6. Rig Veda — Mandala 6

✦ Sukta 1 · 13 verses ✦

6.1.1

त्वं ह्य॑ग्ने प्रथ॒मो म॒नोता॒स्या धि॒यो अभ॑वो दस्म॒ होता॑ । त्वं सीं॑ वृषन्नकृणोर्दु॒ष्टरी॑तु॒ सहो॒ विश्व॑स्मै॒ सह॑से॒ सह॑ध्यै ॥

Agni, light of life faster than mind, you are the prime mover of this cosmic intelligence and evolution, marvellous creator and foremost performer of universal yajna. O generous father of life, you alone generate the inviolable life force and strength of will vested in existence for us to resist and overcome all negative forces of the world for survival and onward progress.

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6.1.2

अधा॒ होता॒ न्य॑सीदो॒ यजी॑यानि॒ळस्प॒द इ॒षय॒न्नीड्यः॒ सन् । तं त्वा॒ नरः॑ प्रथ॒मं दे॑व॒यन्तो॑ म॒हो रा॒ये चि॒तय॑न्तो॒ अनु॑ ग्मन् ॥

Then let the prime yajaka, being adorable, inspired to create and give in unison, be seated at the head of yajna on the earthly vedi of life foremost in the midst of holy chant, and you, leading light of humanity, yourself knowledgeable and illuminating, seekers of great wealth, honour and light of Divinity, follow him as the leader.

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6.1.3

वृ॒तेव॒ यन्तं॑ ब॒हुभि॑र्वस॒व्यै॒३॒॑स्त्वे र॒यिं जा॑गृ॒वांसो॒ अनु॑ ग्मन् । रुश॑न्तम॒ग्निं द॑र्श॒तं बृ॒हन्तं॑ व॒पाव॑न्तं वि॒श्वहा॑ दीदि॒वांस॑म् ॥

Enlightened persons with many productive offerings of yajnic value follow Agni, prime yajnic leader, leading to wealth by normal paths of creative production, Agni that is shining as well as catalysing, splendid and blissful, great and rising high, generative and all time illuminative.

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6.1.4

प॒दं दे॒वस्य॒ नम॑सा॒ व्यन्तः॑ श्रव॒स्यवः॒ श्रव॑ आप॒न्नमृ॑क्तम् । नामा॑नि चिद् दधिरे य॒ज्ञिया॑नि भ॒द्रायां॑ ते रणयन्त॒ संदृ॑ष्टौ ॥

Yajna performers aspiring for honour, excellence and spiritual vision of Divinity by surrender and yajnic homage obtain untainted wealth and honour. O lord Agni, they receive name and reputation worthy of yajakas and abide and rejoice in your blissful presence.

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6.1.5

त्वां व॑र्धन्ति क्षि॒तयः॑ पृथि॒व्यां त्वां राय॑ उ॒भया॑सो॒ जना॑नाम् । त्वं त्रा॒ता त॑रणे॒ चेत्यो॑ भूः पि॒ता मा॒ता सद॒मिन्मानु॑षाणाम् ॥

O lord, people both simple and learned, glorify you on earth, people’s wealth both material and spiritual exalts you. Pray, O lord, you be the people’s protector and saviour toward their success and freedom, giver of light in their heart and soul, father, mother and the ultimate home of humanity.

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6.1.6

स॒प॒र्येण्यः॒ स प्रि॒यो वि॒क्ष्व१॒॑ग्निर्होता॑ म॒न्द्रो नि ष॑सादा॒ यजी॑यान् । तं त्वा॑ व॒यं दम॒ आ दी॑दि॒वांस॒मुप॑ ज्ञु॒बाधो॒ नम॑सा सदेम ॥

That Agni worthy of yajnic service and, affectionate, yajaka and giver of yajnic gifts, rejoicing provider of happiness abides among people as adorable presence. O lord, in a posture of reverence and faith, with homage and surrender, we pray, let us be seated in the home where you ever shine in your refulgence.

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6.1.7

तं त्वा॑ व॒यं सु॒ध्यो॒३॒॑ नव्य॑मग्ने सुम्ना॒यव॑ ईमहे देव॒यन्तः॑ । त्वं विशो॑ अनयो॒ दीद्या॑नो दि॒वो अ॑ग्ने बृह॒ता रो॑च॒नेन॑ ॥

Agni, adorable giver of light, we, blest with holy intelligence and aspiring for well being and light of divinity, pray that you, shining with universal light and knowledge, lead the people to the state of enlightenment and freedom.

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6.1.8

वि॒शां क॒विं वि॒श्पतिं॒ शश्व॑तीनां नि॒तोश॑नं वृष॒भं च॑र्षणी॒नाम् । प्रेती॑षणिमि॒षय॑न्तं पाव॒कं राज॑न्तम॒ग्निं य॑ज॒तं र॑यी॒णाम् ॥

We celebrate and exalt Agni, giver of light and wisdom, visionary creator, ruler and protector of the people who never go out of existence, destroyer of suffering, generous benefactor of the people, inspiring leader for progress and development, holy purifier, refulgent power and adorable guide for the sake of wealth, honour and excellence.

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6.1.9

सो अ॑ग्न ईजे शश॒मे च॒ मर्तो॒ यस्त॒ आन॑ट् स॒मिधा॑ ह॒व्यदा॑तिम् । य आहु॑तिं॒ परि॒ वेदा॒ नमो॑भि॒र्विश्वेत्स वा॒मा द॑धते॒ त्वोतः॑ ॥

Agni, giver of light and life, that man does honour and worship to you who brings and offers you yajna with sacred fuel and holy materials, who knows what to offer and offers the oblations with faith and surrender. Such a man protected and promoted by you is blest with honour and admirable capacity for action.

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6.1.10

अ॒स्मा उ॑ ते॒ महि॑ म॒हे वि॑धेम॒ नमो॑भिरग्ने स॒मिधो॒त ह॒व्यैः । वेदी॑ सूनो सहसो गी॒र्भिरु॒क्थैरा ते॑ भ॒द्रायां॑ सुम॒तौ य॑तेम ॥

Agni, giver of light and knowledge, child of omnipotence and source of strength, we offer high reverence and worship to you in honour of your greatness and glory, with homage, sacred fuel and fragrant yajnic materials into the vedi, with chant of holy words and songs of praise, and we pray that we may always abide and strive for noble actions in your benign presence and favour.

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6.1.11

आ यस्त॒तन्थ॒ रोद॑सी॒ वि भा॒सा श्रवो॑भिश्च श्रव॒स्य१॒॑स्तरु॑त्रः । बृ॒हद्भि॒र्वाजैः॒ स्थवि॑रेभिर॒स्मे रे॒वद्भि॑रग्ने वित॒रं वि भा॑हि ॥

Agni, refulgent giver of light and power and knowledge, which overspreads heaven and earth with light, also renowned for gifts of sustenance and energy, is the saving power for life. O refulgent power, shine for us more and ever more with abundant and expansive gifts of food and energy and stable forms of wealth and power.

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6.1.12

नृ॒वद्व॑सो॒ सद॒मिद्धे॑ह्य॒स्मे भूरि॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय प॒श्वः । पू॒र्वीरिषो॑ बृह॒तीरा॒रेअ॑घा अ॒स्मे भ॒द्रा सौ॑श्रव॒सानि॑ सन्तु ॥

O father and guardian of humanity, Agni, giver of life and beneficence, give us a blessed home for our children and grand children, full of material and cattle wealth, abundant and expansive food and energy, freedom from sin and evil, where there may be ample means of well being, honour and excellence.

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6.1.13

पु॒रूण्य॑ग्ने पुरु॒धा त्वा॒या वसू॑नि राजन्व॒सुता॑ ते अश्याम् । पु॒रूणि॒ हि त्वे पु॑रुवार॒ सन्त्यग्ने॒ वसु॑ विध॒ते राज॑नि॒ त्वे ॥

Agni, O leading light of life and humanity, brilliant by virtue of knowledge, power and generosity, may we by your kindness and grace obtain wealth and prosperity of various kinds and orders. O giver of knowledge, power and excellence, Agni, universally loved and adored, infinite are your gifts of wealth abiding in your dominion which you hold in treasure for the dedicated supplicant.

✦ Sukta 2 · 11 verses ✦

6.2.1

त्वं हि क्षैत॑व॒द्यशोऽग्ने॑ मि॒त्रो न पत्य॑से । त्वं वि॑चर्षणे॒ श्रवो॒ वसो॑ पु॒ष्टिं न पु॑ष्यसि ॥

Agni, leading light of life, like an inmate of our earthly home, like a friend for sure you protect, promote and sustain our honour and excellence. O watchful observer of all, our haven and home, you preserve and advance our food and energy, honour and fame, like our body’s vitality.

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6.2.2

त्वां हि ष्मा॑ चर्ष॒णयो॑ य॒ज्ञेभि॑र्गी॒र्भिरीळ॑ते । त्वां वा॒जी या॑त्यवृ॒को र॑ज॒स्तूर्वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिः ॥

You alone people adore with yajnic acts and songs of praise. The warlike, the non-violent, the mover of the skies, the all watchful, everyone comes to you.

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6.2.3

स॒जोष॑स्त्वा दि॒वो नरो॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुमि॑न्धते । यद्ध॒ स्य मानु॑षो॒ जनः॑ सुम्ना॒युर्जु॒ह्वे अ॑ध्व॒रे ॥

Loving and friendly people, leading lights of humanity, all of one accord, kindle and light you, the light and symbol of yajna, for which reason the rational communities aspiring for peace and well being invoke and invite you to their noble programmes of love and non-violence.

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6.2.4

ऋध॒द्यस्ते॑ सु॒दान॑वे धि॒या मर्तः॑ श॒शम॑ते । ऊ॒ती ष बृ॑ह॒तो दि॒वो द्वि॒षो अंहो॒ न त॑रति ॥

The man who with his intelligence and holy action serves, worships and offers homage to you and thus promotes you, generous giver, he enjoys peace and prosperity under protection of the vast heaven and crosses over all hate and jealousy as well as sin and evil.

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6.2.5

स॒मिधा॒ यस्त॒ आहु॑तिं॒ निशि॑तिं॒ मर्त्यो॒ नश॑त् । व॒याव॑न्तं॒ स पु॑ष्यति॒ क्षय॑मग्ने श॒तायु॑षम् ॥

The mortal who responds to your urgent call and with holy fuel offers you intense and abundant oblations of yajna obtains and prospers in a happy home for a hundred years.

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6.2.6

त्वे॒षस्ते॑ धू॒म ऋ॑ण्वति दि॒वि षञ्छु॒क्र आत॑तः । सूरो॒ न हि द्यु॒ता त्वं कृ॒पा पा॑वक॒ रोच॑से ॥

Shining bright and rising high, your flames and fragrance reach unto the height of heaven. O pure and purifying fire, with light and splendour you shine like the sun.

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6.2.7

अधा॒ हि वि॒क्ष्वीड्योऽसि॑ प्रि॒यो नो॒ अति॑थिः । र॒ण्वः पु॒री॑व॒ जूर्यः॑ सू॒नुर्न त्र॑य॒याय्यः॑ ॥

O light and fire of life, you are adorable among the people, welcome to us like a cherished guest, delightful like a venerable senior in the sacred city, darling as a child running to the parent for protection and security.

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6.2.8

क्रत्वा॒ हि द्रोणे॑ अ॒ज्यसेऽग्ने॑ वा॒जी न कृत्व्यः॑ । परि॑ज्मेव स्व॒धा गयोऽत्यो॒ न ह्वा॒र्यः शिशुः॑ ॥

Agni, holy light and fire, you manifest by attrition in the wood, by yajna in the home, active, sportive and restive like a courser, moving everywhere like wind, soothing and satisfying as food, intimate as self will, comfortable as home, vibrant as a wave of energy and pure and innocent as a baby.

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6.2.9

त्वं त्या चि॒दच्यु॒ताग्ने॑ प॒शुर्न यव॑से । धामा॑ ह॒ यत् ते॑ अजर॒ वना॑ वृ॒श्चन्ति॒ शिक्व॑सः ॥

Agni, eternal light and fire of existence, for all those solid objects of existence, apparently imperishable regions of the universe, you are as the bull is for the grass since, O lord of eternity, your mighty flames of annihilation consume them as the bull consumes the grass.

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6.2.10

वेषि॒ ह्य॑ध्वरीय॒तामग्ने॒ होता॒ दमे॑ वि॒शाम् । स॒मृधो॑ विश्पते कृणु जु॒षस्व॑ ह॒व्यम॑ङ्गिरः ॥

Angira, vital fire of life pervading every limb of the body, breath of life vibrating in every part of the universe, eternal highpriest of cosmic yajna, enter, pervade and bless the home of the devotees conducting the yajna of love and non-violence. O lord protector and ruler of the people, make them prosperous, accept and enjoy their holy offering.

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6.2.11

अच्छा॑ नो मित्रमहो देव दे॒वानग्ने॒ वोचः॑ सुम॒तिं रोद॑स्योः । वी॒हि स्व॒स्तिं सु॑क्षि॒तिं दि॒वो नॄन्द्वि॒षो अंहां॑सि दुरि॒ता त॑रेम॒ ता त॑रेम॒ तवाव॑सा तरेम ॥

O most adorable friend, venerable and refulgent light of the world, speak well to the noble and brilliant holy men of the eternal Word of universal knowledge and wisdom of heaven and earth. Bear and bring prosperity and well being on the blessed earth in happy homes to the loving and dedicated people. We pray help us cross over all sins and evil, hate and jealousy. Let us cross over all negativities and undesirables, cross over all of them, cross over to the life divine by your protection and grace.

