्क्षेमे॑ अ॒भि योगे॑ भवात्यु॒भे वृतौ॑ संय॒ती सं ज॑याति । प्रि॒यः सूर्ये॑ प्रि॒यो अ॒ग्ना भ॑वाति॒ य इन्द्रा॑य सु॒तसो॑मो॒ ददा॑शत् ॥

That nation moves forward in yoga, creation of new assets, and in kshema, preservation of the progress and achievement earlier attained, rises higher in social dynamics both ways, and wins further ground in both together: the nation which reverentially loves solar energy, which reverentially takes interest in fire energy, and which spares its best and sweetest surplus in the service of Indra, development of electric energy.

✦ Sukta 38 · 5 verses ✦

5.38.1

उ॒रोष्ट॑ इन्द्र॒ राध॑सो वि॒भ्वी रा॒तिः श॑तक्रतो । अधा॑ नो विश्वचर्षणे द्यु॒म्ना सु॑क्षत्र मंहय ॥

Indra, hero of a hundred holy actions with insight and counsel, wide and high are your powers and wealth, abundant your gifts. Ultimate watcher and observer of all that is in the world, ruler of the mighty social order, lead us on to wealth, power, honour and excellence and help us rise to the heights.

· · ·

5.38.2

यदी॑मिन्द्र श्र॒वाय्य॒मिषं॑ शविष्ठ दधि॒षे । प॒प्र॒थे दी॑र्घ॒श्रुत्त॑मं॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्ण दु॒ष्टर॑म् ॥

Indra, ruler of golden majesty, lord most potent, destroyer of suffering, whatever food, energy and light of knowledge, great and renowned, you bear and bestow upon us you increase and extend, and it resounds far and wide as the highest of fame most unchallengeable by mortal man.

· · ·

5.38.3

शुष्मा॑सो॒ ये ते॑ अद्रिवो मे॒हना॑ केत॒सापः॑ । उ॒भा दे॒वाव॒भिष्ट॑ये दि॒वश्च॒ ग्मश्च॑ राजथः ॥

O ruler of the clouds and mountains, dispenser of generous and adamantine justice, these powers and potent people of yours, these lights and the enlightened, all these brilliancies that obey your law and do your will both shine and exalt earth and heaven with their power and generosity for the achievement of cherished goals.

· · ·

5.38.4

उ॒तो नो॑ अ॒स्य कस्य॑ चि॒द्दक्ष॑स्य॒ तव॑ वृत्रहन् । अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ नृ॒म्णमा भ॑रा॒स्मभ्यं॑ नृमणस्यसे ॥

Indra, O lord destroyer of darkness, want and suffering, bring that human wealth of values, honour and excellence which is worthy of anyone here, there and everywhere in terms of efficiency of your divine order. Give us the power and freedom from fear, since you love us and wish us to rise and prosper.

· · ·

5.38.5

नू त॑ आ॒भिर॒भिष्टि॑भि॒स्तव॒ शर्म॑ञ्छतक्रतो । इन्द्र॒ स्याम॑ सुगो॒पाः शूर॒ स्याम॑ सुगो॒पाः ॥

Indra, lord of unbounded action and generosity, potent ruler of the world, may we with these cherished blessings under your benign protection be possessors, protectors and promoters of lands and cows and revelations of light. Let us be preservers and promoters without fear.

✦ Sukta 39 · 5 verses ✦

5.39.1

यदि॑न्द्र चित्र मे॒हनास्ति॒ त्वादा॑तमद्रिवः । राध॒स्तन्नो॑ विदद्वस उभयाह॒स्त्या भ॑र ॥

Indra, O lord of light and power, mysterious and sublime, refulgent ruler of the clouds and mountains, omniscient dispenser of munificence, whatever the rain of blessings showered by you, whatever the wealth and honour of success, not yet ours, pray give us with both hands.

· · ·

5.39.2

यन्मन्य॑से॒ वरे॑ण्य॒मिन्द्र॑ द्यु॒क्षं तदा भ॑र । वि॒द्याम॒ तस्य॑ ते व॒यमकू॑पारस्य दा॒वने॑ ॥

Indra, whatever you think is worthy of choice, bear and bring that brilliant gift of heavenly quality. Let us receive that and let us know that as a blessing of your unbounded generosity worthy to be received and justified with gratitude.

· · ·

5.39.3

यत्ते॑ दि॒त्सु प्र॒राध्यं॒ मनो॒ अस्ति॑ श्रु॒तं बृ॒हत् । तेन॑ दृ॒ळ्हा चि॑दद्रिव॒ आ वाजं॑ दर्षि सा॒तये॑ ॥

Adriva, wielder of thunder arms and ruler of clouds and mountains, with that mind and courage of yours which is great, renowned and magnanimous leading to sure success, break down the strongholds of darkness and scatter the forces of negativity to reveal the light of rectitude for success and victory.

· · ·

5.39.4

मंहि॑ष्ठं वो म॒घोनां॒ राजा॑नं चर्षणी॒नाम् । इन्द्र॒मुप॒ प्रश॑स्तये पू॒र्वीभि॑र्जुजुषे॒ गिरः॑ ॥

For the praise and celebration of Indra, greatest of the powerful among you and ruler of the people, offer songs of adoration with the eternal verses of the Vedas as did the ancients for the benediction of the lord and master.

· · ·

5.39.5

अस्मा॒ इत्काव्यं॒ वच॑ उ॒क्थमिन्द्रा॑य॒ शंस्य॑म् । तस्मा॑ उ॒ ब्रह्म॑वाहसे॒ गिरो॑ वर्ध॒न्त्यत्र॑यो॒ गिरः॑ शुम्भ॒न्त्यत्र॑यः ॥

For this Indra, lord and master, indeed, is the holy poetic voice of praise. For that lord giver of universal wealth and light of knowledge and wisdom do poets free from threefold bondage of body, mind and soul raise and offer their songs of adoration. Him, the voices beautified with threefold graces of sound, meaning and structure, free from threefold defects of sound, meaning and structure exalt and glorify.

✦ Sukta 40 · 9 verses ✦

5.40.1

आ या॒ह्यद्रि॑भिः सु॒तं सोमं॑ सोमपते पिब । वृष॑न्निन्द्र॒ वृष॑भिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥

Indra, creator and protector of honour, excellence and prosperity, come with the clouds of rain showers, and taste and promote the distilled soma of the herbs of the earth. Come, generous lord, greatest dispeller of darkness and suffering, with the strongest and most enlightened, commanding the creation of glory.

· · ·

5.40.2

वृषा॒ ग्रावा॒ वृषा॒ मदो॒ वृषा॒ सोमो॑ अ॒यं सु॒तः । वृष॑न्निन्द्र॒ वृष॑भिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥

Deep is the cloud, the hope and ecstasy is high, and this soma distilled is potent and delicious. O generous lord, Indra, creator of valour and destroyer of darkness and suffering, come and realise the highest prosperity with the showers of rain clouds.

· · ·

5.40.3

वृषा॑ त्वा॒ वृष॑णं हुवे॒ वज्रि॑ञ्चि॒त्राभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ । वृष॑न्निन्द्र॒ वृष॑भिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥

Indra, potent lord of generosity, magnanimous giver of the showers of joy, wielder of the arms of thunder, greatest breaker of the clouds of rain and destroyer of evil, I invoke you with the strongest and most liberal powers and gifts of prosperity to come with various and wondrous securities, protections and promotions.

· · ·

5.40.4

ऋ॒जी॒षी व॒ज्री वृ॑ष॒भस्तु॑रा॒षाट्छु॒ष्मी राजा॑ वृत्र॒हा सो॑म॒पावा॑ । यु॒क्त्वा हरि॑भ्या॒मुप॑ यासद॒र्वाङ्माध्यं॑दिने॒ सव॑ने मत्स॒दिन्द्रः॑ ॥

Dynamic guardian of the path of rectitude to the last, wielder of thunder, generously brave, breaker of tempestuous missiles instantly, terribly forceful, refulgent ruler and sovereign commander, destroyer of the darkest enemies and protector of peaceful prosperity and joy of the people, Indra comes post haste by fastest horses, and at the noon day session of yajna joins the celebrations of the nation’s honour and excellence.

· · ·

5.40.5

यत्त्वा॑ सूर्य॒ स्व॑र्भानु॒स्तम॒सावि॑ध्यदासु॒रः । अक्षे॑त्रवि॒द्यथा॑ मु॒ग्धो भुव॑नान्यदीधयुः ॥

When the moon lighted by the sun affects the sun with the darkness of its shadow, when it is in line with the sun and earth, then the person who does not know his area feels confused during the eclipse and the regions too appear confusing. Similarly O sun, light of the spirit, when the veil of darkness covers knowledge and awareness of the spirit, then the ignorant man feels confused and the world too appears different, that is, the material appears as ultimate reality and the spirit is eclipsed. He makes no distinction between body and soul.

· · ·

5.40.6

स्व॑र्भानो॒रध॒ यदि॑न्द्र मा॒या अ॒वो दि॒वो वर्त॑माना अ॒वाह॑न् । गू॒ळ्हं सूर्यं॒ तम॒साप॑व्रतेन तु॒रीये॑ण॒ ब्रह्म॑णाविन्द॒दत्रिः॑ ॥

And then Indra, when the cosmic energy which moves the stars and planets removes the shadow of the moon from the sun, then Atri, man of knowledge, with his fourth state of the soul, that is, turiya, direct vision of Reality, regains the sight of the sun earlier covered by the shadow of the moon. Similarly, when Indra, lord of light, removes the illusion of darkness which intercepts the light of the spirit below it, then Atri, the sage of knowledge and discrimination, with this fourth stage of spiritual development, regains the light earlier covered by the darkness of ignorance.

· · ·

5.40.7

मा मामि॒मं तव॒ सन्त॑मत्र इर॒स्या द्रु॒ग्धो भि॒यसा॒ नि गा॑रीत् । त्वं मि॒त्रो अ॑सि स॒त्यरा॑धा॒स्तौ मे॒हाव॑तं॒ वरु॑णश्च॒ राजा॑ ॥

O sage, Atri, free from the bondage of confusion between body, mind and soul, I am your friend. Let not this malevolent ogre out of anger, dread or hunger devour me. You are a friend. So is this Varuna, ruler of light and man of judgement and discrimination. May you two, I pray, protect me from darkness, ignorance and confusion.

· · ·

5.40.8

ग्राव्णो॑ ब्र॒ह्मा यु॑युजा॒नः स॑प॒र्यन् की॒रिणा॑ दे॒वान्नम॑सोप॒शिक्ष॑न् । अत्रिः॒ सूर्य॑स्य दि॒वि चक्षु॒राधा॒त्स्व॑र्भानो॒रप॑ मा॒या अ॑घुक्षत् ॥

Then Atri, sagely scholar of four Vedas, free from threefold confusion, illusion and sufferance, collecting hymns of adoration, joining wise sages, singing songs of adoration in honour of Divinity, teaches and illuminates the supplicant disciple, removes the clouds, dispels the veil of darkness and illusion, and restores the light of the heavenly sun into the spirit.

· · ·

5.40.9

यं वै सूर्यं॒ स्व॑र्भानु॒स्तम॒सावि॑ध्यदासु॒रः । अत्र॑य॒स्तमन्व॑विन्दन्न॒ह्य१॒॑न्ये अश॑क्नुवन् ॥

That sun and light of heaven, covered by the shadow of the moon and hidden by the veil of darkness, the Atris, sages of knowledge in the fourth state of spiritual development, turiya, direct vision of Reality, free from threefold confusion, illusion and sufferance, restore and regain for themselves and their disciples. Others cannot see that light because they do not have the spiritual vision and freedom from illusion.

✦ Sukta 41 · 20 verses ✦

5.41.1

को नु वां॑ मित्रावरुणावृता॒यन्दि॒वो वा॑ म॒हः पार्थि॑वस्य वा॒ दे । ऋ॒तस्य॑ वा॒ सद॑सि॒ त्रासी॑थां नो यज्ञाय॒ते वा॑ पशु॒षो न वाजा॑न् ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, light and bliss of heaven, complementary energies of prana and udana, friend and man of justice, teacher and preacher, who, for sure, dedicated to truth, can know you? Who can thank you in words? Protect and promote us wherever you be in your regions of truth and natural law in the light of heaven, the firmament or the earth, and bless us with food and energy, speed and progress, vision and wisdom, and material and spiritual wealth for the generous man of yajna.

· · ·

5.41.2

ते नो॑ मि॒त्रो वरु॑णो अर्य॒मायुरिन्द्र॑ ऋभु॒क्षा म॒रुतो॑ जुषन्त । नमो॑भिर्वा॒ ये दध॑ते सुवृ॒क्तिं स्तोमं॑ रु॒द्राय॑ मी॒ळ्हुषे॑ स॒जोषाः॑ ॥

May the light of the day and the peace of night,the ocean, the cosmic order, health and time of age, spiritual vision, spirit of nature, cosmic flow of energies, be friendly with us. May all these who, together in love and loyalty with Rudra, lord of generous abundance and universal justice of correctitude, bear and carry our prayers and adorations and yajnic offerings with all our obedience and salutations to the Lord.

· · ·

5.41.3

आ वां॒ येष्ठा॑श्विना हु॒वध्यै॒ वात॑स्य॒ पत्म॒न्रथ्य॑स्य पु॒ष्टौ । उ॒त वा॑ दि॒वो असु॑राय॒ मन्म॒ प्रान्धां॑सीव॒ यज्य॑वे भरध्वम् ॥

Ashvins, complementary harbingers of light and life energy, observers and keepers of the laws of nature and guiding principles of humanity, teachers and preachers, I invoke you for extension of the paths of winds and clearance of the channels of progress, and I call upon you for strengthening and sophistication of the chariot powers of humanity. Come ye all fellow men, travellers and friends, concentrate your thoughts and intentions on the life breath of existence flowing from the regions of light as you bear and bring the food and fragrance for the yajna fire.

· · ·

5.41.4

प्र स॒क्षणो॑ दि॒व्यः कण्व॑होता त्रि॒तो दि॒वः स॒जोषा॒ वातो॑ अ॒ग्निः । पू॒षा भगः॑ प्रभृ॒थे वि॒श्वभो॑जा आ॒जिं न ज॑ग्मुरा॒श्व॑श्वतमाः ॥

The refulgent yajaka, forbearing, challenging and victorious, intelligent and self-conscious (Kanva), Trita, active and expansive in the three regions of the universe, i.e., the sun, wind and electric energy, heat and light, nourishment and growth, power, prosperity, honour and excellence, all operative together in love like friends, with brilliant holy ambitions for the advancement of the world, may, we plan and pray, come like warriors flying to the battle business of life on the wings of fastest coursers.

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5.41.5

प्र वो॑ र॒यिं यु॒क्ताश्वं॑ भरध्वं रा॒य एषेऽव॑से दधीत॒ धीः । सु॒शेव॒ एवै॑रौशि॒जस्य॒ होता॒ ये व॒ एवा॑ मरुतस्तु॒राणा॑म् ॥

O Maruts, dynamics of nature and progressive forces of humanity, create, bear and bring the wealth and power born of action and advancement. Develop, hold and use knowledge and intelligence for the achievement of all forms of power, honour and prosperity. All the actions and movements of yours are for your good, and by all these progressive steps of yours, the yajaka, creator and giver of fragrance, humanity, the child of brilliant ambition, grows happy and enjoys peace and comfort.

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5.41.6

प्र वो॑ वा॒युं र॑थ॒युजं॑ कृणुध्वं॒ प्र दे॒वं विप्रं॑ पनि॒तार॑म॒र्कैः । इ॒षु॒ध्यव॑ ऋत॒सापः॒ पुरं॑धी॒र्वस्वी॑र्नो॒ अत्र॒ पत्नी॒रा धि॒ये धुः॑ ॥

With your holy chants of mantras and offers of fragrant inputs into the yajnic fire of corporate action, create the wind and electric energy usable in your transports for progress. Create the brilliant, vibrant, admirable scholar and scientist of energy. And may these warriors of energy and scientific intelligence dedicated to progress and the truth and goodness of the laws of natural and human dynamics, serving heaven and earth, motherly divinities, bear and bring universal light and nourishment for our intellectual and cultural advancement.

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5.41.7

उप॑ व॒ एषे॒ वन्द्ये॑भिः शू॒षैः प्र य॒ह्वी दि॒वश्चि॒तय॑द्भिर॒र्कैः । उ॒षासा॒नक्ता॑ वि॒दुषी॑व॒ विश्व॒मा हा॑ वहतो॒ मर्त्या॑य य॒ज्ञम् ॥

In consequence, for your success and achievement, by virtue of your holy and powerful efforts and your intelligent and enlightened chants and oblations, may the night and day, both great and potent, like intelligent and educated women, carry your yajna across the world and bring you from heaven the wealth of the world for humanity.

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5.41.8

अ॒भि वो॑ अर्चे पो॒ष्याव॑तो॒ नॄन्वास्तो॒ष्पतिं॒ त्वष्टा॑रं॒ ररा॑णः । धन्या॑ स॒जोषा॑ धि॒षणा॒ नमो॑भि॒र्वन॒स्पतीँ॒रोष॑धी रा॒य एषे॑ ॥

Happy with myself, celebrant for you all, and for the achievement of wealth, power and all round prosperity, I honour, adore and serve the leaders who work for food and nourishment for growth. I honour the artist, architect and maker of forms, and love creative and friendly intelligence, trees and herbs, with reverence, gratitude, replenishment and renewal.

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5.41.9

तु॒जे न॒स्तने॒ पर्व॑ताः सन्तु॒ स्वैत॑वो॒ ये वस॑वो॒ न वी॒राः । प॒नि॒त आ॒प्त्यो य॑ज॒तः सदा॑ नो॒ वर्धा॑न्नः॒ शंसं॒ नर्यो॑ अ॒भिष्टौ॑ ॥

May the clouds and mountains be for the expansion of our charities. So may be the Vasus, abodes of life such as earth and oceans, suns and planets, as well as the brave and generous people of strength and intelligence, self-motivated, self-moved, celebrated, self-realised, creative and corporate powers, and may they all augment our honour and reputation in all fields of human welfare.

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5.41.10

वृष्णो॑ अस्तोषि भू॒म्यस्य॒ गर्भं॑ त्रि॒तो नपा॑तम॒पां सु॑वृ॒क्ति । गृ॒णी॒ते अ॒ग्निरे॒तरी॒ न शू॒षैः शो॒चिष्के॑शो॒ नि रि॑णाति॒ वना॑ ॥

I admire and adore the lightning fire, child of waters, which pervades the three worlds of the universe and gives showers of life for the fertility of the earth. Like a moving power with locks of light with its force and motion, Agni energises the rays of the sun, moves the clouds and enlivens the forests with greenery.

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5.41.11

क॒था म॒हे रु॒द्रिया॑य ब्रवाम॒ कद्रा॒ये चि॑कि॒तुषे॒ भगा॑य । आप॒ ओष॑धीरु॒त नो॑ऽवन्तु॒ द्यौर्वना॑ गि॒रयो॑ वृ॒क्षके॑शाः ॥

How shall we speak to

the seeker of nature’s catalytic powers breaking and making the changing forms of matter and energy, how speak to the earnest seeker of knowledge, of wealth, production and prosperity? May the flowing waters and clouds, herbs, heavens, rays of sunlight and high mountains with locks of forests help and protect us.

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5.41.12

शृ॒णोतु॑ न ऊ॒र्जां पति॒र्गिरः॒ स नभ॒स्तरी॑याँ इषि॒रः परि॑ज्मा । शृ॒ण्वन्त्वापः॒ पुरो॒ न शु॒भ्राः परि॒ स्रुचो॑ बबृहा॒णस्याद्रेः॑ ॥

May the lord creator, controller and sustainer of energies listen to our voice of prayer, listen and reveal the mystery. May the master of the science of energy listen and enlighten us. May the lord omniscient, pervasive in waters and the skies, ever moving, omnipresent, listen and reveal the knowledge. May the crystal waters and the perennial streams and showers issuing forth from the mighty clouds and mountains speak to us like the clairvoyant ancient seers and seekers.

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5.41.13

वि॒दा चि॒न्नु म॑हान्तो॒ ये व॒ एवा॒ ब्रवा॑म दस्मा॒ वार्यं॒ दधा॑नाः । वय॑श्च॒न सु॒भ्व१॒॑ आव॑ यन्ति क्षु॒भा मर्त॒मनु॑यतं वध॒स्नैः ॥

Listen ye, great ones, and let us know for certain those acts and motions of yours which we speak of and pray for, which, all great and generous ones, bearing cherished gifts of food, energy, health and age, ever growing stronger and expansive, mighty powerful with their catalytic forces, come to the mortal seeker who tries to know and search them out.

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5.41.14

आ दैव्या॑नि॒ पार्थि॑वानि॒ जन्मा॒पश्चाच्छा॒ सुम॑खाय वोचम् । वर्ध॑न्तां॒ द्यावो॒ गिर॑श्च॒न्द्राग्रा॑ उ॒दा व॑र्धन्ताम॒भिषा॑ता॒ अर्णाः॑ ॥

I speak of the celestial and terrestrial evolution of things and forces and their actions and attributes for the holy pursuer of creative yajnic action. May the heavenly light and words of knowledge grow with peace, beauty and bliss in action. May the waters of life and energy grow and flow like the spatial oceans enveloping our existence.

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5.41.15

प॒देप॑दे मे जरि॒मा नि धा॑यि॒ वरू॑त्री वा श॒क्रा या पा॒युभि॑श्च । सिष॑क्तु मा॒ता म॒ही र॒सा नः॒ स्मत्सू॒रिभि॑र्ऋजु॒हस्त॑ ऋजु॒वनिः॑ ॥

At every stage of evolution, my growth with divine praise and prayer is evident, replete with power and grace bearing all natural and divine modes and materials of protection and progress. May mother earth and her nectar sweets of energy with sages and scholars bless us with the rich gifts of her simple, natural and liberal hands.

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5.41.16

क॒था दा॑शेम॒ नम॑सा सु॒दानू॑नेव॒या म॒रुतो॒ अच्छो॑क्तौ॒प्रश्र॑वसो म॒रुतो॒ अच्छो॑क्तौ । मा नोऽहि॑र्बु॒ध्न्यो॑ रि॒षे धा॑द॒स्माकं॑ भूदुपमाति॒वनिः॑ ॥

How shall we honour and serve the generous and renowned Maruts, dynamics of nature and the dynamic leaders and scholars of humanity, with offers of gifts and acts of homage in order to thank and supplicate them in words of reverence? Too generous and too highly renowned are they even for the best and choicest words of ours. May the generous cloud in the sky never forsake us to suffer want and injury. May there always be ample blessings of nature and Divinity for us close at hand.

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5.41.17

इति॑ चि॒न्नु प्र॒जायै॑ पशु॒मत्यै॒ देवा॑सो॒ वन॑ते॒ मर्त्यो॑ व॒ आदे॑वासो वनते॒ मर्त्यो॑ वः । अत्रा॑ शि॒वां त॒न्वो॑ धा॒सिम॒स्या ज॒रां चि॑न्मे॒ निर्ऋ॑तिर्जग्रसीत ॥

Thus does mortal man honour and celebrate you, O divinities of nature and humanity, for progeny and for abundance of wealth and cattle. Thus does mortal man win your favour. Give me here in the world well being of the body and sustenance for health, and may mother earth with her generosity keep off debility and decay of my health and the onset of old age.

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5.41.18

तां वो॑ देवाः सुम॒तिमू॒र्जय॑न्ती॒मिष॑मश्याम वसवः॒ शसा॒ गोः । सा नः॑ सु॒दानु॑र्मृ॒ळय॑न्ती दे॒वी प्रति॒ द्रव॑न्ती सुवि॒ताय॑ गम्याः ॥

O Vasus, divinities of nature and humanity, may we receive that holy intelligence of yours, that energising food, by our praise and prayer in honour of mother earth, nature and the cow, and may that mother power, generous, loving and merciful, O divinities, sages and scholars, the lady overflowing with kindness, move for us in response to us for our good, for our honour and prosperity.

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5.41.19

अ॒भि न॒ इळा॑ यू॒थस्य॑ मा॒ता स्मन्न॒दीभि॑रु॒र्वशी॑ वा गृणातु । उ॒र्वशी॑ वा बृहद्दि॒वा गृ॑णा॒नाभ्यू॑र्ण्वा॒ना प्र॑भृ॒थस्या॒योः ॥

May the divine Ida, voice of omniscience, generous nature and the wide earth, mother of multitudes, sublime and overwhelming, enlighten and inspire us. And may the majesty of divinities, commanding universal light, comprehending the meaning, purpose and energy of life itself, revealing knowledge and wisdom come to us.

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5.41.20

सिष॑क्तु न ऊर्ज॒व्य॑स्य पु॒ष्टेः ॥

And let the scientist help us and the lord omniscient bless us, with strength and energy from all sources of nature.

✦ Sukta 42 · 18 verses ✦

5.42.1

प्र शंत॑मा॒ वरु॑णं॒ दीधि॑ती॒ गीर्मि॒त्रं भग॒मदि॑तिं नू॒नम॑श्याः । पृष॑द्योनिः॒ पञ्च॑होता शृणो॒त्वतू॑र्तपन्था॒ असु॑रो मयो॒भुः ॥

Let my holy voice, the chant of OM, full of peace and bliss, light of my higher energy of udana, rise up and reach Varuna, cherished lord of love and justice, Mitra, lord of light and friendship, Bhaga, lord of honour and excellence, and Aditi, mother Infinity of heaven and earth. May the lord Supreme listen and receive, the lord of Eternal Word and speech coexistent with space and Divinity, ministrant of five pranic energies, indefatigable and irresistible in the ways of his power and action, giver of life and energy, lord of bliss, Bliss itself.

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5.42.2

प्रति॑ मे॒ स्तोम॒मदि॑तिर्जगृभ्यात्सू॒नुं न मा॒ता हृद्यं॑ सु॒शेव॑म् । ब्रह्म॑ प्रि॒यं दे॒वहि॑तं॒ यदस्त्य॒हं मि॒त्रे वरु॑णे॒ यन्म॑यो॒भु ॥

MayAditi, mother of eternal speech, receive and love my song of praise and prayer as a mother holds her child to the heart, dear, cherished and soothing. Brahma, lord Infinite that is dear, kind and benevolent to the noble people, supreme giver, who inspires prana and udana energies, is our lord adorable.

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5.42.3

उदी॑रय क॒वित॑मं कवी॒नामु॒नत्तै॑नम॒भि मध्वा॑ घृ॒तेन॑ । स नो॒ वसू॑नि॒ प्रय॑ता हि॒तानि॑ च॒न्द्राणि॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता सु॑वाति ॥

Sing, celebrate him that is the most imaginative of poets, exalt him with honey sweets of song and homage, and may he, the inspirer creator, Savita, refulgent and generous lord, in response to our homage and effort, give us cherished wealth and honour of our choice for the good of our body, mind and soul.

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5.42.4

समि॑न्द्र णो॒ मन॑सा नेषि॒ गोभिः॒ सं सू॒रिभि॑र्हरिवः॒ सं स्व॒स्ति । सं ब्रह्म॑णा दे॒वहि॑तं॒ यदस्ति॒ सं दे॒वानां॑ सुम॒त्या य॒ज्ञिया॑नाम् ॥

Indra, lord of power, honour and excellence, you lead us on with a holy mind, with efficient senses, intelligence and songs of homage, with bright and brave people. Lord of humanity, commanding the motive forces of the dynamics of existence, let there be all good and well being for us. Lead us on with knowledge and wealth of divinity, with whatever is good and beneficial for noble people, and with the wisdom of the brilliant people devoted to yajnic creation and divine service.

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5.42.5

दे॒वो भगः॑ सवि॒ता रा॒यो अंश॒ इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्रस्य॑ सं॒जितो॒ धना॑नाम् । ऋ॒भु॒क्षा वाज॑ उ॒त वा॒ पुरं॑धि॒रव॑न्तु नो अ॒मृता॑सस्तु॒रासः॑ ॥

May the brilliant and generous, the prosperous and honourable, the creator inspirer, rich and generous, participant sharer, commander of honour and excellence, winner of loud showers, producer of wealth, the powerful intellectual, commander of power and progress, the man of wisdom and distant vision, the immortals and powers of tempestuous advancement, may all these protect and promote us on the path of goodness.

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5.42.6

म॒रुत्व॑तो॒ अप्र॑तीतस्य जि॒ष्णोरजू॑र्यतः॒ प्र ब्र॑वामा कृ॒तानि॑ । न ते॒ पूर्वे॑ मघव॒न्नाप॑रासो॒ न वी॒र्यं१॒॑ नूत॑नः॒ कश्च॒नाप॑ ॥

We sing and celebrate the acts and achievements of the lord of men and winds, incomprehensible, victorious, unaging and undecaying. O lord of honour and power, Indra, neither the ancients, nor the moderns, nor the succeeding ones nor anyone else would comprehend your power and potential.

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5.42.7

उप॑ स्तुहि प्रथ॒मं र॑त्न॒धेयं॒ बृह॒स्पतिं॑ सनि॒तारं॒ धना॑नाम् । यः शंस॑ते स्तुव॒ते शंभ॑विष्ठः पुरू॒वसु॑रा॒गम॒ज्जोहु॑वानम् ॥

First sing in honour of him close at hand who wields and governs the jewel wealth of existence, Brhaspati, Lord Almighty of the boundless universe, giver of wealth and honour, lord most blissful, omnificent, universally adored, who blesses the celebrant and supplicant, and brings him the wealth and honour prayed for.

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5.42.8

तवो॒तिभिः॒ सच॑माना॒ अरि॑ष्टा॒ बृह॑स्पते म॒घवा॑नः सु॒वीराः॑ । ये अ॑श्व॒दा उ॒त वा॒ सन्ति॑ गो॒दा ये व॑स्त्र॒दाः सु॒भगा॒स्तेषु॒ रायः॑ ॥

Brhaspati, O lord of unbounded wealth of the universe, the people who are free from injury, enjoying wealth and power, brave and fearless, sharing the blessings of your protections, who are generous and honourable and give horses, cows and clothes in charity, all enjoy the good fortune of wealth and power and the grace of divinities.

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5.42.9

वि॒स॒र्माणं॑ कृणुहि वि॒त्तमे॑षां॒ ये भु॒ञ्जते॒ अपृ॑णन्तो न उ॒क्थैः । अप॑व्रतान्प्रस॒वे वा॑वृधा॒नान्ब्र॑ह्म॒द्विषः॒ सूर्या॑द्यावयस्व ॥

Render the wealth of those people fruitless and unproductive who eat by themselves inspite of our songs of divine praise in honour of charity. Deprive them of the light of the sun who observe no rules of good conduct, and who, while growing materially in the lord’s creation, revile the lord giver and desecrate the food.

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5.42.10

य ओह॑ते र॒क्षसो॑ दे॒ववी॑तावच॒क्रेभि॒स्तं म॑रुतो॒ नि या॑त । यो वः॒ शमीं॑ शशमा॒नस्य॒ निन्दा॑त्तु॒च्छ्यान्कामा॑न्करते सिष्विदा॒नः ॥

O Maruts, dynamic leaders of the people, take him down straight, not in round about words, who invokes and entertains the wicked in the holy programmes of society, who reviles the noble work of the divine celebrant and who, even though trying hard apparently, demeans his values and desires.

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5.42.11

तमु ष्टुहि यः स्वि॒षुः सु॒धन्वा॒ यो विश्व॑स्य॒ क्षय॑ति भेष॒जस्य॑ । यक्ष्वा॑ म॒हे सौ॑मन॒साय॑ रु॒द्रं नमो॑भिर्दे॒वमसु॑रं दुवस्य ॥

Praise and exalt him who wields the strong bow and sharp arrow in support of life and shelters the creative, corrective and protective forces of the world. Do good work in cooperation with the great and magnanimous people, and honour and serve with homage and holy offerings Rudra, lord of power, justice and punishment, brilliant and generous giver of life and energy.

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5.42.12

दमू॑नसो अ॒पसो॒ ये सु॒हस्ता॒ वृष्णः॒ पत्नी॑र्न॒द्यो॑ विभ्वत॒ष्टाः । सर॑स्वती बृहद्दि॒वोत रा॒का द॑श॒स्यन्ती॑र्वरिवस्यन्तु शु॒भ्राः ॥

May those who are generous at heart, noble at work, liberal of hand, bold and bountiful, motherly women, streams of water flowing within bounds of divinity, vastly illuminative, perennially flowing with sweetness, blissful like a moonlit night, ever giving without reserve, pure and immaculate, we pray, bless us.

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5.42.13

प्र सू म॒हे सु॑शर॒णाय॑ मे॒धां गिरं॑ भरे॒ नव्य॑सीं॒ जाय॑मानाम् । य आ॑ह॒ना दु॑हि॒तुर्व॒क्षणा॑सु रू॒पा मि॑ना॒नो अकृ॑णोदि॒दं नः॑ ॥

I offer my latest song of praise arising spontaneously and dedicate my intellect and imagination in honour of Indra, blissful shelter of the world, who, sculptor of the forms of his creation, has provided and made to flow this water for us in the streams of his daughter, the earth.

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5.42.14

प्र सु॑ष्टु॒तिः स्त॒नय॑न्तं रु॒वन्त॑मि॒ळस्पतिं॑ जरितर्नू॒नम॑श्याः । यो अ॑ब्दि॒माँ उ॑दनि॒माँ इय॑र्ति॒ प्र वि॒द्युता॒ रोद॑सी उ॒क्षमा॑णः ॥

Let this celebrative song, O celebrant, rise and reach the roaring, thundering lord of earth and eternal speech who, replete with blissful waters, rolling like spatial oceans, goes forward sprinkling the earth and illuminating heaven and earth with the showers of light and life.

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5.42.15

ए॒ष स्तोमो॒ मारु॑तं॒ शर्धो॒ अच्छा॑ रु॒द्रस्य॑ सू॒नूँर्यु॑व॒न्यूँरुद॑श्याः । कामो॑ रा॒ये ह॑वते मा स्व॒स्त्युप॑ स्तुहि॒ पृष॑दश्वाँ अ॒यासः॑ ॥

Let this song of praise reach and excite the power and force of the Maruts, fellow humans, youthful children of Rudra, Lord of law, justice and discriminative wisdom, and let my love and desire inspire them for wealth and honour of the world. O celebrant, celebrate the dynamic forces of humanity, generous and showerful as the clouds.

· · ·

5.42.16

प्रैष स्तोमः॑ पृथि॒वीम॒न्तरि॑क्षं॒ वन॒स्पतीँ॒रोष॑धी रा॒ये अ॑श्याः । दे॒वोदे॑वः सु॒हवो॑ भूतु॒ मह्यं॒ मा नो॑ मा॒ता पृ॑थि॒वी दु॑र्म॒तौ धा॑त् ॥

May this song of celebration ring over the earth, resound across the sky, and vibrate among the trees and herbs for the production of wealth. May the lord supreme, God of the divinities of nature and humanity, be kind to me and listen to my invocation and prayer. May the mother earth be kind and never ill-disposed to us.

· · ·

5.42.17

उ॒रौ दे॑वा अनिबा॒धे स्या॑म ॥

O divinities, saints and sages, may we ever prosper in the unbounded generosity of nature and of mother earth.

· · ·

5.42.18

सम॒श्विनो॒रव॑सा॒ नूत॑नेन मयो॒भुवा॑ सु॒प्रणी॑ती गमेम । आ नो॑ र॒यिं व॑हत॒मोत वी॒राना विश्वा॑न्यमृता॒ सौभ॑गानि ॥

O lord, we pray, may we ever follow and benefit from the latest and blissful guidance and noble policy of the Ashvins, teachers and scholars. Bring us, O divine -twin powers of nature’s complementarities, wealth, brave progeny and all the imperishable good fortunes of honour and excellence. Let us prosper with your protection and vision of progress.

✦ Sukta 43 · 17 verses ✦

5.43.1

आ धे॒नवः॒ पय॑सा॒ तूर्ण्य॑र्था॒ अम॑र्धन्ती॒रुप॑ नो यन्तु॒ मध्वा॑ । म॒हो रा॒ये बृ॑ह॒तीः स॒प्त विप्रो॑ मयो॒भुवो॑ जरि॒ता जो॑हवीति ॥

Let the Voice of Divinity like mother cows, flowing with milky streams of meaning and metaphor, instantly vibrating unto the mind and soul, incessantly rippling and soothing without violence or difficulty, come and bless us with honey sweets of divine peace and spiritual awareness. Sevenfold are they in sound, music and meaning, expressive, grand and infinite. The celebrant yajaka, joyous and ecstatic, invokes, augments and proclaims the voices for the highest wealth and well being of life.

· · ·

5.43.2

आ सु॑ष्टु॒ती नम॑सा वर्त॒यध्यै॒ द्यावा॒ वाजा॑य पृथि॒वी अमृ॑ध्रे । पि॒ता मा॒ता मधु॑वचाः सु॒हस्ता॒ भरे॑भरे नो य॒शसा॑वविष्टाम् ॥

We offer songs of adoration with homage and offers of yajnic food and fragrance to win incessant blessings of loving and non-violent heaven and earth for the sake of food and sustenance, knowledge and progressive advancement in life. May the father, mother, heaven and earth, sweet and loving of voice and word, liberal and unstinted of hand, bless us with honour and excellence at every stage of our battle business of life.

· · ·

5.43.3

अध्व॑र्यवश्चकृ॒वांसो॒ मधू॑नि॒ प्र वा॒यवे॑ भरत॒ चारु॑ शु॒क्रम् । होते॑व नः प्रथ॒मः पा॑ह्य॒स्य देव॒ मध्वो॑ ररि॒मा ते॒ मदा॑य ॥

O priests of the scientific yajna for peace and unity with love and non-violence, working on the holy powers and mysteries of wind and electric energy, take up pure energised waters, and create and bear the energy for Vayu, spirit and ruler of humanity. O Vayu, brilliant ruler, first of all preserve, protect and promote this honey sweet energy so that we may be happy and enjoy life together for your honour and pleasure.

· · ·

5.43.4

दश॒ क्षिपो॑ युञ्जते बा॒हू अद्रिं॒ सोम॑स्य॒ या श॑मि॒तारा॑ सु॒हस्ता॑ । मध्वो॒ रसं॑ सु॒गभ॑स्तिर्गिरि॒ष्ठां चनि॑श्चदद्दुदुहे शु॒क्रमं॒शुः ॥

Just as ten fingers join the two hands, and the dexterous priests use the stone press to extract the soma juice, and just as the sun with its bright rays, happy and rejoicing, distils the potent pure honey sweet vitalities of energy existing in the clouds and mountains, so do the happy performers of scientific yajna for peace, expert specialists of energy, using their hands and mind and senses, working on the clouds distil the purest rays of energy, the honey sweet essence of nature’s sources of wind and waters.

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5.43.5

असा॑वि ते जुजुषा॒णाय॒ सोमः॒ क्रत्वे॒ दक्षा॑य बृह॒ते मदा॑य । हरी॒ रथे॑ सु॒धुरा॒ योगे॑ अ॒र्वागिन्द्र॑ प्रि॒या कृ॑णुहि हू॒यमा॑नः ॥

Indra, brilliant ruler, commander of winds and waters, distilled is the soma of energy for your knowledge and enlightenment, for your power and potential, and for delight and grand celebration, love as you do the honour and excellence of prosperity. Invoked and invited to the celebration, harness the fast controlled powers to the chariot, come straight, and accomplish the programmes you wish to complete.

· · ·

5.43.6

आ नो॑ म॒हीम॒रम॑तिं स॒जोषा॒ ग्नां दे॒वीं नम॑सा रा॒तह॑व्याम् । मधो॒र्मदा॑य बृह॒तीमृ॑त॒ज्ञामाग्ने॑ वह प॒थिभि॑र्देव॒यानैः॑ ॥

Agni, O light of knowledge, scholar scientist, loving and cooperative, lead us on to that great, continuous but unaddicted knowledge of divine value with your humility and yajnic inputs, knowledge which is highly creative and productive for honey sweet delights and celebration of mankind, which is vastly revealing of mother nature’s truths and worthy of further pursuit by the progressive paths of divinities and nobilities among humanity.

· · ·

5.43.7

अ॒ञ्जन्ति॒ यं प्र॒थय॑न्तो॒ न विप्रा॑ व॒पाव॑न्तं॒ नाग्निना॒ तप॑न्तः । पि॒तुर्न पु॒त्र उ॒पसि॒ प्रेष्ठ॒ आ घ॒र्मो अ॒ग्निमृ॒तय॑न्नसादि ॥

Like a darling child in the lap of father, like the fire of yajna in the vedi, the disciple in pursuit of the light of knowledge and fire of life is seated in school close to the teachers like a seedling growing to fullness, whom sagely scholars, purifying, seasoning and tempering like steel and gold by the heat of fire, strengthen and prepare for a full yajnic life.

· · ·

5.43.8

अच्छा॑ म॒ही बृ॑ह॒ती शंत॑मा॒ गीर्दू॒तो न ग॑न्त्व॒श्विना॑ हु॒वध्यै॑ । म॒यो॒भुवा॑ स॒रथा या॑तम॒र्वाग्ग॒न्तं नि॒धिं धुर॑मा॒णिर्न नाभि॑म् ॥

Let the good and great, wide and high, refreshing and beneficent voice of ours like a messenger go to invoke and invite the Ashvins, teachers and preachers, complementary powers of nature, positive and negative currents of energy circuit, and may the Ashvins, kind, peaceable and peace giving come to us straight like the centre pin of the axle and nave of a chariot wheel, and share our treasure wealth of knowledge, power and material well-being.

· · ·

5.43.9

प्र तव्य॑सो॒ नम॑उक्तिं तु॒रस्या॒हं पू॒ष्ण उ॒त वा॒योर॑दिक्षि । या राध॑सा चोदि॒तारा॑ मती॒नां या वाज॑स्य द्रविणो॒दा उ॒त त्मन् ॥

I offer the song of homage and reverence in honour of Pusha, power of nourishment, and Vayu, energy of wind and electricity, both power givers for success and achievement, inspirers of mankind, and both spontaneous and instant givers of wealth and progress.

· · ·

5.43.10

आ नाम॑भिर्म॒रुतो॑ वक्षि॒ विश्वा॒ना रू॒पेभि॑र्जातवेदो हुवा॒नः । य॒ज्ञं गिरो॑ जरि॒तुः सु॑ष्टु॒तिं च॒ विश्वे॑ गन्त मरुतो॒ विश्व॑ ऊ॒ती ॥

O Jataveda, light of life, sagely scholar of the knowledge of things in existence, invoked and invited, kindled and raised, you bring and speak of all the energies of winds and electricity of all names and all descriptions for men. O Maruts, winds and energies, in response to the mantric formulae and the celebrant’s songs of adoration, come all and bring all modes of protection and advancement along to the sagely scholars’ yajnic pursuit of research and development.

· · ·

5.43.11

आ नो॑ दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तः पर्व॑ता॒दा सर॑स्वती यज॒ता ग॑न्तु य॒ज्ञम् । हवं॑ दे॒वी जु॑जुषा॒णा घृ॒ताची॑ श॒ग्मां नो॒ वाच॑मुश॒ती शृ॑णोतु ॥

May Sarasvati, divine mother of knowledge and language in the cosmic flow, loving and responsive to her children, come to bless our yajna, bearing ghrta and waters of life’s energy and inspiration from heaven, the vast skies, clouds and mountains. May she join us like a mother overflowing with love, listen to our words of prayer for peace and pious advancement and give us the vision.

· · ·

5.43.12

आ वे॒धसं॒ नील॑पृष्ठं बृ॒हन्तं॒ बृह॒स्पतिं॒ सद॑ने सादयध्वम् । सा॒दद्यो॑निं॒ दम॒ आ दी॑दि॒वांसं॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्णमरु॒षं स॑पेम ॥

Enshrine the eminent sage and scholar specialised in the round blue skies, great and rising pursuant of space, in your seat of yajnic learning, in the home and in the assembly : the scholar concentrating on the ultimate natural causes, bright and illuminative, golden in performance, the very dawn of light and knowledge, we honour and serve.

· · ·

5.43.13

आ ध॑र्ण॒सिर्बृ॒हद्दि॑वो॒ ररा॑णो॒ विश्वे॑भिर्ग॒न्त्वोम॑भिर्हुवा॒नः । ग्ना वसा॑न॒ ओष॑धी॒रमृ॑ध्रस्त्रि॒धातु॑शृङ्गो वृष॒भो व॑यो॒धाः ॥

May the wielder and sustainer of existence, mighty refulgent and blissful, invoked, enkindled and raised in the vedi come and bless our yajna with all means of protection and progress, the lord illuminating our voices of praise and prayer, vitalising herbs and vegetation, kind and loving, lord of nature’s three modes of thought (sattva), energy (rajas) and matter (tamas) which are transparent, red and dark green, the lord generous as showers and giver of health and age.

· · ·

5.43.14

मा॒तुष्प॒दे प॑र॒मे शु॒क्र आ॒योर्वि॑प॒न्यवो॑ रास्पि॒रासो॑ अग्मन् । सु॒शेव्यं॒ नम॑सा रा॒तह॑व्याः॒ शिशुं॑ मृजन्त्या॒यवो॒ न वा॒से ॥

On the sacred and excellent vedi on the floor of mother earth, lovers and admirers of life come in pursuit of the joy of living, bearing holy offers for the sacred fire. And just as they cleanse the new born baby and welcome it in new life, so they feed, serve and develop the holy fire with love and offers of food and fragrance like a living divinity on earth.

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5.43.15

बृ॒हद्वयो॑ बृह॒ते तुभ्य॑मग्ने धिया॒जुरो॑ मिथु॒नासः॑ सचन्त । दे॒वोदे॑वः सु॒हवो॑ भूतु॒ मह्यं॒ मा नो॑ मा॒ता पृ॑थि॒वी दु॑र्म॒तौ धा॑त् ॥

People senior in age and wide in experience, eminent in knowledge and intelligence, men and women together, offer homage to you, Agni, lord of light and great. May the lord Divine, light of all divinities, be kind and gracious to me, and may mother earth look at us with favour and never forsake us.

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5.43.16

उ॒रौ दे॑वा अनिबा॒धे स्या॑म ॥

O Divinities, may we ever be in the light of your unbounded grace, free and uninterrupted.

· · ·

5.43.17

सम॒श्विनो॒रव॑सा॒ नूत॑नेन मयो॒भुवा॑ सु॒प्रणी॑ती गमेम । आ नो॑ र॒यिं व॑हत॒मोत वी॒राना विश्वा॑न्यमृता॒ सौभ॑गानि ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers of nature, teachers and preachers, men and women together, all kind and blissful, may we go on in life by your latest protections and noble paths of progress and morality. O immortal divines, bear and bring us wealth, and brave progeny and all the good fortunes of the world.

✦ Sukta 44 · 15 verses ✦

5.44.1

तं प्र॒त्नथा॑ पू॒र्वथा॑ वि॒श्वथे॒मथा॑ ज्ये॒ष्ठता॑तिं बर्हि॒षदं॑ स्व॒र्विद॑म् । प्र॒ती॒ची॒नं वृ॒जनं॑ दोहसे गि॒राशुं जय॑न्त॒मनु॒ यासु॒ वर्ध॑से ॥

Indra, Ruler as of ancient times, as before, as always, as of now, with your holy voice you draw upon the highest, heavenly, blissful force and power present upfront and instantly victorious in the battles of life, and you grow and progress in consequence of that same power and force. O Ruler, let us all honour and augment and serve that power.

· · ·

5.44.2

श्रि॒ये सु॒दृशी॒रुप॑रस्य॒ याः स्व॑र्वि॒रोच॑मानः क॒कुभा॑मचो॒दते॑ । सु॒गो॒पा अ॑सि॒ न दभा॑य सुक्रतो प॒रो मा॒याभि॑र्ऋ॒त आ॑स॒ नाम॑ ते ॥

Ruler of the world, you are the self-refulgent light of heaven, illuminator of spaces and mover of the still clouds of vapours in the skies, the lord whose lights and graces are for the beauty and majesty of life. You are the protector, defender, preserver and promoter. You are not for deceit or violence. You are the cause and agent of holy action, sovereign with your powers and potential, and your name is identical with truth and law.

· · ·

5.44.3

अत्यं॑ ह॒विः स॑चते॒ सच्च॒ धातु॒ चारि॑ष्टगातुः॒ स होता॑ सहो॒भरिः॑ । प्र॒सर्स्रा॑णो॒ अनु॑ ब॒र्हिर्वृषा॒ शिशु॒र्मध्ये॒ युवा॒जरो॑ वि॒स्रुहा॑ हि॒तः ॥

(He abides in, with, and above the dynamics of the yajnic evolution of existence: consumer, consumed, consumption, evolution and devolution, the beginning and the end, all): He abides with the food of life. He is truth, reality, eternity. He is the wielder, sustainer and commander of the world in existence. Inviolable is his word, uncharted his way. He is the yajaka, creator and giver. He is the lord and controller of power and potential, challenge and forbearance. He is ever on the move across the skies and spaces. He is the generous cloud, the seedling in the womb of existence, ever young, unaging, antidote of negative destruction, and loving support of all.

· · ·

5.44.4

प्र व॑ ए॒ते सु॒युजो॒ याम॑न्नि॒ष्टये॒ नीची॑र॒मुष्मै॑ य॒म्य॑ ऋता॒वृधः॑ । सु॒यन्तु॑भिः सर्वशा॒सैर॒भीशु॑भिः॒ क्रिवि॒र्नामा॑नि प्रव॒णे मु॑षायति ॥

O children of the earth, for your good and comfort, immediate as well as distant, are these united, cooperative, well controlled radiations of the sun all round, fostering the truth of nature’s law in their own way: For that Master Spirit, the sun sucks up the vapours of water from the ocean and other lower places by well directed, all dominating waves of light, and then makes the cloud release the waters in rain showers to flow down in streams and rivers into the ocean. (In the same way the administrative forces of the ruler, working together in cooperation within the law, collect the taxes from the various communities of the people and the ruler uses the collection for rain showers of the people’s protection, promotion and prosperity without hoarding anything for himself.)

· · ·

5.44.5

सं॒जर्भु॑राण॒स्तरु॑भिः सुते॒गृभं॑ वया॒किनं॑ चि॒त्तग॑र्भासु सु॒स्वरुः॑ । धा॒र॒वा॒केष्वृ॑जुगाथ शोभसे॒ वर्ध॑स्व॒ पत्नी॑र॒भि जी॒वो अ॑ध्व॒रे ॥

Shining and vibrating by flutter of the leaves of trees, proclaiming the presence of the spirit manifested in life forms living and aging in the world of creation, in the caves of the heart, you shine and radiate in the consciousness, O lord of rectitude and paths of naturalness. Grow on, live on, O lord, in the yajna of creation and let the life forms grow on and advance.

· · ·

5.44.6

या॒दृगे॒व ददृ॑शे ता॒दृगु॑च्यते॒ सं छा॒यया॑ दधिरे सि॒ध्रया॒प्स्वा । म॒हीम॒स्मभ्य॑मुरु॒षामु॒रु ज्रयो॑ बृ॒हत्सु॒वीर॒मन॑पच्युतं॒ सहः॑ ॥

Who are the sagely divines of humanity?As they see the truth of reality, so do they speak of it. They behold it and stand thereby by the holy reflection of it in divine works of creation or in the visions of their own imagination. And they, men of courage, wide and bold in speech and imagination, bear and bring for us great illuminative speech of knowledge and high and mighty undecaying valour, forbearance and spirit of challenge which creates great heroes in the service of truth and rectitude. They are human divines.

· · ·

5.44.7

वेत्यग्रु॒र्जनि॑वा॒न्वा अति॒ स्पृधः॑ समर्य॒ता मन॑सा॒ सूर्यः॑ क॒विः । घ्रं॒सं रक्ष॑न्तं॒ परि॑ वि॒श्वतो॒ गय॑म॒स्माकं॒ शर्म॑ वनव॒त्स्वाव॑सुः ॥

The leader, reborn in knowledge and courage of action, goes forward challenging, thirsting for battle, radiant by mind, visionary of present and future, protecting the light of day, preserving our future wealth of generations, and protecting our hearth and home, selfpossessed and self-established as he is.

· · ·

5.44.8

ज्यायां॑सम॒स्य य॒तुन॑स्य के॒तुन॑ ऋषिस्व॒रं च॑रति॒ यासु॒ नाम॑ ते । या॒दृश्मि॒न्धायि॒ तम॑प॒स्यया॑ विद॒द्य उ॑ स्व॒यं वह॑ते॒ सो अरं॑ करत् ॥

The ruler and scholar who receives and serves the superior, the holy and advancing voice of the seers and sages by virtue of the knowledge and efforts of this industrious scholar, and you whose name and fame resounds among the people, whichever way the name and fame and knowledge is received, and the man who attains the knowledge of that all by his own effort and karmic discipline and carries the tradition on by himself, self-possessed and self-established, may all these do us good on our way of life.

· · ·

5.44.9

स॒मु॒द्रमा॑सा॒मव॑ तस्थे अग्रि॒मा न रि॑ष्यति॒ सव॑नं॒ यस्मि॒न्नाय॑ता । अत्रा॒ न हार्दि॑ क्रव॒णस्य॑ रेजते॒ यत्रा॑ म॒तिर्वि॒द्यते॑ पूत॒बन्ध॑नी ॥

The fame and advancement of these people resounds over seas and abides over spaces, nor does their yajnic progress suffer where hymns are chanted and wealth grows in holiness. Here the heart’s desire of the worshipper is not obstructed where holy intelligence and intentions abide for guidance in action.

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5.44.10

सहि क्ष॒त्रस्य॑ मन॒सस्य॒ चित्ति॑भिरेवाव॒दस्य॑ यज॒तस्य॒ सध्रेः॑ । अ॒व॒त्सा॒रस्य॑ स्पृणवाम॒ रण्व॑भिः॒ शवि॑ष्ठं॒ वाजं॑ वि॒दुषा॑ चि॒दर्ध्य॑म् ॥

With our collective thoughts and intentions and with all our love and delight, we desire to have that ruler for the social order whose high strength and dynamism is respected by the wise and enlightened scholars, who is a strong disciplinarian and organiser, who commands intelligence and eloquence, who is a holy and cooperative man of yajna, sociable as a friend and who can preserve, protect, defend, promote and enlighten the people and the system. Only such a person deserves to be the ruler.

· · ·

5.44.11

श्ये॒न आ॑सा॒मदि॑तिः क॒क्ष्यो॒३॒॑ मदो॑ वि॒श्ववा॑रस्य यज॒तस्य॑ मा॒यिनः॑ । सम॒न्यम॑न्यमर्थय॒न्त्येत॑वे वि॒दुर्वि॒षाणं॑ परि॒पान॒मन्ति॒ ते ॥

Of these people, he, the ruler, is the Shyena, eagle, harbinger of nectar, the watchful eye, and the marksman for the target, the destination. He is Aditi, the inviolable identity, symbol of nature, character, tradition and the nation. He is Kakshya, orbit of movement as well as the rampart, ever in harness, and he is the joy of life. Of this universal leader, all embracing and giving, all powerful, they jointly and separately desire and ask for advancement, know his generosity, and find their own fulfilment in his presence.

· · ·

5.44.12

स॒दा॒पृ॒णो य॑ज॒तो वि द्विषो॑ वधीद्बाहुवृ॒क्तः श्रु॑त॒वित्तर्यो॑ वः॒ सचा॑ । उ॒भा स वरा॒ प्रत्ये॑ति॒ भाति॑ च॒ यदीं॑ ग॒णं भज॑ते सुप्र॒याव॑भिः ॥

He is an unfailing giver of fulfilment, holy and cooperative in joint action for development, destroyer of hate and enmity, strong of arms, scholar of the Vedas, accessible saviour and helper and friendly for all of you. He receives both friend and foe appropriately and realises both material and spiritual good, shines and illuminates, the leader who serves this social order and this people with effective and acceptable means and policies.

· · ·

5.44.13

सु॒तं॒भ॒रो यज॑मानस्य॒ सत्प॑ति॒र्विश्वा॑सा॒मूधः॒ स धि॒यामु॒दञ्च॑नः । भर॑द्धे॒नू रस॑विच्छिश्रिये॒ पयो॑ऽनुब्रुवा॒णो अध्ये॑ति॒ न स्व॒पन् ॥

The baby’s parent, the yajaka’s protector and promoter, the teacher, ruler, guardian of humanity who preserves, sustains and advances whatever wealth and joy is achieved, the treasure hold of all history and tradition and intellectual and scientific progress on the march, bearing the milky food for body, mind and soul like the mother cow and forbearing earth, he goes onwards high proclaiming his knowledge and vision, the divine gift, without a wink of sleep: He is worthy of reverence.

· · ·

5.44.14

यो जा॒गार॒ तमृचः॑ कामयन्ते॒ यो जा॒गार॒ तमु॒ सामा॑नि यन्ति । यो जा॒गार॒ तम॒यं सोम॑ आह॒ तवा॒हम॑स्मि स॒ख्ये न्यो॑काः ॥

Whoever is awake, the Rks love and bless. Whoever is alert, the Samans move and elevate. Whoever is active without a wink of sleep, this soma of life’s joy and ecstasy addresses and says: O seeker and yajaka, I am for you, a friend and shelter home.

· · ·

5.44.15

अ॒ग्निर्जा॑गार॒ तमृचः॑ कामयन्ते॒ऽग्निर्जा॑गार॒ तमु॒ सामा॑नि यन्ति । अ॒ग्निर्जा॑गार॒ तम॒यं सोम॑ आह॒ तवा॒हम॑स्मि स॒ख्ये न्यो॑काः ॥

To Agni, soul of life awake, the light of Rks radiates with love. To Agni, light of life awake, the songs of Samans vibrate with love. To Agni, the fire of life aflame, the streams of nectar flow with love, and to the soul of life, the light of awareness and the fire of action, the ecstasy of life says: I am yours with love, a friend, your very haven and home.

✦ Sukta 45 · 11 verses ✦

5.45.1

वि॒दा दि॒वो वि॒ष्यन्नद्रि॑मु॒क्थैरा॑य॒त्या उ॒षसो॑ अ॒र्चिनो॑ गुः । अपा॑वृत व्र॒जिनी॒रुत्स्व॑र्गा॒द्वि दुरो॒ मानु॑षीर्दे॒व आ॑वः ॥

Brilliant sages with holy songs of adoration worship the self-refulgent Lord and break the cloud of ignorance. In consequence, the dawn of light follows, dispels the nights of darkness, and then the refulgent sun of divine knowledge opens the doors of human reason and intelligence with knowledge.

· · ·

5.45.2

वि सूर्यो॑ अ॒मतिं॒ न श्रियं॑ सा॒दोर्वाद्गवां॑ मा॒ता जा॑न॒ती गा॑त् । धन्व॑र्णसो न॒द्यः१॒॑ खादो॑अर्णाः॒ स्थूणे॑व॒ सुमि॑ता दृंहत॒ द्यौः ॥

The sun takes on the refulgent form of beauty like the grace of divinity, and from the vast heavens, the dawn, mother of light rays, goes forward revealing the beauty of the world. Streams and rivers, charming bright and refreshing, flow rushing on to the sea. The regions of light rise on, expansive like a measured column of the day’s sustenance. (The mantra is a metaphor, in continuation of the previous mantra, of the expansion of the light of knowledge and onward flow of life.)

· · ·

5.45.3

अ॒स्मा उ॒क्थाय॒ पर्व॑तस्य॒ गर्भो॑ म॒हीनां॑ ज॒नुषे॑ पू॒र्व्याय॑ । वि पर्व॑तो॒ जिही॑त॒ साध॑त॒ द्यौरा॒विवा॑सन्तो दसयन्त॒ भूम॑ ॥

In honour of this adorable ancient sun, cause of the birth of planets and the cloud, and for the fertility of the earths, the vapours leave the cloud to rain in showers. Let us too, high shining like the sun, realising the light of knowledge, illuminating all around, giving in charity, eliminating evil, realise ourselves.

· · ·

5.45.4

सू॒क्तेभि॑र्वो॒ वचो॑भिर्दे॒वजु॑ष्टै॒रिन्द्रा॒ न्व१॒॑ग्नी अव॑से हु॒वध्यै॑ । उ॒क्थेभि॒र्हि ष्मा॑ क॒वयः॑ सुय॒ज्ञा आ॒विवा॑सन्तो म॒रुतो॒ यज॑न्ति ॥

With unambiguous holy words approved by scholars and loved and used by divine brilliancies, we study and experiment with Indra and Agni for the invocation and achievement of electric energy and fire power for protection and progress, just as, with the same holy words, for all time, poetic men of vision and imagination and dynamic scientists engaged in creative and productive joint works, shining and illuminating in the pursuit of truth, work and conduct holy programmes of research for you all.

· · ·

5.45.5

एतो॒ न्व१॒॑द्य सु॒ध्यो॒३॒॑ भवा॑म॒ प्र दु॒च्छुना॑ मिनवामा॒ वरी॑यः । आ॒रे द्वेषां॑सि सनु॒तर्द॑धा॒माया॑म॒ प्राञ्चो॒ यज॑मान॒मच्छ॑ ॥

Come ye all today, let us engage in works of vision and wisdom as intelligent holy people. Let us throw off all evil and eliminate it. Let us always keep hate and enmity far away. Let us move forward and enthusiastically join the yajamana engaged in creative and productive work for advancement.

· · ·

5.45.6

एता॒ धियं॑ कृ॒णवा॑मा सखा॒योऽप॒ या मा॒ताँ ऋ॑णु॒त व्र॒जं गोः । यया॒ मनु॑र्विशिशि॒प्रं जि॒गाय॒ यया॑ व॒णिग्व॒ङ्कुरापा॒ पुरी॑षम् ॥

Come friends, let us take up works of science and reason by which mother knowledge reveals and, like the dawn, opens the doors of light and power, by which the man of war and tactics wins the helmet and armour, and by which the industrious producer achieves fertile land and ample water.

· · ·

5.45.7

अनू॑नो॒दत्र॒ हस्त॑यतो॒ अद्रि॒रार्च॒न्येन॒ दश॑ मा॒सो नव॑ग्वाः । ऋ॒तं य॒ती स॒रमा॒ गा अ॑विन्द॒द्विश्वा॑नि स॒त्याङ्गि॑राश्चकार ॥

Let the priest of dexterous hand, generous like the cloud, celebrant of divinity and nature’s powers, set the yajna in motion, inspiring the new generation on the move to keep the fire burning for ten months at least, and the dynamics of revelation would flow to the yajna, open the secrets of the Word and knowledge and control of mind and senses, and vibrant men of initiative would enact projects of truth and universal good.

· · ·

5.45.8

विश्वे॑ अ॒स्या व्युषि॒ माहि॑नायाः॒ सं यद्गोभि॒रङ्गि॑रसो॒ नव॑न्त । उत्स॑ आसां पर॒मे स॒धस्थ॑ ऋ॒तस्य॑ प॒था स॒रमा॑ विद॒द्गाः ॥

When on the rise of this glorious dawn the Angiras, vibrant scholars and sages dedicated to yajnic divinity, meet and rejoice with the rays of light, then, the oceanic source of these rays of light being in the highest heaven, it is the radiations of Divinity on the waves of nature’s vitality that transmit the revelations of light and knowledge and bless the yajnic seekers.

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5.45.9

आ सूर्यो॑ यातु स॒प्ताश्वः॒ क्षेत्रं॒ यद॑स्योर्वि॒या दी॑र्घया॒थे । र॒घुः श्ये॒नः प॑तय॒दन्धो॒ अच्छा॒ युवा॑ क॒विर्दी॑दय॒द्गोषु॒ गच्छ॑न् ॥

Let the sun, commanding seven horses of its spectrum lights, come to the earthly part of its domain like a flying courser, a hawk-like harbinger of nectar, dispelling darkness, and ripening food with its light and heat, and let it shine, an unaging youth, a visionary creator and inspirer, going over lands and planets on the long course of its orbit in space. So may the light of the Spirit descend into the earthly form of the body of five elements and five senses, mind and intelligence, and illuminate the individual personality of the soul to keep it a youthful visionary and self-inspiring poet, creatively playing around with the mind and senses, dispelling the darkness of ignorance and ripening the existential potential of its nature, across the world of five elements, and ahankara and mahan modes of nature, for its advancement over its eternal course.