✦ Sukta 3 · 8 verses ✦

6.3.1

अग्ने॒ स क्षे॑षदृत॒पा ऋ॑ते॒जा उ॒रु ज्योति॑र्नशते देव॒युष्टे॑ । यं त्वं मि॒त्रेण॒ वरु॑णः स॒जोषा॒ देव॒ पासि॒ त्यज॑सा॒ मर्त॒मंहः॑ ॥

Agni, leading light and ruler of the world, guardian of Truth and Law, manifesting in truth and law and the fire and fragrance of yajna, that mortal man lives in peace who protects the truth and abides in truth, and he receives the gift of your infinite light and grace who loves Divinity and noble humanity, and whom you, O lord of love and justice, loving, kind and generous father, with loving care and merciful justice, you protect and save by abandonment of sin and evil.

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6.3.2

ई॒जे य॒ज्ञेभिः॑ शश॒मे शमी॑भिर्ऋ॒धद्वा॑राया॒ग्नये॑ ददाश । ए॒वा च॒न तं य॒शसा॒मजु॑ष्टि॒र्नांहो॒ मर्तं॑ नशते॒ न प्रदृ॑प्तिः ॥

If the mortal does good to others with humility and yajna, lives in peace with auspicious acts of holiness, and does service toAgni, giver of success and prosperity, with acts of charity and self surrender, then, for sure, neither want of honour and glory, nor sin and evil, nor pride and arrogance can ever touch him.

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6.3.3

सूरो॒ न यस्य॑ दृश॒तिर॑रे॒पा भी॒मा यदेति॑ शुच॒तस्त॒ आ धीः । हेष॑स्वतः शु॒रुधो॒ नायम॒क्तोः कुत्रा॑ चिद्र॒ण्वो व॑स॒तिर्व॑ने॒जाः ॥

The holy sight of Agni, leading light of humanity, like the sun, and the message of thought and wisdom of the brilliant light that radiates, is pure and immaculate, and yet it is awesome and comes as terrible to the vitiated. Indeed wherever the source and abode of this blazing destroyer of the night of darkness and of his prophetic voice be, as that of light in sunrays and of fire in the wood, it is delightful and elevating.

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6.3.4

ति॒ग्मं चि॒देम॒ महि॒ वर्पो॑ अस्य॒ भस॒दश्वो॒ न य॑मसा॒न आ॒सा । वि॒जेह॑मानः पर॒शुर्न जि॒ह्वां द्र॒विर्न द्रा॑वयति॒ दारु॒ धक्ष॑त् ॥

Sharp is his path like the razor’s edge we may like to follow, great his form and appearance shining brilliant, open his mouth self-controlled as the horse’s, sharp his tongue as an axe, and he melts rigidities like a smelter and burns wooden prejudices like fire.

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6.3.5

स इदस्ते॑व॒ प्रति॑ धादसि॒ष्यञ्छिशी॑त॒ तेजोऽय॑सो॒ न धारा॑म् । चि॒त्रध्र॑जतिरर॒तिर्यो अ॒क्तोर्वेर्न द्रु॒षद्वा॑ रघु॒पत्म॑जंहाः ॥

Free from dead wood, he shoots his target like an archer freely. He sharpens his blaze like the edge of an axe. Swift and wonderful in speed, relentless in work, he discards rest and slow speed of movement like a bird of flight flying off from the branch of the tree of his night’s rest.

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6.3.6

स ईं॑ रे॒भो न प्रति॑ वस्त उ॒स्राः शो॒चिषा॑ रारपीति मि॒त्रम॑हाः । नक्तं॒ य ई॑मरु॒षो यो दिवा॒ नॄनम॑र्त्यो अरु॒षो यो दिवा॒ नॄन् ॥

He, leading light of the world, wears the light of the morning sun and, in return, like crackling fire, proclaims himself with the light and blaze of the new day, being the greatest friend of humanity. Red as flames, bright as sunlight, he lights up the night of darkness and arouses humanity into the day of light, awareness and activity, being the harbinger of the immortal light of Divinity. Yes, bright and blazing, he rouses people into the light of day.

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6.3.7

दि॒वो न यस्य॑ विध॒तो नवी॑नो॒द्वृषा॑ रु॒क्ष ओष॑धीषु नूनोत् । घृणा॒ न यो ध्रज॑सा॒ पत्म॑ना॒ यन्ना रोद॑सी॒ वसु॑ना॒ दं सु॒पत्नी॑ ॥

Whose presence as of the light and grace of heaven, and order, the generous cloud worships and proclaims, whose light and vitality is manifested in herbs and trees, and who, by his flight and velocity and omnipresence, vests the spaces of motherly heaven, earth and sky with the wealth of living sustenance as with his light and grace.

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6.3.8

धायो॑भिर्वा॒ यो युज्ये॑भिर॒र्कैर्वि॒द्युन्न द॑विद्यो॒त्स्वेभिः॒ शुष्मैः॑ । शर्धो॑ वा॒ यो म॒रुतां॑ त॒तक्ष॑ ऋ॒भुर्न त्वे॒षो र॑भसा॒नो अ॑द्यौत् ॥

Who flashes like lightning, shines with his selfrefulgence and potent presence, and constantly illuminates by his manifestation by the beneficiary stars, planets and plants, by his associates and assistants, and by his celebrants and worshippers of his virtues, and who, blazing and impetuous, like the divine intelligence and maker, fashions the forms and force of the winds and the stormy powers of humanity : that is Agni, life of existence and leading light of the world.

✦ Sukta 4 · 8 verses ✦

6.4.1

यथा॑ होत॒र्मनु॑षो दे॒वता॑ता य॒ज्ञेभिः॑ सूनो सहसो॒ यजा॑सि । ए॒वा नो॑ अ॒द्य स॑म॒ना स॑मा॒नानु॒शन्न॑ग्न उश॒तो य॑क्षि दे॒वान् ॥

Agni, leading light of life, ruler of the world, child of strength, source of strength and courage, yajaka and generous giver, as you do selfless yajnic service to life and Divinity like any human, so you today in our battle of life, out of love for loving and dedicated people, pray invoke the divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity to join us.

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6.4.2

स नो॑ वि॒भावा॑ च॒क्षणि॒र्न वस्तो॑र॒ग्निर्व॒न्दारु॒ वेद्य॒श्चनो॑ धात् । वि॒श्वायु॒र्यो अ॒मृतो॒ मर्त्ये॑षूष॒र्भुद्भूदति॑थिर्जा॒तवे॑दाः ॥

May that lord, Agni, refulgent as the sun, light of the day, adorable, worth knowing and realising, bear and bring us food for life and energy for action, that lord who is life of life, immortal among mortals, manifests like a cherished guest at dawn and knows all that is born in existence by omnipresence.

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6.4.3

द्यावो॒ न यस्य॑ प॒नय॒न्त्यभ्वं॒ भासां॑सि वस्ते॒ सूर्यो॒ न शु॒क्रः । वि य इ॒नोत्य॒जरः॑ पाव॒कोऽश्न॑स्य चिच्छिश्नथत्पू॒र्व्याणि॑ ॥

Like the lights of heaven, sages celebrate the lord’s glory. Pure and immaculate, like the sun, he wears the lights and colours of existence. Purifying like fire, he pervades the forms of the world of existence, and at the ultimate end withdraws all that existed before, and remains, ageless and eternal, the sole and absolute presence.

· · ·

6.4.4

व॒द्मा हि सू॑नो॒ अस्य॑द्म॒सद्वा॑ च॒क्रे अ॒ग्निर्ज॒नुषाज्मान्न॑म् । स त्वं न॑ ऊर्जसन॒ ऊर्जं॑ धा॒ राजे॑व जेरवृ॒के क्षे॑ष्य॒न्तः ॥

O inspirer of life, Agni, self-manifestive loud and bold, you are all pervasive in everything that is food for life since by nature and operation you generate both food and energy. O creator and giver of energy, bear and bring us food and energy, be victorious like a ruler and abide in peace and non-violence as an inspiration.

· · ·

6.4.5

निति॑क्ति॒ यो वा॑र॒णमन्न॒मत्ति॑ वा॒युर्न राष्ट्र्यत्ये॑त्य॒क्तून् । तु॒र्याम॒ यस्त॑ आ॒दिशा॒मरा॑ती॒रत्यो॒ न ह्रुतः॒ पत॑तः परि॒ह्रुत् ॥

Agni sharpens his instant weapon of radiance against darkness, consumes the consumables for energy, rules over existence like breath of life, surpasses even the rays of light. O lord of radiation pervading all round by waves of omnipotence, destroyer like a superlative missile of those crooked ones who fall in its way, may we too likewise overcome those who negate your gifts of life.

· · ·

6.4.6

आ सूर्यो॒ न भा॑नु॒मद्भि॑र॒र्कैरग्ने॑ त॒तन्थ॒ रोद॑सी॒ वि भा॒सा । चि॒त्रो न॑य॒त्परि॒ तमां॑स्य॒क्तः शो॒चिषा॒ पत्म॑न्नौशि॒जो न दीय॑न् ॥

Agni, light of life, as the sun with thunderous rays of light, so you pervade heaven and earth with splendour and majesty. Marvellous and sublime, with light radiating all round, brilliant as sublimity incarnate, you rule dispelling all kinds of darkness.

· · ·

6.4.7

त्वां हि म॒न्द्रत॑ममर्कशो॒कैर्व॑वृ॒महे॒ महि॑ नः॒ श्रोष्य॑ग्ने । इन्द्रं॒ न त्वा॒ शव॑सा दे॒वता॑ वा॒युं पृ॑णन्ति॒ राध॑सा॒ नृत॑माः ॥

Agni, lord most charming and blissful, with brilliant songs of adoration we celebrate you. Listen to our song of sublimity. Like Indra, lord of omnipotence, like Vayu, breath of life, the best of leading lights of humanity adore you with all their might and sense of fulfilment.

· · ·

6.4.8

नू नो॑ अग्नेऽवृ॒केभिः॑ स्व॒स्ति वेषि॑ रा॒यः प॒थिभिः॒ पर्ष्यंहः॑ । ता सू॒रिभ्यो॑ गृण॒ते रा॑सि सु॒म्नं मदे॑म श॒तहि॑माः सु॒वीराः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light, wealth and bliss, with honest and loving people lead us to wealth and honour, peace and well being by paths of holiness, cleanse us of sin, blow off evil from us. That peace and joy you bestow upon brilliant and brave celebrants and upon the supplicant, bestow upon us too, we pray, so that we, blest with brave children, may rejoice for a full life of hundred years.

✦ Sukta 5 · 7 verses ✦

6.5.1

हु॒वे वः॑ सू॒नुं सह॑सो॒ युवा॑न॒मद्रो॑घवाचं म॒तिभि॒र्यवि॑ष्ठम् । य इन्व॑ति॒ द्रवि॑णानि॒ प्रचे॑ता वि॒श्ववा॑राणि पुरु॒वारो॑ अ॒ध्रुक् ॥

For you all, I invoke and invite Agni, giver of strength and forbearance, young, sweet and loving of speech free from malice, most youthful, wise and all aware, cherished friend of all without jealousy, who creates, inspires, invigorates and brings us gifts of universal value and drives away the evils.

· · ·

6.5.2

त्वे वसू॑नि पुर्वणीक होतर्दो॒षा वस्तो॒रेरि॑रे य॒ज्ञिया॑सः । क्षामे॑व॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि॒ यस्मि॒न्त्सं सौभ॑गानि दधि॒रे पा॑व॒के ॥

In you, lord of eternal flames of power and generation, cosmic yajaka and generous giver, holy performers of yajnic acts repose their confidence, and to you, day and night, they attribute all the gifts of life. By virtue of you, cleanser and purifier, all regions of the universe like earth bear cherished gifts of nature for humanity.

· · ·

6.5.3

त्वं वि॒क्षु प्र॒दिवः॑ सीद आ॒सु क्रत्वा॑ र॒थीर॑भवो॒ वार्या॑णाम् । अत॑ इनोषि विध॒ते चि॑कित्वो॒ व्या॑नु॒षग्जा॑तवेदो॒ वसू॑नि ॥

Come you, leading light wrapped in the light of divinity, sit and abide among these people with your knowledge and yajnic action. Be like a chariot harbinger of choice gifts of life. You are wise and you command universal awareness. You know all that is born in existence and, integrated with life and society, you inspire and promote the wealths of the world for the dedicated celebrant.

· · ·

6.5.4

यो नः॒ सनु॑त्यो अभि॒दास॑दग्ने॒ यो अन्त॑रो मित्रमहो वनु॒ष्यात् । तम॒जरे॑भि॒र्वृष॑भि॒स्तव॒ स्वैस्तपा॑ तपिष्ठ॒ तप॑सा॒ तप॑स्वान् ॥

Agni, O dearest and greatest friend, tempered in the crucibles of austere discipline to the highest degree of intensity, whatever the force or power internal or external, close around or far off which might weaken, attack, injure or destroy us, pray burn up and eliminate by your own essential, unaging, generous and most youthful power of discipline and fire.