· · ·

5.45.10

आ सूर्यो॑ अरुहच्छु॒क्रमर्णोऽयु॑क्त॒ यद्ध॒रितो॑ वी॒तपृ॑ष्ठाः । उ॒द्ना न नाव॑मनयन्त॒ धीरा॑ आशृण्व॒तीरापो॑ अ॒र्वाग॑तिष्ठन् ॥

When the sun yokes its far ranging rays of spectrum light to its chariot, it rises over the bright and lustrous ocean of spatial waters, and its intelligent and well directed horses carry it over the orbit like the constant waves of the sea carrying a boat, with the result that the overflowing waters stand around listening and raining down in showers. Similarly when the self- luminous soul yokes the five senses, the five pranas and the mind and intelligence to its purpose of action in yoga yajna, it rises over the bright and blazing world of existence, the seven lights of natural powers, perceptive and well directed by the soul in the state of constancy, carry it over the waters around waiting for its orders, and the soul reaches its destination where it joins the Divine.

· · ·

5.45.11

धियं॑ वो अ॒प्सु द॑धिषे स्व॒र्षां ययात॑र॒न्दश॑ मा॒सो नव॑ग्वाः । अ॒या धि॒या स्या॑म दे॒वगो॑पा अ॒या धि॒या तु॑तुर्या॒मात्यंहः॑ ॥

O divinities of nature and humanity, I pray, I may absorb into my pranic energies and actions that blissful intelligence of your gift by which the rising souls on the move cross the seas over ten months. May we, by this, be protectors and promoters of our sages and our divine nature. May we, by this, cross the seas over sin and evil.

✦ Sukta 46 · 8 verses ✦

5.46.1

हयो॒ न वि॒द्वाँ अ॑युजि स्व॒यं धु॒रि तां व॑हामि प्र॒तर॑णीमव॒स्युव॑म् । नास्या॑ वश्मि वि॒मुचं॒ नावृतं॒ पुन॑र्वि॒द्वान्प॒थः पु॑रए॒त ऋ॒जु ने॑षति ॥

Like a trained horse on the new path, the man of knowledge takes on a new programme, voluntarily. I too carry on the new programme which is protective, defensive and progressive. I do not want it abandoned, nor do I have anything reserved or secret about it, and further, only a scholar pioneer and leader advancing on the path of rectitude would take men and leaders forward.

· · ·

5.46.2

अग्र॒ इन्द्र॒ वरु॑ण॒ मित्र॒ देवाः॒ शर्धः॒ प्र य॑न्त॒ मारु॑तो॒त वि॑ष्णो । उ॒भा नास॑त्या रु॒द्रो अध॒ ग्नाः पू॒षा भगः॒ सर॑स्वती जुषन्त ॥

Agni, O brilliant power of light, fire and knowledge, may Indra, powers of honour and excellence, Varuna, chosen powers of justice and goodness, Mitra, friends, devas, noble powers of nature and humanity, Vishnu, universal lover of life all

over, Maruts, leaders of the force and speed of the winds, create strength and courage and bestow it on us. O Ashvins, cooperative powers of truth and rectitude of behaviour, Rudra, powers of justice and punishment, and voices of scholars and sages, Pusha, power of nourishment and vitality, Bhaga, creator of honour and prosperity and Sarasvati, spirit of knowledge, listen to our voice.

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5.46.3

इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी मि॒त्रावरु॒णादि॑तिं॒ स्वः॑ पृथि॒वीं द्यां म॒रुतः॒ पर्व॑ताँ अ॒पः । हु॒वे विष्णुं॑ पू॒षणं॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिं॒ भ॒गं नु शंसं॑ सवि॒तार॑मू॒तये॑ ॥

I invoke and study, for the benefit of protection and progress, heat, light and electricity, prana and udana energies of vitality, the atmosphere and the sky, the sun and higher regions of light, air and winds, clouds and mountains, waters and other liquids, all pervasive space, vitality of vyana energy, spirit of the universe, universal power and prosperity, creative energy of the universe, and all their positive and beneficial attributes and practical applications.

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5.46.4

उ॒त नो॒ विष्णु॑रु॒त वातो॑ अ॒स्रिधो॑ द्रविणो॒दा उ॒त सोमो॒ मय॑स्करत् । उ॒त ऋ॒भव॑ उ॒त रा॒ये नो॑ अ॒श्विनो॒त त्वष्टो॒त विभ्वानु॑ मंसते ॥

And may the omnipresent lord Vishnu, sustainer of life, Vata, waves of wind and electric energy, the creator and giver of wealth, and Soma, spirit of peace and joy do us good without delay or violence. And may the experts and specialists, and the Ashvins, complementarities of natural evolution, and the maker of forms and sophisticated designs, all with their skill and power and knowledge enlighten and train us in arts and crafts for the achievement of life’s wealth and honour.

· · ·

5.46.5

उ॒त त्यन्नो॒ मारु॑तं॒ शर्ध॒ आ ग॑मद्दिविक्ष॒यं य॑ज॒तं ब॒र्हिरा॒सदे॑ । बृह॒स्पतिः॒ शर्म॑ पू॒षोत नो॑ यमद्वरू॒थ्यं१॒॑ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा ॥

And may that celestial and adorable power and force of the tempestuous nature of winds in consonance with joint human interest and advancement come and be installed in our homes, assemblies and centres of production. And may Brhaspati, father and ruler of the wide world, Pusha, giver of nourishment and sustenance, Varuna, highest leader of our choice, Mitra, friendly and loving as breath of life, and Aryama, lord of justice and correctitude grant us peace, joy and progress worthy of a happy home.

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5.46.6

उ॒त त्ये नः॒ पर्व॑तासः सुश॒स्तयः॑ सुदी॒तयो॑ न॒द्य१॒॑स्त्राम॑णे भुवन् । भगो॑ विभ॒क्ता शव॒साव॒सा ग॑मदुरु॒व्यचा॒ अदि॑तिः श्रोतु मे॒ हव॑म् ॥

And may those clouds and mountains, and streams and rivers, admirable and majestic, shine and flow for our sustenance and progress. May Bhaga, lord of honour, excellence and prosperity, generous friend of all, come to us with universal strength and protection, and may Aditi, inviolable Mother Nature of unbounded generosity respond to our invocation and prayer and bless us all.

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5.46.7

दे॒वानां॒ पत्नी॑रुश॒तीर॑वन्तु नः॒ प्राव॑न्तु नस्तु॒जये॒ वाज॑सातये । याः पार्थि॑वासो॒ या अ॒पामपि॑ व्र॒ते ता नो॑ देवीः सुहवाः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छत ॥

May the motherly divinities of nature and the motherly women in happy and blessed homes of pious people, loving, sustaining and spontaneous, protect us, constantly advance us to rise in strength for the achievement of success in battles of life. May all these divinities and nobilities of the earth and of the oceans and celestial waters of space, constant in their holy tasks, ever responsive to our prayer give us peace and felicity of home and family.

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5.46.8

उ॒त ग्ना व्य॑न्तु दे॒वप॑त्नीरिन्द्रा॒ण्य१॒॑ग्नाय्य॒श्विनी॒ राट् । आ रोद॑सी वरुणा॒नी शृ॑णोतु॒ व्यन्तु॑ दे॒वीर्य ऋ॒तुर्जनी॑नाम् ॥

May the brilliant divinities of nature and women of noble and divine disposition, protective and progressive, be good and responsive to our voices of prayer. May motherly lightning energy, heat and healing energies, earth and heaven, spirit of justice and soothing cool of waters, and the cycle of seasons respond. May mother ruler, mother leader, health care matrons, fertility of women, scholars of earth, heavens and oceans, be kind and responsive to our progress.

✦ Sukta 47 · 7 verses ✦

5.47.1

प्र॒यु॒ञ्ज॒ती दि॒व ए॑ति ब्रुवा॒णा म॒ही मा॒ता दु॑हि॒तुर्बो॒धय॑न्ती । आ॒विवा॑सन्ती युव॒तिर्म॑नी॒षा पि॒तृभ्य॒ आ सद॑ने॒ जोहु॑वाना ॥

Great and glorious mother arises in all her youthful splendour from the lights of heaven and, invoked, invited and adored on the vedi, she comes with radiations of light and intelligence collected from the nourishing and sustaining divinities of nature and humanity, awakening, enlightening, speaking loud and bold, and preparing the daughter for life in the home with knowledge and wisdom. (The Dawn is mother, the earth is daughter.) (The mother of the home, and the mother teacher in the school, is great and adorable as a human deity because, having collected her knowledge and wisdom from her parents and teachers, she arises like the dawn of light and prepares the daughter for intelligent living in an enlightened home.)

· · ·

5.47.2

अ॒जि॒रास॒स्तद॑प॒ ईय॑माना आतस्थि॒वांसो॑ अ॒मृत॑स्य॒ नाभि॑म् । अ॒न॒न्तास॑ उ॒रवो॑ वि॒श्वतः॑ सीं॒ परि॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी य॑न्ति॒ पन्थाः॑ ॥

The radiations of the light of the dawn, as the actions of wise and brilliant parents and teachers, abiding in the centre of immortal eternity and flowing therefrom, move all round fast and ceaseless, vast and endless, on their paths across and over heaven and earth.

· · ·

5.47.3

उ॒क्षा स॑मु॒द्रो अ॑रु॒षः सु॑प॒र्णः पूर्व॑स्य॒ योनिं॑ पि॒तुरा वि॑वेश । मध्ये॑ दि॒वो निहि॑तः॒ पृश्नि॒रश्मा॒ वि च॑क्रमे॒ रज॑सस्पा॒त्यन्तौ॑ ॥

The mighty deep and generous ocean of waters, the blazing sustainer bird of space, the sun, enters in the spatial womb of its mother, divine Nature, fertilized by the original and eternal father creator. Placed in the midst of the heavens of light like a multicolour diamond, it traverses on and on, lights up, sustains and marks the expansive ends of the upper and lower strata of the sphere of heaven.

· · ·

5.47.4

च॒त्वार॑ ईं बिभ्रति क्षेम॒यन्तो॒ दश॒ गर्भं॑ च॒रसे॑ धापयन्ते । त्रि॒धात॑वः पर॒मा अ॑स्य॒ गावो॑ दि॒वश्च॑रन्ति॒ परि॑ स॒द्यो अन्ता॑न् ॥

The directions of space, receiving the sustaining light and warmth of life, bear it up. Ten directions of space feed the world they hold as a baby to keep it going. The rays of the sun radiate from the highest region of light and fill the threefold world of sattva, rajas and tamas, heaven, firmament and the earth, reaching all round to the borders of it almost instantly.

· · ·

5.47.5

इ॒दं वपु॑र्नि॒वच॑नं जनास॒श्चर॑न्ति॒ यन्न॒द्य॑स्त॒स्थुरापः॑ । द्वे यदीं॑ बिभृ॒तो मा॒तुर॒न्ये इ॒हेह॑ जा॒ते य॒म्या॒३॒॑ सब॑न्धू ॥

Just as rivers hold and celebrate the flowing waters, so do people revere and adore this refulgent sun of wondrous form which two twin sisters, day and night, born of the same mother, hold and nurse the same one brother though born of another mother.

· · ·

5.47.6

वि त॑न्वते॒ धियो॑ अस्मा॒ अपां॑सि॒ वस्त्रा॑ पु॒त्राय॑ मा॒तरो॑ वयन्ति । उ॒प॒प्र॒क्षे वृष॑णो॒ मोद॑माना दि॒वस्प॒था व॒ध्वो॑ य॒न्त्यच्छ॑ ॥

Celebrants compose songs of adoration from their heart and intellect and extend yajnic homage up to this sun by the paths of light and fire just as mothers weave and sew clothes for the child and joyous wives eagerly move to join their generous husbands.

· · ·

5.47.7

तद॑स्तु मित्रावरुणा॒ तद॑ग्ने॒ शं योर॒स्मभ्य॑मि॒दम॑स्तु श॒स्तम् । अ॒शी॒महि॑ गा॒धमु॒त प्र॑ति॒ष्ठां नमो॑ दि॒वे बृ॑ह॒ते साद॑नाय ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, lord of love and judgement, sun and the sea, day and night, mother and father, prana and udana energies, O Agni, yajna fire purifier, revered teacher, teacher pioneer and giver of enlightenment, may this cherished song of ours be for our peace and blessedness which is all time free from suffering and pain. May we attain a home and haven of high excellence and unshakable honour and prestige. Salutations to the great and glorious heaven of light, eternal and imperishable!

✦ Sukta 48 · 5 verses ✦

5.48.1

कदु॑ प्रि॒याय॒ धाम्ने॑ मनामहे॒ स्वक्ष॑त्राय॒ स्वय॑शसे म॒हे व॒यम् । आ॒मे॒न्यस्य॒ रज॑सो॒ यद॒भ्र आँ अ॒पो वृ॑णा॒ना वि॑त॒नोति॑ मा॒यिनी॑ ॥

When shall we all sing and celebrate in honour of our own domain, our cherished independent identity and social order, our own honour and glory, which, commanding its own power and splendour, pursuing its own policy, extends its resounding actions and waters of peace and freedom among the people, across the lands and over the clouds of immeasurable skies and spaces? When shall we think and reflect upon this?

· · ·

5.48.2

ता अ॑त्नत व॒युनं॑ वी॒रव॑क्षणं समा॒न्या वृ॒तया॒ विश्व॒मा रजः॑ । अपो॒ अपा॑ची॒रप॑रा॒ अपे॑जते॒ प्र पूर्वा॑भिस्तिरते देव॒युर्जनः॑ ॥

Those acts and policies of peace and freedom provide incentives to the brave and extend knowledge and positive action programmes over the entire world of humanity, through uniform treatment and equality of law for all. A brilliant nation of vision and noble action doesn’t procrastinate over the present, agitating over the past or worrying and waiting for the future, it crosses the bridges in front right away.

· · ·

5.48.3

आ ग्राव॑भिरह॒न्ये॑भिर॒क्तुभि॒र्वरि॑ष्ठं॒ वज्र॒मा जि॑घर्ति मा॒यिनि॑ । श॒तं वा॒ यस्य॑ प्र॒चर॒न्त्स्वे दमे॑ संव॒र्तय॑न्तो॒ वि च॑ वर्तय॒न्नहा॑ ॥

Ever and instantly, this nation shines and sharpens its best arms and armaments day and night with the stones (which sharpen the arms and press the soma too) or with the clouds of showers against the evil of want and suffering of ignorance, and otherwise too hundreds of its forces actively working together in their own fields spend their time moving forward in a state of readiness with a challenging spirit.

· · ·

5.48.4

ताम॑स्य री॒तिं प॑र॒शोरि॑व॒ प्रत्यनी॑कमख्यं भु॒जे अ॑स्य॒ वर्प॑सः । सचा॒ यदि॑ पितु॒मन्त॑मिव॒ क्षयं॒ रत्नं॒ दधा॑ति॒ भर॑हूतये वि॒शे ॥

That character and disposition, that form and policy of its dynamic flow, that admirable force of its arms like the razor’s edge, I know, is in keeping with its identity for the purpose of peace, protection and progress, and, like a comfortable home full of plenty, it holds the jewels of wealth and felicity for the people at the beck and call of the inmates.

· · ·

5.48.5

स जि॒ह्वया॒ चतु॑रनीक ऋञ्जते॒ चारु॒ वसा॑नो॒ वरु॑णो॒ यत॑न्न॒रिम् । न तस्य॑ विद्म पुरुष॒त्वता॑ व॒यं यतो॒ भगः॑ सवि॒ता दाति॒ वार्य॑म् ॥

The nation, the ruler, the fire, the sun, wearing a charming form, shining with forces all round in all four directions, encounters the opposing darkness with the tongue of light and flame. We know not how, with what strength and power, from where this Varuna, best and highest power of justice and wisdom, Bhaga, commanding wealth and felicity, Savita, inspiring all with exhilaration, brings and bestows on us all the cherished gifts of life, how he makes everything possible.

✦ Sukta 49 · 5 verses ✦

5.49.1

दे॒वं वो॑ अ॒द्य स॑वि॒तार॒मेषे॒ भगं॑ च॒ रत्नं॑ वि॒भज॑न्तमा॒योः । आ वां॑ नरा पुरुभुजा ववृत्यां दि॒वेदि॑वे चिदश्विना सखी॒यन् ॥

For you all today I love, gratefully desire and pray for favour of the brilliant and generous Savita, inspirer of light and life, Bhaga, treasure source of honour and prosperity and the loving spirit of life and living beings that showers the jewel wealth and felicity on all. O Ashvins, leading complementarities of nature powers and humanity, ruler and people, leaders and followers, men and women, parents and children, teachers and disciples, blessed participants and celebrants of life for all, I love to be friends with you and pray that I may love, cooperate and be with you day in and day out.

· · ·

5.49.2

प्रति॑ प्र॒याण॒मसु॑रस्य वि॒द्वान्त्सू॒क्तैर्दे॒वं स॑वि॒तारं॑ दुवस्य । उप॑ ब्रुवीत॒ नम॑सा विजा॒नञ्ज्येष्ठं॑ च॒ रत्नं॑ वि॒भज॑न्तमा॒योः ॥

Sagely scholar, watch the evolution of life and energy, meditate on the self-refulgent Savita, inspirer of life, with Vedic songs of praise and prayer, and with homage and gratitude speak precisely of the supreme, the most precious felicity pervading and participating in the evolution of life, knowing well the gifts of the lord.

· · ·

5.49.3

अ॒द॒त्र॒या द॑यते॒ वार्या॑णि पू॒षा भगो॒ अदि॑ति॒र्वस्त॑ उ॒स्रः । इन्द्रो॒ विष्णु॒र्वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॒ग्निरहा॑नि भ॒द्रा ज॑नयन्त द॒स्माः ॥

Aditi, eternal and infinite creative power of lord Savita’s Nature, Prakrti, wears the mantle of the morning. Pusha, nature’s nourishing power, and Bhaga, inexhaustible generosity, produce, promote and give the choicest gifts of food for consumption and creation of energy. Indra, catalytic radiation, Vishnu, all pervasive energy, Varuna, udana energy for evolution, Mitra, pranic energy of life, Agni, heat and light for life, all these creative and generative powers give rise to the days of light and bliss for us.

· · ·

5.49.4

तन्नो॑ अन॒र्वा स॑वि॒ता वरू॑थं॒ तत्सिन्ध॑व इ॒षय॑न्तो॒ अनु॑ ग्मन् । उप॒ यद्वोचे॑ अध्व॒रस्य॒ होता॑ रा॒यः स्या॑म॒ पत॑यो॒ वाज॑रत्नाः ॥

May lord Savita, creator, with his radiating energy, grant us that treasure of cherished values of hearth and home which I celebrate as organiser and achiever of yajnic production, and which the flowing rivers and swelling seas promote with love and desire in obedience to the lord. O lord, we pray, may we, blest with energy and felicity of existence, be protectors and promoters of the wealth of the world.

· · ·

5.49.5

प्र ये वसु॑भ्य॒ ईव॒दा नमो॒ दुर्ये मि॒त्रे वरु॑णे सू॒क्तवा॑चः । अवै॒त्वभ्वं॑ कृणु॒ता वरी॑यो दि॒वस्पृ॑थि॒व्योरव॑सा मदेम ॥

Let untold wealth and knowledge flow to those who offer homage and yajnic service to the Vasus, creative abodes of life and sustenance in the world of nature, and to those who raise their voice of adoration in honour of Mitra and Varuna, friendly sun and seas and all embracing space. O Vishvedevas, creative divinities, create for us wealth of exceptional order so that we may abide and enjoy under the protection of heaven and earth.

✦ Sukta 50 · 5 verses ✦

5.50.1

विश्वो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ ने॒तुर्मर्तो॑ वुरीत स॒ख्यम् । विश्वो॑ रा॒य इ॑षुध्यति द्यु॒म्नं वृ॑णीत पु॒ष्यसे॑ ॥

Let all the mortals, people of the world, choose and win the favour and friendship of the brilliant leader and pioneer who targets and commands the wealth of the world. O people of the world choose the wealth, power and splendour of the world for the sake of growth and advancement.

· · ·

5.50.2

ते ते॑ देव नेत॒र्ये चे॒माँ अ॑नु॒शसे॑ । ते रा॒या ते ह्या॒३॒॑पृचे॒ सचे॑महि सच॒थ्यैः॑ ॥

O brilliant leader and ruler, those who have chosen you are wholly for you, and so are these whom you approve and admire. All the assets and powers of the nation are yours to rule and protect, and to share, defend and augment the same we are keen to join you and win your favour.

· · ·

5.50.3

अतो॑ न॒ आ नॄनति॑थी॒नतः॒ पत्नी॑र्दशस्यत । आ॒रे विश्वं॑ पथे॒ष्ठां द्वि॒षो यु॑योतु॒ यूयु॑विः ॥

From here, from this elective and promotive yajna of total cooperation, serve and strengthen and thereby promote us all, leaders, chance visitors, immigrants and others, raise and promote the women, mothers of the nation, and, maker and breaker as you are, throw off all the hate, enmity and negativities obstructing the paths of progress.

· · ·

5.50.4

यत्र॒ वह्नि॑र॒भिहि॑तो दु॒द्रव॒द्द्रोण्यः॑ प॒शुः । नृ॒मणा॑ वी॒रप॒स्त्योऽर्णा॒ धीरे॑व॒ सनि॑ता ॥

Where the fire, placed, invoked and kindled in the vedi rises in flames, where a fiery leader, elected, supported and enthused goes around watching and watched all round among a dynamic people, loving all and loved at heart by all, and where the homes abound with brave and brilliant youth, there the streams of prosperity flow deep and calm like inalienable partners of the nation.

· · ·

5.50.5

ए॒ष ते॑ देव नेता॒ रथ॒स्पतिः॒ शं र॒यिः । शं रा॒ये शं स्व॒स्तय॑ इषः॒स्तुतो॑ मनामहे देव॒स्तुतो॑ मनामहे ॥

O brilliant leader, pilot of the nation to peace and prosperity, this warrior of the chariot is yours, this peace, this wealth, power and prosperity is for you. This peace is for wealth and this peace and prosperity is for holiness of well-being. This warrior of the chariot, peace and prosperity honours and adores food, energy and knowledge. We love and adore this peace and prosperity. We love and adore you and the nation honoured by the divines.

✦ Sukta 51 · 15 verses ✦

5.51.1

अग्ने॑ सु॒तस्य॑ पी॒तये॒ विश्वै॒रूमे॑भि॒रा ग॑हि । दे॒वेभि॑र्ह॒व्यदा॑तये ॥

Agni, light of knowledge and fire of life, come with all the means and methods of protection and progress, come with all the divines of the world and divine generosities of nature to enjoy what knowledge and nourishment we have distilled for your treat and bring the wealth and knowledge you have gained for us.

· · ·

5.51.2

ऋत॑धीतय॒ आ ग॑त॒ सत्य॑धर्माणो अध्व॒रम् । अ॒ग्नेः पि॑बत जि॒ह्वया॑ ॥

O divine scholars, radiations of nature’s vitalities, observers of the laws of universal truth, followers of the truth of Dharma and the Dharma of Truth, come to our yajna of love and non-violence and scientific creation in honour of the Lord. Agni, leading light of the world, drink the joy of life by the tongues of fire.

· · ·

5.51.3

विप्रे॑भिर्विप्र सन्त्य प्रात॒र्याव॑भि॒रा ग॑हि । दे॒वेभिः॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

O vipra, vibrant scholar, eminent sage of the present age, come with other scholars, with the knowledge and freshness of the morning light and breeze which stir and radiate with the dawn. Come with the divines for a drink of the soma we have distilled.

· · ·

5.51.4

अ॒यं सोम॑श्च॒मू सु॒तोऽम॑त्रे॒ परि॑ षिच्यते । प्रि॒य इन्द्रा॑य वा॒यवे॑ ॥

This soma, inspiring power and honour of the nation, reflected in the defence forces as soma is held in the charu vessel, and held in the body politic as soma is poured in the goblet, is the love and pride of Indra, ruling lord, and Vayu, tempestuous defence forces.

· · ·

5.51.5

वाय॒वा या॑हि वी॒तये॑ जुषा॒णो ह॒व्यदा॑तये । पिबा॑ सु॒तस्यान्ध॑सो अ॒भि प्रयः॑ ॥

O Vayu, force and power of the nation, come for the delight of a drink of the soma of knowledge and enlightenment with love and joy for the self sacrificing people. Enjoy the flavour of the food and stimulating taste of the drink on the tongue.

· · ·

5.51.6

इन्द्र॑श्च वायवेषां सु॒तानां॑ पी॒तिम॑र्हथः । ताञ्जु॑षेथामरे॒पसा॑व॒भि प्रयः॑ ॥

Indra and Vayu, ruler of the land and commander of the defence forces, you deserve a drink of the soma of the nation’s power and culture. Come, watch the effects and delicacies of their taste and decency, and, inspired with love and holiness, enjoy the beauties of life.

· · ·

5.51.7

सु॒ता इन्द्रा॑य वा॒यवे॒ सोमा॑सो॒ दध्या॑शिरः । नि॒म्नं न य॑न्ति॒ सिन्ध॑वो॒ऽभि प्रयः॑ ॥

Just as rivers flow downwards to the seas, so the sweetness and decency of the soma of human values and culture distilled with effort and cooperative action flow to Indra and Vayu, the strong and the progressive.

· · ·

5.51.8

स॒जूर्विश्वे॑भिर्दे॒वेभि॑र॒श्विभ्या॑मु॒षसा॑ स॒जूः । आ या॑ह्यग्ने अत्रि॒वत्सु॒ते र॑ण ॥

Agni, giver of enlightenment and the fire of life, friend and associate of all the generous divinities, companion of the dawn and the Ashvins, circuitous complementaries of natural energies, come into this world of creative humanity like an omnipresent power free from threefold bondage of body, mind and soul, rejoice and proclaim your message of light and love loud and bold.

· · ·

5.51.9

स॒जूर्मि॒त्रावरु॑णाभ्यां स॒जूः सोमे॑न॒ विष्णु॑ना । आ या॑ह्यग्ने अत्रि॒वत्सु॒ते र॑ण ॥

Agni, giver of knowledge and power, come together with prana and udana energies of nature, come together with the peace and beauty of the moon and the vastness of omnipresent space, come like a sage free from the threefold worries of past, present and future, come to the world of creative and endeavouring humanity, rejoice and proclaim your message of knowledge and action loud and bold.

· · ·

5.51.10

स॒जूरा॑दि॒त्यैर्वसु॑भिः स॒जूरिन्द्रे॑ण वा॒युना॑ । आ या॑ह्यग्ने अत्रि॒वत्सु॒ते र॑ण ॥

Agni, giver of health and knowledge, come together with the light of the sun as in the changing months and seasons, come with the generosity of the abodes of life such as earth, come with the breath of life and glow of health, come with the force and freshness of the winds, come to the world of joint human yajna like one free from threefold ailments of body, mind and spirit, rejoice and proclaim your message of health and energy loud and bold.

· · ·

5.51.11

स्व॒स्ति नो॑ मिमीताम॒श्विना॒ भगः॑ स्व॒स्ति दे॒व्यदि॑तिरन॒र्वणः॑ । स्व॒स्ति पू॒षा असु॑रो दधातु नः स्व॒स्ति द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी सु॑चे॒तुना॑ ॥

May the Ashvins, complementarities of nature and humanity such as teachers and preachers, day and night, sun and moon, prana and apana energies, bring us peace and well-being. May Bhaga, lord of glory, bless us with peace and honour. May the eternal imperishable Mother Nature and indivisible Vedic revelation of omniscience bless the independent scholars with peace and spiritual joy and vision. May the nourishment and showers of the life-giving cloud bring us peace and joy. And may the heaven and earth bless us with peace of mind, joy of knowledge and spiritual illumination.

· · ·

5.51.12

स्व॒स्तये॑ वा॒युमुप॑ ब्रवामहै॒ सोमं॑ स्व॒स्ति भुव॑नस्य॒ यस्पतिः॑ । बृह॒स्पतिं॒ सर्व॑गणं स्व॒स्तये॑ स्व॒स्तय॑ आदि॒त्यासो॑ भवन्तु नः ॥

Let us study and describe Vayu, wind, energy, and pursue programmes of peace and joy for our social good and well-being. May the lord ruler who controls and sustains the world be good and kind to us. Let us pray to the Lord of the expansive universe and honour the head of all the world communities for our peace and progress. May the scholars of the highest order and the cycle of the solar phases of time and seasons be good and kind to us for our well-being.

· · ·

5.51.13

विश्वे॑ दे॒वा नो॑ अ॒द्या स्व॒स्तये॑ वैश्वान॒रो वसु॑र॒ग्निः स्व॒स्तये॑ । दे॒वा अ॑वन्त्वृ॒भवः॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ स्व॒स्ति नो॑ रु॒द्रः पा॒त्वंह॑सः ॥

May all the generous divinities of nature and brilliant sages of the world be good and kind to us for our well-being today. May the all pervasive vitality of life’s energy be kind and favourable for our peace and well-being. May all the generous scholars and brilliant experts be for our good and advancement in peace with joy. May Rudra, lord of law and justice, be good and kind and save us from sin for our well-being. May all the divinities protect us.

· · ·

5.51.14

स्व॒स्ति मि॑त्रावरुणा स्व॒स्ति प॑थ्ये रेवति । स्व॒स्ति न॒ इन्द्र॑श्चा॒ग्निश्च॑ स्व॒स्ति नो॑ अदिते कृधि ॥

May Mitra and Varuna, sun and moon, prana and udana energies of nature, rich in life’s wealth of vitality, be for our good and well-being and guard us to move on the right path of action. May the universal electric energy and the vital heat of life’s vitality be kind and good for our well-being. O Mother Nature, eternal and imperishable one, do us good, be kind and gracious.

· · ·

5.51.15

स्व॒स्ति पन्था॒मनु॑ चरेम सूर्याचन्द्र॒मसा॑विव । पुन॒र्दद॒ताघ्न॑ता जान॒ता सं ग॑मेमहि ॥

Let us follow the path of peace, progress and well-being like the sun and moon, moving forward with men of knowledge and self-awareness, giving, receiving and giving again, in our orbit without hurting and encroachment on the rights of others, at the same time maintaining our own identity.

✦ Sukta 52 · 17 verses ✦

5.52.1

प्र श्या॑वाश्व धृष्णु॒यार्चा॑ म॒रुद्भि॒र्ऋक्व॑भिः । ये अ॑द्रो॒घम॑नुष्व॒धं श्रवो॒ मद॑न्ति य॒ज्ञियाः॑ ॥

O bold yajaka, riding the spectrum flames of holy fire, honour and celebrate those divinities worthy of reverence and homage who exult with electric vitalities of the winds and vibrancy of dynamic people without hate and jealousy within the laws of nature and their own potential, and who accept the homage and spontaneously respond according to nature.

· · ·

5.52.2

ते हि स्थि॒रस्य॒ शव॑सः॒ सखा॑यः॒ सन्ति॑ धृष्णु॒या । ते याम॒न्ना धृ॑ष॒द्विन॒स्त्मना॑ पान्ति॒ शश्व॑तः ॥

Bold and brilliant, they are friends and constant companions of the strong among the stable minded people, and on the highways of life they, sincerely and spontaneously, protect and promote the brave and resolute always without fail.

· · ·

5.52.3

ते स्य॒न्द्रासो॒ नोक्षणोऽति॑ ष्कन्दन्ति॒ शर्व॑रीः । म॒रुता॒मधा॒ महो॑ दि॒वि क्ष॒मा च॑ मन्महे ॥

Streaming and overflowing with generosity like the cloud and the sun, they shower the nights and dawns of twilight with showers of rain and dew. We admire and celebrate the grandeur, potential and forbearance of the winds on the heights of heaven and the strength and stability of vibrant people in the brilliance of humanity.

· · ·

5.52.4

म॒रुत्सु॑ वो दधीमहि॒ स्तोमं॑ य॒ज्ञं च॑ धृष्णु॒या । विश्वे॒ ये मानु॑षा यु॒गा पान्ति॒ मर्त्यं॑ रि॒षः ॥

For you all, let us admire and honour all those of you and hold them among the Maruts as children of stormy winds and rays of light who protect our songs of praise and prayer and promote the flames and fragrance of yajna throughout human history and save humanity from violence with strength and determination.

· · ·

5.52.5

अर्ह॑न्तो॒ ये सु॒दान॑वो॒ नरो॒ असा॑मिशवसः । प्र य॒ज्ञं य॒ज्ञिये॑भ्यो दि॒वो अ॑र्चा म॒रुद्भ्यः॑ ॥

Honour and admire those leading lights who are deservingly meritorious and commanding, generously charitable, strong and determined, loving and brilliant, and who dedicate their songs and yajna to the dynamic Maruts among humanity worthy of reverence.

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5.52.6

आ रु॒क्मैरा यु॒धा नर॑ ऋ॒ष्वा ऋ॒ष्टीर॑सृक्षत । अन्वे॑नाँ॒ अह॑ वि॒द्युतो॑ म॒रुतो॒ जज्झ॑तीरिव भा॒नुर॑र्त॒ त्मना॑ दि॒वः ॥

While the leading lights and mighty warriors with blazing arms launch the attack upon the enemy, then, for sure, upon the heels of these tempestuous forces and shining leaders the light and splendour of the world follows spontaneously like roaring streams of water.

· · ·

5.52.7

ये वा॑वृ॒धन्त॒ पार्थि॑वा॒ य उ॒राव॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ आ । वृ॒जने॑ वा न॒दीनां॑ स॒धस्थे॑ वा म॒हो दि॒वः ॥

The heroes of the earth who rise in honour and glory, the winds and currents of lightning energy in the wide wide skies, or the roaring waters flowing in the river beds and around, or the splendour of the regions of light, these are the Maruts worthy of honour and celebration with homage.

· · ·

5.52.8

शर्धो॒ मारु॑त॒मुच्छं॑स स॒त्यश॑वस॒मृभ्व॑सम् । उ॒त स्म॒ ते शु॒भे नरः॒ प्र स्य॒न्द्रा यु॑जत॒ त्मना॑ ॥

Honour and celebrate the strength and courage of humanity, admire and value the honest wisdom and rectitude of the scientist and the expert. O leading lights and brave pioneers of the human nation, moving forward with steadiness and dignity, join the onward march of humanity for a noble divine purpose. Join it conscientiously, honestly, without reservation.

· · ·

5.52.9

उ॒त स्म॒ ते परु॑ष्ण्या॒मूर्णा॑ वसत शु॒न्ध्यवः॑ । उ॒त प॒व्या रथा॑ना॒मद्रिं॑ भिन्द॒न्त्योज॑सा ॥

And they, the Maruts, leading lights and warriors, self-secure on the tortuous paths of existence, shining bright and pure, with their valour and wheels of the chariot ride the clouds and shatter the mountains.

· · ·

5.52.10

आप॑थयो॒ विप॑थ॒योऽन्त॑स्पथा॒ अनु॑पथाः । ए॒तेभि॒र्मह्यं॒ नाम॑भिर्य॒ज्ञं वि॑ष्टा॒र ओ॑हते ॥

Travellers hitherwards, or travellers by various ways, or travellers over the interior ways, or travellers of open and successive ways, thus and by these names and descriptions they bring expansion to my yajna.

· · ·

5.52.11

अधा॒ नरो॒ न्यो॑ह॒तेऽधा॑ नि॒युत॑ ओहते । अधा॒ पारा॑वता॒ इति॑ चि॒त्रा रू॒पाणि॒ दर्श्या॑ ॥

Leaders of knowledge and advancement, sometimes they carry the burdens by themselves, sometimes appointed as a team in cooperation with others, and sometimes stationed far away: thus their forms and functions are various, wondrous, beautiful and beatific.

· · ·

5.52.12

छ॒न्दः॒स्तुभः॑ कुभ॒न्यव॒ उत्स॒मा की॒रिणो॑ नृतुः । ते मे॒ के चि॒न्न ता॒यव॒ ऊमा॑ आसन्दृ॒शि त्वि॒षे ॥

Poetic celebrities, some of them, thirsting for self-expression, burst out in lyrics and sing and dance in divine ecstasy from the depth of the heart. Some of them like streams profusely flowing for us are protectors and saviours, and some of them shine in the sight of the beholder because shine they must by nature.

· · ·

5.52.13

य ऋ॒ष्वा ऋ॒ष्टिवि॑द्युतः क॒वयः॒ सन्ति॑ वे॒धसः॑ । तमृ॑षे॒ मारु॑तं ग॒णं न॑म॒स्या र॒मया॑ गि॒रा ॥

Those who are great and strong, formidable scholars of science, of heat, light and electric energy, poetic visionaries, writers and singers, and sages of the sacred love: for that class of dynamic leaders and path finders, O Rshi, seer, sage and scholar, offer reverence and homage and, with the celebrant’s words of praise and appreciation, give them the feel of the joy and holiness of their vocation.

· · ·

5.52.14

अच्छ॑ ऋषे॒ मारु॑तं ग॒णं दा॒ना मि॒त्रं न यो॒षणा॑ । दि॒वो वा॑ धृष्णव॒ ओज॑सा स्तु॒ता धी॒भिरि॑षण्यत ॥

Just as a maiden goes to her chosen friend and love, so, O Rshi, sagely seer and scholar, with gifts of homage, go reverentially to the congregation of the Maruts, dynamic scholars, leaders and divinities of the world. O Maruts, brilliant as light, loving, bold and determined, blazing with splendour, celebrated by the wise and visionaries, come, hasten to our yajna and receive our homage.

· · ·

5.52.15

नू म॑न्वा॒न ए॑षां दे॒वाँ अच्छा॒ न व॒क्षणा॑ । दा॒ना स॑चेत सू॒रिभि॒र्याम॑श्रुतेभिर॒ञ्जिभिः॑ ॥

As the stream flows and meets the sea, so should the man of thought and reverence eagerly meet the Maruts, brilliant and divine natures in humanity, with gifts of homage and associate with the wise and brave, celebrated and gracious scholars, leaders and path makers who are well versed in law and the ethics of conduct.

· · ·

5.52.16

प्र ये मे॑ बन्ध्वे॒षे गां वोच॑न्त सू॒रयः॒ पृश्निं॑ वोचन्त मा॒तर॑म् । अधा॑ पि॒तर॑मि॒ष्मिणं॑ रु॒द्रं वो॑चन्त॒ शिक्व॑सः ॥

I meet, associate, and write with the Maruts, those leading lights wise and brave who speak to me as to a friend and brother in search of human and divine bonding. Mighty powerful are they who speak to me of the Holy Word, of heat and light of the sun, the earth and the cow. They speak of the rainbow skies and spaces, and of Mother Nature, and then they reveal to me the omnipresent omnipotent Father and Rudra, lord of justice and mercy.

· · ·

5.52.17

स॒प्त मे॑ स॒प्त शा॒किन॒ एक॑मेका श॒ता द॑दुः । य॒मुना॑या॒मधि॑ श्रु॒तमुद्राधो॒ गव्यं॑ मृजे॒ नि राधो॒ अश्व्यं॑ मृजे ॥

Seven and seven are the Maruts, wise and brave, and each one of them gives me a hundred gifts of knowledge, will and strength for action, and love of life and divine worship. What I have heard comprehensively on yama and niyama, ethics of conduct in social and personal life, and on the subject of success regarding earthly life (abhyudaya), and the philosophy of attainment and ultimate destination and arrival (nihshreyas), I specify and refine for practical application and success in the earthly situation and in relation to the ultimate freedom of Moksha in the personal psychic and spiritual situation.

✦ Sukta 53 · 16 verses ✦

5.53.1

को वे॑द॒ जान॑मेषां॒ को वा॑ पु॒रा सु॒म्नेष्वा॑स म॒रुता॑म् । यद्यु॑यु॒ज्रे कि॑ला॒स्यः॑ ॥

Who knows the origin of these Maruts? Who was present in the peace and pleasure of the Maruts? Whoever concentrates the mind, meditates on their presence, and joins them, and then has the clear and specific language to describe them, knows these stormy powers.

· · ·

5.53.2

ऐतान्रथे॑षु त॒स्थुषः॒ कः शु॑श्राव क॒था य॑युः । कस्मै॑ सस्रुः सु॒दासे॒ अन्वा॒पय॒ इळा॑भिर्वृ॒ष्टयः॑ स॒ह ॥

Who perceives them riding their chariot on earth and in the skies and who knows whither they move? For which generous man or power do they rise and flow and turn like friends with the showers of their mysterious message and food for life?

· · ·

5.53.3

ते म॑ आहु॒र्य आ॑य॒युरुप॒ द्युभि॒र्विभि॒र्मदे॑ । नरो॒ मर्या॑ अरे॒पस॑ इ॒मान्पश्य॒न्निति॑ ष्टुहि ॥

They speak to me who come to me with lights of revelation, flying like birds in ecstasy: “Noble men among mortals free from sin and folds of ignorance have seen these Maruts.” Say this, appreciate and praise the Maruts.

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5.53.4

ये अ॒ञ्जिषु॒ ये वाशी॑षु॒ स्वभा॑नवः स्र॒क्षु रु॒क्मेषु॑ खा॒दिषु॑ । श्रा॒या रथे॑षु॒ धन्व॑सु ॥

The people who are innately brilliant, who shine in their open works and achievements, in their speech and expression, in garlands of applause in series of action programmes, in their golds and jewels of honour, and who ride pioneering chariots of nations and resound in the twang of their bow: they are the Maruts.

· · ·

5.53.5

यु॒ष्माकं॑ स्मा॒ रथाँ॒ अनु॑ मु॒दे द॑धे मरुतो जीरदानवः । वृ॒ष्टी द्यावो॑ य॒तीरि॑व ॥

O Maruts, leading lights and unaging pioneers, I take to your chariots for your pleasure and exhilaration and rise to the clouds of shower and lights of heaven.

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5.53.6

आ यं नरः॑ सु॒दान॑वो ददा॒शुषे॑ दि॒वः कोश॒मचु॑च्यवुः । वि प॒र्जन्यं॑ सृजन्ति॒ रोद॑सी॒ अनु॒ धन्व॑ना यन्ति वृ॒ष्टयः॑ ॥

The treasure wealth of holy vapours, which the generous leading lights of the science of yajna cause to move from the regions of sunlight for the generous creators and givers of food and energy, shower down to the earth and skies: The skies then form the clouds and let them rain down on the earth and the floods move as directed over the thirsty lands. (This mantra is on the science of rain and irrigation which can further be explained with reference to Chhandogya Upanishad 5, 4, 1 to 5, 8, 2, and Gita 3, 14-16.)

· · ·

5.53.7

त॒तृ॒दा॒नाः सिन्ध॑वः॒ क्षोद॑सा॒ रजः॒ प्र स॑स्रुर्धे॒नवो॑ यथा । स्य॒न्ना अश्वा॑इ॒वाध्व॑नो वि॒मोच॑ने॒ वि यद्वर्त॑न्त ए॒न्यः॑ ॥

Released and freely flowing, soaking and breaking the lands with the flood, the rivers flow over and on, irrigating the lands like mother cows feeding the people. Like horses they go on covering and leaving their track behind, the streams revolve as they go on in their circular course of yajna.

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5.53.8

आ या॑त मरुतो दि॒व आन्तरि॑क्षाद॒मादु॒त । माव॑ स्थात परा॒वतः॑ ॥

O Maruts, leading lights and stormy forces of nature and humanity, creators and givers, come, come from the lights of heaven, come from the skies, come from near and afar, be on the move, never stay still, do not stagnate.

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5.53.9

मा वो॑ र॒सानि॑तभा॒ कुभा॒ क्रुमु॒र्मा वः॒ सिन्धु॒र्नि री॑रमत् । मा वः॒ परि॑ ष्ठात्स॒रयुः॑ पुरी॒षिण्य॒स्मे इत्सु॒म्नम॑स्तु वः ॥

May the earth and her environment never move without light and water for you. May the flowing river and the rolling sea never stop for you. May the wind and vapour, blowing, flowing and refreshing for human habitations never be still. May everything, every force of the Maruts, on the earth and in the environment be for your comfort and well being. Let nothing hold you back.

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5.53.10

तं वः॒ शर्धं॒ रथा॑नां त्वे॒षं ग॒णं मारु॑तं॒ नव्य॑सीनाम् । अनु॒ प्र य॑न्ति वृ॒ष्टयः॑ ॥

O people of the earth, the showers of peace, comfort and well being rain down on you in response to your strength, the speed and shine of your war-like chariots, the joint power and performance of your leaders, and the latest powers and policies you work out and follow for your peace and progress.

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5.53.11

शर्धं॑शर्धं व एषां॒ व्रातं॑व्रातं ग॒णंग॑णं सुश॒स्तिभिः॑ । अनु॑ क्रामेम धी॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Let us move together step by step in disciplined order in accord with the united interests and aspirations of each unit of the defence forces, each unit of the economic order and each unit of the social order of these people for you all as a nation with the appraisal and appreciation of these with the best of our understanding and action.

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5.53.12

कस्मा॑ अ॒द्य सुजा॑ताय रा॒तह॑व्याय॒ प्र य॑युः । ए॒ना यामे॑न म॒रुतः॑ ॥

For which cultured, creative and generous personality, for which producing and providing community of yajnic gifts, do the Maruts, dynamic forces of life, move forward today by this chariot with controlled motion and direction?

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5.53.13

येन॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय धा॒न्यं१॒॑ बीजं॒ वह॑ध्वे॒ अक्षि॑तम् । अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ तद्ध॑त्तन॒ यद्व॒ ईम॑हे॒ राधो॑ वि॒श्वायु॒ सौभ॑गम् ॥

O Maruts, dynamic and progressive leaders and powers of life, that action and message of advancement by which you create and bear the food and imperishable seed of life and progress for the baby and the child and the rising generation, bear and bring the same gifts and action for us too, the honour and good fortune, universal health and wealth, and the secret and source of that accomplishment we ask of you.

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5.53.14

अती॑याम नि॒दस्ति॒रः स्व॒स्तिभि॑र्हि॒त्वाव॒द्यमरा॑तीः । वृ॒ष्ट्वी शं योराप॑ उ॒स्रि भे॑ष॒जं स्याम॑ मरुतः स॒ह ॥

O citizens and leaders of the world, let us get over the malignant scandalisers and crooked evil mongers, having given up inner evils and despicable failures and adversities with noble thoughts and positive actions. Let us have the showers of peace and united action, waters of holiness, light of truth and wisdom, and food and tonics for good health, all with the Maruts together.

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5.53.15

सु॒दे॒वः स॑महासति सु॒वीरो॑ नरो मरुतः॒ स मर्त्यः॑ । यं त्राय॑ध्वे॒ स्याम॒ ते ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of life, great and glorious, brilliant is that man, brave and fearless, whom you protect and promote across the seas. Let us too be the same, your own, all for you.

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5.53.16

स्तु॒हि भो॒जान्त्स्तु॑व॒तो अ॑स्य॒ याम॑नि॒ रण॒न्गावो॒ न यव॑से । य॒तः पूर्वाँ॑इव॒ सखीँ॒रनु॑ ह्वय गि॒रा गृ॑णीहि का॒मिनः॑ ॥

Adore the Maruts, natural saviours and leading lights of humanity, givers of life and food for energy while moving on the holy path of this yajnic celebrant of theirs, rejoicing at the same time like cows running for their favourite grass. Invoke them like ancient eternal friends, and, loving as they are, celebrate them with holy songs of adoration.

✦ Sukta 54 · 15 verses ✦

5.54.1

प्र शर्धा॑य॒ मारु॑ताय॒ स्वभा॑नव इ॒मां वाच॑मनजा पर्वत॒च्युते॑ । घ॒र्म॒स्तुभे॑ दि॒व आ पृ॑ष्ठ॒यज्व॑ने द्यु॒म्नश्र॑वसे॒ महि॑ नृ॒म्णम॑र्चत ॥

For the self-refulgent force and power of the Maruts, leading lights of humanity, offer this song of adoration. And for the renowned yajaka who lights and feeds the fire to adore the divinities of nature through yajna on the heights, moves the clouds and brings the showers, offer gifts of human wealth of high value with songs of praise and appreciation. Loving scholars value the gifts of divinity from the lights of heaven.

· · ·

5.54.2

प्र वो॑ मरुतस्तवि॒षा उ॑द॒न्यवो॑ वयो॒वृधो॑ अश्व॒युजः॒ परि॑ज्रयः । सं वि॒द्युता॒ दध॑ति॒ वाश॑ति त्रि॒तः स्वर॒न्त्यापो॒ऽवना॒ परि॑ज्रयः ॥

O Maruts of sky and space, your powerful currents of wind laden with vapours, bearers of food, energy and healthful age for living beings, going all round on the wings of electric energy, take on the thunder of lightning roaring as trinity of wind, water and lightning, and the waters shower over the earth everywhere as harbingers of food and health for all.

· · ·

5.54.3

वि॒द्युन्म॑हसो॒ नरो॒ अश्म॑दिद्यवो॒ वात॑त्विषो म॒रुतः॑ पर्वत॒च्युतः॑ । अ॒ब्द॒या चि॒न्मुहु॒रा ह्रा॑दुनी॒वृतः॑ स्त॒नय॑दमा रभ॒सा उदो॑जसः ॥

O leading lights of humanity, know that the Maruts command the mighty electric energy in the skies, light up the thunder, energise the winds and break the clouds. Blazing with splendour, ferocious with force, roaring with thunder, they wear the rumble of spatial boom shaking the mountains and burst in floods of incessant rain.

· · ·

5.54.4

व्य१॒॑क्तून्रु॑द्रा॒ व्यहा॑नि शिक्वसो॒ व्य१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षं॒ वि रजां॑सि धूतयः । वि

यदज्राँ॒ अज॑थ॒ नाव॑ ईं यथा॒ वि दु॒र्गाणि॑ मरुतो॒ नाह॑ रिष्यथ ॥

O potent Maruts, mighty blazing and roaring powers of cosmic winds, Rudras, breakers and makers of things, you shake the nights and days in and out, you shake the skies and atmosphere, you move the particles of matter and pass over regions as the ship sails over the sea. You break open the strongholds of nature and yet you never hurt nor destroy.

· · ·

5.54.5

तद्वी॒र्यं॑ वो मरुतो महित्व॒नं दी॒र्घं त॑तान॒ सूर्यो॒ न योज॑नम् । एता॒ न यामे॒ अगृ॑भीतशोचि॒षोऽन॑श्वदां॒ यन्न्यया॑तना गि॒रिम् ॥

That lustre and splendour of yours, that extensive grandeur of yours radiates like the light and gravitation of the sun. Incomprehensible is the course of your radiations of energy which penetrates even the dark and densest clouds and mountains which are otherwise impenetrable.

· · ·

5.54.6

अभ्रा॑जि॒ शर्धो॑ मरुतो॒ यद॑र्ण॒सं मोष॑था वृ॒क्षं क॑प॒नेव॑ वेधसः । अध॑ स्मा नो अ॒रम॑तिं सजोषस॒श्चक्षु॑रिव॒ यन्त॒मनु॑ नेषथा सु॒गम् ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of nature and humanity, commanders of strength, creativity and intelligence, your power and splendour is apparent as it shines since, like a storm, it shakes the flood and the forest. O friends and comrades, guide our activity relentlessly in motion onward on the straight and right path just as the eye shows the path to the traveller and helps him to move on and makes it easy for him to follow.

· · ·

5.54.7

न स जी॑यते मरुतो॒ न ह॑न्यते॒ न स्रे॑धति॒ न व्य॑थते॒ न रि॑ष्यति । नास्य॒ राय॒ उप॑ दस्यन्ति॒ नोतय॒ ऋषिं॑ वा॒ यं राजा॑नं वा॒ सुषू॑दथ ॥

O Maruts, divine powers of nature and brilliant leading lights of humanity, the person you protect and guide, mature, refine and temper is never overcome, nor killed, nor decays, fears or falls, nor hurts anyone. Nor do his powers, honours and excellence, defences and protections ever deplete and exhaust. Indeed, the person grows in knowledge as a sage and shines bright in splendour as a leader and ruler.

· · ·

5.54.8

नि॒युत्व॑न्तो ग्राम॒जितो॒ यथा॒ नरो॑ऽर्य॒मणो॒ न म॒रुतः॑ कव॒न्धिनः॑ । पिन्व॒न्त्युत्सं॒ यदि॒नासो॒ अस्व॑र॒न्व्यु॑न्दन्ति पृथि॒वीं मध्वो॒ अन्ध॑सा ॥

Great organisers, winners of multitudes and human habitations like leading lights, makers of men and dispensers of justice on the paths of life, the Maruts are reservoirs of vitality and exhilaration like the clouds of living waters and freshness of breeze. And when the mighty forces set out in motion, whistling, roaring, thundering, they fill the rivers, lakes and oceans over and surfeit the earth with honey sweets of food and energy for the joy of life.

· · ·

5.54.9

प्र॒वत्व॑ती॒यं पृ॑थि॒वी म॒रुद्भ्यः॑ प्र॒वत्व॑ती॒ द्यौर्भ॑वति प्र॒यद्भ्यः॑ । प्र॒वत्व॑तीः प॒थ्या॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्ष्याः प्र॒वत्व॑न्तः॒ पर्व॑ता जी॒रदा॑नवः ॥

The wide world of abundant ways opens and clears its highways for the Maruts, adventurers who move like winds. The heaven of light extends all her expansive spaces for those who fly. The regions of the skies open up their paths for the winds, and the life giving clouds and mountains open up their depths and caverns for the heroes of initiative and adventure.

· · ·

5.54.10

यन्म॑रुतः सभरसः स्वर्णरः॒ सूर्य॒ उदि॑ते॒ मद॑था दिवो नरः । न वोऽश्वाः॑ श्रथय॒न्ताह॒ सिस्र॑तः स॒द्यो अ॒स्याध्व॑नः पा॒रम॑श्नुथ ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of the love of life and joy of heaven, you bear the burdens of life together for all and lead them all to celestial joy and the truth of Dharma. You feel delighted and celebrate the sunrise, and never do your horses in harness relent, but galloping on at high speed reach the destined end of this existential highway.

· · ·

5.54.11

अंसे॑षु व ऋ॒ष्टयः॑ प॒त्सु खा॒दयो॒ वक्षः॑सु रु॒क्मा म॑रुतो॒ रथे॒ शुभः॑ । अ॒ग्निभ्रा॑जसो वि॒द्युतो॒ गभ॑स्त्योः॒ शिप्राः॑ शी॒र्षसु॒ वित॑ता हिर॒ण्ययीः॑ ॥

O Maruts, warriors of the winds for humanity, on your shoulders are blazing lances, at your feet your assistants, on your chests are shining corselets, on your chariot are flames of the purity of fire, in your hands are flashes of lightning, and on your heads are protective golden helmets. Victory is assured.

· · ·

5.54.12

तं नाक॑म॒र्यो अगृ॑भीतशोचिषं॒ रुश॒त्पिप्प॑लं मरुतो॒ वि धू॑नुथ । सम॑च्यन्त वृ॒जनाति॑त्विषन्त॒ यत्स्वर॑न्ति॒ घोषं॒ वित॑तमृता॒यवः॑ ॥

O Maruts, leading celebrants of action and Divinity, like a master of his own freedom in the laws of Truth and Divinity, shake the tree of existence by your noble action, bring down the balance sheet of your fruits of karma to Zero and win that rewarding state of ultimate freedom and bliss, void of suffering, beyond comprehension, which is pure ineffable refulgence of Divinity. Winding up their tally of karma, dismantling their fortifications, shining in the light divine, waxing in their search for Truth, when the celebrants raise the chant of Aum, they declare the victory and rest at the end of the road.

· · ·

5.54.13

यु॒ष्माद॑त्तस्य मरुतो विचेतसो रा॒यः स्या॑म र॒थ्यो॒३॒॑ वय॑स्वतः । न यो युच्छ॑ति ति॒ष्यो॒३॒॑ यथा॑ दि॒वो॒३॒॑स्मे रा॑रन्त मरुतः सह॒स्रिण॑म् ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of wisdom and vision for humanity, masters of discriminative knowledge, travelling by radiations of Divinity in the mind, let us, we pray, be masters of the life-giving wealth of light divine given by you. O Maruts, bless us with that wealth of thousandfold value which decays not but shines like a star of heaven for ever.

· · ·

5.54.14

यू॒यं र॒यिं म॑रुतः स्पा॒र्हवी॑रं यू॒यमृषि॑मवथ॒ साम॑विप्रम् । यू॒यमर्व॑न्तं भर॒ताय॒ वाजं॑ यू॒यं ध॑त्थ॒ राजा॑नं श्रुष्टि॒मन्त॑म् ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of humanity, you protect and promote the heroic wealth, honour and excellence of the nation with her heroes. You revere, protect and promote the sage who chants the hymns of Samaveda in celebration of humanity and Divinity. You bear and bring the food, energy and the speed of progress for the maintenance of life on the globe, and you hold and maintain the harmonious, dynamic and glorious social order on earth.

· · ·

5.54.15

तद्वो॑ यामि॒ द्रवि॑णं सद्यऊतयो॒ येना॒ स्व१॒॑र्ण त॒तना॑म॒ नॄँर॒भि । इ॒दं सु मे॑ मरुतो हर्यता॒ वचो॒ यस्य॒ तरे॑म॒ तर॑सा श॒तं हिमाः॑ ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of humanity and generous divinities of nature, instant givers of protection and all round support, listen and accept this holy voice of mine: I feel blest with that wealth of yours by which we can promote the life of humanity as in a heaven of bliss on earth, and by which we would live a happy life over a hundred years with strength and success.

✦ Sukta 55 · 10 verses ✦

5.55.1

प्रय॑ज्यवो म॒रुतो॒ भ्राज॑दृष्टयो बृ॒हद्वयो॑ दधिरे रु॒क्मव॑क्षसः । ईय॑न्ते॒ अश्वैः॑ सु॒यमे॑भिरा॒शुभिः॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

Adorable Maruts, devout pioneers and leading lights of yajnic progress in unison with humanity, commanding vast knowledge and power to bear the mighty burdens of life, wielding brilliant weapon in hand with golden corselet on the chest, press forward by coursers of instant speed controlled by sense and judgement. So do their noble chariots on and on. Let the chariots roll on with the leading lights on way to the land of honour and excellence.

· · ·

5.55.2

स्व॒यं द॑धिध्वे॒ तवि॑षीं॒ यथा॑ वि॒द बृ॒हन्म॑हान्त उर्वि॒या वि रा॑जथ । उ॒तान्तरि॑क्षं ममिरे॒ व्योज॑सा॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

Great and glorious as you are, you know, you hold and command the blazing forces by yourself, and while you go over, explore and know the vast earth and the environment, rule accordingly and shine. And let the chariots roll on with the blazing pioneers and with their might and splendour traverse the skies and spaces.

· · ·

5.55.3

सा॒कं जा॒ताः सु॒भ्वः॑ सा॒कमु॑क्षि॒ताः श्रि॒ये चि॒दा प्र॑त॒रं वा॑वृधु॒र्नरः॑ । वि॒रो॒किणः॒ सूर्य॑स्येव र॒श्मयः॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

Maruts, leading lights and rulers of the earth and her children, risen together, excellent, anointed, sanctified and covenanted together for the honour, excellence and grace of life, rise and advance the freedom and happiness of life for the people, and thus, with their interests and holy ambitions, shine in truth and rectitude like rays of the sun. Let the chariots roll on with the leading lights to the holy lands of bliss and freedom.

· · ·

5.55.4

आ॒भू॒षेण्यं॑ वो मरुतो महित्व॒नं दि॑द्द॒क्षेण्यं॒ सूर्य॑स्येव॒ चक्ष॑णम् । उ॒तो अ॒स्माँ अ॑मृत॒त्वे द॑धातन॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of life, graceful is your greatness and grandeur, radiant your form and conduct as light of the sun. With your light and grace, lead us to establish ourselves in the regions of immortality. Let the chariots roll on with the leading lights to the heights of goodness and grace.

· · ·

5.55.5

उदी॑रयथा मरुतः समुद्र॒तो यू॒यं वृ॒ष्टिं व॑र्षयथा पुरीषिणः । न वो॑ दस्रा॒ उप॑ दस्यन्ति धे॒नवः॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

O Maruts, ruling lights of the earth, just as the winds raise vapours from the seas and shower them down from the sky, so you inspire the people, energise the earth, shake up the clouds and bring the showers of prosperity from the seas and spaces. O wondrous workers and generous leaders, the fertilities of nature, sunlight, earths and cows never desert you, nor ever exhaust for you. Let the chariots of life roll on with the leading lights of generosity to happiness and prosperity.

· · ·

5.55.6

यदश्वा॑न्धू॒र्षु पृष॑ती॒रयु॑ग्ध्वं हिर॒ण्यया॒न्प्रत्यत्काँ॒ अमु॑ग्ध्वम् । विश्वा॒ इत्स्पृधो॑ मरुतो॒ व्य॑स्यथ॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

O Maruts, windy travellers of the skies, when you use liquid fuel and air for motive power in the front part of your chariot, put on your protective golden suit and release the energy drop by drop and spark by spark, you leave behind all the contestants on the journey. Let the chariots roll on with the travellers of space for a noble cause for a noble destination.

· · ·

5.55.7

न पर्व॑ता॒ न न॒द्यो॑ वरन्त वो॒ यत्राचि॑ध्वं मरुतो॒ गच्छ॒थेदु॒ तत् । उ॒त द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी या॑थना॒ परि॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

O Maruts, heroes of the earth and skies, no mountains, nor clouds, nor rivers in flood any way obstruct your course wherever you travel, nor do they disturb the place you reach. Indeed, your course is all over the earth and skies and unto the regions of light across the spaces. Let the chariots roll on with leading lights of the earth and space for the well being of life on earth.

· · ·

5.55.8

यत्पू॒र्व्यं म॑रुतो॒ यच्च॒ नूत॑नं॒ यदु॒द्यते॑ वसवो॒ यच्च॑ श॒स्यते॑ । विश्व॑स्य॒ तस्य॑ भवथा॒ नवे॑दसः॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of the world and havens of life and comfort, whatever is old, and whatever is new, and whatever is spoken, admired and adored : of all that be cognizant and aware in the full. Let the chariots roll on with leading lights of knowledge and life’s joy for the good of humanity.

· · ·

5.55.9

मृ॒ळत॑ नो मरुतो॒ मा व॑धिष्टना॒स्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ बहु॒लं वि य॑न्तन । अधि॑ स्तो॒त्रस्य॑ स॒ख्यस्य॑ गातन॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of life, rulers of the earth and travellers of the sky and spaces, give us peace and comfort. Hurt us not. Bring us abundant joy in a happy home. Come, listen and accept our song of friendship and adoration, and show us the right path. Let the chariots roll on with the leading light of knowledge, love and adventure for the good of all life on earth.

· · ·

5.55.10

यू॒यम॒स्मान्न॑यत॒ वस्यो॒ अच्छा॒ निरं॑ह॒तिभ्यो॑ मरुतो गृणा॒नाः । जु॒षध्वं॑ नो ह॒व्यदा॑तिं यजत्रा व॒यं स्या॑म॒ पत॑यो रयी॒णाम् ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of yajna, lords in command of the world’s wealth, adorable performers of yajna, come you all, happy, singing and rejoicing, join our yajna and enjoy the sweets of our yajnic homage. Lead us from all adversities to excellence and prosperity. We pray: may we be masters, protectors and promoters of the world’s wealth, honour and excellence for all.

✦ Sukta 56 · 9 verses ✦

5.56.1

अग्ने॒ शर्ध॑न्त॒मा ग॒णं पि॒ष्टं रु॒क्मेभि॑र॒ञ्जिभिः॑ । विशो॑ अ॒द्य म॒रुता॒मव॑ ह्वये दि॒वश्चि॑द्रोच॒नादधि॑ ॥

Agni, ruler of the land, today I call upon the most daring troop of the Maruts, commandos of the nation decorated with golden honours of rainbow brilliancy from amongst the most shining and intelligent defence forces of the country.

· · ·

5.56.2

यथा॑ चि॒न्मन्य॑से हृ॒दा तदिन्मे॑ जग्मुरा॒शसः॑ । ये ते॒ नेदि॑ष्ठं॒ हव॑नान्या॒गम॒न्तान्व॑र्ध भीमसं॑दृशः ॥

As you believe at heart that they are such and honour them sincerely, so they would instantly come closest to you and to your expectations in response to your call. Then encourage and promote them, they are just pictures of terror for the enemies.

· · ·

5.56.3

मी॒ळ्हुष्म॑तीव पृथि॒वी परा॑हता॒ मद॑न्त्येत्य॒स्मदा । ऋक्षो॒ न वो॑ मरुतः॒ शिमी॑वाँ॒ अमो॑ दु॒ध्रो गौरि॑व भीम॒युः ॥

Like a youthful woman wedded to a virile husband, the earth, unhurt and rejoicing, comes to us for protection, defence and promotion. O Maruts, youthful warrior defenders of the land, like a shooting star is your force, strong, unchallengeable, and terrible as a mighty bull.