· · ·

6.5.5

यस्ते॑ य॒ज्ञेन॑ स॒मिधा॒ य उ॒क्थैर॒र्केभिः॑ सूनो सहसो॒ ददा॑शत् । स मर्त्ये॑ष्वमृत॒ प्रचे॑ता रा॒या द्यु॒म्नेन॒ श्रव॑सा॒ वि भा॑ति ॥

Agni, O source giver of strength and inspiration, whoever serves you with yajnic acts of self-sacrifice and offers you homage, worship and songs of celebration with sacred fuel to keep the fire burning, rises in knowledge and life’s awareness, advances in wealth, honour and fame, and shines out with immortal excellence among mortals.

· · ·

6.5.6

स तत्कृ॑धीषि॒तस्तूय॑मग्ने॒ स्पृधो॑ बाधस्व॒ सह॑सा॒ सह॑स्वान् । यच्छ॒स्यसे॒ द्युभि॑र॒क्तो वचो॑भि॒स्तज्जु॑षस्व जरि॒तुर्घोषि॒ मन्म॑ ॥

Agni, lord of forbearance and challenging might, loved, inspired and impelled, do that fast with your power and force, resist and repell the envious contenders, for which you are admired by the celebrants. Do that, O lord wearing the aura of light and fire, and accept the devoted supplicant’s thanks and homage expressed from the depth of mind and soul.

· · ·

6.5.7

अ॒श्याम॒ तं काम॑मग्ने॒ तवो॒ती अ॒श्याम॑ र॒यिं र॑यिवः सु॒वीर॑म् । अ॒श्याम॒ वाज॑म॒भि वा॒जय॑न्तो॒ऽश्याम॑ द्यु॒म्नम॑जरा॒जरं॑ ते ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, ruler and pioneer of humanity, by virtue of your protection and spirit of advancement, let us realise that will and desire we pray for. O lord creator and giver of wealth, let us achieve that wealth and honour blest with the brave we cherish. O lord imperishable, let us win, while we press forward, that energy, sustenance and progress, let us be blest with that honour and excellence which is immortal.

✦ Sukta 6 · 7 verses ✦

6.6.1

प्र नव्य॑सा॒ सह॑सः सू॒नुमच्छा॑ य॒ज्ञेन॑ गा॒तुमव॑ इ॒च्छमा॑नः । वृ॒श्चद्व॑नं कृ॒ष्णया॑मं॒ रुश॑न्तं वी॒ती होता॑रं दि॒व्यं जि॑गाति ॥

Whoever desires and plans for advancement into new ways of progress, defence and protection, tries and experiments with newest forms of yajna, socio-scientific developments in pursuit of Agni, heat, light and electric energy, source and generator of power, breaker of the clouds, illuminator of pathways into darkness and the unknown, bright catalytic agent, giver of peace and prosperity for well being and divine agent of cosmic evolution.

· · ·

6.6.2

स श्वि॑ता॒नस्त॑न्य॒तू रो॑चन॒स्था अ॒जरे॑भि॒र्नान॑दद्भि॒र्यवि॑ष्ठः । यः पा॑व॒कः पु॑रु॒तमः॑ पु॒रूणि॑ पृ॒थून्य॒ग्निर॑नु॒याति॒ भर्व॑न् ॥

That energy, Agni, which is brilliant, expansive and roaring, constant in light without a flicker, abiding in imperishable thunder and lightning, is the fire purifier which lies dormant in many forms in solids, and it is versatile and explosive.

· · ·

6.6.3

वि ते॒ विष्व॒ग्वात॑जूतासो अग्ने॒ भामा॑सः शुचे॒ शुच॑यश्चरन्ति । तु॒वि॒म्र॒क्षासो॑ दि॒व्या नव॑ग्वा॒ वना॑ वनन्ति धृष॒ता रु॒जन्तः॑ ॥

Agni, cosmic energy, those universal waves of your power impelled by nature’s currents radiate all round, pure and purifying, embracing everything, celestial, ever moving anew, beautiful, forceful, making, breaking and remaking everything that comes their way.

· · ·

6.6.4

ये ते॑ शु॒क्रासः॒ शुच॑यः शुचिष्मः॒ क्षां वप॑न्ति॒ विषि॑तासो॒ अश्वाः॑ । अध॑ भ्र॒मस्त॑ उर्वि॒या वि भा॑ति या॒तय॑मानो॒ अधि॒ सानु॒ पृश्नेः॑ ॥

Life and light of the world, those vitalising pure and radiant waves of your energy flowing down like horses freed from their bound, fertilise and impregnate the earth, and then their circulation across the sky, taking over the mountain tops shines all over the earth.

· · ·

6.6.5

अध॑ जि॒ह्वा पा॑पतीति॒ प्र वृष्णो॑ गोषु॒युधो॒ नाशनिः॑ सृजा॒ना । शूर॑स्येव॒ प्रसि॑तिः क्षा॒तिर॒ग्नेर्दु॒र्वर्तु॑र्भी॒मो द॑यते॒ वना॑नि ॥

Further, the tongue of flame, the flash of lightning, like the thunderbolt of mighty Indra, warrior of the flash and thunder’s roar, shakes and shines with the blaze, striking and shattering things like a warrior’s blow, and thus the terrible onslaught of irresistible Agni destroys the forests.

· · ·

6.6.6

आ भा॒नुना॒ पार्थि॑वानि॒ ज्रयां॑सि म॒हस्तो॒दस्य॑ धृष॒ता त॑तन्थ । स बा॑ध॒स्वाप॑ भ॒या सहो॑भिः॒ स्पृधो॑ वनु॒ष्यन् व॒नुषो॒ नि जू॑र्व ॥

Agni, leading light and ruler of the world, with your light spread over all places and activities of the earth, and shine by the great and glorious radiation of your power. With your force and power, resist and repel all fears and envious contenders and, saving and protecting those who ought to be served and protected, break down the enmities and negativities.

· · ·

6.6.7

स चि॑त्र चि॒त्रं चि॒तय॑न्तम॒स्मे चित्र॑क्षत्र चि॒त्रत॑मं वयो॒धाम् । च॒न्द्रं र॒यिं पु॑रु॒वीरं॑ बृ॒हन्तं॒ चन्द्र॑ च॒न्द्राभि॑र्गृण॒ते यु॑वस्व ॥

Agni, marvellous leading light of the world, ruler of the wonderful human order of brilliance, inspirer of love, benevolence and bliss, join and mix various wonderful elements with beautiful and soothing elements and then create for us enlightening, most surprising, invigorating, blissful, life giving, selfexpansive wealth inspiring for all the youth and for the dedicated celebrant.

✦ Sukta 7 · 7 verses ✦

6.7.1

मू॒र्धानं॑ दि॒वो अ॑र॒तिं पृ॑थि॒व्या वै॑श्वान॒रमृ॒त आ जा॒तम॒ग्निम् । क॒विं स॒म्राज॒मति॑थिं॒ जना॑नामा॒सन्ना पात्रं॑ जनयन्त दे॒वाः ॥

The divinities of nature and humanity light the sacred fire: supreme light of heaven, vital fire of life of the earth, Vaishvanara, leader and energiser of the world, born of cosmic law and the fire of cosmic yajna. It is the visionary, even the revolutionary, poet, ruler of the world, sacred as a chance visitor, voice of the people, sustainer of life and its order.

· · ·

6.7.2

नाभिं॑ य॒ज्ञानां॒ सद॑नं रयी॒णां म॒हामा॑हा॒वम॒भि सं न॑वन्त । वै॒श्वा॒न॒रं र॒थ्य॑मध्व॒राणां॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुं ज॑नयन्त दे॒वाः ॥

Divines and brilliant people light and sing in praise of Vaishvanara, sacred fire of the world, centrehold of yajna and creative programmes of development, treasure source of wealths, divine challenge and cherished deity of their service, motive power of nonviolent projects, the real symbol and the very life of yajna.

· · ·

6.7.3

त्वद्विप्रो॑ जायते वा॒ज्य॑ग्ने॒ त्वद्वी॒रासो॑ अभिमाति॒षाहः॑ । वैश्वा॑नर॒ त्वम॒स्मासु॑ धेहि॒ वसू॑नि राजन्त्स्पृह॒याय्या॑णि ॥

O leading light of the world, Agni, by you arises the dedicated scholar, energy, sustenance and progress, and the warriors who brave the challenges and win. O Vaishvanara, fire of earthly existence, brilliant leader and ruler, lead us to wealths of the world worthy of being fought for and won.

· · ·

6.7.4

त्वां विश्वे॑ अमृत॒ जाय॑मानं॒ शिशुं॒ न दे॒वा अ॒भि सं न॑वन्ते । तव॒ क्रतु॑भिरमृत॒त्वमा॑य॒न्वैश्वा॑नर॒ यत्पि॒त्रोरदी॑देः ॥

O Vaishvanara Agni, light and vitality of the world, all brilliant scholars and divines of humanity love you as a baby and celebrate you all round like the rising sun at dawn, or like a young scholar emerging from the home of his parents and teachers like the sun from heaven over the earth. By virtue of your holy acts, the mortals achieve the immortality of holiness and excellence.

· · ·

6.7.5

वैश्वा॑नर॒ तव॒ तानि॑ व्र॒तानि॑ म॒हान्य॑ग्ने॒ नकि॒रा द॑धर्ष । यज्जाय॑मानः पि॒त्रोरु॒पस्थेऽवि॑न्दः के॒तुं व॒युने॒ष्वह्ना॑म् ॥

Vaishvanara, leading light and fire of life, Agni, the great ordinances of yours none can challenge, those which you, arising in the lap of your parents from heaven over the earth take on as your essential character and identity in the light of days in relation to the laws of existence from the earth to the Supreme Spirit and Lord of the universe.

· · ·

6.7.6

वै॒श्वा॒न॒रस्य॒ विमि॑तानि॒ चक्ष॑सा॒ सानू॑नि दि॒वो अ॒मृत॑स्य के॒तुना॑ । तस्येदु॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॒नाधि॑ मू॒र्धनि॑ व॒याइ॑व रुरुहुः स॒प्त वि॒स्रुहः॑ ॥

By the vision and radiance of immortal Vaishvanara, the tops of heaven are pervaded, measured and transcended. On him, as base which is also the summit of existence, rest all the worlds of the universe which manifest like hair on the head, grow like seven branches from the one root, or flow like seven streams from the centre source.

· · ·

6.7.7

वि यो रजां॒स्यमि॑मीत सु॒क्रतु॑र्वैश्वान॒रो वि दि॒वो रो॑च॒ना क॒विः । परि॒ यो विश्वा॒ भुव॑नानि पप्र॒थेऽद॑ब्धो गो॒पा अ॒मृत॑स्य रक्षि॒ता ॥

Vaishvanara, merciful lord of the world and humanity, cosmic yajaka and visionary creator, who conceives, creates and ordains all regions of the universe, who illuminates the radiance of heaven, who pervades, expands and transcends all the worlds of existence, is the sole lord supreme, unchallenged ruler, sustainer and protector of the mortal world and the state of immortality.

✦ Sukta 8 · 7 verses ✦

6.8.1

पृ॒क्षस्य॒ वृष्णो॑ अरु॒षस्य॒ नू सहः॒ प्र नु वो॑चं वि॒दथा॑ जा॒तवे॑दसः । वै॒श्वा॒न॒राय॑ म॒तिर्नव्य॑सी॒ शुचिः॒ सोम॑इव पवते॒ चारु॑र॒ग्नये॑ ॥

Spontaneously I sing and celebrate the knowledge and omnipotence of Jataveda, omniscient lord creator, omnipresent, generous, refulgent and merciful. The holy thoughts and words of the song flow ever fresh, pure, soothing and sanctifying like the streams of soma in honour of the universal lord and leading light of the world.

· · ·

6.8.2

स जाय॑मानः पर॒मे व्यो॑मनि व्र॒तान्य॒ग्निर्व्र॑त॒पा अ॑रक्षत । व्य१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षममिमीत सु॒क्रतु॑र्वैश्वान॒रो म॑हि॒ना नाक॑मस्पृशत् ॥

He, Agni, ordainer of the laws of existence, manifesting in the highest heavens like the sun, protects and sustains the laws of life, being ordainer and observer of the laws of existence. Vaishvanara, immanent in the heart of humanity, holy protector of yajnic actions, pervades the firmament and, with his grand potential, gives the magic touch of refulgence to the heaven of joy.

· · ·

6.8.3

व्य॑स्तभ्ना॒द् रोद॑सी मि॒त्रो अद्भु॑तोऽन्त॒र्वाव॑दकृणो॒ज्ज्योति॑षा॒ तमः॑ । वि चर्म॑णीव धि॒षणे॑ अवर्तयद्वैश्वान॒रो विश्व॑मधत्त॒ वृष्ण्य॑म् ॥

Vaishvanara, leading light and life of existence, universal friend and light giver, marvellous and all immanent unmoved mover, holds the heaven and earth in balance, covers, i.e., dispels darkness with light, revolves heaven and earth, day and night, wearing both like changing and alternate forms and thus sustains the entire living, organismic generous universe.

· · ·

6.8.4

अ॒पामु॒पस्थे॑ महि॒षा अ॑गृभ्णत॒ विशो॒ राजा॑न॒मुप॑ तस्थुर्ऋ॒ग्मिय॑म् । आ दू॒तो अ॒ग्निम॑भरद्वि॒वस्व॑तो वैश्वान॒रं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑ परा॒वतः॑ ॥

In the midst of spatial oceans of particles in the firmament, great scholars and scientists perceive, receive and develop Agni celebrated in the Rks and closely abide by it in study like people abiding by the ruler for their benefit. Vayu, currents of cosmic energy abiding in space, acts as carrier and bears Vaishvanara, universal energy of heat and light from the far off sun for the benefit of the world.