· · ·

5.56.4

नि ये रि॒णन्त्योज॑सा॒ वृथा॒ गावो॒ न दु॒र्धुरः॑ । अश्मा॑नं चित्स्व॒र्यं१॒॑ पर्व॑तं गि॒रिं प्र च्या॑वयन्ति॒ याम॑भिः ॥

The Maruts are those heroes who rush forth with their valour and splendour, throw off the yoke like untamable bulls and scatter the enemy forces, and with their advances shake up resounding mountains and break up thundering clouds.

· · ·

5.56.5

उत्ति॑ष्ठ नू॒नमे॑षां॒ स्तोमैः॒ समु॑क्षितानाम् । म॒रुतां॑ पुरु॒तम॒मपू॑र्व्यं॒ गवां॒ सर्ग॑मिव ह्वये ॥

O ruler, O citizen, rise up with joy and confidence, for, as we call in or call out of the stalls a herd of cows, so I call upon and arouse the ancient and abundant host of these mighty Maruts exalted by songs of praise.

· · ·

5.56.6

यु॒ङ्ग्ध्वं ह्यरु॑षी॒ रथे॑ यु॒ङ्ग्ध्वं रथे॑षु रो॒हितः॑ । यु॒ङ्ग्ध्वं हरी॑ अजि॒रा धु॒रि वोळ्ह॑वे॒ वहि॑ष्ठा धु॒रि वोळ्ह॑वे ॥

O warriors and engineers, use the red flames of fire for moving the chariot like red horses, use the collected and stored solar energy, use the fast moving impulsion and expulsion, and use the strongest accelerative force to carry the load and move the chariot to the destination.

· · ·

5.56.7

उ॒त स्य वा॒ज्य॑रु॒षस्तु॑वि॒ष्वणि॑रि॒ह स्म॑ धायि दर्श॒तः । मा वो॒ यामे॑षु मरुतश्चि॒रं क॑र॒त्प्र तं रथे॑षु चोदत ॥

And now, O Maruts, adventurers and explorers of the earth, that volatile, wondrous and vociferous energy of red flames is here used in the chariot. It would not delay you any more in your advancement. Ignite and accelerate it in the chariots.

· · ·

5.56.8

रथं॒ नु मारु॑तं व॒यं श्र॑व॒स्युमा हु॑वामहे । आ यस्मि॑न्त॒स्थौ सु॒रणा॑नि॒ बिभ्र॑ती॒ सचा॑ म॒रुत्सु॑ रोद॒सी ॥

We call up and ready in harness the stormy and resounding chariot of the Maruts in which both earth and the heavens treasuring many adorable energy prizes join with the Maruts in a bond of friendship.

· · ·

5.56.9

तं वः॒ शर्धं॑ रथे॒शुभं॑ त्वे॒षं प॑न॒स्युमा हु॑वे । यस्मि॒न्त्सुजा॑ता सु॒भगा॑ मही॒यते॒ सचा॑ म॒रुत्सु॑ मीळ्हु॒षी ॥

I admire that force and power of your chariot, shining, adorable and good for the chariot, in which are exalted the generous earth-and-heaven energies, nobly manifested and beneficent in abundance as friends of the Maruts.

✦ Sukta 57 · 8 verses ✦

5.57.1

आ रु॑द्रास॒ इन्द्र॑वन्तः स॒जोष॑सो॒ हिर॑ण्यरथाः सुवि॒ताय॑ गन्तन । इ॒यं वो॑ अ॒स्मत्प्रति॑ हर्यते म॒तिस्तृ॒ष्णजे॒ न दि॒व उत्सा॑ उद॒न्यवे॑ ॥

O Rudras, powers of justice, rectitude and dispensation, commanding honour, power and excellence of the world, loving kind and friendly, going by golden chariots of glory with gifts of good fortune, prosperity and well being for all, this love, desire, understanding and prayer of us all is addressed to you: Come like a wave of divine nectar for the thirsty waiting for a drink on the shore.

· · ·

5.57.2

वाशी॑मन्त ऋष्टि॒मन्तो॑ मनी॒षिणः॑ सु॒धन्वा॑न॒ इषु॑मन्तो निष॒ङ्गिणः॑ । स्वश्वाः॑ स्थ सु॒रथाः॑ पृश्निमातरः स्वायु॒धा म॑रुतो याथना॒ शुभ॑म् ॥

O Maruts, tempestuous heroes of the world, children of the essence of nature in love with the earth, you are blest with the voice of thunder, light of knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the speed of mind, mighty bows, unfailing arrows and inexhaustible quivers, noble steeds and excellent chariots and the best arms and armaments. Go forward, noble heroes, and do good to all.

· · ·

5.57.3

धू॒नु॒थ द्यां पर्व॑तान्दा॒शुषे॒ वसु॒ नि वो॒ वना॑ जिहते॒ याम॑नो भि॒या । को॒पय॑थ पृथि॒वीं पृ॑श्निमातरः शु॒भे यदु॑ग्राः॒ पृष॑ती॒रयु॑ग्ध्वम् ॥

O Maruts, children of the firmament, winds and tempests of nature’s energy, you agitate the regions of light, break the clouds and shake the mountains to create wealth for the generous giver. At your approach forests shake with fear and the earth vibrates when in a state of passion for water showers you join and charge the clouds of vapour.

· · ·

5.57.4

वात॑त्विषो म॒रुतो॑ व॒र्षनि॑र्णिजो य॒माइ॑व॒ सुस॑दृशः सु॒पेश॑सः । पि॒शङ्गा॑श्वा अरु॒णाश्वा॑ अरे॒पसः॒ प्रत्व॑क्षसो महि॒ना द्यौरि॑वो॒रवः॑ ॥

The Maruts command the fury and splendour of the winds. Cleansed and anointed by holy water, they replete the showers of love and justice all the year round. They are highly impressive and handsome in body and mind as self-controlled people are. They command the moderate yellow as well as the intense red flames of the yajnic fires of life’s dynamics. Untouched by sinful involvements, refined and discriminative in thought and judgement, they are refulgent like the sun and largehearted like space by virtue of their innate greatness.

· · ·

5.57.5

पु॒रु॒द्र॒प्सा अ॑ञ्जि॒मन्तः॑ सु॒दान॑वस्त्वे॒षसं॑दृशो अनव॒भ्ररा॑धसः । सु॒जा॒तासो॑ ज॒नुषा॑ रु॒क्मव॑क्षसो दि॒वो अ॒र्का अ॒मृतं॒ नाम॑ भेजिरे ॥

Universally generous like the perennial stream of soma and showers of nature’s joy, versatile of form and action as light in spectrum colours, holy and vastly charitable, they see the reality in all its variety of true colours as light reveals the real forms without screen effects. Commanding imperishable wealth, power and competence in their own right by birth and genetic merit of previous karma, they wear their beauty and regality of life and conduct in their heart and hands. Loving, brilliant and adorable, the Maruts define, deserve, serve and thus justify the name and description: Immortal.

· · ·

5.57.6

ऋ॒ष्टयो॑ वो मरुतो॒ अंस॑यो॒रधि॒ सह॒ ओजो॑ बा॒ह्वोर्वो॒ बलं॑ हि॒तम् । नृ॒म्णा शी॒र्षस्वायु॑धा॒ रथे॑षु वो॒ विश्वा॑ वः॒ श्रीरधि॑ त॒नूषु॑ पिपिशे ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of humanity, on your shoulders you bear the blazing lances and the burdens of forbearance with courage and splendour of life, while the force of action is concentrated in your hands. On your heads you carry the care and comfort of humanity with the arms and ammunitions of protection and progress in your chariots. Indeed, the entire wealth and honour, beauty and grace of life reflects in your body and personality.

· · ·

5.57.7

गोम॒दश्वा॑व॒द्रथ॑वत्सु॒वीरं॑ च॒न्द्रव॒द्राधो॑ मरुतो ददा नः । प्रश॑स्तिं नः कुणुत रुद्रियासो भक्षी॒य वोऽव॑सो॒ दैव्य॑स्य ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of humanity, generous divinities of nature, indomitable powers of love and justice, give us the wealth of lands, cows and the revealing language of knowledge bright as sun rays. Give us the force of noble heroes equipped with fast transport and uninterrupted communications. Give us wealth and competence for success with the beauty and graces of culture. Promote our power and prestige so that we may share and participate in your human protection and divine evolution to the grace of freedom and immortality.

· · ·

5.57.8

ह॒ये नरो॒ मरु॑तो मृ॒ळता॑ न॒स्तुवी॑मघासो॒ अमृ॑ता॒ ऋत॑ज्ञाः । सत्य॑श्रुतः॒ कव॑यो॒ युवा॑नो॒ बृह॑द्गिरयो बृ॒हदु॒क्षमा॑णाः ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of humanity and divinities of nature, commanders of unbounded wealth, honour and excellence, immortal souls, learned sages of the laws of nature and time, world renowned voices of truth, poetic visionaries young beyond aging and debility, diviners into the infinite Word and world languages, heroes of universal generosity and generative vitality, bless us with wealth of the world, peace of mind and everlasting grace.

✦ Sukta 58 · 8 verses ✦

5.58.1

तमु॑ नू॒नं तवि॑षीमन्तमेषां स्तु॒षे ग॒णं मारु॑तं॒ नव्य॑सीनाम् । य आ॒श्व॑श्वा॒ अम॑व॒द्वह॑न्त उ॒तेशि॑रे अ॒मृत॑स्य स्व॒राजः॑ ॥

I admire the blazing, tempestuous group of these Maruts, modern self governing people who, possessed of the fastest transports and communications, move like storms, a very picture of velocity, and, shining and selfcontrolled, dominate over the regions of the immortals.

· · ·

5.58.2

त्वे॒षं ग॒णं त॒वसं॒ खादि॑हस्तं॒ धुनि॑व्रतं मा॒यिनं॒ दाति॑वारम् । म॒यो॒भुवो॒ ये अमि॑ता महि॒त्वा वन्द॑स्व विप्र तुवि॒राध॑सो॒ नॄन् ॥

O sagely scholar, admire and exalt that group of leading lights, brave, generous and dexterous of hand, enthusiastically committed to noble causes, wondrous workers abundantly charitable, who are versatile achievers without reserve or bounds by virtue of their own innate strength and expertise and who are a tremendous source of peace and prosperity

· · ·

5.58.3

आ वो॑ यन्तूदवा॒हासो॑ अ॒द्य वृ॒ष्टिं ये विश्वे॑ म॒रुतो॑ जु॒नन्ति॑ । अ॒यं यो अ॒ग्निर्म॑रुतः॒ समि॑द्ध ए॒तं जु॑षध्वं कवयो युवानः ॥

O Maruts, eminent leaders and pioneers, may all those winds of the firmament come to you to-day in this yajna which bear the clouds and impel the rain showers. O leading scholars and scientists, poetic visionaries and youthful researchers, lighted is this fire, come and take it over for the rain yajna.

· · ·

5.58.4

यू॒यं राजा॑न॒मिर्यं॒ जना॑य विभ्वत॒ष्टं ज॑नयथा यजत्राः । यु॒ष्मदे॑ति मुष्टि॒हा बा॒हुजू॑तो यु॒ष्मत्सद॑श्वो मरुतः सु॒वीरः॑ ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of the nation, holy performers meeting and working together for yajnic development, you create the inspiring ruler who is an architect of the nation. From you arises the administrator of strong hand and will. From you arise the warriors of strong arms, and from you arises the brave man, the hero who commands the army, the cavalry and the flying force for the people.

· · ·

5.58.5

अ॒राइ॒वेदच॑रमा॒ अहे॑व॒ प्रप्र॑ जायन्ते॒ अक॑वा॒ महो॑भिः । पृश्नेः॑ पु॒त्रा उ॑प॒मासो॒ रभि॑ष्ठाः॒ स्वया॑ म॒त्या म॒रुतः॒ सं मि॑मिक्षुः ॥

Like the spokes of a wheel in motion, together, undivided, equal and integrated, whole, generative, the Maruts rise anew like days on and on with their power and forces. Children of mother earth, firmament and radiations of sunlight, strongest and most eminent, with their own perception, understanding, dedication and determination, they analyse, catalyse, integrate and generate new ideas, forces, institutions and traditions, all renewed and revitalised.

· · ·

5.58.6

यत्प्राया॑सिष्ट॒ पृष॑तीभि॒रश्वै॑र्वीळुप॒विभि॑र्मरुतो॒ रथे॑भिः । क्षोद॑न्त॒ आपो॑ रिण॒ते वना॒न्यवो॒स्रियो॑ वृष॒भः क्र॑न्दतु॒ द्यौः ॥

By their motive forces and chariots equipped with strong wheels of initiative and advancement, the Maruts proceed with showers of new life as leaders and pioneers of a new age, and as they proceed, the dormant vapours of life agitate with new ferment and join the rays of the sun, the cloud roars with thunder and lightning and the earth receives the showers of new life.

· · ·

5.58.7

प्रथि॑ष्ट॒ याम॑न्पृथि॒वी चि॑देषां॒ भर्ते॑व॒ गर्भं॒ स्वमिच्छवो॑ धुः । वाता॒न्ह्यश्वा॑न्धु॒र्या॑युयु॒ज्रे व॒र्षँ स्वेदं॑ चक्रिरे रु॒द्रिया॑सः ॥

As the Maruts proceed, the earth waxes with desire and fertility. Like the husband man, the Maruts shower their own vitality on earth as the seed of new life. Thus do the Maruts, forces of new life, generative and enlightened, commanding power and judgement, yoke new winds and motive forces to the chariot of life and move the wheels of history forward with the shower of their own sweat of the brow.

· · ·

5.58.8

ह॒ये नरो॒ मरु॑तो मृ॒ळता॑ न॒स्तुवी॑मघासो॒ अमृ॑ता॒ ऋत॑ज्ञाः । सत्य॑श्रुतः॒ कव॑यो॒ युवा॑नो॒ बृह॑द्गिरयो बृ॒हदु॒क्षमा॑णाः ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of history, be kind and gracious and rejoice with us. You command the grandeur of life’s wealth, honour and excellence. You are the immortal spirit of humanity, observers of Law and Truth, renowned and blest with the Revelation of Truth, poetic visionaries, ever young and modern, masters of universal voice and blest with the spirit of renewal and regeneration.

✦ Sukta 59 · 8 verses ✦

5.59.1

प्र वः॒ स्पळ॑क्रन्त्सुवि॒ताय॑ दा॒वनेऽर्चा॑ दि॒वे प्र पृ॑थि॒व्या ऋ॒तं भ॑रे । उ॒क्षन्ते॒ अश्वा॒न्तरु॑षन्त॒ आ रजोऽनु॒ स्वं भा॒नुं श्र॑थयन्ते अर्ण॒वैः ॥

Adore and exalt those who are close to you, who do good and observe truth and law in their character, conduct and action for you, for your welfare, for the generous, and for the earth, the firmament and the regions of light. They energise the motive forces, radiate their light and lustre upto the regions of space and attain their ends by the seas.

· · ·

5.59.2

अमा॑देषां भि॒यसा॒ भूमि॑रेजति॒ नौर्न पू॒र्णा क्ष॑रति॒ व्यथि॑र्य॒ती । दू॒रे॒दृशो॒ ये चि॒तय॑न्त॒ एम॑भिर॒न्तर्म॒हे वि॒दथे॑ येतिरे॒ नरः॑ ॥

By the power and force of these Maruts, the earth trembles with fear and, like an overloaded boat going over the sea, shakes in agitation under pressure. Seen from far, they are known by their movements and, leading lights as they are, they go forward in the great battle business of life and its organisation.

· · ·

5.59.3

गवा॑मिव श्रि॒यसे॒ शृङ्ग॑मुत्त॒मं सूर्यो॒ न चक्षू॒ रज॑सो वि॒सर्ज॑ने । अत्या॑इव सु॒भ्व१॒॑श्चार॑वः स्थन॒ मर्या॑इव श्रि॒यसे॑ चेतथा नरः ॥

For the beauty of the regions of the earth, you are like the highest peak of mountain ranges. In the shower of vapour and in the clearance of mists, you are like the sun, eye of the world. You are handsome and excellent like race horses, and, O leaders and pioneers, you shine like rays of the sun for the glory of humanity.

· · ·

5.59.4

को वो॑ म॒हान्ति॑ मह॒तामुद॑श्नव॒त्कस्काव्या॑ मरुतः॒ को ह॒ पौंस्या॑ । यू॒यं ह॒ भूमिं॑ कि॒रणं॒ न रे॑जथ॒ प्र यद्भर॑ध्वे सुवि॒ताय॑ दा॒वने॑ ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of the world, you are great. Who can reach your grandeur and achievements? Who can realise your divine vision and imaginative creations? O virile heroes, who can approach your power and potential? You illuminate the earth as sun beams and even shake it like particles of dust, while you rain down showers of generosity as gifts for the charity and welfare of the people.

· · ·

5.59.5

अश्वा॑इ॒वेद॑रु॒षासः॒ सब॑न्धवः॒ शूरा॑इव प्र॒युधः॒ प्रोत यु॑युधुः । मर्या॑इव सु॒वृधो॑ वावृधु॒र्नरः॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ चक्षुः॒ प्र मि॑नन्ति वृ॒ष्टिभिः॑ ॥

O Maruts, leading lights of the world, sanguine and bold, you are ever going forward like horses on the course, uninterrupted. Brotherly and friendly toward all equally, fighting like warriors for all, you are always struggling for a better world. Rising and growing like mortal life forms, you are evolving continuously. And with the torrents of rain you dim the blazing light of the sun in mist.

· · ·

5.59.6

ते अ॑ज्ये॒ष्ठा अक॑निष्ठास उ॒द्भिदोऽम॑ध्यमासो॒ मह॑सा॒ वि वा॑वृधुः । सु॒जा॒तासो॑ ज॒नुषा॒ पृश्नि॑मातरो दि॒वो मर्या॒ आ नो॒ अच्छा॑ जिगातन ॥

None highest, none lowest, none middling, among them, they are equals all, burst forth into life through layers of impediments. Nobly born by nature, children of heaven, earth and the firmament, they are mortals, humans all, who, as we wish, come to us and appreciate us all. They grow and rise by their own strength and grandeur.

· · ·

5.59.7

वयो॒ न ये श्रेणीः॑ प॒प्तुरोज॒सान्ता॑न्दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तः सानु॑न॒स्परि॑ । अश्वा॑स एषामु॒भये॒ यथा॑ वि॒दुः प्र पर्व॑तस्य नभ॒नूँर॑चुच्यवुः ॥

They soar together like flights of birds with the innate force of their light and lustre over mighty mountain peaks across the middle regions to the bounds of expansive heaven. Commanding the two-way motion of their circuitous energy, they shake the clouds of the sky and break them into showers.

· · ·

5.59.8

मिमा॑तु॒ द्यौरदि॑तिर्वी॒तये॑ नः॒ सं दानु॑चित्रा उ॒षसो॑ यतन्ताम् । आचु॑च्यवुर्दि॒व्यं कोश॑मे॒त ऋषे॑ रु॒द्रस्य॑ म॒रुतो॑ गृणा॒नाः ॥

May the heaven of light and mother earth bless us and help us rise in light and generosity, peace and joy. May the dawns, wonderful givers, join us and help us to rise in beauty and grace of life. O Rshi, lord of universal vision, may these Maruts, children of the lord of justice and rectitude, sung and adored, singing and rejoicing, shower the treasure of heavenly light and joy on earth.

✦ Sukta 60 · 8 verses ✦

5.60.1

ईळे॑ अ॒ग्निं स्वव॑सं॒ नमो॑भिरि॒ह प्र॑स॒त्तो वि च॑यत्कृ॒तं नः॑ । रथै॑रिव॒ प्र भ॑रे वाज॒यद्भिः॑ प्रदक्षि॒णिन्म॒रुतां॒ स्तोम॑मृध्याम् ॥

Collecting the work already done for us in the field, happy and enthusiastic, in perfect faith with relentless dedication and investments, I study and adore Agni, heat, light and electric energy, rich source of protection and progress, in order to extend the knowledge, hoping that, going round the world as if by tempestuous chariots of the winds in right order, I would raise the song of celebration in honour of the scholars and humanity. May the lord of knowledge accept and consecrate our work!

· · ·

5.60.2

आ ये त॒स्थुः पृष॑तीषु श्रु॒तासु॑ सु॒खेषु॑ रु॒द्रा म॒रुतो॒ रथे॑षु । वना॑ चिदुग्रा जिहते॒ नि वो॑ भि॒या पृ॑थि॒वी चि॑द्रेजते॒ पर्व॑तश्चित् ॥

Rudras, pranic energies of life and natural catalysis, Maruts, heat, light, electric and wind energies, which abide and energise streams and showers, which work in means of transport and comfort, and which are described in works of revelation and research, are mighty, tempestuous and blazing. O Rudras and Maruts, catalytic, integrative and regenerative energies, under your power and fear of natural law the sun-rays radiate, the forests tremble, the earth moves and shines, the clouds break and the mountains shake.

· · ·

5.60.3

पर्व॑तश्चि॒न्महि॑ वृ॒द्धो बि॑भाय दि॒वश्चि॒त्सानु॑ रेजत स्व॒ने वः॑ । यत्क्रीळ॑थ मरुत ऋष्टि॒मन्त॒ आप॑इव स॒ध्र्य॑ञ्चो धवध्वे ॥

O Maruts, tempestuous energies of divine omnipotence, when you agitate, blow and flow together like streams of water—which is just your play in life— the densest cloud and the great ancient mountain cower in fear and the top bounds of the regions of light vibrate with the waves of your boundless roar.

· · ·

5.60.4

व॒राइ॒वेद्रै॑व॒तासो॒ हिर॑ण्यैर॒भि स्व॒धाभि॑स्त॒न्वः॑ पिपिश्रे । श्रि॒ये श्रेयां॑सस्त॒वसो॒ रथे॑षु स॒त्रा महां॑सि चक्रिरे त॒नूषु॑ ॥

Like eminent people nobly born in life’s affluence who adorn themselves with their innate graces and golden attainments of culture and education, the Maruts, leading lights of humanity, commanding honour and excellence, riding their chariots, do great actions of truth and rectitude in their life and conduct for the beauty of human culture and grace of living as reflections of their inner self.

· · ·

5.60.5

अ॒ज्ये॒ष्ठासो॒ अक॑निष्ठास ए॒ते सं भ्रात॑रो वावृधुः॒ सौभ॑गाय । युवा॑ पि॒ता स्वपा॑ रु॒द्र ए॑षां सु॒दुघा॒ पृश्निः॑ सु॒दिना॑ म॒रुद्भ्यः॑ ॥

None highest, none lowest, all equal as brothers together, the Maruts, leading lights of life and humanity, work and grow and advance for the honour and prosperity of life and living. Their father and creator, Rudra, lord omnipotent of justice and dispensation, ever young, giver of sustenance, and mother earth and the firmament, ever abundant and generous for the Maruts through the bright days, look after them and inspire them.

· · ·

5.60.6

यदु॑त्त॒मे म॑रुतो मध्य॒मे वा॒ यद्वा॑व॒मे सु॑भगासो दि॒वि ष्ठ । अतो॑ नो रुद्रा उ॒त वा॒ न्व१॒॑स्याग्ने॑ वि॒त्ताद्ध॒विषो॒ यद्यजा॑म ॥

O Maruts, creators of prosperity, honour and excellence, and Rudras, leading lights of justice and rectitude, andAgni, leading light of knowledge, whether you abide in the highest, or middle or the lowest regions of life and action, or in the light of heaven, establish us in right knowledge and action of the transparent order, and know of our action and homage which we offer to Divinity in our life.

· · ·

5.60.7

अ॒ग्निश्च॒ यन्म॑रुतो विश्ववेदसो दि॒वो वह॑ध्व॒ उत्त॑रा॒दधि॒ ष्णुभिः॑ । ते म॑न्दसा॒ना धुन॑यो रिशादसो वा॒मं ध॑त्त॒ यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते ॥

O Agni, leading light, and Maruts, dynamic leaders and pioneers, blest with knowledge and wealth of the world, you abide on top of the regions of light and love by your own will and desire and bring down showers of light and wisdom. O leaders and pioneers, such as you are, movers and shakers of the negatives, and as you rejoice on the vedi with the yajakas, bring down the gift of life’s wealth and beauty from over the levels of ordinary mortals for the yajamana and the creative soma yajaka.

· · ·

5.60.8

अग्ने॑ म॒रुद्भिः॑ शु॒भय॑द्भि॒र्ऋक्व॑भिः॒ सोमं॑ पिब मन्दसा॒नो ग॑ण॒श्रिभिः॑ । पा॒व॒केभि॑र्विश्वमि॒न्वेभि॑रा॒युभि॒र्वैश्वा॑नर प्र॒दिवा॑ के॒तुना॑ स॒जूः ॥

O leading light of the world, Agni, Vaishvanara, power and passion of life, friend and associate of higher light and wisdom by virtue of your character and conduct, come rejoicing to the vedi, share and enjoy the sweets of soma, life’s joy, wealth, honour and excellence in the company of the Maruts, dynamic people on the march who are pure and gracious, praiseworthy, pride of the republic, purifying, inspiring, strengthening and beautifying the world, people who love life and add to the grace of life by living well and gracefully.

✦ Sukta 61 · 19 verses ✦

5.61.1

के ष्ठा॑ नरः॒ श्रेष्ठ॑तमा॒ य एक॑एक आय॒य । प॒र॒मस्याः॑ परा॒वतः॑ ॥

Who are you, leaders and pioneers, best and most excellent, that come one by one and reach all together from farthest of far distances?

· · ·

5.61.2

क्व१॒॑ वोऽश्वाः॒ क्वा॒३॒॑भीश॑वः क॒थं शे॑क क॒था य॑य । पृ॒ष्ठे सदो॑ न॒सोर्यमः॑ ॥

Where are your horses? Where the reins? What is your power and potential? How do you move? Where is the saddle on the horse back? Where is the bridle that controls the direction by the nose?

· · ·

5.61.3

ज॒घने॒ चोद॑ एषां॒ वि स॒क्थानि॒ नरो॑ यमुः । पु॒त्र॒कृ॒थे न जन॑यः ॥

They goad and spur on the horses’ flanks, the riders make them move fast in order, their muscles strained and waxed, as parents raise their children to the optimum with freedom and control.

· · ·

5.61.4

परा॑ वीरास एतन॒ मर्या॑सो॒ भद्र॑जानयः । अ॒ग्नि॒तपो॒ यथास॑थ ॥

Go far, brave leaders of the people, nobly born and nobly educated, men of vibrant discipline trained in the crucibles of fire as you are, and happily married.

· · ·

5.61.5

सन॒त्साश्व्यं॑ प॒शुमु॒त गव्यं॑ श॒ताव॑यम् । श्या॒वाश्व॑स्तुताय॒ या दोर्वी॒रायो॑प॒बर्बृ॑हत् ॥

The woman who opens her arms with love and joins her brave and dynamic husband shoulder to shoulder in work and household jointly achieves a hundredfold wealth of land and cattle, plenty of food and energy, and movable and immovable acquisitions.

· · ·

5.61.6

उ॒त त्वा॒ स्त्री शशी॑यसी पुं॒सो भ॑वति॒ वस्य॑सी । अदे॑वत्रादरा॒धसः॑ ॥

O man, the woman deserves your respect and reverence and love because she remains a generous and graceful accomplisher in the home in spite of the man’s want of piety and success.

· · ·

5.61.7

वि या जा॒नाति॒ जसु॑रिं॒ वि तृष्य॑न्तं॒ वि का॒मिन॑म् । दे॒व॒त्रा कृ॑णु॒ते मनः॑ ॥

She who knows well the man struggling with want and deprivation, thirsting for love and recognition, ambitious for dedication and success, steadies her mind in concentration and the divine will in action for success in married life in piety.

· · ·

5.61.8

उ॒त घा॒ नेमो॒ अस्तु॑तः॒ पुमाँ॒ इति॑ ब्रुवे प॒णिः । स वैर॑देय॒ इत्स॒मः ॥

And I say: Whether the man is worthy of praise or unworthy of praise, but being the husband he is half of the woman’s life (as the woman is his better half), and has equal rights and responsibilities in the family affairs and equal conjugal rights.

· · ·

5.61.9

उ॒त मे॑ऽरपद्युव॒तिर्म॑म॒न्दुषी॒ प्रति॑ श्या॒वाय॑ वर्त॒निम् । वि रोहि॑ता पुरुमी॒ळ्हाय॑ येमतु॒र्विप्रा॑य दी॒र्घय॑शसे ॥

And she, my wife, young, happy, learned, going fast forward, clearly shows the way of life to me, virile, learned, seeker of high renown, going forward by chariot, which we two draw like two equal ruddy horses.

· · ·

5.61.10

यो मे॑ धेनू॒नां श॒तं वैद॑दश्वि॒र्यथा॒ दद॑त् । त॒र॒न्तइ॑व मं॒हना॑ ॥

Hail to him, disciple of a specialist of transport, who gives me a hundred gifts of lands and cows and forms of knowledge and takes me across the seas as by a mighty boat.

· · ·

5.61.11

य ईं॒ वह॑न्त आ॒शुभिः॒ पिब॑न्तो मदि॒रं मधु॑ । अत्र॒ श्रवां॑सि दधिरे ॥

Those who bring hither instant showers of rain, tasting sweets of honey drinks here, bear and hold the food, energy and wealth of the world.

· · ·

5.61.12

येषां॑ श्रि॒याधि॒ रोद॑सी वि॒भ्राज॑न्ते॒ रथे॒ष्वा । दि॒वि रु॒क्मइ॑वो॒परि॑ ॥

Those, who by their beauty and grace of culture shine over earth and skies in chariots like the sun in heaven above, (bear and hold the food, energy and wealth of the world).

· · ·

5.61.13

युवा॒ स मारु॑तो ग॒णस्त्वे॒षर॑थो॒ अने॑द्यः । शु॒भं॒यावाप्र॑तिष्कुतः ॥

Young, bright and bold, that group of Maruts, pioneers of humanity, riding their bright and blazing chariots, admirable beyond reproach, rises over the spatial oceans, unobstructed and unchallenged.

· · ·

5.61.14

को वे॑द नू॒नमे॑षां॒ यत्रा॒ मद॑न्ति॒ धूत॑यः । ऋ॒तजा॑ता अरे॒पसः॑ ॥

Who would know of them for sure where these tempestuous heroes born of truth, immaculate and free challengers of sin, work and rejoice and celebrate their victory?

· · ·

5.61.15

यू॒यं मर्तं॑ विपन्यवः प्रणे॒तार॑ इ॒त्था धि॒या । श्रोता॑रो॒ याम॑हूतिषु ॥

O leading lights, admirable heroes, with intelligence and understanding, thus, you are inspirers, guides and saviours of mortals. And you listen when they call on you in peace or distress for help and assistance.

· · ·

5.61.16

ते नो॒ वसू॑नि॒ काम्या॑ पुरुश्च॒न्द्रा रि॑शादसः । आ य॑ज्ञियासो ववृत्तन ॥

Thus they, adorable benefactors, creators of good and destroyers of evil by yajna, abundant in golden gifts, may, we pray, continue to bring us the wealth and honours of excellence we desire.

· · ·

5.61.17

ए॒तं मे॒ स्तोम॑मूर्म्ये दा॒र्भ्याय॒ परा॑ वह । गिरो॑ देवि र॒थीरि॑व ॥

O divine spirit of night and vibrations of peace, listen and, like a charioteer, for me, carry this song and words of prayer far to the regenerative lord of life.

· · ·

5.61.18

उ॒त मे॑ वोचता॒दिति॑ सू॒तसो॑मे॒ रथ॑वीतौ । न कामो॒ अप॑ वेति मे ॥

And then say this for me: The yajna is complete, soma is distilled, the chariot arrived in peace, and my prayer and desire never goes astray.

· · ·

5.61.19

ए॒ष क्षे॑ति॒ रथ॑वीतिर्म॒घवा॒ गोम॑ती॒रनु॑ । पर्व॑ते॒ष्वप॑श्रितः ॥

This man of yajnic action, honour and excellence travelling by chariot straight like rays of the sun across the clouds lives in the world and reaches his destination without difficulty.