· · ·

6.8.5

यु॒गेयु॑गे विद॒थ्यं॑ गृ॒णद्भ्योऽग्ने॑ र॒यिं य॒शसं॑ धेहि॒ नव्य॑सीम् । प॒व्येव॑ राजन्न॒घशं॑समजर नी॒चा नि वृ॑श्च व॒निनं॒ न तेज॑सा ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, from year to year, age by age, bear and bring for the dedicated celebrants latest and newest wealth and honour for advancement in knowledge and action. O brilliant ruler, unaging and imperishable, strike down the agent of sin and crime as you strike down a tree or a cloud by thunder and lightning.

· · ·

6.8.6

अ॒स्माक॑मग्ने म॒घव॑त्सु धार॒याऽना॑मि क्ष॒त्रम॒जरं॑ सु॒वीर्य॑म् । व॒यं ज॑येम श॒तिनं॑ सह॒स्रिणं॒ वैश्वा॑नर॒ वाज॑मग्ने॒ तवो॒तिभिः॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, Vaishvanara, kindly ruler of the hearts of humanity, among our people who are blest with wealth, honour and power by virtue of your gifts of protection and advancement, establish a noble, courteous, inalienable and unaging social order of freedom worthy of the brave. We pray we may win a hundredfold and a thousandfold victories of food and sustenance, energy and progress under your protection and promotion.

· · ·

6.8.7

अद॑ब्धेभि॒स्तव॑ गो॒पाभि॑रिष्टे॒ऽस्माकं॑ पाहि त्रिषधस्थ सू॒रीन् । रक्षा॑ च नो द॒दुषां॒ शर्धो॑ अग्ने॒ वैश्वा॑नर॒ प्र च॑ तारीः॒ स्तवा॑नः ॥

Agni, refulgent leader, Vaishvanara, gracious ruling presence of the world, loving and adorable guardian present in the three worlds of earth, heaven and the firmament, presiding power of the three councils of governance, legislation and education, with your loving, non-violent and irresistible forces of defence and protection for advancement, pray protect and promote our saints and sages, scholars and the brave heroes and leaders. And protect us all, sustain and advance the courage and morale of all the celebrants and generous givers and yajakas. Save us all, O lord adorable, lead us all across the seas of darkness to the cherished goal.

✦ Sukta 9 · 7 verses ✦

6.9.1

अह॑श्च कृ॒ष्णमह॒रर्जु॑नं च॒ वि व॑र्तेते॒ रज॑सी वे॒द्याभिः॑ । वै॒श्वा॒न॒रो जाय॑मानो॒ न राजावा॑तिर॒ज्ज्योति॑षा॒ग्निस्तमां॑सि ॥

The dark half of the earth’s daily round, the night, and the bright half, the day, revolve alternately in the terrestrial atmosphere alongwith their cognizable characteristics. Vaishvanara Agni, the sun, darling of the world, as it rises, overcomes and dispels the darkness with light like a ruler eliminating the dark and evil forces of society.

· · ·

6.9.2

नाहं तन्तुं॒ न वि जा॑ना॒म्योतुं॒ न यं वय॑न्ति सम॒रेऽत॑मानाः । कस्य॑ स्वित्पु॒त्र इ॒ह वक्त्वा॑नि प॒रो व॑दा॒त्यव॑रेण पि॒त्रा ॥

I know not the warp nor the woof of the web of life. Nor do I know the design of the web which the weavers weave together in their constant concourse of nights and days. Whose son here or far off, pure and purifying, could say what ought to be said by virtue of the father, or teacher or the supreme teacher at the closest? Who knows?

· · ·

6.9.3

स इत्तन्तुं॒ स वि जा॑ना॒त्योतुं॒ स वक्त्वा॑न्यृतु॒था व॑दाति । य ईं॒ चिके॑तद॒मृत॑स्य गो॒पा अ॒वश्चर॑न्प॒रो अ॒न्येन॒ पश्य॑न् ॥

He surely knows the warp, he knows the woof, he speaks of what ought to be spoken according to the season and the circumstances, he who knows the flow of the stream of life and time, who is the master and keeper of the eternals, and eternal knowledge, who knows and moves up and down, far and near, seeing the reality by the eye of the other, the supreme lord of eternal light.

· · ·

6.9.4

अ॒यं होता॑ प्रथ॒मः पश्य॑ते॒ममि॒दं ज्योति॑र॒मृतं॒ मर्त्ये॑षु । अ॒यं स ज॑ज्ञे ध्रु॒व आ निष॒त्तोऽम॑र्त्यस्त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ वर्ध॑मानः ॥

This supreme lord is the prime yajaka, giver and receiver. See and know this immortal light among the mortals. And this is that other, the individual soul, unshaken, immovable, firmly seated in the personality, immortal, growing in knowledge and vision and the body in which it is born.

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6.9.5

ध्रु॒वं ज्योति॒र्निहि॑तं दृ॒शये॒ कं मनो॒ जवि॑ष्ठं प॒तय॑त्स्व॒न्तः । विश्वे॑ दे॒वाः सम॑नसः॒ सके॑ता॒ एकं॒ क्रतु॑म॒भि वि य॑न्ति सा॒धु ॥

In order that the individual soul may see the one immovable blissful divine light enshrined in the cave of the heart, there is the mind, fastest of psychic faculties in the personality of all those who direct themselves to the one centre. All the organs of perception, in fact all the illuminative elements of nature, all of equal competence, united together and in unison with the mind efficiently move toward the individual soul.

· · ·

6.9.6

वि मे॒ कर्णा॑ पतयतो॒ वि चक्षु॒र्वी॒३॒॑दं ज्योति॒र्हृद॑य॒ आहि॑तं॒ यत् । वि मे॒ मन॑श्चरति दू॒रआ॑धीः॒ किं स्वि॑द्व॒क्ष्यामि॒ किमु॒ नू म॑निष्ये ॥

My ears, as I feel impelled to have a vision of the inner light of divinity, my eyes, the light of the spirit enshrined in the heart, my mind which connects with far off things, all move to help me see the light of divinity within me. What at all shall I say more? What shall I think more?

· · ·

6.9.7

विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अ॑नमस्यन्भिया॒नास्त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ तम॑सि तस्थि॒वांस॑म् । वै॒श्वा॒न॒रो॑ऽवतू॒तये॒ नोऽम॑र्त्योऽवतू॒तये॑ नः ॥

Agni, light of life, life of the universe abiding at the centre of darkness and mystery of existence, all divinities of nature and humanity with all their sense and power bow to you in awe. We pray may Vaishvanara, immortal light of the soul and the universe, protect us for safety, security and well being, protect us for peace and progress.

✦ Sukta 10 · 7 verses ✦

6.10.1

पु॒रो वो॑ म॒न्द्रं दि॒व्यं सु॑वृ॒क्तिं प्र॑य॒ति य॒ज्ञे अ॒ग्निम॑ध्व॒रे द॑धिध्वम् । पु॒र उ॒क्थेभिः॒ स हि नो॑ वि॒भावा॑ स्वध्व॒रा क॑रति जा॒तवे॑दाः ॥

In your well-planned and projected programmes of yajnic development free from violence, first and foremost, with right formulae and right process, place in the fore front Agni, holy fire and leading light, charming presence, brilliant and pure power leading to the right goal by the right path. That power and presence alone, kind and loving, immanent in all that exists, leads holy acts of love and kindness to sure success.

· · ·

6.10.2

तमु॑ द्युमः पुर्वणीक होत॒रग्ने॑ अ॒ग्निभि॒र्मनु॑ष इधा॒नः । स्तोमं॒ यम॑स्मै म॒मते॑व शू॒षं घृ॒तं न शुचि॑ म॒तयः॑ पवन्ते ॥

Agni, sagely yajaka brilliant in knowledge and fiery in will and action who inspire people with passion and enthusiasm, pray listen to the song of celebration, powerful as love and pure as ghrta, which wise and thoughtful people sing and sanctify in honour of this holy fire.

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6.10.3

पी॒पाय॒ स श्रव॑सा॒ मर्त्ये॑षु॒ यो अ॒ग्नये॑ द॒दाश॒ विप्र॑ उ॒क्थैः । चि॒त्राभि॒स्तमू॒तिभि॑श्चि॒त्रशो॑चिर्व्र॒जस्य॑ सा॒ता गोम॑तो दधाति ॥

That sagely scholar thrives among mortals with honour and excellence who serves and advances the holy fire with songs of praise and holy materials. And Agni too, commanding marvellous light and flames, blesses him with wonderful forms of protection and advances him on the paths of progress with plenty of wealth, land, cows and gifts of knowledge and enlightenment.

· · ·

6.10.4

आ यः प॒प्रौ जाय॑मान उ॒र्वी दू॑रे॒दृशा॑ भा॒सा कृ॒ष्णाध्वा॑ । अध॑ ब॒हु चि॒त्तम॒ ऊर्म्या॑यास्ति॒रः शो॒चिषा॑ ददृशे पाव॒कः ॥

As Agni rises and manifests itself like the sun, it is seen from afar and, going over areas of darkness by the paths it makes for itself, it fills the wide spaces of heaven and earth with its light. The light and fire, pure and purifying, thus overcomes the deep darkness of the night with splendour and reveals its glory and the reality of things.

· · ·

6.10.5

नू न॑श्चि॒त्रं पु॑रु॒वाजा॑भिरू॒ती अग्ने॑ र॒यिं म॒घव॑द्भ्यश्च धेहि । ये राध॑सा॒ श्रव॑सा॒ चात्य॒न्यान्त्सु॒वीर्ये॑भिश्चा॒भि सन्ति॒ जना॑न् ॥

Agni, leading light of life, for all time with wonderful vigour, power and forces of action in perfect safety and protection, bear and bring abundant wealth and excellence for us and for those leaders of magnificence who stand out before other people by means and materials, honour and fame, courage and fortitude.

· · ·

6.10.6

इ॒मं य॒ज्ञं चनो॑ धा अग्न उ॒शन्यं त॑ आसा॒नो जु॑हु॒ते ह॒विष्मा॑न् । भ॒रद्वा॑जेषु दधिषे सुवृ॒क्तिमवी॒र्वाज॑स्य॒ गध्य॑स्य सा॒तौ ॥

Agni, leading light of life, loving and anxious for the success of this yajnic programme of development and service,

bring holy food, energy and sustenance. You always bless the men of munificence, power and success with glory and excellence. Protect us in the battles for science and energy and the wealth and values of our choice.

· · ·

6.10.7

वि द्वेषां॑सीनु॒हि व॒र्धयेळां॒ मदे॑म श॒तहि॑माः सु॒वीराः॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of life, drive away hate, jealousy and the enemies. Promote food and energy, protect and replenish the earth and her resources, advance knowledge and holy speech. Bless us that we may be happy and live a hundred years with heroic progeny.

✦ Sukta 11 · 6 verses ✦

6.11.1

यज॑स्व होतरिषि॒तो यजी॑या॒नग्ने॒ बाधो॑ म॒रुतां॒ न प्रयु॑क्ति । आ नो॑ मि॒त्रावरु॑णा॒ नास॑त्या॒ द्यावा॑ हो॒त्राय॑ पृथि॒वी व॑वृत्याः ॥

Keep the fire of yajna burning, O yajaka, loved, inspired and invoked, leading light of life most reverential, bulwark of defence and protection like the force and freshness of winds for the unity and engagement of the people in common causes of creation and development. Bring up for us Mitra and Varuna, powers of love and friendship, judgement and protection, theAshvins ever true, heaven and earth, keep them on ever active together for the advancement of our yajnic endeavours.

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6.11.2

त्वं होता॑ म॒न्द्रत॑मो नो अ॒ध्रुग॒न्तर्दे॒वो वि॒दथा॒ मर्त्ये॑षु । पा॒व॒कया॑ जु॒ह्वा॒३॒॑ वह्नि॑रा॒साग्ने॒ यज॑स्व त॒न्वं१॒॑ तव॒ स्वाम् ॥

Agni, you are our leading light of yajna, charming and blissful, free from jealousy among mortals, radiant and generous creator giver in our yajnic endeavours, harbinger of wealth by the purifying flames of fire with havis offered with the holy ladle of ghrta and catalysed to fragrance. O lord of us all, develop your own self of radiant fire and develop the social structure of order.

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6.11.3

धन्या॑ चि॒द्धि त्वे धि॒षणा॒ वष्टि॒ प्र दे॒वाञ्जन्म॑ गृण॒ते यज॑ध्यै । वेपि॑ष्ठो॒ अङ्गि॑रसां॒ यद्ध॒ विप्रो॒ मधु॑च्छ॒न्दो भन॑ति रे॒भ इ॒ष्टौ ॥

Blessed is the mind and intelligence in pursuit of life’s wealth and grace which concentrates on you, Agni, for the celebrant soul to realise the manifestations of Divinity when the devotee, most vibrant sage among the Angirasas, wise saints and scholars, sings as a poet in ecstasy for the cherished attainment.

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6.11.4

अदि॑द्युत॒त्स्वपा॑को वि॒भावाग्ने॒ यज॑स्व॒ रोद॑सी उरू॒ची । आ॒युं न यं नम॑सा रा॒तह॑व्या अ॒ञ्जन्ति॑ सुप्र॒यसं॒ पञ्च॒ जनाः॑ ॥

O Brilliant, self-refulgent, glorious power of noble action, Agni, leading light of the world, rise over the wide earth and heaven. All the five classes of people bearing sacred offerings honour and celebrate you with submission and homage as abundant giver of life’s blessings, indeed as the very spirit of life. O man, rise and join the Spirit omnipresent.

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6.11.5

वृ॒ञ्जे ह॒ यन्नम॑सा ब॒र्हिर॒ग्नावया॑मि॒ स्रुग्घृ॒तव॑ती सुवृ॒क्तिः । अम्य॑क्षि॒ सद्म॒ सद॑ने पृथि॒व्या अश्रा॑यि य॒ज्ञः सूर्ये॒ न चक्षुः॑ ॥

Surely when the grass is gathered with reverence, the ladle overflowing with ghrta is raised over the fire with sacred hymns, the vedi is firmly settled on the ground, then the yajna is accomplished on the earth as the eye is established in the sun (from birth to death with the last rites).

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6.11.6

द॒श॒स्या नः॑ पुर्वणीक होतर्दे॒वेभि॑रग्ने अ॒ग्निभि॑रिधा॒नः । रा॒यः सू॑नो सहसो वावसा॒ना अति॑ स्रसेम वृ॒जनं॒ नांहः॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of life, shining in infinite manifestations, cosmic yajaka and giver of fragrance, blazing with divine flames of fire, omnipotent generator of strength, bestow on us wealths of existence so that, blest with the light of Divinity, we may complete our life’s journey and avoid the paths of sin.

✦ Sukta 12 · 6 verses ✦

6.12.1

मध्ये॒ होता॑ दुरो॒णे ब॒र्हिषो॒ राळ॒ग्निस्तो॒दस्य॒ रोद॑सी॒ यज॑ध्यै । अ॒यं स सू॒नुः सह॑स ऋ॒तावा॑ दू॒रात्सूर्यो॒ न शो॒चिषा॑ ततान ॥

Agni, ruling light of the world, cosmic yajaka in the midst of the yajnic house of space, radiates as light of the sun to join the heaven and earth together. So does this yajaka, child of courage and forbearance, observing the laws of truth and yajna in the midst of the house of yajna, shine from afar like the sun and extends over earth and heaven (with the fragrance of fire).

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6.12.2

आ यस्मि॒न्त्वे स्वपा॑के यजत्र॒ यक्ष॑द्राजन्त्स॒र्वता॑तेव॒ नु द्यौः । त्रि॒ष॒धस्थ॑स्तत॒रुषो॒ न जंहो॑ ह॒व्या म॒घानि॒ मानु॑षा॒ यज॑ध्यै ॥

Agni, adorable self-refulgent ruling power of life and yajna, let the light of the sun join your radiance as in yajna for universal good so that the light pervasive in heaven, firmament and earth like a dynamic saving power of vitality may create and develop means and materials for wealth and prosperity, honour and excellence for humanity.

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6.12.3

तेजि॑ष्ठा॒ यस्या॑र॒तिर्व॑ने॒राट् तो॒दो अध्व॒न्न वृ॑धसा॒नो अ॑द्यौत् । अ॒द्रो॒घो न द्र॑वि॒ता चे॑तति॒ त्मन्नम॑र्त्योऽव॒र्त्र ओष॑धीषु ॥

Agni, whose brilliant pervasiveness blazing in the rays of the sun and shining over the forests radiates advancing on its path like the sun in orbit, manifests by its self-refulgence in herbs and trees as a power free from hate and jealousy, a presence indispensable and inevitable, dynamic and imperishable.

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6.12.4

सास्माके॑भिरे॒तरी॒ न शू॒षैर॒ग्निः ष्ट॑वे॒ दम॒ आ जा॒तवे॑दाः । द्र्व॑न्नो व॒न्वन् क्रत्वा॒ नार्वो॒स्रः पि॒तेव॑ जार॒यायि॑ य॒ज्ञैः ॥

That refulgent ruling power of the world, Agni, knows and resides with all that exists and it is honoured and celebrated in our welcome homes by us with all our strength and enthusiasm. Manifest even in the simplest forms and in wood and forests, loving, noble by intelligence and holy action, Agni is honoured with homage and yajnas as father, celebrated like a tempestuous power and loved like the light of dawn.

· · ·

6.12.5

अध॑ स्मास्य पनयन्ति॒ भासो॒ वृथा॒ यत्तक्ष॑दनु॒याति॑ पृ॒थ्वीम् । स॒द्यो यः स्य॒न्द्रो विषि॑तो॒ धवी॑यानृ॒णो न ता॒युरति॒ धन्वा॑ राट् ॥

And then people admire and celebrate its light and splendour which it releases, refines and intensifies into forms as it goes along on way by the earth, which power whoever knows, always and instantly radiating, flowing, pervading, flying, moving and shaking like flood and storm, the man becomes brilliant with knowledge and shines with the power of superior arms and armaments.

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6.12.6

स त्वं नो॑ अर्व॒न्निदा॑या॒ विश्वे॑भिरग्ने अ॒ग्निभि॑रिधा॒नः । वेषि॑ रा॒यो वि या॑सि दु॒च्छुना॒ मदे॑म श॒तहि॑माः सु॒वीराः॑ ॥

Agni, ruling light of the world, instant dynamic and omnipresent power burning with all kinds of light and fire, protect us from reproach, create and bring us wealth, honour and excellence, ward off and destroy hate, enmity and evil, and let us all enjoy and celebrate a full hundred years of life in the company of brave children and heroic warriors of the earth.

✦ Sukta 13 · 6 verses ✦

6.13.1

त्वद् विश्वा॑ सुभग॒ सौभ॑गा॒न्यग्ने॒ वि य॑न्ति व॒निनो॒ न व॒याः । श्रु॒ष्टी र॒यिर्वाजो॑ वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑ दि॒वो वृ॒ष्टिरीड्यो॑ री॒तिर॒पाम् ॥

Agni, ruling light of life, lord of good fortune, honour and excellence of the world, from you arise and grow all riches, honours and graces of life like branches of the tree growing and extending from the same one root. Sure and beneficent wealth, strength and spirit to break the demon of darkness, thunder for the cloud and rain from the skies, glorious showers of the waters of life and the adorable flow of holy action, all these too arise and expand from you alone.

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6.13.2

त्वं भगो॑ न॒ आ हि रत्न॑मि॒षे परि॑ज्मेव क्षयसि द॒स्मव॑र्चाः । अग्ने॑ मि॒त्रो न बृ॑ह॒त ऋ॒तस्याऽसि॑ क्ष॒त्ता वा॒मस्य॑ देव॒ भूरेः॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, like a magnanimous master, you bestow upon us cherished jewel wealths of the world. Power of extra ordinary deeds of glory, you move and abide everywhere like the circumambient wind, omnipresent. O refulgent and generous friend of the world like the sun, you are the light and path-maker for our pursuit of the highest and widest paths of universal truth and life’s onward flow, and you are the gracious dispenser of the fruits of human action.

· · ·

6.13.3

स सत्प॑तिः॒ शव॑सा हन्ति वृ॒त्रमग्ने॒ विप्रो॒ वि प॒णेर्भ॑र्ति॒ वाज॑म् । यं त्वं प्र॑चेत ऋतजात रा॒या स॒जोषा॒ नप्त्रा॒पां हि॒नोषि॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of life, only that wise and vibrant sage, observer, protector and promoter of truth and the paths of truth, destroys the evil and darkness of the world with strength and courage, and only he commands the knowledge and power of a worthy leader whom you, O lord omniscient and omnipresent in the world of truth, call, inspire and bless with wealth and fire for action and success, and whom you accept as your own.

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6.13.4

यस्ते॑ सूनो सहसो गी॒र्भिरु॒क्थैर्य॒ज्ञैर्मर्तो॒ निशि॑तिं वे॒द्यान॑ट् । विश्वं॒ स दे॑व॒ प्रति॒ वार॑मग्ने ध॒त्ते धा॒न्यं१॒॑ पत्य॑ते वस॒व्यैः॑ ॥

Agni, O child of omnipotence and maker of the brave, generous and brilliant ruler of the world, whoever is the mortal who with songs of praise and prayer and noble yajnic deeds receives by the vedi, seat of yajna, his focus and favour for action, he abounds in cherished gifts of life and commands the wealth and power of the world with all treasure sources of prosperity.

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6.13.5

ता नृभ्य॒ आ सौ॑श्रव॒सा सु॒वीराग्ने॑ सूनो सहसः पु॒ष्यसे॑ धाः । कृ॒णोषि॒ यच्छव॑सा॒ भूरि॑ प॒श्वो वयो॒ वृका॑या॒रये॒ जसु॑रये ॥

Agni, leader and ruler of the world, creator of strength, courage and forbearance, bear and bring those renowned acts of enlightenment and brave heroes and that abundant food and nourishment, cattle wealth, health and age which you create with your strength and power for sustenance and support of the people and weaker sections of the community and in defence against the wolfish thieves and violent enemies.

· · ·

6.13.6

व॒द्मा सू॑नो सहसो नो॒ विहा॑या॒ अग्ने॑ तो॒कं तन॑यं वा॒जिनो॑ दाः । विश्वा॑भिर्गी॒र्भिर॒भि पू॒र्तिम॑श्यां॒ मदे॑म श॒तहि॑माः सु॒वीराः॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, creator and giver of strength and forbearance, great and eminently enlightened leader, speak to us of truth and knowledge. Lead us to have brave progressive children, grand children and heroic warriors. Let us have complete happiness and fulfilment with all our songs of praise and prayer and let us enjoy life for a full hundred years in the company of our brave children.

✦ Sukta 14 · 6 verses ✦

6.14.1

अ॒ग्ना यो मर्त्यो॒ दुवो॒ धियं॑ जु॒जोष॑ धी॒तिभिः॑ । भस॒न्नु ष प्र पू॒र्व्य इषं॑ वुरी॒ताव॑से ॥

The mortal who dedicates his faith and worship, reason and intelligence with all his thoughts and intentions, devotion and prayers to Agni, light and fire of life, surely shines as first and foremost in excellence, blest with food and energy, knowledge and enlightenment for all round protection and progress.

· · ·

6.14.2

अ॒ग्निरिद्धि प्रचे॑ता अ॒ग्निर्वे॒धस्त॑म॒ ऋषिः॑ । अ॒ग्निं होता॑रमीळते य॒ज्ञेषु॒ मनु॑षो॒ विशः॑ ॥

Agni is enlightened and giver of enlightenment, wisest and most worshipful, a seer of ultimate reality and revelation. Thoughtful people honour and adore Agni, high priest of cosmic yajna and giver of all blessings, in their yajnic acts of creation and development.

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6.14.3

नाना॒ ह्य१॒॑ग्नेऽव॑से॒ स्पर्ध॑न्ते॒ रायो॑ अ॒र्यः । तूर्व॑न्तो॒ दस्यु॑मा॒यवो॑ व्र॒तैः सीक्ष॑न्तो अव्र॒तम् ॥

Successful people in the socio-economic field vie with each other in various ways for protection and progress, overcoming anti-social elements for the purpose of challenging and defeating the unprincipled by their ways of discipline.

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6.14.4

अ॒ग्निर॒प्सामृ॑ती॒षहं॑ वी॒रं द॑दाति॒ सत्प॑तिम् । यस्य॒ त्रस॑न्ति॒ शव॑सः सं॒चक्षि॒ शत्र॑वो भि॒या ॥

Agni blesses and makes way for the rise and advancement of the brave man of action who challenges and conquers the attacks of evil and protects and promotes the good life of truth, because in the face of his courage and valour the enemies shake with fear and flee.

· · ·

6.14.5

अ॒ग्निर्हि वि॒द्मना॑ नि॒दो दे॒वो मर्त॑मुरु॒ष्यति॑ । स॒हावा॒ यस्यावृ॑तो र॒यिर्वाजे॒ष्ववृ॑तः ॥

Agni, generous and brilliant leader, for sure, with his knowledge and power protects mortals from hate, jealousy and enmity. He is an open and spontaneous protector, and whoever the man he protects, his wealth and honour is safe, open and unchallengeable in the battles of life.

· · ·

6.14.6

अच्छा॑ नो मित्रमहो देव दे॒वानग्ने॒ वोचः॑ सुम॒तिं रोद॑स्योः । वी॒हि स्व॒स्तिं सु॑क्षि॒तिं दि॒वो नॄन्द्वि॒षो अंहां॑सि दुरि॒ता त॑रेम॒ ता त॑रेम॒ तवाव॑सा तरेम ॥

Agni, leading light of life, generous and refulgent lord, greatest friend adorable, speak to us well, specially to men of brilliance and the people who love to know of the knowledge of heaven and earth, and of the three fires of earth, firmament and the solar sphere: fire, wind, and electricity and light. Bring us the good life of truth and all round well-being and a happy home for peaceful living. Help us get over jealousy, sin and crime and evil conduct, help us get over malignity, reproach and enmity, protect us, save us and let us cross over the seas of life by your grace.