✦ Sukta 62 · 9 verses ✦

5.62.1

ऋ॒तेन॑ ऋ॒तमपि॑हितं ध्रु॒वं वां॒ सूर्य॑स्य॒ यत्र॑ विमु॒चन्त्यश्वा॑न् । दश॑ श॒ता स॒ह त॑स्थु॒स्तदेकं॑ दे॒वानां॒ श्रेष्ठं॒ वपु॑षामपश्यम् ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, light and life of the universe, I know the thousand radiations, and I have seen that one fixed centre of your reality, Rtam, Eternal Truth, covered by Rtam, cosmic manifestations of its mutability and the laws of mutability, where the radiations converge and wherefrom they are released around. And that eternal centre is the essential, ultimate and highest form of all existential forms of divinity, the One and yet many at the same time.

· · ·

5.62.2

तत्सु वां॑ मित्रावरुणा महि॒त्वमी॒र्मा

त॒स्थुषी॒रह॑भिर्दुदुह्रे । विश्वाः॑ पिन्वथः॒ स्वस॑रस्य॒ धेना॒ अनु॑ वा॒मेकः॑ प॒विरा व॑वर्त ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, sun and the surrounding waters of life, that living grandeur of yours, the One constant impeller of life, the unmoved mover, Spirit of existence at the centre, vests in the immovable forms of life, herbs and trees, by days and nights. Thus you nourish all the streams of life while one of you, the sun, goes round and round in orbit by the law of the One at the centre.

· · ·

5.62.3

अधा॑रयतं पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्यां मित्र॑राजाना वरुणा॒ महो॑भिः । व॒र्धय॑त॒मोष॑धीः॒ पिन्व॑तं॒ गा अव॑ वृ॒ष्टिं सृ॑जतं जीरदानू ॥

Mitra and Varuna, sun and space, light and law, heat and water, refulgent rulers of the world, generous creators and givers, together with your powers and actions, you hold the earth and heaven, feed and promote the greenery of nature, sustain the planets, and create and shower the rains.

· · ·

5.62.4

आ वा॒मश्वा॑सः सु॒युजो॑ वहन्तु य॒तर॑श्मय॒ उप॑ यन्त्व॒र्वाक् । घृ॒तस्य॑ नि॒र्णिगनु॑ वर्तते वा॒मुप॒ सिन्ध॑वः प्र॒दिवि॑ क्षरन्ति ॥

Mitra and Varuna, rulers and scientists of the world, may your motive forces of transport well used and well steered like horses by reins and light by rays bear you and bring you hither. Purified and reinforced waters and liquid fuels are under your command, and let streams of water flow when the fire is ignited.

· · ·

5.62.5

अनु॑ श्रु॒ताम॒मतिं॒ वर्ध॑दु॒र्वीं ब॒र्हिरि॑व॒ यजु॑षा॒ रक्ष॑माणा । नम॑स्वन्ता धृतद॒क्षाधि॒ गर्ते॒ मित्रासा॑थे वरु॒णेळा॑स्व॒न्तः ॥

Mitra and Varuna, leading lights and dynamic forces of the world, in keeping with Vedic tradition and your own honour and fame, enhancing your personality and character, preserving and promoting the wide earth and environment, like protecting and augmenting the light and fire of yajna with mantric chants of application and acts of self-sacrifice, with wealth of food and energy for input, and commanding strength and expertise, you sit at the high steer of the nation and join centres of production and progress across the earth.

· · ·

5.62.6

अक्र॑विहस्ता सु॒कृते॑ पर॒स्पा यं त्रासा॑थे वरु॒णेळा॑स्व॒न्तः । राजा॑ना क्ष॒त्रमहृ॑णीयमाना स॒हस्र॑स्थूणं बिभृथः स॒ह द्वौ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, leading lights of vision and judgement, ruling and refulgent powers of humanity, kind and loving nobilities of non-violent hands, holy of action, helpful for others, seated at the centres of yajnic activity over the earth’s regions, ruling and protecting the social order without hurting and damaging it, both of you bear and hold up the order of a thousand pillars together and protect it against fear and violence of terror.

· · ·

5.62.7

हिर॑ण्यनिर्णि॒गयो॑ अस्य॒ स्थूणा॒ वि भ्रा॑जते दि॒व्य१॒॑श्वाज॑नीव । भ॒द्रे क्षेत्रे॒ निमि॑ता॒ तिल्वि॑ले वा स॒नेम॒ मध्वो॒ अधि॑गर्त्यस्य ॥

This social order is distinctive, discriminative between gold and merely glittering. It rests on pillars of gold, and it shines like lightning in the skies. Its policy is framed and defined in the house of holiness or, let us say, on the fields of fertility. Let us hope and pray we join and share the honey sweets created by the leading lights and rulers of judgement at the helm of the nation and by the people in the home by the fire-side.

· · ·

5.62.8

हिर॑ण्यरूपमु॒षसो॒ व्यु॑ष्टा॒वयः॑स्थूण॒मुदि॑ता॒ सूर्य॑स्य । आ रो॑हथो वरुण मित्र॒ गर्त॒मत॑श्चक्षाथे॒ अदि॑तिं॒ दितिं॑ च ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, rulers and leaders of the earth, commanding vision and judgement, at the break of dawn and rise of the sun you ride your chariot of golden pillars and take your seat on the helm and thence watch the realm for what is permanent of value and preservable and what is merely transient and destructible.

· · ·

5.62.9

यद्बंहि॑ष्ठं॒ नाति॒विधे॑ सुदानू॒ अच्छि॑द्रं॒ शर्म॑ भुवनस्य गोपा । तेन॑ नो मित्रावरुणावविष्टं॒ सिषा॑सन्तो जिगी॒वांसः॑ स्याम ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, ruler and leading lights of strength and judgement, generous as breath of life, unchallengeable protectors of the world, come and bless us with that greatest, highest and imperishable home of protection in which, sharing the honey sweets of life with all, we may live to achieve our ambition for victory in the struggle of existence.

✦ Sukta 63 · 7 verses ✦

5.63.1

ऋत॑स्य गोपा॒वधि॑ तिष्ठथो॒ रथं॒ सत्य॑धर्माणा पर॒मे व्यो॑मनि । यमत्र॑ मित्रावरु॒णाव॑थो यु॒वं तस्मै॑ वृ॒ष्टिर्मधु॑मत्पिन्वते दि॒वः ॥

Mitra and Varuna, lord of light and lord of justice and rectitude, ruler and judge, guardians of truth and law, observers of truth and law and eternal Dharma, you abide in the highest regions of existence in the presence of Divinity and ride over the chariot of life and the state while you occupy the highest seats of the social order. In this state, whoever you protect is blest, rains of honey sweets shower on him from heaven above.

· · ·

5.63.2

स॒म्राजा॑व॒स्य भुव॑नस्य राजथो॒ मित्रा॑वरुणा वि॒दथे॑ स्व॒र्दृशा॑ । वृ॒ष्टिं वां॒ राधो॑ अमृत॒त्वमी॑महे॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी वि च॑रन्ति त॒न्यवः॑ ॥

Mitra, lord of love and friendship, Varuna, lord of judgement and discrimination, rulers and leading lights of this world, you shine in splendour and reveal the light of Divinity in the yajnic business of life on the earth. Just as thunder and lightning light and shake the earth and sky, so do you rule the earth. We pray to you for the shower of joy, success and the nectar sweets of immortal values in this mortal state of life.

· · ·

5.63.3

स॒म्राजा॑ उ॒ग्रा वृ॑ष॒भा दि॒वस्पती॑ पृथि॒व्या मि॒त्रावरु॑णा॒ विच॑र्षणी । चि॒त्रेभि॑र॒भ्रैरुप॑ तिष्ठथो॒ रवं॒ द्यां व॑र्षयथो॒ असु॑रस्य मा॒यया॑ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, ruler and leading lights like sun and shower, shining in majesty, blazing with splendour, brave and generous, guardians of heaven and light of the earth, watchful observers of the world, wielding wondrous clouds of rain and power, you stay close by us and send down showers of rain and roar of thunder by the awful force of light and winds of nature’s breath of life.

· · ·

5.63.4

मा॒या वां॑ मित्रावरुणा दि॒वि श्रि॒ता सूर्यो॒ ज्योति॑श्चरति चि॒त्रमायु॑धम् । तम॒भ्रेण॑ वृ॒ष्ट्या गू॑हथो दि॒वि पर्ज॑न्य द्र॒प्सा मधु॑मन्त ईरते ॥

Mitra and Varuna, lord of light and lord of bliss, ruler and leading lights of the social order, your power and generosity is based in the light of Divinity and issues from there. The sun, an agent and manifestation of the same, shines with its light as weapon of enlightenment and purification. You cover the sun with an ocean of vapour and energy of cosmic electricity in the regions of light, then the cloud is formed and showers of honey drops fall as rain.

· · ·

5.63.5

रथं॑ युञ्जते म॒रुतः॑ शु॒भे सु॒खं शूरो॒ न मि॑त्रावरुणा॒ गवि॑ष्टिषु । रजां॑सि चि॒त्रा वि च॑रन्ति त॒न्यवो॑ दि॒वः स॑म्राजा॒ पय॑सा न उक्षतम् ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, generous ruler and enlightened leaders, the Maruts, dynamic scientists and engineers, brave as warriors and tempestuous as winds, design and structure a faultless chariot and use it for the comfort and welfare of mankind. They rise in the company of sunrays to the wonderful regions of the skies, light and lightning in yajnic programmes for the good of all. O brilliant leaders, give us showers of water, milk, generative energy and creative vision.

· · ·

5.63.6

वाचं॒ सु मि॑त्रावरुणा॒विरा॑वतीं प॒र्जन्य॑श्चि॒त्रां व॑दति॒ त्विषी॑मतीम् । अ॒भ्रा व॑सत म॒रुतः॒ सु मा॒यया॒ द्यां व॑र्षयतमरु॒णाम॑रे॒पस॑म् ॥

Just as the cloud deeply filled with vapour and highly generous rumbles with its voice of thunder and showers rains of water, fertilising, exciting and pure, similarly, O scholars, teachers and preachers, loving as Mitra, friend, and discriminative as Varuna, the judge, speak to us that language of knowledge and wisdom which is comforting, refreshing, regenerative and life giving, wonderfully engaging and illuminating, full of wonder and variety and light of life. Let the dynamic people, vibrant as winds live in plenty like the cloud, and rise to the light of heaven with knowledge and power. Powerful as Indra, brilliant as Sun, and generous as Prajapati, give us the showers of knowledge and speech, holy, bright and blazing, free of sin and evil.

· · ·

5.63.7

धर्म॑णा मित्रावरुणा विपश्चिता व्र॒ता र॑क्षेथे॒ असु॑रस्य मा॒यया॑ । ऋ॒तेन॒ विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं॒ वि रा॑जथः॒ सूर्य॒मा ध॑त्थो दि॒वि चित्र्यं॒ रथ॑म् ॥

Mitra, O lord of light and love, and Varuna, lord of law and justice, knowing and discriminative, dedicated to the observance of the Law, you uphold, protect and promote the entire world of existence in order by Dharma, Rtam, cosmic dynamics and the innate strength and will of life. You shine in manifestation by Law and you maintain the sun in the regions of light like a marvellous chariot on the highway by the Law.

✦ Sukta 64 · 7 verses ✦

5.64.1

वरु॑णं वो रि॒शाद॑समृ॒चा मि॒त्रं ह॑वामहे । परि॑ व्र॒जेव॑ बा॒ह्वोर्ज॑ग॒न्वांसा॒ स्व॑र्णरम् ॥

O Mitra, loving friend, and Varuna, learned scholar and lover of justice, with words of prayer and adoration we invoke and invite you, destroyers of negativity and enmity, moving forward by the strength of your arms and leading to the golden goal of joy and bliss by paths of knowledge, love and rectitude, moving as you do like shepherds leading cows to the stall.

· · ·

5.64.2

ता बा॒हवा॑ सुचे॒तुना॒ प्र य॑न्तमस्मा॒ अर्च॑ते । शेवं॒ हि जा॒र्यं॑ वां॒ विश्वा॑सु॒ क्षासु॒ जोगु॑वे ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, sages of love and justice, extend your hands of generosity alongwith your knowledge and wisdom to this aspiring supplicant. I adore and proclaim your admirable treasure of light, love and justice over the entire regions of the world.

· · ·

5.64.3

यन्नू॒नम॒श्यां गतिं॑ मि॒त्रस्य॑ यायां प॒था । अस्य॑ प्रि॒यस्य॒ शर्म॒ण्यहिं॑सानस्य सश्चिरे ॥

I wish and pray I go by the same path and reach the same goal, the home of divine bliss of this dear lord of love and non-violence, Mitra which the sages follow and reach.

· · ·

5.64.4

यु॒वाभ्यां॑ मित्रावरुणोप॒मं धे॑यामृ॒चा । यद्ध॒ क्षये॑ म॒घोनां॑ स्तोतॄ॒णां च॑ स्पू॒र्धसे॑ ॥

May I, with prayer and adoration, receive from you, Mitra and Varuna, that excellent treasure of wealth and wisdom which abides in the home of the prosperous celebrants when they have reached their golden goal of joy and which I aspire to emulate.

· · ·

5.64.5

आ नो॑ मित्र सुदी॒तिभि॒र्वरु॑णश्च स॒धस्थ॒ आ । स्वे क्षये॑ म॒घोनां॒ सखी॑नां च वृ॒धसे॑ ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, loving friend and friend of justice and rectitude, come to us with your brilliance of knowledge and grace our home, your own place, for the advancement of friends and devotees on way to further progress.

· · ·

5.64.6

यु॒वं नो॒ येषु॑ वरुण क्ष॒त्रं बृ॒हच्च॑ बिभृ॒थः । उ॒रु णो॒ वाज॑सातये कृ॒तं रा॒ये स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

O lord of love and friendship, Mitra, O Varuna, lord of justice and rectitude, those whom you vest with the great social order and high excellence and guide and conduct for our sake, advance and raise higher in honour and excellence for victory, wealth and well being for us.

· · ·

5.64.7

उ॒च्छन्त्यां॑ मे यज॒ता दे॒वक्ष॑त्रे॒ रुश॑द्गवि । सु॒तं सोमं॒ न ह॒स्तिभि॒रा प॒ड्भिर्धा॑वतं नरा॒ बिभ्र॑तावर्च॒नान॑सम् ॥

Mitra and Varuna, ruler and pioneers of the nation, adorable guides and unifiers of humanity, come running fast on feet firm as the elephant’s and join my yajna at the rise of dawn in the light of the sun in this holy social order. Accept the song of adoration and prayer of the celebrant and enjoy it like distilled soma of yajna and excellence of the social order.

✦ Sukta 65 · 6 verses ✦

5.65.1

यश्चि॒केत॒ स सु॒क्रतु॑र्देव॒त्रा स ब्र॑वीतु नः । वरु॑णो॒ यस्य॑ दर्श॒तो मि॒त्रो वा॒ वन॑ते॒ गिरः॑ ॥

He who knows is a holy performer of good action, Sukratu. Let the sukratu speak to us of the Lord and of truth, universal love, justice and rectitude, whose vision and language of vision, Mitra, friend and lover, and Varuna, who can discriminate between truth and falsehood, eminent among the eminent worth meeting, love and admire. Let mitra and varuna among us speak to us of Mitra and Varuna, Lord of love and justice.

· · ·

5.65.2

ता हि श्रेष्ठ॑वर्चसा॒ राजा॑ना दीर्घ॒श्रुत्त॑मा । ता सत्प॑ती ऋता॒वृध॑ ऋ॒तावा॑ना॒ जने॑जने ॥

They command the highest knowledge and illumination, they are eminent among the brilliant, learned scholars of Revelation. They command and preserve the truth, they preserve and protect the divine law of nature, they observe and uphold the universal law and Dharma among every community of humanity.

· · ·

5.65.3

ता वा॑मिया॒नोऽव॑से॒ पूर्वा॒ उप॑ ब्रुवे॒ सचा॑ । स्वश्वा॑सः॒ सु चे॒तुना॒ वाजाँ॑ अ॒भि प्र दा॒वने॑ ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, twin powers of love and friendship, justice and rectitude, ancient and eternal, I approach you for protection and promotion, and speak to you and speak of you: you command knowledge, you command revelation and communication, you give knowledge, you give means of communication and transport, food and energy, struggle, speed and success to the people of charity and generosity.

· · ·

5.65.4

मि॒त्रो अं॒होश्चि॒दादु॒रु क्षया॑य गा॒तुं व॑नते । मि॒त्रस्य॒ हि प्र॒तूर्व॑तः सुम॒तिरस्ति॑ विध॒तः ॥

Mitra, friend and lover, for sure, provides a wide path away from sin for us to have a safe and spacious haven of peace on earth. The love and friendship of the Lord of instant action who protects and upholds us against sin and evil is for humanity, abundant for anyone who cares to benefit from it by prayer and effort.

· · ·

5.65.5

व॒यं मि॒त्रस्याव॑सि॒ स्याम॑ स॒प्रथ॑स्तमे । अ॒ने॒हस॒स्त्वोत॑यः स॒त्रा वरु॑णशेषसः ॥

Let us pray and make effort that we may abide in the widest protection of Mitra, lord of mercy, friend and lover of the universe. Let us be free from sin, evil and violence, safe under your protection, O Lord, ever dedicated to truth and law, and let us live as loved children of Varuna, lord of justice and rectitude.

· · ·

5.65.6

यु॒वं मि॑त्रे॒मं जनं॒ यत॑थः॒ सं च॑ नयथः । मा म॒घोनः॒ परि॑ ख्यतं॒ मो अ॒स्माक॒मृषी॑णां गोपी॒थे न॑ उरुष्यतम् ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, friend and lover of humanity, upholder of justice and rectitude, you inspire and exhilarate this human nation to action, unite them and lead them to the common goal. O lord of love, mercy and justice, pray do not ignore the supplicants on way to prosperity and excellence, do not forsake our people and future generations on the path of piety and progress, promote and exalt us and our leading lights to reach the haven of peace and bliss.

✦ Sukta 66 · 6 verses ✦

5.66.1

आ चि॑कितान सु॒क्रतू॑ दे॒वौ म॑र्त रि॒शाद॑सा । वरु॑णाय ऋ॒तपे॑शसे दधी॒त प्रय॑से म॒हे ॥

O learned and intelligent people, for a perfect dynamic order of truth and righteousness, abundant, great and joyful, hold on to brilliant, generous and divine Mitra and Varuna, leading lights of love and justice who discriminate between right and wrong, truth and falsehood. they are destroyers of hate and enmity, negativity and contradiction, and inspirers of holy, creative and integrative action, dedicated to creative yajna of the human nation.

· · ·

5.66.2

ता हि क्ष॒त्रमवि॑ह्रुतं स॒म्यग॑सु॒र्य१॒॑माशा॑ते । अध॑ व्र॒तेव॒ मानु॑षं॒ स्व१॒॑र्ण धा॑यि दर्श॒तम् ॥

They alone successfully lead to a steady, vibrant and inviolable social order and, like committed and covenanted powers, establish a bright and blessed heaven of humanity on earth.

· · ·

5.66.3

ता वा॒मेषे॒ रथा॑नामु॒र्वीं गव्यू॑तिमेषाम् । रा॒तह॑व्यस्य सुष्टु॒तिं द॒धृक्स्तोमै॑र्मनामहे ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, for the onward movement of these chariots of yours we freely offer the wide earth and her highways and honour you and the creative song of the sacrificing celebrant with our chants of praise.

· · ·

5.66.4

अधा॒ हि काव्या॑ यु॒वं दक्ष॑स्य पू॒र्भिर॑द्भुता । नि के॒तुना॒ जना॑नां चि॒केथे॑ पूतदक्षसा ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, leading lights of love and friendship, justice and rectitude, poetic visionaries commanding unprecedented and unsullied power, inspiring wonder and awe, you are widely known of the people by the brilliance of your knowledge, abundant praises of the versatile poet and the strongholds of strength and power over the earth.

· · ·

5.66.5

तदृ॒तं पृ॑थिवि बृ॒हच्छ्र॑वए॒ष ऋषी॑णाम् । ज्र॒य॒सा॒नावरं॑ पृ॒थ्वति॑ क्षरन्ति॒ याम॑भिः ॥

That truth of Law and rectitude, water and abundant food, profuse renown, and wisdom of the sages for attainment of the people, O mother earth, Mitra and Varuna, widely ranging over time and space, day by day, action by action, pray shower on life and humanity abundantly and incessantly without bounds.

· · ·

5.66.6

आ यद्वा॑मीयचक्षसा॒ मित्र॑ व॒यं च॑ सू॒रयः॑ । व्यचि॑ष्ठे बहु॒पाय्ये॒ यते॑महि स्व॒राज्ये॑ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, leading lights of the world, we invoke you and pray that the power, prosperity and excellence of life which you shower upon the earth for humanity, we too, wise and brave, may try to augment and maintain in the wide order of universal freedom and law which is the common responsibility of the united people.

✦ Sukta 67 · 5 verses ✦

5.67.1

बळि॒त्था दे॑वा निष्कृ॒तमादि॑त्या यज॒तं बृ॒हत् । वरु॑ण॒ मित्रार्य॑म॒न्वर्षि॑ष्ठं क्ष॒त्रमा॑शाथे ॥

It is true, thus, that three brilliant and generous powers of divinity vested in humanity organise, sustain and promote the grand, united and adorable world order achieved and established: Mitra, spirit of love, friendship and constant vigilance; Varuna, spirit of justice, rectitude and discriminative sense of values and wisdom; and Aryaman, innate energy, comprehensive vision and all embracing spirit of progressive planning and guidance.

· · ·

5.67.2

आ यद्योनिं॑ हिर॒ण्ययं॒ वरु॑ण॒ मित्र॒ सद॑थः । ध॒र्तारा॑ चर्षणी॒नां य॒न्तं सु॒म्नं रि॑शादसा ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, leading lights and rulers with the spirit of love and justice, organisers and sustainers of the people, destroyers of hate, enmity and contradictions, since you occupy the golden seat of power, pray rule, guide and promote the peace and welfare of the social order of the people.

· · ·

5.67.3

विश्वे॒ हि वि॒श्ववे॑दसो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । व्र॒ता प॒देव॑ सश्चिरे॒ पान्ति॒ मर्त्यं॑ रि॒षः ॥

All the ruling, sustaining and promotive powers, Mitra, Varuna and Aryama, knowing everything of the systemic order, are committed to the laws, discipline and values of the order, keeping their feet on the ground realities as their sacred duty, and they protect the people against evil and violence and promote them towards a better life.

· · ·

5.67.4

ते हि स॒त्या ऋ॑त॒स्पृश॑ ऋ॒तावा॑नो॒ जने॑जने । सु॒नी॒थासः॑ सु॒दान॑वों॒ऽहोश्चि॑दुरु॒चक्र॑यः ॥

Surely they are the best and highest in truth, keepers of the rule of law and rectitude, dedicated to universal truth and law, generous among and for every community, holy guided guides of the people, and they keep the wheel of Dharma moving against the evil of ignorance, injustice, poverty and sloth of every kind.

· · ·

5.67.5

को नु वां॑ मि॒त्रास्तु॑तो॒ वरु॑णो वा त॒नूना॑म् । तत्सु वा॒मेष॑ते म॒तिरत्रि॑भ्य॒ एष॑ते म॒तिः ॥

O Mitra, friend, O Varuna, friend of justice, which one of you is not praised and appreciated? Which one of you is not best of form and function in manifestation? Indeed, all our thoughts and reflections turn to you in homage. All our adorations are addressed to the powers free from evil and injustice, to those who command knowledge and good action beyond threefold miseries of body, mind and soul of the individual, society and humanity.

✦ Sukta 68 · 5 verses ✦

5.68.1

प्र वो॑ मि॒त्राय॑ गायत॒ वरु॑णाय वि॒पा गि॒रा । महि॑क्षत्रावृ॒तं बृ॒हत् ॥

Sing in holy words in honour and praise of Mitra and Varuna, ruling lord of light and dispenser of justice, who hold and sustain the great world order and maintain the universal values of eternal Truth and Law for you.

· · ·

5.68.2

स॒म्राजा॒ या घृ॒तयो॑नी मि॒त्रश्चो॒भा वरु॑णश्च । दे॒वा दे॒वेषु॑ प्रश॒स्ता ॥

Mitra and Varuna, both brilliant rulers of nature and humanity, sources of the showers of fertility, prosperity and felicity, are eminent and adorable, honoured among the brilliancies of nature and humanity.

· · ·

5.68.3

ता नः॑ शक्तं॒ पार्थि॑वस्य म॒हो रा॒यो दि॒व्यस्य॑ । महि॑ वां क्ष॒त्रं दे॒वेषु॑ ॥

Great is your power and potential for us over the wealth and excellence of heavenly and earthly values, culture and conduct and behaviour. Great is your rule and order over the divinities of nature and humanity.

· · ·

5.68.4

ऋ॒तमृ॒तेन॒ सप॑न्तेषि॒रं दक्ष॑माशाते । अ॒द्रुहा॑ दे॒वौ व॑र्धेते ॥

They live, serve, strive and search for the realisation of Rtam, eternal and universal values of Truth and Dharma, by their earnest pursuit of truth and Dharma in life and conduct, Rtam, and thus, free from hate, jealousy and violence, achieve the strength and excellence they long for and rise, shining in merit as leading lights of humanity.

· · ·

5.68.5

वृ॒ष्टिद्या॑वा री॒त्या॑पे॒षस्पती॒ दानु॑मत्याः । बृ॒हन्तं॒ गर्त॑माशाते ॥

Harbingers of showers from heaven, making the waters flow on earth, creating, preserving and promoting the energy, fertility and production of the generous earth and environment, ruling and realising the desires and aspirations of humanity, Mitra and Varuna bring about a great and expansive haven of peace, prosperity and felicity on earth.

✦ Sukta 69 · 4 verses ✦

5.69.1

त्री रो॑च॒ना व॑रुण॒ त्रीँरु॒त द्यून्त्रीणि॑ मित्र धारयथो॒ रजां॑सि । वा॒वृ॒धा॒नाव॒मतिं॑ क्ष॒त्रिय॒स्यानु॑ व्र॒तं रक्ष॑माणावजु॒र्यम् ॥

Mitra and Varuna, prana and udana energies of the life of existence, you wield and sustain the three regions of light, three regions of the ethereal sphere, and the three layers of the earthly sphere, sustaining, protecting and promoting the expansive form and structure of the world in dedication to the unaging laws of Rtam, universal Law.

· · ·

5.69.2

इरा॑वतीर्वरुण धे॒नवो॑ वां॒ मधु॑मद्वां॒ सिन्ध॑वो मित्र दुह्रे । त्रय॑स्तस्थुर्वृष॒भास॑स्तिसृ॒णां धि॒षणा॑नां रेतो॒धा वि द्यु॒मन्तः॑ ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, nourishing, energising and radiating are your rays of light, fluent and overflowing your showers and streams of milk, honey and life giving waters. Three are abiding clouds of virility and fertility inspired with love and vested with vibrant life seeds of the three mighty regions, radiating with knowledge, karma and worship, O brilliant ones.

· · ·

5.69.3

प्रा॒तर्दे॒वीमदि॑तिं जोहवीमि म॒ध्यंदि॑न॒ उदि॑ता॒ सूर्य॑स्य । रा॒ये मि॑त्रावरुणा स॒र्वता॒तेळे॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय॒ शं योः ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, life-givers of love and justice, early morning I invoke and pray to eternal mother nature for divine intelligence, at mid-day when the sun is high, I pray for light and splendour, and in the all blissful yajna, I pray for health, wealth and all round peace and well being for the children and all future generations.

· · ·

5.69.4

या ध॒र्तारा॒ रज॑सो रोच॒नस्यो॒तादि॒त्या दि॒व्या पार्थि॑वस्य । न वां॑ दे॒वा अ॒मृता॒ आ मि॑नन्ति व्र॒तानि॑ मित्रावरुणा ध्रु॒वाणि॑ ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, light and life of existence, who are wielders and sustainers of the regions of the earth, the middle regions of the skies and the highest regions of light and all the heavenly stars, no brilliant humans, no divinities of nature, no immortals ever violate your laws of eternal constancy.

✦ Sukta 70 · 4 verses ✦

5.70.1

पु॒रू॒रुणा॑ चि॒द्ध्यस्त्यवो॑ नू॒नं वां॑ वरुण । मित्र॒ वंसि॑ वां सुम॒तिम् ॥

O Mitra, O Varuna, great and abundant is your protection and wisdom which, O friend, in all sincerity you love to share and extend to us.

· · ·

5.70.2

ता वां॑ स॒म्यग॑द्रुह्वा॒णेष॑मश्याम॒ धाय॑से । व॒यं ते रु॑द्रा स्याम ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, Loving friends of justice and rectitude, free from hate and jealousy and destroyers of violence and injustice, may we receive, we pray, that energy and sustenance, that protection, guidance and wisdom of yours so that we may internalise it and pursue it in our life and conduct.

· · ·

5.70.3

पा॒तं नो॑ रुद्रा पा॒युभि॑रु॒त त्रा॑येथां सुत्रा॒त्रा । तु॒र्याम॒ दस्यू॑न्त॒नूभिः॑ ॥

O destroyers of hate and violence, lovers and dispensers of justice and rectitude, with all your care and guidance, protect and promote us. Save us, O saviours, against evil in our person and social institutions so that we may get over all forces of negativity, crime and destruction.

· · ·

5.70.4

मा कस्या॑द्भुतक्रतू य॒क्षं भु॑जेमा त॒नूभिः॑ । मा शेष॑सा॒ मा तन॑सा ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, friend and justicier, accomplishers of wonderful acts of yajna, creation and production, let us never grab, consume, live on or live by any body else’s share of yajnic sustenance, nor withhold our share of yajnic contribution for our selfish purposes, either for our own person or for our children and friends, either for the present or for future. (Help us to live by our own effort.)

✦ Sukta 71 · 3 verses ✦

5.71.1

आ नो॑ गन्तं रिशादसा॒ वरु॑ण॒ मित्र॑ ब॒र्हणा॑ । उपे॒मं चारु॑मध्व॒रम् ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, leading lights of love and friendship, justice and rectitude, destroyers of negativities, hate and enmity, promoters of love and unity, knowledge and positive action, come to us and join this pleasing and elevating programme of love and non-violence, this yajna for common good.

· · ·

5.71.2

विश्व॑स्य॒ हि प्र॑चेतसा॒ वरु॑ण॒ मित्र॒ राज॑थः । ई॒शा॒ना पि॑प्यतं॒ धियः॑ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, leading lights of love and unity, justice and discriminative awareness, commanding universal knowledge and ruling power, you shine and reign over all. We pray, inspire and elevate our mind and intelligence to fullness.

· · ·

5.71.3

उप॑ नः सु॒तमा ग॑तं॒ वरु॑ण॒ मित्र॑ दा॒शुषः॑ । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, leading lights of love, friendship and felicity, justice and rectitude, our yajna is accomplished, the soma is distilled. Come, drink of the soma of this worshipful celebrant yajaka, share and bless our yajnic achievement of success and progress.

✦ Sukta 72 · 3 verses ✦

5.72.1

आ मि॒त्रे वरु॑णे व॒यं गी॒र्भिर्जु॑हुमो अत्रि॒वत् । नि ब॒र्हिषि॑ सदतं॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Like the sage free from threefold suffering of body, mind and soul, with songs of adoration, we invoke Mitra and Varuna, leading lights of love and justice, offer yajnic homage in their honour and service, and pray that they may come and grace our seats of yajna for a drink of soma and bless our accomplishment of the creative and productive programme.

· · ·

5.72.2

व्र॒तेन॑ स्थो ध्रु॒वक्षे॑मा॒ धर्म॑णा यात॒यज्ज॑ना । नि ब॒र्हिषि॑ सदतं॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

O constant protectors of achievement and progress, unshakable leaders dynamic at the centre of movement, dedicated to the vows of piety, guides of the people on the march forward and onward by the laws of Dharma, come, grace the seats of yajna in the world order and drink the soma of success and advancement.

· · ·

5.72.3

मि॒त्रश्च॑ नो॒ वरु॑णश्च जु॒षेतां॑ य॒ज्ञमि॒ष्टये॑ । नि ब॒र्हिषि॑ सदतं॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Let Mitra and Varuna, loving friend and discriminative judge of circumstance with comprehensive vision making the right choice, cherish, join and guide our yajna, corporate programme of progress, sit on the holy seats of yajna and celebrate the finale with a drink of soma in honour of success.