✦ Sukta 15 · 19 verses ✦

6.15.1

इ॒ममू॒ षु वो॒ अति॑थिमुष॒र्बुधं॒ विश्वा॑सां वि॒शां पति॑मृञ्जसे गि॒रा । वेतीद्दि॒वो ज॒नुषा॒ कच्चि॒दा शुचि॒र्ज्योक्चि॑दत्ति॒ गर्भो॒ यदच्यु॑तम् ॥

O sage and scholar, this holy guest of yours visiting and waking you up at dawn, guardian and sustainer of all people of the world, you honour and adore with sacred words of song. He comes from the heaven of light, is wholly pure and immaculate by nature and, subsisting in the earth and everywhere, constantly consumes what never perishes, never decreases.

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6.15.2

मि॒त्रं न यं सुधि॑तं॒ भृग॑वो द॒धुर्वन॒स्पता॒वीड्य॑मू॒र्ध्वशो॑चिषम् । स त्वं सुप्री॑तो वी॒तह॑व्ये अद्भुत॒ प्रश॑स्तिभिर्महयसे दि॒वेदि॑वे ॥

Agni whom the wise ones discover in sun rays and generate in arani wood is firm, well placed, sweet as nectar and adorable. As such, O leading light of marvellous knowledge, kind as a friend and rising high in flames of fire and light of life, ever pleased with the supplicant, you are honoured and exalted with holy songs of celebration day by day by the devotees.

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6.15.3

स त्वं दक्ष॑स्यावृ॒को वृ॒धो भू॑र॒र्यः पर॒स्यान्त॑रस्य॒ तरु॑षः । रा॒यः सू॑नो सहसो॒ मर्त्ये॒ष्वा छ॒र्दिर्य॑च्छ वी॒तह॑व्याय स॒प्रथो॑ भ॒रद्वा॑जाय स॒प्रथः॑ ॥

Agni, child of omnipotence, leading light and giver of strength and courage, loving ruler free from jealousy and grabbing cruelty, be promoter of the efficient and the expert, be the master of external, internal and victorious power and honour, bring settlement, peace and comfort for the people, rise in expansion for the giver and receiver of yajnic creations, and honour the man of science and technology with recognition and advancement.

· · ·

6.15.4

द्यु॒ता॒नं वो॒ अति॑थिं॒ स्व॑र्णरम॒ग्निं होता॑रं॒ मनु॑षः स्वध्व॒रम् । विप्रं॒ न द्यु॒क्षव॑चसं सुवृ॒क्तिभि॑र्हव्य॒वाह॑मर॒तिं दे॒वमृ॑ञ्जसे ॥

Honour and felicitate with songs of praise and place of eminence the radiant Agni, leading light and pioneer, dear as an honoured guest, harbinger of peace and joy, holy organiser and creative high priest of the joint programmes of humanity, like a vibrant sage and scholar, speaker of heavenly words, giver and carrier of yajnic materials of fragrance and wealth of honour and above all a beacon of light for advancement.

· · ·

6.15.5

पा॒व॒कया॒ यश्चि॒तय॑न्त्या कृ॒पा क्षाम॑न्रुरु॒च उ॒षसो॒ न भा॒नुना॑ । तूर्व॒न्न याम॒न्नेत॑शस्य॒ नू रण॒ आ यो घृ॒णे न त॑तृषा॒णो अ॒जरः॑ ॥

Free from age and decay, Agni, with purifying splendour of enlightenment, shines over the earth like the dawns with light at break of day, rushing and overpowering darkness like a war hero on course in battle, thirsting for victory in its blaze.

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6.15.6

अ॒ग्निम॑ग्निं वः स॒मिधा॑ दुवस्यत प्रि॒यंप्रि॑यं वो॒ अति॑थिं गृणी॒षणि॑ । उप॑ वो गी॒र्भिर॒मृतं॑ विवासत दे॒वो दे॒वेषु॒ वन॑ते॒ हि वार्यं॑ दे॒वो दे॒वेषु॒ वन॑ते॒ हि नो॒ दुवः॑ ॥

In the daily business and holy observances of life, honour and serve Agni regularly day by day with offers of fuel and fragrant food. Agni is dear and dearer, welcome as a learned visitor worthy of honour and felicitation. Serve and exalt imperishable Agni with words of faith and reverence. Refulgent Agni vests brilliant divinities of nature and eminent scholars with valuable wealth and knowledge and blesses us with cherished gifts of life.

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6.15.7

समि॑द्धम॒ग्निं स॒मिधा॑ गि॒रा गृ॑णे॒ शुचिं॑ पाव॒कं पु॒रो अ॑ध्व॒रे ध्रु॒वम् । विप्रं॒ होता॑रं पुरु॒वार॑म॒द्रुहं॑ क॒विं सु॒म्नैरी॑महे जा॒तवे॑दसम् ॥

I glorify the lighted fire, pure and purifying power, firm and foremost in holy works of love and non-violent development. In our state of peace and comfort, we celebrate and pray to the vibrant light giver of gifts, universally admired, free from jealousy, poetic creator, all knowing and present in all that exists.

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6.15.8

त्वां दू॒तम॑ग्ने अ॒मृतं॑ यु॒गेयु॑गे हव्य॒वाहं॑ दधिरे पा॒युमीड्य॑म् । दे॒वास॑श्च॒ मर्ता॑सश्च॒ जागृ॑विं वि॒भुं वि॒श्पतिं॒ नम॑सा॒ नि षे॑दिरे ॥

I glorify the lighted fire, pure and purifying power, firm and foremost in holy works of love and non-violent development. In our state of peace and comfort, we celebrate and pray to the vibrant light giver of gifts, universally admired, free from jealousy, poetic creator, all knowing and present in all that exists.

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6.15.9

वि॒भूष॑न्नग्न उ॒भयाँ॒ अनु॑ व्र॒ता दू॒तो दे॒वानां॒ रज॑सी॒ समी॑यसे । यत्ते॑ धी॒तिं सु॑म॒तिमा॑वृणी॒महेऽध॑ स्मा नस्त्रि॒वरू॑थः शि॒वो भ॑व ॥

Agni, lord beatific, purifying fire, gracious to both wise and innocent according to your eternal law, self-refulgent light giver for the brilliant and generous, you pervade heaven and earth with your saving presence. As we meditate on your holy light and vision of knowledge, in consequence by your grace be kind and good to us, O lord of three worlds, omnipresent, omniscient and omnificent.

· · ·

6.15.10

तं सु॒प्रती॑कं सु॒दृशं॒ स्वञ्च॒मवि॑द्वांसो वि॒दुष्ट॑रं सपेम । स य॑क्ष॒द् विश्वा॑ व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वान्प्र ह॒व्यम॒ग्निर॒मृते॑षु वोचत् ॥

We, people of limited knowledge, honour, adore and worship Agni, lord of glorious flames of action, of beatific vision, gracious wielder of the universe, lord almighty over all. May he, Agni, omniscient presence in all knowable objects and laws of existence, bless us and reveal to us, immortal souls, all that ought to be known.

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6.15.11

तम॑ग्ने पास्यु॒त तं पि॑पर्षि॒ यस्त॒ आन॑ट्क॒वये॑ शूर धी॒तिम् । य॒ज्ञस्य॑ वा॒ निशि॑तिं॒ वोदि॑तिं वा॒ तमित्पृ॑णक्षि॒ शव॑सो॒त रा॒या ॥

Agni, lord of light and grace, him you protect and promote with fulfilment who dedicates his thought and action to you and meditates on you, lord omnipotent of universal vision and poetic creation. And whoever offers you rising flames of yajna and progressive action, you shower him with wealth, power, honour and courage.

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6.15.12

त्वम॑ग्ने वनुष्य॒तो नि पा॑हि॒ त्वमु॑ नः सहसावन्नव॒द्यात् । सं त्वा॑ ध्वस्म॒न्वद॒भ्ये॑तु॒ पाथः॒ सं र॒यिः स्पृ॑ह॒याय्यः॑ सह॒स्री ॥

Agni, lord of force and forbearance, we pray, you protect us, the devotees, against the violent and the malignant. May food and water free from negativity, mighty powerful against the violent come to you. May cherished wealth and power of a hundred and thousandfold efficacy come to you.

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6.15.13

अ॒ग्निर्होता॑ गृ॒हप॑तिः॒ स राजा॒ विश्वा॑ वेद॒ जनि॑मा जा॒तवे॑दाः । दे॒वाना॑मु॒त यो मर्त्या॑नां॒ यजि॑ष्ठः॒ स प्र य॑जतामृ॒तावा॑ ॥

Agni is the cosmic highpriest of the dynamics of existence, lord protector of the house of life, ruler omniscient and omnipresent of all that is, and he knows the origin of all that comes into existence. He is the most adorable lord of the bounties of nature and of mortal humanity. May he, lord of truth and law, accept us as participants of cosmic yajna and carry on the yajna of creativity for us.

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6.15.14

अग्ने॒ यद॒द्य वि॒शो अ॑ध्वरस्य होतः॒ पाव॑कशोचे॒ वेष्ट्वं हि यज्वा॑ । ऋ॒ता य॑जासि महि॒ना वि यद्भूर्ह॒व्या व॑ह यविष्ठ॒ या ते॑ अ॒द्य ॥

Agni is the cosmic highpriest of the dynamics of existence, lord protector of the house of life, ruler omniscient and omnipresent of all that is, and he knows the origin of all that comes into existence. He is the most adorable lord of the bounties of nature and of mortal humanity. May he, lord of truth and law, accept us as participants of cosmic yajna and carry on the yajna of creativity for us.

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6.15.15

अ॒भि प्रयां॑सि॒ सुधि॑तानि॒ हि ख्यो नि त्वा॑ दधीत॒ रोद॑सी॒ यज॑ध्यै । अवा॑ नो मघव॒न्वाज॑साता॒वग्ने॒ विश्वा॑नि दुरि॒ता त॑रेम॒ ता त॑रेम॒ तवाव॑सा तरेम ॥

Agni, light of life, Maghavan, lord of cosmic glory, you reveal to us, bring us, the daintiest delicacies and strongest powers of life and wield the heaven and earth together to sustain the expansive universe. Protect us in the struggles of life so that we may cross over all evils of the world, cross through all of them, win over all of them by your grace and protection.

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6.15.16

अग्ने॒ विश्वे॑भिः स्वनीक दे॒वैरूर्णा॑वन्तं प्रथ॒मः सी॑द॒ योनि॑म् । कु॒ला॒यिनं॑ घृ॒तव॑न्तं सवि॒त्रे य॒ज्ञं न॑य॒ यज॑मानाय सा॒धु ॥

Agni, lord commander of glorious flame and power, highpriest and foremost yajaka, with brilliant nobilities of nature and humanity, take over this home and sit on this vedi covered with holy grass, the home full of people and prosperity and overflowing with fragrant ghrta, and lead the yajna to a noble end for the yajamana in honour of Savita, lord creator, the cosmic organiser of Nature’s yajna.

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6.15.17

इ॒ममु॒ त्यम॑थर्व॒वद॒ग्निं म॑न्थन्ति वे॒धसः॑ । यम॑ङ्कू॒यन्त॒मान॑य॒न्नमू॑रं श्या॒व्या॑भ्यः ॥

This actual as well as potential vibrant energy of fire and electricity, scholars of nature produce by rotative friction as described in the Atharva science of Veda, the energy which travels in waves and is far reaching and deep penetrative for darkness and things hidden in darkness.

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6.15.18

जनि॑ष्वा दे॒ववी॑तये स॒र्वता॑ता स्व॒स्तये॑ । आ दे॒वान् व॑क्ष्य॒मृताँ॑ ऋता॒वृधो॑ य॒ज्ञं दे॒वेषु॑ पिस्पृशः ॥

Produce the fire and generate the energy for noble humanity, for universal good and total well being. Bring up the brilliant scholars together, collect generous and imperishable energies of nature which advance the truth of science and glorify the laws of nature, and let the yajna reach the heights of heaven.

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6.15.19

व॒यमु॑ त्वा गृहपते जनाना॒मग्ने॒ अक॑र्म स॒मिधा॑ बृ॒हन्त॑म् । अ॒स्थू॒रि नो॒ गार्ह॑पत्यानि सन्तु ति॒ग्मेन॑ न॒स्तेज॑सा॒ सं शि॑शाधि ॥

Agni, leading light and power, sustainer of people’s homes, we exalt you and develop power and energy higher and higher with knowledge and inputs of fuel so that our multipower transports and domestic needs be fulfilled. O brilliant lord, enlighten us, teach us by your penetrative and far reaching lustre of knowledge and vision.

✦ Sukta 16 · 48 verses ✦

6.16.1

त्वम॑ग्ने य॒ज्ञानां॒ होता॒ विश्वे॑षां हि॒तः । दे॒वेभि॒र्मानु॑षे॒ जने॑ ॥

Agni, self-refulgent leading light of the universe, you are the chief highpriest of all yajnic developments of nature and of all creative and developmental programmes of humanity for common universal good along with the brilliancies of nature and nobilities of humanity among the human community.

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6.16.2

स नो॑ म॒न्द्राभि॑रध्व॒रे जि॒ह्वाभि॑र्यजा म॒हः । आ दे॒वान्व॑क्षि॒ यक्षि॑ च ॥

O lord almighty, with inspiring words of enlightenment and bliss, consecrate our yajna, join us, bring up noble and brilliant divinities and with them make our yajnic programmes fruitful.

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6.16.3

वेत्था॒ हि वे॑धो॒ अध्व॑नः प॒थश्च॑ दे॒वाञ्ज॑सा । अग्ने॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ सुक्रतो ॥

O refulgent lord of knowledge and wisdom, Agni, you are the prime agent of holy action in corporate programmes, you know the highways and byways of existence, and you command the brilliant powers of nature and humanity by your instant moving presence across time and space.

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6.16.4

त्वामी॑ळे॒ अध॑ द्वि॒ता भ॑र॒तो वा॒जिभिः॑ शु॒नम् । ई॒जे य॒ज्ञेषु॑ य॒ज्ञिय॑म् ॥

I worship you, lord both immanent and transcendent, with all my knowledge, power and potential. You are the ordainer and sustainer of life. I pray for your gift of peace and well-being and yearn for your company, adorable lord, in the yajna of corporate action.

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6.16.5

त्वमि॒मा वार्या॑ पु॒रु दिवो॑दासाय सुन्व॒ते । भ॒रद्वा॑जाय दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

You are the source giver of all these many cherished gifts of life for the enlightened, generous, creative yajaka, master of knowledge, wealth and honour dedicated to social service and charity.

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6.16.6

त्वं दू॒तो अम॑र्त्य॒ आ व॑हा॒ दैव्यं॒ जन॑म् । शृ॒ण्वन् विप्र॑स्य सुष्टु॒तिम् ॥

Imperishable harbinger of light and wisdom, like a divine messenger, listen to the praise and prayer of the vibrant sage and scholar and bring up the man of exceptional brilliance who commands the knowledge of nature and Divinity.

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6.16.7

त्वाम॑ग्ने स्वा॒ध्यो॒३॒॑ मर्ता॑सो दे॒ववी॑तये । य॒ज्ञेषु॑ दे॒वमी॑ळते ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, learned mortals worship and adore you, refulgent giver of abundance, in corporate acts of creativity and development for the achievement of divine gifts of success and enlightenment.

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6.16.8

तव॒ प्र य॑क्षि सं॒दृश॑मु॒त क्रतुं॑ सु॒दान॑वः । विश्वे॑ जुषन्त का॒मिनः॑ ॥

All generous and charitable people inspired with love and desire yearn for a vision of your presence and holy action. O lord, let us have the vision and let us join all such charitable acts.Come Agni, sung and celebrated, to join our feast of enlightenment, accept our homage to create the gifts of life and yajnic development, and take the honoured seat in the assembly.

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6.16.9

त्वं होता॒ मनु॑र्हितो॒ वह्नि॑रा॒सा वि॒दुष्ट॑रः । अग्ने॒ यक्षि॑ दि॒वो विशः॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of life, ruler of the world, you are the generous performer of the yajna of existence, deeply benevolent to humanity by holy words of wisdom. O lord, bless the loving people with the light and wisdom of heaven, most enlightened as you are.

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6.16.10

अग्न॒ आ या॑हि वी॒तये॑ गृणा॒नो ह॒व्यदा॑तये । नि होता॑ सत्सि ब॒र्हिषि॑ ॥

Come Agni, sung and celebrated, to join our feast of enlightenment, accept our homage to create the gifts of life and yajnic development, and take the honoured seat in the assembly.

· · ·

6.16.11

तं त्वा॑ स॒मिद्भि॑रङ्गिरो घृ॒तेन॑ वर्धयामसि । बृ॒हच्छो॑चा यविष्ठ्य ॥

Angira, breath of life, light of the world, expansive, lustrous pure and most youthful, we honour and exalt you with offers of fuel and ghrta to raise the flames of fire to the heights.

· · ·

6.16.12

नः॑ पृ॒थु श्र॒वाय्य॒मच्छा॑ देव विवाससि । बृ॒हद॑ग्ने सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

Agni, lord of light and lustre, mighty expansive power, you bless us graciously with admirable strength and courage worthy of universal honour and fame.

· · ·

6.16.13

त्वाम॑ग्ने॒ पुष्क॑रा॒दध्यथ॑र्वा॒ निर॑मन्थत । मू॒र्ध्नो विश्व॑स्य वा॒घतः॑ ॥

Agni, lord of light and lustre, mighty expansive power, you bless us graciously with admirable strength and courage worthy of universal honour and fame.

· · ·

6.16.14

तमु॑ त्वा द॒ध्यङ्ङृषिः॑ पु॒त्र ई॑धे॒ अथ॑र्वणः । वृ॒त्र॒हणं॑ पुरन्द॒रम् ॥

The seer divining into the meaning of Vedamantra, who is the child of love and non-violence dedicated to scholarly teachers, lights and develops you, breaker of the clouds and shatterer of the strongholds of darkness.

· · ·

6.16.15

तमु॑ त्वा पा॒थ्यो वृषा॒ समी॑धे दस्यु॒हन्त॑मम् । ध॒नं॒ज॒यं रणे॑रणे ॥

The bold and generous scholar, leading light of the paths of life, lights and develops you,Agni, destroyer of the darkness of life and winning source of life’s wealth in battle after battle for progress and prosperity.

· · ·

6.16.16

एह्यू॒ षु ब्रवा॑णि॒ तेऽग्न॑ इ॒त्थेत॑रा॒ गिरः॑ । ए॒भिर्व॑र्धास॒ इन्दु॑भिः ॥

Agni, leading light and pioneer, come, listen, thus do I speak in honour of you, and listen further to higher words, and rise higher with these words sweet and soothing like rays of the moon and exciting as draughts of soma.

· · ·

6.16.17

यत्र॒ क्व॑ च ते॒ मनो॒ दक्षं॑ दधस॒ उत्त॑रम् । तत्रा॒ सदः॑ कृणवसे ॥

O leading light, where, wherever in fact, is your mind, there you hold your efficiency and identity, and there indeed you create your haven and home.

· · ·

6.16.18

न॒हि ते॑ पू॒र्तम॑क्षि॒पद्भुव॑न्नेमानां वसो । अथा॒ दुवो॑ वनवसे ॥

Never is the perfection, abundance and fruitfulness of your food and sustenance ever wasted away, instead it increases, O haven and home of life and creator of its sustenance. Hence accept our homage and reverence.

· · ·

6.16.19

आग्निर॑गामि॒ भार॑तो वृत्र॒हा पु॑रु॒चेत॑नः । दिवो॑दासस्य॒ सत्प॑तिः ॥

Agni, light of life, sustainer of existence, breaker of the clouds of darkness and giver of the bliss of rain, all enlightened and protector of generous enlightened souls, is attained by relentless service, yajna and p

· · ·

6.16.20

स हि विश्वाति॒ पार्थि॑वा र॒यिं दाश॑न्महित्व॒ना । व॒न्वन्नवा॑तो॒ अस्तृ॑तः ॥

That Agni, light of the world, all loving, destroying all evil, unassailable, unshaken, bestows upon us all the wealth, honour and excellence of the world solely by his greatness and power.

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6.16.21

स प्र॑त्न॒वन्नवी॑य॒साग्ने॑ द्यु॒म्नेन॑ सं॒यता॑ । बृ॒हत्त॑तन्थ भा॒नुना॑ ॥

Agni, light of life, pioneer of the world, just as the sun with its splendour of light reveals and illuminates the world more and more as ever before, so you too, as ever before, with latest, well controlled and onward moving light and wealth, honour and excellence of knowledge, pervade, illuminate and expand the world of humanity.

· · ·

6.16.22

प्र वः॑ सखायो अ॒ग्नये॒ स्तोमं॑ य॒ज्ञं च॑ धृष्णु॒या । अर्च॒ गाय॑ च वे॒धसे॑ ॥

O friends, offer your songs of adoration and yajnic programmes of corporate action and advancement in dedication to Agni, leading light of humanity, with full strength and unshakable courage. Thus you worship the lord and sing songs of exaltation in honour of the all knowing illuminant power of divinity.

· · ·

6.16.23

हि यो मानु॑षा यु॒गा सीद॒द्धोता॑ क॒विक्र॑तुः । दू॒तश्च॑ हव्य॒वाह॑नः ॥

May that Agni, cosmic highpriest of nature’s yajna, receiver of oblations and giver of the fruits of corporate action, visionary power of creative holiness, harbinger and disseminator of fragrance like a messenger, creator and distributor of the finest things of life, join us and be seated with us on the vedi for all ages of human history.

· · ·

6.16.24

ता राजा॑ना॒ शुचि॑व्रतादि॒त्यान्मारु॑तं ग॒णम् । वसो॒ यक्षी॒ह रोद॑सी ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, giver of peaceful and progressive settlement, bring up and honour in unison those refulgent powers of purity and self discipline of universal law, Mitra and Varuna, sun and moon with coolness of the oceans, love and friendship, brilliant divinities of nature and humanity, human and natural forces vibrant as winds, and the wealth of heaven and earth on the vedi of our corporate programmes of yajna.

· · ·

6.16.25

वस्वी॑ ते अग्ने॒ संदृ॑ष्टिरिषय॒ते मर्त्या॑य । ऊर्जो॑ नपाद॒मृत॑स्य ॥

Agni, leading light of the world, immortal source of universal strength, your equal vision and provision of earthly settlement and peace for all the mortals yearning for love and sustenance in life is all time sure and true.

· · ·

6.16.26

क्रत्वा॒ दा अ॑स्तु॒ श्रेष्ठो॒ऽद्य त्वा॑ व॒न्वन्त्सु॒रेक्णाः॑ । मर्त॑ आनाश सुवृ॒क्तिम् ॥

O lord, may the holy man of yajnic action and charity, generously giving, loving and offering homage in adoration to you, rise to eminence here and now, be master of noble wealth and follow the path of rectitude to ultimate freedom.

· · ·

6.16.27

ते ते॑ अग्ने॒ त्वोता॑ इ॒षय॑न्तो॒ विश्व॒मायुः॑ । तर॑न्तो अ॒र्यो अरा॑तीर्व॒न्वन्तो॑ अ॒र्यो अरा॑तीः ॥

Agni, all those devotees of yours, who enjoy your protection and pray for food, energy and sustenance for a full happy life, cross over indigence and hostility, wiping off the envious and the stingy hoarders away from their path.

· · ·

6.16.28

अ॒ग्निस्ति॒ग्मेन॑ शो॒चिषा॒ यास॒द् विश्वं॒ न्य१॒॑त्रिण॑म् । अ॒ग्निर्नो॑ वनते र॒यिम् ॥

Agni, with the flaming light of pure refulgence, dries up and burns off all hostility of the world and brings the wealth of life for us, dedicated supplicants and celebrants.

· · ·

6.16.29

सु॒वीरं॑ र॒यिमा भ॑र॒ जात॑वेदो॒ विच॑र्षणे । ज॒हि रक्षां॑सि सुक्रतो ॥

Lord omniscient, all immanent of universal vision, bring us the wealth of life coupled with noble strength and brave progeny. O lord of creative action, eliminate the cruel and wicked forces of negativity in the interest of progress.

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6.16.30

त्वं नः॑ पा॒ह्यंह॑सो॒ जात॑वेदो अघाय॒तः । रक्षा॑ णो ब्रह्मणस्कवे ॥

Save us, O lord omnipresent in existence, from sin and evil. O lord of omniscient vision, O voice of divinity, give us the ultimate protection and security in our creative endeavours.

· · ·

6.16.31

यो नो॑ अग्ने दु॒रेव॒ आ मर्तो॑ व॒धाय॒ दाश॑ति । तस्मा॑न्नः पा॒ह्यंह॑सः ॥

Agni, leading light of purity and justice, whatever the malignant force of negation, whatever the mortal power that strikes to eliminate us, give us the strength and protect us against that evil, to survive and move on.

· · ·

6.16.32

त्वं तं दे॑व जि॒ह्वया॒ परि॑ बाधस्व दु॒ष्कृत॑म् । मर्तो॒ यो नो॒ जिघां॑सति ॥

Brilliant lord of love and justice, with your flames of fire, the power of your word of judgement, prevention and punishment, stop that person alongwith the evil deed that intends or is intended to hurt us and to destroy us.

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6.16.33

भ॒रद्वा॑जाय स॒प्रथः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छ सहन्त्य । अग्ने॒ वरे॑ण्यं॒ वसु॑ ॥

Agni, lord of power and forbearance, give a spacious and comfortable home and security to the person who commands knowledge and means of service and sustenance for the society

· · ·

6.16.34

अ॒ग्निर्वृ॒त्राणि॑ जङ्घनद्द्रविण॒स्युर्वि॑प॒न्यया॑ । समि॑द्धः शु॒क्र आहु॑तः ॥

Agni, leading light and ruler of the world, bright, pure and purifying, invoked, invited and lighted in the seat of yajna, keen on wealth, honour and excellence with self-approbation and public exaltation, should destroy the evils and endeavour to raise the power and prosperity of the human nation.

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6.16.35

गर्भे॑ मा॒तुः पि॒तुष्पि॒ता वि॑दिद्युता॒नो अ॒क्षरे॑ । सीद॑न्नृ॒तस्य॒ योनि॒मा ॥

Agni, life of life and light of the universe, present in the interior of mother earth, sustainer of the sun, father of earth and her children, shining in his own eternal self, in the individual soul and in the world of imperishable Prakrti, the spirit of the universe, pervades and inspires the ruling laws of eternal truth and the world of existence.

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6.16.36

ब्रह्म॑ प्र॒जाव॒दा भ॑र॒ जात॑वेदो॒ विच॑र्षणे । अग्ने॒ यद्दी॒दय॑द्दि॒वि ॥

Agni, lord all knowing, all watching, who shine in the light of the sun, bless us with the food of life that sustains the children of the earth.