✦ Sukta 73 · 10 verses ✦

5.73.1

यद॒द्य स्थः प॑रा॒वति॒ यद॑र्वा॒वत्य॑श्विना । यद्वा॑ पु॒रू पु॑रुभुजा॒ यद॒न्तरि॑क्ष॒ आ ग॑तम् ॥

Ashvins, twin divines, complementary currents of the circuit of nature’s divine energy, wind and electricity, you are present far and near in the middle sphere of the sky and operative far and near here and now, abundant, sustaining all and sustainable by all. O men and women, let us try these currents of energy come to us for the benefit of all.

· · ·

5.73.2

इ॒ह त्या पु॑रु॒भूत॑मा पु॒रू दंसां॑सि॒ बिभ्र॑ता । व॒र॒स्या या॒म्यध्रि॑गू हु॒वे तु॒विष्ट॑मा भु॒जे ॥

Here I invoke and practically realise the abundant and extensive currents of natural energy bearing many and mighty potentials, highly useful, most powerful and non-stop in operation for our purpose of power and comfort.

· · ·

5.73.3

ई॒र्मान्यद्वपु॑षे॒ वपु॑श्च॒क्रं रथ॑स्य येमथुः । पर्य॒न्या नाहु॑षा यु॒गा म॒ह्ना रजां॑सि दीयथः ॥

Ashvins, instantly moving harbingers of light and energy, one brilliant wheel of your chariot, one part of your circuit, you have set in motion for the expression of your brilliance by the sun. By the other, like night after the day and by the circle of night and day, you complete the circle of the day and year and thereby with your might and splendour you illuminate the terrestrial and ethereal regions and count up the ages of humanity on earth.

· · ·

5.73.4

तदू॒ षु वा॑मे॒ना कृ॒तं विश्वा॒ यद्वा॒मनु॒ ष्टवे॑ । नाना॑ जा॒ताव॑रे॒पसा॒ सम॒स्मे बन्धु॒मेय॑थुः ॥

Ashvins, complementary, powers of nature, and humanity like teachers and preachers, leaders and followers, for all these that you have done for us, for all that, I honour and adore you in consequence. Born and arisen without sin and free of negativity, come and guide our friends and brothers for our sake.

· · ·

5.73.5

आ यद्वां॑ सू॒र्या रथं॒ तिष्ठ॑द्रघु॒ष्यदं॒ सदा॑ । परि॑ वामरु॒षा वयो॑ घृ॒णा व॑रन्त आ॒तपः॑ ॥

When the dawn, daughter of the sun, like a bride, comes and rides your fast moving chariot, ruddy, shining and blazing, birds, beasts and humans always look up to you and adore you all round.

· · ·

5.73.6

यु॒वोरत्रि॑श्चिकेतति॒ नरा॑ सु॒म्नेन॒ चेत॑सा । घ॒र्मं यद्वा॑मरे॒पसं॒ नास॑त्या॒स्ना भु॑र॒ण्यति॑ ॥

Ashvins, leading lights and pioneers of life on the path of truth and rectitude, Atri, the sage who has conquered threefold suffering of existence knows you fully with an undisturbed mind and adores you with hymns of praise when he experiences and receives from you the fire of life free from sin and untruth.

· · ·

5.73.7

उ॒ग्रो वां॑ ककु॒हो य॒यिः शृ॒ण्वे यामे॑षु संत॒निः । यद्वां॒ दंसो॑भिरश्वि॒नात्रि॑र्नराव॒वर्त॑ति ॥

Ashvins, leading lights and path finders of humanity, the mighty rumble of your advance expanding in all directions is heard at every stage of your movements when Atri, the celebrant sage of threefold freedom turns his attention to you by virtue of your noble actions.

· · ·

5.73.8

मध्व॑ ऊ॒ षु म॑धूयुवा॒ रुद्रा॒ सिष॑क्ति पि॒प्युषी॑ । यत्स॑मु॒द्राति॒ पर्ष॑थः प॒क्वाः पृक्षो॑ भरन्त वाम् ॥

Ashvins, roaring powers of nature like sun and wind, mixers and makers of the sweets of earth, when you fill the oceans of ethereal and terrestrial regions and abundant showers slake the thirst of honey sweets of green, they ripen and bear and bring offers of ripe fruit and nourishing food for you.

· · ·

5.73.9

स॒त्यमिद्वा उ॑ अश्विना यु॒वामा॑हुर्मयो॒भुवा॑ । ता याम॑न्याम॒हूत॑मा॒ याम॒न्ना मृ॑ळ॒यत्त॑मा ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of nature and humanity, earth and heaven, sages and scholars, true it is as they say you are the harbingers and givers of peace and wellbeing. Most kind and responsive to the call of devotees, we pray, come and bring us the highest bliss on the wings of wind and light.

· · ·

5.73.10

इ॒मा ब्रह्मा॑णि॒ वर्ध॑ना॒श्विभ्यां॑ सन्तु॒ शंत॑मा । या तक्षा॑म॒ रथाँ॑इ॒वावो॑चाम बृ॒हन्नमः॑ ॥

May these songs of praise and celebration be pleasing and exalting for the Ashvins and bring peace and prosperity for us, the songs which we conceive, design and structure like chariots of power and felicity while we compose words of yajnic homage in ecstasy.

✦ Sukta 74 · 10 verses ✦

5.74.1

कूष्ठो॑ देवावश्विना॒द्या दि॒वो म॑नावसू । तच्छ्र॑वथो वृषण्वसू॒ अत्रि॑र्वा॒मा वि॑वासति ॥

Divinities of the earth, Ashvins, rich at heart, abiding in the mind, harbingers of showers of wealth from the heights of heaven, Atri, the sagely celebrant who enjoys three-fold freedom of body, mind and soul today prays in service to you. Pray listen to him.

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5.74.2

कुह॒ त्या कुह॒ नु श्रु॒ता दि॒वि दे॒वा नास॑त्या । कस्मि॒न्ना य॑तथो॒ जने॒ को वां॑ न॒दीनां॒ सचा॑ ॥

Where are they? Where are they heard and renowned, the brilliant ones in heaven, ever dedicated to truth in heavenly conduct and behaviour? O brilliant divines, Ashvins, in which community do you operate? Who shares and benefits from your flowing rivers and rolling oceans?

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5.74.3

कं या॑थः॒ कं ह॑ गच्छथः॒ कमच्छा॑ युञ्जाथे॒ रथ॑म् । कस्य॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि रण्यथो व॒यं वा॑मुश्मसी॒ष्टये॑ ॥

Who do you go to? To what course or goal? For what purpose do you harness your chariot? Whose songs do you love to hear and enjoy? We love and felicitate you for our cherished desire.

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5.74.4

पौ॒रं चि॒द्ध्यु॑द॒प्रुतं॒ पौर॑ पौ॒राय॒ जिन्व॑थः । यदीं॑ गृभी॒तता॑तये सिं॒हमि॑व द्रु॒हस्प॒दे ॥

O citizen, you proceed to the citizen in deep waters and resume and raise him to new life for the citizen and the coming generation for the extension of their action and achievement already made and like a lion even jump into the den of hate and enmity to protect and promote them.

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5.74.5

प्र च्यवा॑नाज्जुजु॒रुषो॑ व॒व्रिमत्कं॒ न मु॑ञ्चथः । युवा॒ यदी॑ कृ॒थः पुन॒रा काम॑मृण्वे व॒ध्वः॑ ॥

Like a physician and surgeon you discard the debility of age like an old and worn out garment when you renew it back to youth which could be fascinating even for the love of a damsel. (So does a dynamic society change over i.e., retire, and aging person from an exacting public position to replace him with a young, energetic, intelligent man capable of take him over the onerous duty and responsibilities of a youthful nation.)

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5.74.6

अस्ति॒ हि वा॑मि॒ह स्तो॒ता स्मसि॑ वां सं॒दृशि॑ श्रि॒ये । नू श्रु॒तं म॒ आ ग॑त॒मवो॑भिर्वाजिनीवसू ॥

Here for sure is your dedicated devotee and celebrant. We abide within your eye sight for the sake of the beauty and grace of life. Listen to us and come with your modes of protection, Ashvins, who command treasures of food, energy and the forces of renewal, rejuvenation and advancement.

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5.74.7

को वा॑म॒द्य पु॑रू॒णामा व॑व्ने॒ मर्त्या॑नाम् । को विप्रो॑ विप्रवाहसा॒ को य॒ज्ञैर्वा॑जिनीवसू ॥

Who of the many many mortals today could win your love and favour, O favourite celebrities of the saints and scholars? Which one of the wisest? Which one at last could win your recognition and favour, O commanders of the treasures of food, energy, wealth, power and the forces of life? By all yajnas at his command, could he? Probably, for sure may be.

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5.74.8

आ वां॒ रथो॒ रथा॑नां॒ येष्ठो॑ यात्वश्विना । पु॒रू चि॑दस्म॒युस्ति॒र आ॑ङ्गू॒षो मर्त्ये॒ष्वा ॥

Ashvins, leading lights for humanity, may your chariot, fastest of all, adorable among mortals, victorious over many negativities, hate and enmities, be directed hitherward, reach us and take us across the oceans. (Let us create the chariots as divine gifts and sail over the oceans across the skies.)

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5.74.9

शमू॒ षु वां॑ मधूयुवा॒स्माक॑मस्तु चर्कृ॒तिः । अ॒र्वा॒ची॒ना वि॑चेतसा॒ विभिः॑ श्ये॒नेव॑ दीयतम् ॥

Ashvins, leading lights, masters of speed and direction, creators of the honey sweets of life, may that creation, invention and achievement of yours be ours, adorable for our good. Most modern intellectuals, eminent scientists of imagination, give us the chariot with wings to fly with the birds, by winds like the eagle, and shine.

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5.74.10

अश्वि॑ना॒ यद्ध॒ कर्हि॑ चिच्छुश्रू॒यात॑मि॒मं हव॑म् । वस्वी॑रू॒ षु वां॒ भुजः॑ पृ॒ञ्चन्ति॒ सु वां॒ पृचः॑ ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of humanity, wherever you be and whatever you do, please listen to this invocation, adoration and invitation of ours to live and justify existence, and please know: All your plans and actions for peace, prosperity and progress in life fructify in full, all your ambitions are fulfilled. We love and admire you and all those who work together to realise our dreams.

✦ Sukta 75 · 9 verses ✦

5.75.1

प्रति॑ प्रि॒यत॑मं॒ रथं॒ वृष॑णं वसु॒वाह॑नम् । स्तो॒ता वा॑मश्विना॒वृषिः॒ स्तोमे॑न॒ प्रति॑ भूषति॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of humanity, the celebrant visionary of life’s reality and mantric meaning, adores your achievement in befitting words of song in response to the beauty of your dearest chariot which is the carrier and harbinger of showers of wealth and well being. O creators and makers of the sweets of existence, the celebrant prays: Listen to my song of adoration and accept the invitation to live and create the joy of life.

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5.75.2

अ॒त्याया॑तमश्विना ति॒रो विश्वा॑ अ॒हं सना॑ । दस्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्तनी॒ सुषु॑म्ना॒ सिन्धु॑वाहसा॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of life in existence, destroyers of suffering, harbingers of peace and prosperity, creators of honey sweets, listen to my prayer: Come over regions of earth across the spaces, travelling by golden chariots over golden highways, navigating by rivers and oceans, so that I may cross all hurdles of existence and live as the immortal that I am.

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5.75.3

आ नो॒ रत्ना॑नि॒ बिभ्र॑ता॒वश्वि॑ना॒ गच्छ॑तं यु॒वम् । रुद्रा॒ हिर॑ण्यवर्तनी जुषा॒णा वा॑जिनीवसू॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, come you both to us, bearing jewel wealths of life; come, O Rudras, dispensers of justice and punishment, travelling by golden chariot over golden highways, loving and listening partners, givers of food, energy and speedy progress, creators of the sweets of life, come in response to our invocation and listen to our prayer.

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5.75.4

सु॒ष्टुभो॑ वां वृषण्वसू॒ रथे॒ वाणी॒च्याहि॑ता । उ॒त वां॑ ककु॒हो मृ॒गः पृक्षः॑ कृणोति वापु॒षो माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of the showers of wealth and joy, haven of the abundant and generous, the celebrant is delighted in your chariot and feels elevated. His song is dedicated to you, and he, mighty strong, handsome of body, seeker of your favour and purity, prepares the offering of homage for you. O creators and givers of the sweets of life, listen to my prayer and praise.

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5.75.5

बो॒धिन्म॑नसा र॒थ्ये॑षि॒रा ह॑वन॒श्रुता॑ । विभि॒श्च्यवा॑नमश्विना॒ नि या॑थो॒ अद्व॑याविनं॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, leaders and guides of enlightened mind, travelling far and fast by chariot, responsive to praise and prayer, you reach the sincere searching man of holy mind free from duplicity as by flight of birds. O creators and givers of honey sweets, listen to my invocation.

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5.75.6

आ वां॑ नरा मनो॒युजोऽश्वा॑सः प्रुषि॒तप्स॑वः । वयो॑ वहन्तु पी॒तये॑ स॒ह सु॒म्नेभि॑रश्विना॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, leaders and pioneers of adventurous men, may your horses, flying birds, controlled by thought, consuming burnt fuel, bring you hither with gifts of peace and well being for a drink of the soma of success and splendour. O creators and harbingers of honey sweets, listen to my prayer.

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5.75.7

अश्वि॑ना॒वेह ग॑च्छतं॒ नास॑त्या॒ मा वि वे॑नतम् । ति॒रश्चि॑दर्य॒या परि॑ व॒र्तिर्या॑तमदाभ्या॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

Ashvins, come hither, noble masters, indomitable leaders ever dedicated to truth. Even if you are far away, pray do not be indifferent, slacken not the reins, cross over the winding paths and come. O creators and givers of honey sweets, listen to my prayer.

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5.75.8

अ॒स्मिन्य॒ज्ञे अ॑दाभ्या जरि॒तारं॑ शुभस्पती । अ॒व॒स्युम॑श्विना यु॒वं गृ॒णन्त॒मुप॑ भूषथो॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

In this yajna of creation, invention and production for social good, O masters, indomitable Ashvins, twin protectors and promoters of creative people and noble works, come and grace the celebrant, supplicant with songs of homage for protection and patronage. O creators and givers of showers of honey sweets, listen to my prayer.

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5.75.9

अभू॑दु॒षा

रुश॑त्पशु॒राग्निर॑धाय्यृ॒त्वियः॑ । अयो॑जि वां वृषण्वसू॒ रथो॑ दस्रा॒वम॑र्त्यो॒ माध्वी॒ मम॑ श्रुतं॒ हव॑म् ॥

The dawn is risen. The holy fire, giver of shining wealth, is placed in the vedi according to the season. Your chariot, Ashvins, is in harness, invincible and immortal. O destroyers of hate and suffering and givers of showers of wealth and honey sweets, come, listen to my prayer.

✦ Sukta 76 · 5 verses ✦

5.76.1

आ भा॑त्य॒ग्निरु॒षसा॒मनी॑क॒मुद्विप्रा॑णां देव॒या वाचो॑ अस्थुः । अ॒र्वाञ्चा॑ नू॒नं र॑थ्ये॒ह या॑तं पीपि॒वांस॑मश्विना घ॒र्ममच्छ॑ ॥

The holy fire of the sun shines here while the splendour of the dawn radiates as advance forces of the solar fire, and the holy voices of the sages arise in adoration. O Ashvins, vitalities of divinity, reach here by chariot of the dawn and join the rising fire of the house-hold yajna of noble men and women.

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5.76.2

न सं॑स्कृ॒तं प्र मि॑मीतो॒ गमि॒ष्ठान्ति॑ नू॒नम॒श्विनोप॑स्तुते॒ह । दिवा॑भिपि॒त्वेऽव॒साग॑मिष्ठा॒ प्रत्यव॑र्तिं दा॒शुषे॒ शंभ॑विष्ठा ॥

Ashvins, divinities of nature and humanity, most auspicious harbingers of peace and joy, invoked and invited to the yajna here, celebrated and adored, coming at the fastest, almost instantly reaching with protection and promotion at the rise of the day, you do not destroy, nor restrict, nor confine what has been refined, seasoned and sanctified by yajna. In fact, you bring safety and security against adversity and self-betrayal for the generous yajamana at his closest.

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5.76.3

उ॒ता या॑तं संग॒वे प्रा॒तरह्नो॑ म॒ध्यंदि॑न॒ उदि॑ता॒ सूर्य॑स्य । दिवा॒ नक्त॒मव॑सा॒ शंत॑मेन॒ नेदानीं॑ पी॒तिर॒श्विना त॑तान ॥

And this exuberance of yajnic celebration and joy is not confined to the present moment only, it extends over days and nights. ComeAshvins, divinities of nature and nobilities of men and women, come at the rise of dawn, at mid day when the sun is risen up on high, in the evening when the cows come home. Come all day and night with your gifts of safety and security, peace and joy.

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5.76.4

इ॒दं हि वां॑ प्र॒दिवि॒ स्थान॒मोक॑ इ॒मे गृ॒हा अ॑श्विने॒दं दु॑रो॒णम् । आ नो॑ दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तः पर्व॑ता॒दाद्भ्यो या॑त॒मिष॒मूर्जं॒ वह॑न्ता ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of light, enlightened men and women, this house, these inmates, this open door home, all this is your ancient abode in the very light of heaven. Come here, bearing and bringing for us nutriments and energy from the vast regions of light and space, cloud and mountains, and from the waters of earth and space.

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5.76.5

सम॒श्विनो॒रव॑सा॒ नूत॑नेन मयो॒भुवा॑ सु॒प्रणी॑ती गमेम । आ नो॑ र॒यिं व॑हत॒मोत वी॒राना विश्वा॑न्यमृता॒ सौभ॑गानि ॥

May we join, unite and move on with the latest and blissful protection and ethics, morals and policy of the Ashvins, leading lights of the world. O leaders and pioneers of life in nature and history, bring us, lead us to, wealth, honour and excellence, valiant children and all the gifts of good fortune and immortality in the world.

✦ Sukta 77 · 5 verses ✦

5.77.1

प्रा॒त॒र्यावा॑णा प्रथ॒मा य॑जध्वं पु॒रा गृध्रा॒दर॑रुषः पिबातः । प्रा॒तर्हि य॒ज्ञम॒श्विना॑ द॒धाते॒ प्र शं॑सन्ति क॒वयः॑ पूर्व॒भाजः॑ ॥

Arise, meet and adore the Ashvins, first early morning visitors and harbingers of holy light and life’s vitalities. They join and bless the yajna and shower and share the soma before the covetous grabbers and hoarders are up. They join and guide the yajnic business of life while the saints and sages, men of poetic vision and intelligence, earliest sharers of the bliss, sing in praise of the leading lights of divinity.

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5.77.2

प्रा॒तर्य॑जध्वम॒श्विना॑ हिनोत॒ न सा॒यम॑स्ति देव॒या अजु॑ष्टम् । उ॒तान्यो अ॒स्मद्य॑जते॒ वि चावः॒ पूर्वः॑पूर्वो॒ यज॑मानो॒ वनी॑यान् ॥

Invoke the Ashvins early morning, join the leading lights and adore them at yajna, evening is not the favourite time of the lovers of divinity as the morning. And who else other than us, is the yajaka who loves and adores the Ashvins in yajna, and worthy of love and reverence, the earlier, the worthier, anywhere, anyone? None.

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5.77.3

हिर॑ण्यत्व॒ङ्मधु॑वर्णो घृ॒तस्नुः॒ पृक्षो॒ वह॒न्ना रथो॑ वर्तते वाम् । मनो॑जवा अश्विना॒ वात॑रंहा॒ येना॑तिया॒थो दु॑रि॒तानि॒ विश्वा॑ ॥

Ashvins, leading lights of divinity, scholars, scientists and engineers, your chariot comes hither laden with gold, honey sweet and charming, bringing showers of water and ghrta, carrying wealth of food and energy. It is fast as mind and powerful as wind and storm by which you cross over all hurdles and evils of the world.

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5.77.4

यो भूयि॑ष्ठं॒ नास॑त्याभ्यां वि॒वेष॒ चनि॑ष्ठं पि॒त्वो रर॑ते विभा॒गे । स तो॒कम॑स्य पीपर॒च्छमी॑भि॒रनू॑र्ध्वभासः॒ सद॒मित्तु॑तुर्यात् ॥

One who serves and works with the Ashvins, leading lights of divinity and humanity, all free from untruth and falsehood, achieves by his creative works abundant cherished food. He shares the food and success with others in yajnic living, advances his rising generation by the same works, surpasses those who do not raise the sacred-fire, and always destroys the evils.

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5.77.5

सम॒श्विनो॒रव॑सा॒ नूत॑नेन मयो॒भुवा॑ सु॒प्रणी॑ती गमेम । आ नो॑ र॒यिं व॑हत॒मोत वी॒राना विश्वा॑न्यमृता॒ सौभ॑गानि ॥

Let us abide by the noble guidance of the Ashvins and go forward by their latest blissful protection and progress. O leading lights of life, we pray, lead us to the wealth of life and bless us with brave heroes and all the good fortunes of the world and values of immortality.

✦ Sukta 78 · 9 verses ✦

5.78.1

अश्वि॑ना॒वेह ग॑च्छतं॒ नास॑त्या॒ मा वि वे॑नतम् । हं॒सावि॑व पतत॒मा सु॒ताँ उप॑ ॥

Ashvins, complementary sustainers of life as air and water, men and women, teachers and disciples, ever true to reality, come together into the world, be not illdisposed or hostile, fly like a pair of swans hither to the distilled sweets of life.

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5.78.2

अश्वि॑ना हरि॒णावि॑व गौ॒रावि॒वानु॒ यव॑सम् । हं॒सावि॑व पतत॒मा सु॒ताँ उप॑ ॥

Ashvins, twin harbingers and sharers of divine love and joy, come like a couple of golden deer, like a pair of white fawns to the cherished green, fly like a couple of swans hither to share the distilled soma of joys with us.

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5.78.3

अश्वि॑ना वाजिनीवसू जु॒षेथां॑ य॒ज्ञमि॒ष्टये॑ । हं॒सावि॑व पतत॒मा सु॒ताँ उप॑ ॥

Ashvins, twin divines like teachers and researchers, creators and developers of food and energy for speed and progress, come and join our programme of development for the realisation of our cherished goals. Fly like a couple of swans to the pleasures of life’s achievement.

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5.78.4

अत्रि॒र्यद्वा॑मव॒रोह॑न्नृ॒बीस॒मजो॑हवी॒न्नाध॑मानेव॒ योषा॑ । श्ये॒नस्य॑ चि॒ज्जव॑सा॒ नूत॑ने॒नाग॑च्छतमश्विना॒ शंत॑मेन ॥

Ashvins, harbingers of new life like sun and moon, when Atri, man of threefold freedom, in depression, struggling to emerge, calls upon you for help like a woman in distress, pray fly to his rescue and rejuvenation like an eagle with protection and fresh lease of life giving him peace, stability and reassurance.

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5.78.5

वि जि॑हीष्व वनस्पते॒ योनिः॒ सूष्य॑न्त्याइव । श्रु॒तं मे॑ अश्विना॒ हवं॑ स॒प्तव॑ध्रिं च मुञ्चतम् ॥

O man, spirit of desire, as the baby on maturity leaves the folds of the mother’s womb, so give up the bonds of mortality to freedom. O Ashvins, harbingers of knowledge and freedom, listen to my call of prayer, release saptavadhri, the spirit that has lived out the fivefold sense experience and the two-fold adventure of thought and desire.

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5.78.6

भी॒ताय॒ नाध॑मानाय॒ ऋष॑ये स॒प्तव॑ध्रये । मा॒याभि॑रश्विना यु॒वं वृ॒क्षं सं च॒ वि चा॑चथः ॥

Ashvins, complementary powers of evolution, discrimination and vision, for the man in fear of existence, for the supplicant in sufferance, for the sage of vision, and for the man of sevenfold bondage of sense and mind, for all these, with your divine powers, let the tree of life seed and grow well for experience and then let it fall off for the soul’s freedom.

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5.78.7

यथा॒ वातः॑ पुष्क॒रिणीं॑ समि॒ङ्गय॑ति स॒र्वतः॑ । ए॒वा ते॒ गर्भ॑ एजतु नि॒रैतु॒ दश॑मास्यः ॥

Expectant mother, just as the breeze of life feeds and vibrates the pool of lotus life all round, so may your foetus in the womb vibrate with life and growth and be born when it matures in ten months.

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5.78.8

यथा॒ वातो॒ यथा॒ वनं॒ यथा॑ समु॒द्र एज॑ति । ए॒वा त्वं द॑शमास्य स॒हावे॑हि ज॒रायु॑णा ॥

O baby in the womb, just as the breeze, as the forest, as the sea ripples with vitality, so may you vibrate and move in the womb and, maturing in ten months, be born alongwith the sheath of life.

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5.78.9

दश॒ मासा॑ञ्छशया॒नः कु॑मा॒रो अधि॑ मा॒तरि॑ । नि॒रैतु॑ जी॒वो अक्ष॑तो जी॒वो जीव॑न्त्या॒ अधि॑ ॥

Let the individual soul reposing in the mother’s womb for ten months be born as the baby, healthy and unhurt, in the mother’s state of good health and perfect life and live on as extension of the mother beyond her life.

✦ Sukta 79 · 10 verses ✦

5.79.1

म॒हे नो॑ अ॒द्य बो॑ध॒योषो॑ रा॒ये दि॒वित्म॑ती । यथा॑ चिन्नो॒ अबो॑धयः स॒त्यश्र॑वसि वा॒य्ये सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

O dawn, lady of morning light brilliant with splendour, arouse us and enlighten us today for the achievement of grandeur, wealth and excellence of life as you have been the giver of enlightenment and generosity ever before, O majesty of renown, symbol of life’s extension, nobly born, commander of the nation’s power, achievement and love of noble truth. (Swami Dayananda interprets this mantra as an address to the lady of the house.)

· · ·

5.79.2

या सु॑नी॒थे शौ॑चद्र॒थे व्यौच्छो॑ दुहितर्दिवः । सा व्यु॑च्छ॒ सही॑यसि स॒त्यश्र॑वसि वा॒य्ये सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

Daughter of the light of heaven, lady of justice and moral guidance who ride a chariot of pure brilliance, as you have shone before, so may you ever shine now and after in future, O lady, forbearing and challenging, renowned for truth and righteousness, extensive, nobly born and blest with prosperity, achievement and discrimination between truth and untruth of thought and speech.

· · ·

5.79.3

सा नो॑ अ॒द्याभ॒रद्व॑सु॒र्व्यु॑च्छा दुहितर्दिवः । यो व्यौच्छः॒ सही॑यसि स॒त्यश्र॑वसि वा॒य्ये सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

May she, daughter of the light of heaven, harbinger of all wealth, establish us today in the light of life. She is most forbearing, dedicated to truth and prosperity, lovable, nobly born, the enlightened lady of knowledge and eternal truth who herself shines in splendour.

· · ·

5.79.4

अ॒भि ये त्वा॑ विभावरि॒ स्तोमै॑र्गृ॒णन्ति॒ वह्न॑यः । म॒घैर्म॑घोनि सु॒श्रियो॒ दाम॑न्वन्तः सुरा॒तयः॒ सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

O lady of light, glorious dawn, nobly born, enlightened and dedicated to eternal truth and noble achievement, those celebrants who are rich and generous and command the beauty of grace and heat of fire in dedication and adore you with holy songs of praise and liberal gifts of yajna deserve and enjoy your favour for advancement.

· · ·

5.79.5

यच्चि॒द्धि ते॑ ग॒णा इ॒मे छ॒दय॑न्ति म॒घत्त॑ये । परि॑ चि॒द्वष्ट॑यो दधु॒र्दद॑तो॒ राधो॒ अह्र॑यं॒ सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

O lady of light, nobly born and enlightened, truthful and progressive, these celebrants of yours who adore you for gifts of wealth and splendour receive, hold and command creditable means, materials and wealth for success while, loving and shining, they give lots in charity.

· · ·

5.79.6

ऐषु॑ धा वी॒रव॒द्यश॒ उषो॑ मघोनि सू॒रिषु॑ । ये नो॒ राधां॒स्यह्र॑या म॒घवा॑नो॒ अरा॑सत॒ सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

O dawn, lady of light, nobly born, enlightened, progressive and truthful, commanding wealth and power, vest these brave and generous celebrants with honour and excellence worthy of heroes, who, blest with wealth and honour, give us means and materials for success in life which are free from discredit and shame.

· · ·

5.79.7

तेभ्यो॑ द्यु॒म्नं बृ॒हद्यश॒ उषो॑ मघो॒न्या व॑ह । ये नो॒ राधां॒स्यश्व्या॑ ग॒व्या भज॑न्त सू॒रयः॒ सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

O dawn, lady of light, mistress of honour and excellence, nobly born and enlightened, truthful, dynamic and progressive, bear and bring vast wealth and honour of high order for those brave celebrants who produce wealth, means and materials for success in terms of food and speed, cattle wealth and transport, progress and prosperity and in their generosity share it with us.

· · ·

5.79.8

उ॒त नो॒ गोम॑ती॒रिष॒ आ व॑हा दुहितर्दिवः । सा॒कं सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभिः॑ शु॒क्रैः शोच॑द्भिर॒र्चिभिः॒ सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

And O daughter of heaven, nobly born and enlightened, spirit of truth and progress, come with the rays of the sun, pure and purifying, sacred and sanctifying, and bring for us food and energy, lands and cows.

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5.79.9

व्यु॑च्छा दुहितर्दिवो॒ मा चि॒रं त॑नुथा॒ अपः॑ । नेत्त्वा॑ स्ते॒नं यथा॑ रि॒पुं तपा॑ति॒ सूरो॑ अ॒र्चिषा॒ सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

Daughter of the light of heaven, nobly born and enlightened, truthful and progressive, rise and shine, and let us shine too. Do not procrastinate, do not protract your sacred act, accomplish the act and rise. Just as the ruler punishes the thief and the enemy, just as the sun burns dry grass with its heat of light, that way let no one torment you.

· · ·

5.79.10

ए॒ताव॒द्वेदु॑ष॒स्त्वं भूयो॑ वा॒ दातु॑मर्हसि । या स्तो॒तृभ्यो॑ विभावर्यु॒च्छन्ती॒ न प्र॒मीय॑से॒ सुजा॑ते॒ अश्व॑सूनृते ॥

O dawn, lady of light, nobly born and enlightened, ever true and progressive, brilliant and enlightening, such you are and more competent and pleased to give to your dedicated celebrants, whom you never neglect, never frustrate, but ever bless and promote higher and higher.

✦ Sukta 80 · 6 verses ✦

5.80.1

द्यु॒तद्या॑मानं बृह॒तीमृ॒तेन॑ ऋ॒ताव॑रीमरु॒णप्सुं॑ विभा॒तीम् । दे॒वीमु॒षसं॒ स्व॑रा॒वह॑न्तीं॒ प्रति॒ विप्रा॑सो म॒तिभि॑र्जरन्ते ॥

Saints and sages with holy mind and hymns of adoration honour and celebrate the divine dawn, crimson hued, shining brilliant, grand and sublime, illuminating hours of time and regions of space, observing universal law of eternity by simple natural conduct, and bringing the morning light and bliss of the sun.

· · ·

5.80.2

ए॒षा जनं॑ दर्श॒ता बो॒धय॑न्ती सु॒गान्प॒थः कृ॑ण्व॒ती या॒त्यग्रे॑ । बृ॒ह॒द्र॒था बृ॑ह॒ती वि॑श्वमि॒न्वोषा ज्योति॑र्यच्छ॒त्यग्रे॒ अह्ना॑म् ॥

This glorious dawn, vast and great, goes forward riding her mighty chariot, arousing humanity from sleep, lighting up easy paths for movement, all illuminative, giving light in advance of the day.

· · ·

5.80.3

ए॒षा गोभि॑ररु॒णेभि॑र्युजा॒नास्रे॑धन्ती र॒यिमप्रा॑यु चक्रे । प॒थो रद॑न्ती सुवि॒ताय॑ दे॒वी पु॑रुष्टु॒ता वि॒श्ववा॑रा॒ वि भा॑ति ॥

Harnessing the crimson rays of the sun to her chariot, she goes unerringly, assiduously, creating unfailing wealth of light and rejuvenation. Marking paths of movement for the good of the people, the divine dawn shines, loved and adored by the people as the source of universal good.

· · ·

5.80.4

ए॒षा व्ये॑नी भवति द्वि॒बर्हा॑ आविष्कृण्वा॒ना त॒न्वं॑ पु॒रस्ता॑त् । ऋ॒तस्य॒ पन्था॒मन्वे॑ति सा॒धु प्र॑जान॒तीव॒ न दिशो॑ मिनाति ॥

Revealing her body of light from the east, this lady of light radiates fast on both sides right and left over day and night. It follows the path of eternal law and, knowing well everything in nature, it neither violates nor goes astray over the quarters of space.

· · ·

5.80.5

ए॒षा शु॒भ्रा न त॒न्वो॑ विदा॒नोर्ध्वेव॑ स्ना॒ती दृ॒शये॑ नो अस्थात् । अप॒ द्वेषो॒ बाध॑माना॒ तमां॑स्यु॒षा दि॒वो दु॑हि॒ता ज्योति॒षागा॑त् ॥

The sacred dawn, revealing her radiant majesty like the lady of light for us to see and admire, this daughter of the sun stands above pure and sanctified as if doing her morning ablutions and, dispelling hate and darkness, warding off negativities, she walks with her train of splendour.

· · ·

5.80.6

ए॒षा प्र॑ती॒ची दु॑हि॒ता दि॒वो नॄन्योषे॑व भ॒द्रा नि रि॑णीते॒ अप्सः॑ । व्यू॒र्ण्व॒ती दा॒शुषे॒ वार्या॑णि॒ पुन॒र्ज्योति॑र्युव॒तिः पू॒र्वथा॑कः ॥

Yonder stands this daughter of heaven like a maiden, holy and inspiring to the best of men, and then moves to the west, revealing the day’s phases of her splendour and opening up new possibilities of cherished achievements for the generous man of yajnic action. Ever bright and youthful, she thus moves the daily rounds of light anew as ever before since times immemorial. Note: Swami Dayananda gives an extended interpretation of the Dawn by implication: He interprets Usha as the newly married woman rising like the dawn over the world of her new home, bringing new light and new possibilities of life’s achievements. The wedding of the couple is a new morning for the family, life moves on, new phases of the day move on westward, new generations follow, life goes on and on like the daily round of night and day. The sun remains the same, days and nights are new. Life remains the same, the phases are new. The bride is holy, sacred, inspiring, worthy of love, respect and reverence.

✦ Sukta 81 · 5 verses ✦

5.81.1

यु॒ञ्जते॒ मन॑ उ॒त यु॑ञ्जते॒ धियो॒ विप्रा॒ विप्र॑स्य बृह॒तो वि॑प॒श्चितः॑ । वि होत्रा॑ दधे वयुना॒विदेक॒ इन्म॒ही दे॒वस्य॑ सवि॒तुः परि॑ष्टुतिः ॥

Enlightened sages concentrate their mind and senses and meditate on the infinite, omniscient and vibrant omnipresence of Divinity who alone as sole power and ruler knows and governs all the laws and ways and facts of existence and watches, rules and dispenses the karma of yajakas and others. Great indeed is the glory, and high the praise of Savita, lord of life and self-refulgent giver of light.

· · ·

5.81.2

विश्वा॑ रू॒पाणि॒ प्रति॑ मुञ्चते क॒विः प्रासा॑वीद्भ॒द्रं द्वि॒पदे॒ चतु॑ष्पदे । वि नाक॑मख्यत्सवि॒ता वरे॒ण्योऽनु॑ प्र॒याण॑मु॒षसो॒ वि रा॑जति ॥

The omniscient creator, eternal poet and maker, creates and pervades all forms of existence and produces all good things for the well being of humans and animals. He, Savita, creator and energiser, lord of love worthy of our choice, manifests and illuminates the heaven of light and joy, inspires the rise of the dawn with light and rules and shines the sun and after.

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5.81.3

यस्य॑ प्र॒याण॒मन्व॒न्य इद्य॒युर्दे॒वा दे॒वस्य॑ महि॒मान॒मोज॑सा । यः पार्थि॑वानि विम॒मे स एत॑शो॒ रजां॑सि दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता म॑हित्व॒ना ॥

Savita is the lord of life, creator, self-refulgent, all pervasive, whose majesty, Law and ways, all other powers of nature and humanity with all their potential follow, the lord omnipresent who, with his grandeur and omnipotence, creates, pervades and transcends all regions of the universe.

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5.81.4

उ॒त या॑सि सवित॒स्त्रीणि॑ रोच॒नोत सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभिः॒ समु॑च्यसि । उ॒त रात्री॑मुभ॒यतः॒ परी॑यस उ॒त मि॒त्रो भ॑वसि देव॒ धर्म॑भिः ॥

Savita, lord of light and life, you pervade and illuminate three orders of light, sun, moon and electric energy and love to play with the sun’s rays. You envelop the night at both ends and, with your laws and function, O lord self-refulgent, you become the friend and measure of everything.

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5.81.5

उ॒तेशि॑षे प्रस॒वस्य॒ त्वमेक॒ इदु॒त पू॒षा भ॑वसि देव॒ याम॑भिः । उ॒तेदं विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं॒ वि रा॑जसि श्या॒वाश्व॑स्ते सवितः॒ स्तोम॑मानशे ॥

Savita, spirit of life and inspiration, self￾refulgent giver of light, you alone by yourself rule over the world of existence. O generous and self-refulgent lord, by every stage of evolution in order of time you remain the giver of light and nourishment for growth. And you pervade, illuminate and rule over this entire world of existence so that the sun itself receives light and adoration by virtue of your light of illumination.

✦ Sukta 82 · 9 verses ✦

5.82.1

तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वृ॑णीमहे व॒यं दे॒वस्य॒ भोज॑नम् । श्रेष्ठं॑ सर्व॒धात॑मं॒ तुरं॒ भग॑स्य धीमहि ॥

We choose to pray to the lord creator Savita for his love and favour so that we may receive the highest, all sustaining and all victorious glory of the lord self￾refulgent and omnipotent.

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5.82.2

अस्य॒ हि स्वय॑शस्तरं सवि॒तुः कच्च॒न प्रि॒यम् । न मि॒नन्ति॑ स्व॒राज्य॑म् ॥

Whoever it be, whoever might try, no one can violate or impair the self-glorious dear absolute dominion of lord Savita’s divine freedom.

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5.82.3

स हि रत्ना॑नि दा॒शुषे॑ सु॒वाति॑ सवि॒ता भगः॑ । तं भा॒गं चि॒त्रमी॑महे ॥

Only Savita, lord of power, honour and excellence, creates and augments the jewel wealths of life for the man of yajnic generosity. We pray we may know and receive his favour and grace for a share of that wonderful glory.

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5.82.4

अ॒द्या नो॑ देव सवितः प्र॒जाव॑त्सावीः॒ सौभ॑गम् । परा॑ दुः॒ष्वप्न्यं॑ सुव ॥

O generous lord Savita, create for us here and now honour and good fortune full of noble people and progeny. Drive away bad dreams and ward off dreamy ambitions.

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5.82.5

विश्वा॑नि देव सवितर्दुरि॒तानि॒ परा॑ सुव । यद्भ॒द्रं तन्न॒ आ सु॑व ॥

O lord Savita, ward off and sterilise all the evils of the world. Grant us that which is good. Vitalise, energise and promote all that is good.

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5.82.6

अना॑गसो॒ अदि॑तये दे॒वस्य॑ सवि॒तुः स॒वे । विश्वा॑ वा॒मानि॑ धीमहि ॥

Free from sin and evil in the yajnic world of lord Savita’s creation, we pray, we may receive the cherished gifts of life in service of the mother, mother earth and nature.

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5.82.7

आ वि॒श्वदे॑वं॒ सत्प॑तिं सू॒क्तैर॒द्या वृ॑णीमहे । स॒त्यस॑वं सवि॒तार॑म् ॥

With songs of adoration we worship and celebrate lord Savita, cosmic yajaka of eternity, self￾refulgent generous father inviolable protector and sustainer of the world of existence.

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5.82.8

य इ॒मे उ॒भे अह॑नी पु॒र एत्यप्र॑युच्छन् । स्वा॒धीर्दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता ॥

We adore and worship self-refulgent, self￾existent lord of creation, Savita, who transcends both the day and night of existence and self-abides without relent.

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5.82.9

य इ॒मा विश्वा॑ जा॒तान्या॑श्रा॒वय॑ति॒ श्लोके॑न । प्र च॑ सु॒वाति॑ सवि॒ता ॥

We invoke and adore lord Savita who informs all these born ones by his Word, who creates and inspires them all, without exception.

✦ Sukta 83 · 10 verses ✦

5.83.1

अच्छा॑ वद त॒वसं॑ गी॒र्भिरा॒भिः स्तु॒हि प॒र्जन्यं॒ नम॒सा वि॑वास । कनि॑क्रदद्वृष॒भो जी॒रदा॑नू॒ रेतो॑ दधा॒त्योष॑धीषु॒ गर्भ॑म् ॥

Hail the mighty cloud well with these holy words of song, serve, celebrate and energise it with homage in yajna for peace and a happy home. Roaring and thundering with passion, the virile cloud, giver of life and freshness, impregnates the herbs with the seed of generation.

· · ·

5.83.2

वि वृ॒क्षान् ह॑न्त्यु॒त ह॑न्ति र॒क्षसो॒ विश्वं॑ बिभाय॒ भुव॑नं म॒हाव॑धात् । उ॒ताना॑गा ईषते॒ वृष्ण्या॑वतो॒ यत्प॒र्जन्यः॑ स्त॒नय॒न् हन्ति॑ दु॒ष्कृतः॑ ॥

The cloud shakes the trees, destroys the demons whom the whole world fears, and when it roars and releases the water of rain pregnant with life, it kills the evil doers with the terrible bolt and saves the sinless and the generous forces of life.

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5.83.3

र॒थीव॒ कश॒याश्वाँ॑ अभिक्षि॒पन्ना॒विर्दू॒तान्कृ॑णुते व॒र्ष्याँ॒३॒॑ अह॑ । दू॒रात्सिं॒हस्य॑ स्त॒नथा॒ उदी॑रते॒ यत्प॒र्जन्यः॑ कृणु॒ते व॒र्ष्यं१॒॑ नभः॑ ॥

Indeed like a charioteer urging on the horses by the whip, the cloud condenses and intensifies the rain carrier showers down to the earth, and, for that, when it strikes the ocean of vapours in the sky with thunder to turn it into rain, the space resounds from far like the roar of a lion.

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5.83.4

प्र वाता॒ वान्ति॑ प॒तय॑न्ति वि॒द्युत॒ उदोष॑धी॒र्जिह॑ते॒ पिन्व॑ते॒ स्वः॑ । इरा॒ विश्व॑स्मै॒ भुव॑नाय जायते॒ यत्प॒र्जन्यः॑ पृथि॒वीं रेत॒साव॑ति ॥

Fast and fresh blow the winds, lightnings flash, herbs spring up, the sky swells and overflows, food grows, spirits arise and songs resound over the world when the cloud fertilises the earth with the showers of life.

· · ·

5.83.5

यस्य॑ व्र॒ते पृ॑थि॒वी नन्न॑मीति॒ यस्य॑ व्र॒ते श॒फव॒ज्जर्भु॑रीति । यस्य॑ व्र॒त ओष॑धीर्वि॒श्वरू॑पाः॒ स नः॑ पर्जन्य॒ महि॒ शर्म॑ यच्छ ॥

O cloud, rain shower of life and fertility, in consequence of your commitment to the laws of sun and shower, the earth submits and surrenders, the animal stirs with passion and fire, the herbs burst forth in all forms of life. O cloud, such as you are, give us a great home of peace, joy and excellence.

· · ·

5.83.6

दि॒वो नो॑ वृ॒ष्टिं म॑रुतो ररीध्वं॒ प्र पि॑न्वत॒ वृष्णो॒ अश्व॑स्य॒ धाराः॑ । अ॒र्वाङे॒तेन॑ स्तनयि॒त्नुनेह्य॒पो नि॑षि॒ञ्चन्नसु॑रः पि॒ता नः॑ ॥

May the Maruts, windy currents of energy, bring us rain from the regions of the sun. May the mighty cloud showers of fertility bring us growth. O cloud, harbinger of vitality come down here with showers of rain flooding the earth and giving us breath of life and sustenance like a father.

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5.83.7

अ॒भि क्र॑न्द स्त॒नय॒ गर्भ॒मा धा॑ उद॒न्वता॒ परि॑ दीया॒ रथे॑न । दृतिं॒ सु क॑र्ष॒ विषि॑तं॒ न्य॑ञ्चं स॒मा भ॑वन्तू॒द्वतो॑ निपा॒दाः ॥

Thunder and roar, O cloud, bring the vitalities of life and fertilise the earth for generation. Go far and wide by chariot run on water, draw the reservoir of waters released unto yourself, and conduct them downward so that the upward vapours may be brought down in showers.

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5.83.8

म॒हान्तं॒ कोश॒मुद॑चा॒ नि षि॑ञ्च॒ स्यन्द॑न्तां कु॒ल्या विषि॑ताः पु॒रस्ता॑त् । घृ॒तेन॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी व्यु॑न्धि सुप्रपा॒णं भ॑वत्व॒घ्न्याभ्यः॑ ॥

The sun holds the mighty reservoir of vapours up on high, the cloud pours it down in showers. Let the lakes and rivers flow with waters released to freedom. O cloud, fill the earth and sky with water so that there may be ample food and water for the cows. ÿà¬fi¡üãÿ ∑§ÁŸfi∑ý§ŒàSßÿŸ÷ „¢Á‚fi ŒÈÆc∑ΧÃfi—– ¬ýÃËŒ¢ Áfl‡fl¢ ◊ÊðŒÃð ÿ|à∑¢§ øfi ¬ÎÁ'Õ√ÿÊ◊ÁœfiH§9H 9. Yat parjanya kanikradat stanayan ha≈si du¶kæ￾ta¨. Prat∂da≈ vi‹va≈ modate yat ki≈ ca pæthi￾vyåmadhi. When the cloud roars and thunders and destroys all the negativities which do evil, then in response to the cleansing and vitalising rain this entire humanity and all else that is on earth rejoices in celebration. •flfi·Ëüflü·ü◊ÈŒÈÆ ·Í ªÎfi÷ÊÿÊù∑§œüãflÊãÿàÿðfiÃflÊ ©Ufi– •¡Ëfi¡Ÿ •Êð·fiœË÷Êðü¡fiŸÊÿ ∑§◊ÈÆà ¬ý¡ÊèÿÊðfiù ÁflŒÊð ◊ŸË·Ê◊÷H§10H 10. Avar¶∂r-var¶am-udu ¶µu gæbhåyåíkardhanvånya￾tyetavå u. Aj∂jana o¶adh∂r-bhojanåya kamuta prajåbhyoívido man∂¶åm. Pour down the showers, O cloud, take over the earth for generation, fertilise the thirsting lands for growth, produce herbs and plants and trees for food of the people, and win the thanks of a grateful humanity. Mandala 5/Sukta 84 Prthivi Devata, Atri Bhauma Rshi ’Á'›UàÕÊ ¬flü®fiÃÊŸÊ¢ |'πºý¢ Á’fi÷Á·ü ¬ÎÁÕÁfl– È ¬ý ÿÊ ÷ÍÁ◊¢ ¬ýflàflÁà ◊qÊ Á'¡ŸÊðÁ·fi ◊Á„ÁŸH§1H

1. Ba¸itthå parvatånå≈ khidra≈ bibhar¶i pæthivi. Pra yå bhµumi≈ pravatvati mahnå jino¶i mahini. Truly, O terrestrial mother, revered earth, you bear the thunder breaker of the clouds, bear the burden

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5.83.9

यत्प॑र्जन्य॒ कनि॑क्रदत्स्त॒नय॒न् हंसि॑ दु॒ष्कृतः॑ । प्रती॒दं विश्वं॑ मोदते॒ यत्किं च॑ पृथि॒व्यामधि॑ ॥

When the cloud roars and thunders and destroys all the negativities which do evil, then in response to the cleansing and vitalising rain this entire humanity and all else that is on earth rejoices in celebration.

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5.83.10

अव॑र्षीर्व॒र्षमुदु॒ षू गृ॑भा॒याक॒र्धन्वा॒न्यत्ये॑त॒वा उ॑ । अजी॑जन॒ ओष॑धी॒र्भोज॑नाय॒ कमु॒त प्र॒जाभ्यो॑ऽविदो मनी॒षाम् ॥

Pour down the showers, O cloud, take over the earth for generation, fertilise the thirsting lands for growth, produce herbs and plants and trees for food of the people, and win the thanks of a grateful humanity.

✦ Sukta 84 · 3 verses ✦

5.84.1

बळि॒त्था पर्व॑तानां खि॒द्रं बि॑भर्षि पृथिवि । प्र या भूमिं॑ प्रवत्वति म॒ह्ना जि॒नोषि॑ महिनि ॥

Truly, O terrestrial mother, revered earth, you bear the thunder breaker of the clouds, bear the burden of mountain ranges, hold on the flood of rivers and contain the rolling oceans. O mighty one on the onward move, you are the one who thus with your great power and force rule and sustain the land and her people.

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5.84.2

स्तोमा॑सस्त्वा विचारिणि॒ प्रति॑ ष्टोभन्त्य॒क्तुभिः॑ । प्र या वाजं॒ न हेष॑न्तं पे॒रुमस्य॑स्यर्जुनि ॥

O moving one, the celebrants adore you day and night with songs, you, O bright one, who shake and impel the roaring cloud like a war horse onward to victory.

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5.84.3

दृ॒ळ्हा चि॒द्या वन॒स्पती॑न्क्ष्म॒या दर्ध॒र्ष्योज॑सा । यत्ते॑ अ॒भ्रस्य॑ वि॒द्युतो॑ दि॒वो वर्ष॑न्ति वृ॒ष्टयः॑ ॥

Surely you are strong and firm who, with your strength and splendour, sustain the herbs and trees, since the rains of wealth and sustenance shower for you down from the thunder and lightning of the regions of light.

✦ Sukta 85 · 8 verses ✦

5.85.1

प्र स॒म्राजे॑ बृ॒हद॑र्चा गभी॒रं ब्रह्म॑ प्रि॒यं वरु॑णाय श्रु॒ताय॑ । वि यो ज॒घान॑ शमि॒तेव॒ चर्मो॑प॒स्तिरे॑ पृथि॒वीं सूर्या॑य ॥

Offer homage and reverence of the highest and deepest order full of love to Varuna, the one sovereign ruler and lord of love and judgement over all, who hammered and shaped the earth into form and, like the host of a yajna of peace and non-violence, overspread the earth with the atmosphere as a protective and promotive cover as a shield for the sun, as protection against heat for the sake of generative power and fertility. His divine voice resounds across the universe.

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5.85.2

वने॑षु॒ व्य१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षं ततान॒ वाज॒मर्व॑त्सु॒ पय॑ उ॒स्रिया॑सु । हृ॒त्सु क्रतुं॒ वरु॑णो अ॒प्स्व१॒॑ग्निं दि॒वि सूर्य॑मदधा॒त्सोम॒मद्रौ॑ ॥

Varuna, lord of love and judgement for life, extensively vested sap in vegetation, energy in horses and others that move, milk in cows, faith, love and will to act in the hearts, vitality in waters, sun in heaven and soothing joy in the cloud and soma plant on the mountain.

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5.85.3

नी॒चीन॑बारं॒ वरु॑णः॒ कव॑न्धं॒ प्र स॑सर्ज॒ रोद॑सी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । तेन॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ राजा॒ यवं॒ न वृ॒ष्टिर्व्यु॑नत्ति॒ भूम॑ ॥

Varuna brings into existence heaven, earth and the middle region of the sky, and he forms the cloud for shower on the earth down below. By that the sovereign ruler of the whole universe, the supreme, brings about the rain which fertilises the earth as it nourishes the grain.

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5.85.4

उ॒नत्ति॒ भूमिं॑ पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्यां य॒दा दु॒ग्धं वरु॑णो॒ वष्ट्यादित् । सम॒भ्रेण॑ वसत॒ पर्व॑तासस्तविषी॒यन्तः॑ श्रथयन्त वी॒राः ॥

Varuna fills the earth and sky and the regions of the sun with vapour when he desires to create the milk of life, thereafter the clouds are laden with vapour, and then forceful currents of wind energy strike the clouds from within and release the showers of rain.

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5.85.5

इ॒मामू॒ ष्वा॑सु॒रस्य॑ श्रु॒तस्य॑ म॒हीं मा॒यां वरु॑णस्य॒ प्र वो॑चम् । माने॑नेव तस्थि॒वाँ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ वि यो म॒मे पृ॑थि॒वीं सूर्ये॑ण ॥

This marvellous omnipotence of the renowned life giver Varuna, I celebrate in words, who pervades the space and, abiding in the middle regions of the universe, marks out the earth as if by measure, purpose and design, and creates it from the sun.

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5.85.6

इ॒मामू॒ नु क॒वित॑मस्य मा॒यां म॒हीं दे॒वस्य॒ नकि॒रा द॑धर्ष । एकं॒ यदु॒द्ना न पृ॒णन्त्येनी॑रासि॒ञ्चन्ती॑र॒वन॑यः समु॒द्रम् ॥

This great power of the most creative lord, who can challenge and violate? None, just as all the streams and rivers flooding the lands and rushing on do not fill the ocean with water.

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5.85.7

अ॒र्य॒म्यं॑ वरुण मि॒त्र्यं॑ वा॒ सखा॑यं वा॒ सद॒मिद्भ्रात॑रं वा । वे॒शं वा॒ नित्यं॑ वरु॒णार॑णं वा॒ यत्सी॒माग॑श्चकृ॒मा शि॒श्रथ॒स्तत् ॥

If we happen to commit a sin of omission or commission or transgression toward a man of judgement or friend or companion or a close ally or inmate of the house or brother, or constant or near or distant relation, then, O Varuna, loosen the snare of sin and help us be free.

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5.85.8

कि॒त॒वासो॒ यद्रि॑रि॒पुर्न दी॒वि यद्वा॑ घा स॒त्यमु॒त यन्न वि॒द्म । सर्वा॒ ता वि ष्य॑ शिथि॒रेव॑ दे॒वाधा॑ ते स्याम वरुण प्रि॒यासः॑ ॥

Like gamblers in the game, if someone attribute sin or deception to us, which may be true or may not be true, or which we might not even know, all that, O lord of light and judgement, loosen so that we may be free and be dear to you.

✦ Sukta 86 · 6 verses ✦

5.86.1

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ यमव॑थ उ॒भा वाजे॑षु॒ मर्त्य॑म् । दृ॒ळ्हा चि॒त्स प्र भे॑दति द्यु॒म्ना वाणी॑रिव त्रि॒तः ॥

Indra and Agni, divine power and knowledge, celestial and terrestrial energy of electricity and fire, both ruler and enlightened leaders, whosoever the mortal you protect, guide and promote, he breaks through massive obstructions in the battle business of life, and wins his way to wealth, honour and splendour, just like the sagely scholar of threefold freedom of body, mind and soul who penetrates through three layers of language, vaikhari, madhyama and pashyanti, i.e., word, thought and deep memory, and reaches the vision of the para, the supreme Word and silence of Divinity.

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5.86.2

या पृत॑नासु दु॒ष्टरा॒ या वाजे॑षु श्र॒वाय्या॑ । या पञ्च॑ चर्ष॒णीर॒भी॑न्द्रा॒ग्नी ता ह॑वामहे ॥

We adore and solicit Indra and Agni which, among the forces of life, are indomitable, in the battles for power and prosperity, admirable, and among the five orders of society and among the five pranic energies are of prime importance.

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5.86.3

तयो॒रिदम॑व॒च्छव॑स्ति॒ग्मा दि॒द्युन्म॒घोनोः॑ । प्रति॒ द्रुणा॒ गभ॑स्त्यो॒र्गवां॑ वृत्र॒घ्न एष॑ते ॥

The sharp, impetuous and blazing force in the hands of these two mighty powers moves by the speed of sunbeams in destroying the cloud of darkness and strikes where it must.

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5.86.4

ता वा॒मेषे॒ रथा॑नामिन्द्रा॒ग्नी ह॑वामहे । पती॑ तु॒रस्य॒ राध॑सो वि॒द्वांसा॒ गिर्व॑णस्तमा ॥

Indra and Agni, most adorable scholars of the science of terrestrial and celestial energy, heat, light and electricity, and masters of fast automotion and material prosperity, we invoke you both for the speed and movement of chariots for success.

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5.86.5

ता वृ॒धन्ता॒वनु॒ द्यून्मर्ता॑य दे॒वाव॒दभा॑ । अर्ह॑न्ता चित्पु॒रो द॒धेंऽशे॑व दे॒वावर्व॑ते ॥

Exalted, thriving day by day for the sake of mortal humanity, brilliant, indomitable, adorable and generous Indra and Agni, ruling powers and enlightened scholars, we honour you at the head of our creative and developmental yajna like the soma of success and celebration in matters of science and progress.

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5.86.6

ए॒वेन्द्रा॒ग्निभ्या॒महा॑वि ह॒व्यं शू॒ष्यं॑ घृ॒तं न पू॒तमद्रि॑भिः । ता सू॒रिषु॒ श्रवो॑ बृ॒हद्र॒यिं गृ॒णत्सु॑ दिधृत॒मिषं॑ गृ॒णत्सु॑ दिधृतम् ॥

Thus homage of adoration is offered to Indra and Agni, scholars of earthly and spatial energy. From energies, by scholars is received strength, energy and power, materials for yajnic investment and development, ghrta, delicacies, like water showers sanctified by the clouds. May they, we pray, bring and bestow upon the scholars and celebrants high renown and abundant wealth, may they bring and bestow upon the admirers food and energy for a happy life.

✦ Sukta 87 · 9 verses ✦

5.87.1

प्र वो॑ म॒हे म॒तयो॑ यन्तु॒ विष्ण॑वे म॒रुत्व॑ते गिरि॒जा ए॑व॒याम॑रुत् । प्र शर्धा॑य॒ प्रय॑ज्यवे सुखा॒दये॑ त॒वसे॑ भ॒न्ददि॑ष्टये॒ धुनि॑व्रताय॒ शव॑से ॥

O vibrant man of vision, all ye men and women, let all your songs and flights of thought and vision born of the voice of the heart reach Vishnu, all pervasive lord, commander of the winds and warriors, indomitable, highly majestic, adorable and cooperative, blissfully appreciative, relentlessly active and absolute in justice and power.

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5.87.2

प्र ये जा॒ता म॑हि॒ना ये च॒ नु स्व॒यं प्र वि॒द्मना॑ ब्रु॒वत॑ एव॒याम॑रुत् । क्रत्वा॒ तद्वो॑ मरुतो॒ नाधृषे॒ शवो॑ दा॒ना म॒ह्ना तदे॑षा॒मधृ॑ष्टासो॒ नाद्र॑यः ॥

Evayamarut, O vibrant visionary and celebrant of the Maruts, these warriors and pioneers of humanity are self-made, risen by themselves who proclaim themselves through their knowledge and self-awareness. O Maruts, stormy leaders, that power and force of yours is unchallengeable by virtue of your noble acts, grandeur and generosity. O men, their force is indomitable, they are inviolable, unshakable like mountains.

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5.87.3

प्र ये दि॒वो बृ॑ह॒तः शृ॑ण्वि॒रे गि॒रा सु॒शुक्वा॑नः सु॒भ्व॑ एव॒याम॑रुत् । न येषा॒मिरी॑ स॒धस्थ॒ ईष्ट॒ आ अ॒ग्नयो॒ न स्ववि॑द्युतः॒ प्र स्प॒न्द्रासो॒ धुनी॑नाम् ॥

Evayamarut, O celebrant of the Maruts, they hear the voice of Divinity from the light of heaven, they are heard by their voice from the heights of heaven. Pure and brilliant, they live in holiness and felicity. No tyrant, impeller or compeller, can bend them in their right and abode. Self-refulgent like the flames of fire, they radiate, they make the winds blow and set the rivers aflow.

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5.87.4

स च॑क्रमे मह॒तो निरु॑रुक्र॒मः स॑मा॒नस्मा॒त्सद॑स एव॒याम॑रुत् । य॒दायु॑क्त॒ त्मना॒ स्वादधि॒ ष्णुभि॒र्विष्प॑र्धसो॒ विम॑हसो॒ जिगा॑ति॒ शेवृ॑धो॒ नृभिः॑ ॥

He, Evayamarut, Vishnu, lord of infinite action and commander of the Maruts, universal energies, transcends by infinite possibility the great constant, central and universal seat of his presence, that is, this universe. When evayamarut, the man of vision, master of his senses and faculties, connects with the lord by heart and soul by the guidance of dynamic teachers and preachers, unenvious and brilliant, he rises from his own state of existence and joins the lord omnipotent of infinite felicity.

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5.87.5

स्व॒नो न वोऽम॑वान्रेजय॒द्वृषा॑ त्वे॒षो य॒यिस्त॑वि॒ष ए॑व॒याम॑रुत् । येना॒ सह॑न्त ऋ॒ञ्जत॒ स्वरो॑चिषः॒ स्थार॑श्मानो हिर॒ण्ययाः॑ स्वायु॒धास॑ इ॒ष्मिणः॑ ॥

Like the rumble of the Big Bang of creation, may the lord of the Maruts, Vishnu, shake you, O men and women of the world, shine you and inspire you, the lord omnipresent, generous, self-refulgent, omnipotent, everfelt in the heart, by virtue of whom the Maruts, natural energies and pioneers of humanity shining by themselves, unshaken yet dynamic like rays of the sun, golden gloried, self-armed and nobly ambitious, stand the challenges of existence and achieve their end and aim.

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5.87.6

अ॒पा॒रो वो॑ महि॒मा वृ॑द्धशवसस्त्वे॒षं शवो॑ऽवत्वेव॒याम॑रुत् । स्थाता॑रो॒ हि प्रसि॑तौ सं॒दृशि॒ स्थन॒ ते न॑ उरुष्यता नि॒दः शु॑शु॒क्वांसो॒ नाग्नयः॑ ॥

Unbounded is your greatness, O heroes of ancient might. May your brilliant power protect and promote evayamarut, vibrant sage of vision and knowledge. In the heat of battle when missiles are shot, stay firm in the open view unshaken. Such as you are, O Maruts, blazing as flames of fire, protect us against the maligners and the revilers.

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5.87.7

ते रु॒द्रासः॒ सुम॑खा अ॒ग्नयो॑ यथा तुविद्यु॒म्ना अ॑वन्त्वेव॒याम॑रुत् । दी॒र्घं पृ॒थु प॑प्रथे॒ सद्म॒ पार्थि॑वं॒ येषा॒मज्मे॒ष्वा म॒हः शर्धां॒स्यद्भु॑तैनसाम् ॥

Heroes of the winds, scholars of the middle order, dispensers of justice and punishment, performers of holy creative actions, commanding power and glory like flames of fire may protect and promote us and the sagely scholar of vision and dynamic performance. Wide and lofty grows the earthly abode of humanity by virtue of those whose grandeur grows high and onslaughts grow terrible in the battles against the evil and wickedness of unimaginable order.

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5.87.8

अ॒द्वे॒षो नो॑ मरुतो गा॒तुमेत॑न॒ श्रोता॒ हवं॑ जरि॒तुरे॑व॒याम॑रुत् । विष्णो॑र्म॒हः स॑मन्यवो युयोतन॒ स्मद्र॒थ्यो॒३॒॑ न दं॒सनाप॒ द्वेषां॑सि सनु॒तः ॥

Maruts, heroes of the speed of winds, free from hate and jealousy, with zeal and ardour for righteous action, come to our earthly abode and lead us on the path of goodness and progress. O lord of the winds, Vishnu, listen to the song and prayer of the celebrant. O leaders and pioneers, come like warriors of the chariot and join the power and grandeur of Vishnu, lord of the wide world and space, accomplish acts of universal generosity and throw off hate, jealousy and animosity from the earth.

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5.87.9

गन्ता॑ नो य॒ज्ञं य॑ज्ञियाः सु॒शमि॒ श्रोता॒ हव॑मर॒क्ष ए॑व॒याम॑रुत् । ज्येष्ठा॑सो॒ न पर्व॑तासो॒ व्यो॑मनि यू॒यं तस्य॑ प्रचेतसः॒ स्यात॑ दु॒र्धर्त॑वो नि॒दः ॥

O

Maruts, adorable heroes of the world, come and join our yajna of holy living with grace and earnestness. Listen to the prayer of the celebrant of the winds in need of protection and advancement. Most eminent and most enlightened among us, be generous givers of knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment of Divine order like showers of the cloud from the sky so that no maligner or reviler can resist and challenge you or anyone else.