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6.16.37

उप॑ त्वा र॒ण्वसं॑दृशं॒ प्रय॑स्वन्तः सहस्कृत । अग्ने॑ ससृ॒ज्महे॒ गिरः॑ ॥

Agni, blazing light of life, lord of bliss and beatific vision, source giver of the power of action and forbearance, blest with the food of life and light of the spirit, we sing songs of adoration and send up our words of gratitude to you.

· · ·

6.16.38

उप॑च्छा॒यामि॑व॒ घृणे॒रग॑न्म॒ शर्म॑ ते व॒यम् । अग्ने॒ हिर॑ण्यसंदृशः ॥

Agni, lord of bliss and eternal protection, just as a person runs to the shade for relief from the blazing sun, so may we, shining as pure gold, rise and come to your presence, the blissful shade of divinity, our ultimate haven and home.

· · ·

6.16.39

य उ॒ग्रइ॑व शर्य॒हा ति॒ग्मशृ॑ङ्गो॒ न वंस॑गः । अग्ने॒ पुरो॑ रु॒रोजि॑थ ॥

Agni, lord protector of life, destroyer of killer arrows like a fierce warrior, burning off negativities like the fierce rays of the sun, you destroy the strongholds of the enemies of life.

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6.16.40

आ यं हस्ते॒ न खा॒दिनं॒ शिशुं॑ जा॒तं न बिभ्र॑ति । वि॒शाम॒ग्निं स्व॑ध्व॒रम् ॥

Like the darling new born baby held in the hand, like a beautiful bracelet worn on the wrist, the yajakas place the fire in the vedi, light and raise it, since it is the blessed source giver of wealth and joy for the people.

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6.16.41

प्र दे॒वं दे॒ववी॑तये॒ भर॑ता वसु॒वित्त॑मम् । आ स्वे योनौ॒ नि षी॑दतु ॥

Place, light and raise the brilliant and generous fire in your home for favour of the bounties of nature and humanity since it is the immense source giver of wealth, honour and excellence. Let the holy fire be instituted and maintained so that you abide in peace and joy.

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6.16.42

आ जा॒तं जा॒तवे॑दसि प्रि॒यं शि॑शी॒ताति॑थिम् । स्यो॒न आ गृ॒हप॑तिम् ॥

Sharpen and constantly intensify the light of universal Agni, spirit of life, manifested in the all immanent fire of yajna, like a dear guest worthy of reverence in the delightful home, the spirit which is protector, promoter and really the head of family.

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6.16.43

अग्ने॑ यु॒क्ष्वा हि ये तवाश्वा॑सो देव सा॒धवः॑ । अरं॒ वह॑न्ति म॒न्यवे॑ ॥

Agni, leading light of knowledge and power, generous creator and giver, yoke those motive powers of yours to the chariot which are best and fastest and which transport you to the destination of your love and passion gracefully without fail.

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6.16.44

अच्छा॑ नो या॒ह्या व॑हा॒भि प्रयां॑सि वी॒तये॑ । आ दे॒वान्त्सोम॑पीतये ॥

Agni, leading light of knowledge, generous pioneer, come fast in all your glory, bring us the dearest powers for sustenance and advancement for the sake of peace and well-being, and bring the noble brilliancies along to celebrate success with the delight of soma.

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6.16.45

उद॑ग्ने भारत द्यु॒मदज॑स्रेण॒ दवि॑द्युतत् । शोचा॒ वि भा॑ह्यजर ॥

Agni, unaging sustainer of life, shining with the light of excellence and blazing with glory, rise up with flames of fire and shine on with inexhaustible splendour, and help the shining people too to rise in the light of knowledge and excellence of life.

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6.16.46

वी॒ती यो दे॒वं मर्तो॑ दुव॒स्येद॒ग्निमी॑ळीताध्व॒रे ह॒विष्मा॑न् । होता॑रं सत्य॒यजं॒ रोद॑स्योरुत्ता॒नह॑स्तो॒ नम॒सा वि॑वासेत् ॥

The mortal, who, bearing holy materials of yajna with love and reverence, serves and worships Agni, generous and brilliant yajaka of the universe abiding and operative in the unity of cosmic law and universal truth, and who prays to the lord with folded hands raised in surrender and supplication, would shine over earth and heaven with divine favour and joy.

· · ·

6.16.47

आ ते॑ अग्न ऋ॒चा ह॒विर्हृ॒दा त॒ष्टं भ॑रामसि । ते ते॑ भवन्तू॒क्षण॑ ऋष॒भासो॑ व॒शा उ॒त ॥

Agni, O lord of light, omniscience and omnipotence, thus do we bear and offer the homage of surrender and self-sacrifice to you, prepared with love of the heart and sanctified with holy chant of Rgveda, and we pray may all our people be for you, virile and generous, inspired with love and brilliance of excellence.

· · ·

6.16.48

अ॒ग्निं दे॒वासो॑ अग्रि॒यमि॒न्धते॑ वृत्र॒हन्त॑मम् । येना॒ वसू॒न्याभृ॑ता तृ॒ळहा रक्षां॑सि वा॒जिना॑ ॥

Thus do brilliant sages light the holy fire and worship Agni, leading light and pioneer, lord of action, foremost leader, highest breaker of the densest clouds and harbinger of the showers of generosity, who bears and brings for us the wealth and honours of the world and who, with his omnipotence, destroys the wicked hostilities of humanity.

✦ Sukta 17 · 15 verses ✦

6.17.1

पिबा॒ सोम॑म॒भि यमु॑ग्र॒ तर्द॑ ऊ॒र्वं गव्यं॒ महि॑ गृणा॒न इ॑न्द्र । वि यो धृ॑ष्णो॒ वधि॑षो वज्रहस्त॒ विश्वा॑ वृ॒त्रम॑मि॒त्रिया॒ शवो॑भिः ॥

Indra, mighty invincible lord of the force of cosmic energy, wielder of the thunderbolt in

hand, drink and celebrate with soma while you are sung and celebrated since you break the cloud of showers as the sun, release the vast and great wealth of cows, milk and ghrta, and with your powers and action destroy all unfriendly and antilife forces of the world.

· · ·

6.17.2

स ईं॑ पाहि॒ य ऋ॑जी॒षी तरु॑त्रो॒ यः शिप्र॑वान्वृष॒भो यो म॑ती॒नाम् । यो गो॑त्र॒भिद्व॑ज्र॒भृद्यो ह॑रि॒ष्ठाः स इ॑न्द्र चि॒त्राँ अ॒भि तृ॑न्धि॒ वाजा॑न् ॥

The one that is simple and natural in conduct, saviour across the seas, splendid and self-protected, mightiest among people, breaker of clouds and hostile strongholds, wielder of the thunderbolt and strongest winner, such is Indra, and such, O lord, defend, protect and promote what is won, release the wonderful energies and overcome the on-slaughts of hostile forces.

· · ·

6.17.3

ए॒वा पा॑हि प्र॒त्नथा॒ मन्द॑तु त्वा श्रु॒धि ब्रह्म॑ वावृ॒धस्वो॒त गी॒र्भिः । आ॒विः सूर्यं॑ कृणु॒हि पी॑पि॒हीषो॑ ज॒हि शत्रूँ॑र॒भि गा इ॑न्द्र तृन्धि ॥

Thus protect and promote life and humanity as ever before, and let the adventure give you the pride of pleasure. Listen to the Veda, protect the Word of knowledge, and be exalted by our songs of celebration. Uncover the light of the sun, enjoy food and drink, destroy the hostilities, release the speech of humanity to freedom, and unshackle the lands from bondage into liberty.

· · ·

6.17.4

ते त्वा॒ मदा॑ बृ॒हदि॑न्द्र स्वधाव इ॒मे पी॒ता उ॑क्षयन्त द्यु॒मन्त॑म् । म॒हामनू॑नं त॒वसं॒ विभू॑तिं मत्स॒रासो॑ जर्हृषन्त प्र॒साह॑म् ॥

Indra, self-refulgent lord of your own essential power and grandeur, exalted ruler, may these drinks of soma thus enjoyed shower you with the joy and ecstasy of victory. So do the people moved with the excitement of self-confidence and divine exaltation celebrate you, great, perfect, potent, magnificent, and victorious yet forbearing lord of power as you are.

· · ·

6.17.5

येभिः॒ सूर्य॑मु॒षसं॑ मन्दसा॒नोऽवा॑स॒योऽप॑ दृ॒ळ्हानि॒ दर्द्र॑त् । म॒हामद्रिं॒ परि॒ गा इ॑न्द्र॒ सन्तं॑ नु॒त्था अच्यु॑तं॒ सद॑सः॒ परि॒ स्वात् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, by the powers and forces with which you place the sun in orbit and rouse the dawn on course, and vest them both in light and splendour, and with which you break the strongest mountain asunder, by the same power and force, O lord of love and bliss, from your own assembly seat, inspire and strengthen the great inexhaustible human energy, generous as cloud of showers, across the earth to rise and shine.

· · ·

6.17.6

तव॒ क्रत्वा॒ तव॒ तद्दं॒सना॑भिरा॒मासु॑ प॒क्वं शच्या॒ नि दी॑धः । और्णो॒र्दुर॑ उ॒स्रिया॑भ्यो॒ वि दृ॒ळ्होदू॒र्वाद्गा अ॑सृजो॒ अङ्गि॑रस्वान् ॥

With your wisdom, holy deeds and divine power, you develop ripeness in the unripe and maturity in the immature minds and open the strong doors and fill them with light for the bright people. Thus does the lord of life and breath energy of freedom liberate the lands and their speech from the violence of tyrants.

· · ·

6.17.7

प॒प्राथ॒ क्षां महि॒ दंसो॒ व्यु१॒॑र्वीमुप॒ द्यामृ॒ष्वो बृ॒हदि॑न्द्र स्तभायः । अधा॑रयो॒ रोद॑सी दे॒वपु॑त्रे प्र॒त्ने मा॒तरा॑ य॒ह्वी ऋ॒तस्य॑ ॥

Indra, almighty lord of glorious action and potential, you create, pervade and sustain the wide earth and heaven and you sustain, support and order the compact earth, heaven and the expansive universe, and you sustain the compact earth, firmament and the solar sphere, ancient, great and generous mothers of the children of divinity and themselves the children of mother Prakrti and the divine law of nature.

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6.17.8

अध॑ त्वा॒ विश्वे॑ पु॒र इ॑न्द्र दे॒वा एकं॑ त॒वसं॑ दधिरे॒ भरा॑य । अदे॑वो॒ यद॒भ्यौहि॑ष्ट दे॒वान्त्स्व॑र्षाता वृणत॒ इन्द्र॒मत्र॑ ॥

Indra, lord almighty of bliss and enlightenment, all the noble powers of nature and humanity hold on to you, lord absolute and omnipotent, for success in their life’s endeavours. And when anyone bereft of light engages in contest against the enlightened, then the enlightened people maintain their faith in the heavenly power and win the battle for light and bliss here itself.

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6.17.9

अध॒ द्यौश्चि॑त्ते॒ अप॒ सा नु वज्रा॑द्द्वि॒तान॑मद्भि॒यसा॒ स्वस्य॑ म॒न्योः । अहिं॒ यदिन्द्रो॑ अ॒भ्योह॑सानं॒ नि चि॑द्वि॒श्वायुः॑ श॒यथे॑ ज॒घान॑ ॥

And then even the light of heaven doubly bows to you, first in awe of the thunderbolt and then also in awe of your majesty of divine passion, when Indra, cosmic energy, strikes the approaching dark cloud and lays it down in showers and sends it to sleep.

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6.17.10

अध॒ त्वष्टा॑ ते म॒ह उ॑ग्र॒ वज्रं॑ स॒हस्र॑भृष्टिं ववृतच्छ॒ताश्रि॑म् । निका॑मम॒रम॑णसं॒ येन॒ नव॑न्त॒महिं॒ सं पि॑णगृजीषिन् ॥

O lord of blazing glory, simple, natural and forceful, Tvashta, the cosmic maker of forms, shaped in nature the mighty hundred-angled thousand pointed thunderbolt of your cherished design for relentless strikes by which you break the roaring cloud of darkness for showers of rain in the cycle of seasons.

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6.17.11

वर्धा॒न्यं विश्वे॑ म॒रुतः॑ स॒जोषाः॒ पच॑च्छ॒तं म॑हि॒षाँ इ॑न्द्र॒ तुभ्य॑म् । पू॒षा विष्णु॒स्त्रीणि॒ सरां॑सि धावन्वृत्र॒हणं॑ मदि॒रमं॒शुम॑स्मै ॥

Indra, O potent spirit of the cosmos, let all vibrant creative and constructive forces of nature and humanity join in unison and exalt you, ruler of the world, ripening and maturing a hundred mighty gifts of vitality in your service. May Vishnu, omnipresent sustaining power of universal nourishment, ever active on the move, fill the three oceans of earth, heaven and the middle regions with life giving nectar of bliss and excitement for this Indra to break down the cloud of darkness, evil and want.

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6.17.12

आ क्षोदो॒ महि॑ वृ॒तं न॒दीनां॒ परि॑ष्ठितमसृज ऊ॒र्मिम॒पाम् । तासा॒मनु॑ प्र॒वत॑ इन्द्र॒ पन्थां॒ प्रार्द॑यो॒ नीची॑र॒पसः॑ समु॒द्रम् ॥

Indra, ruling power of the world, creates the great flood of the rivers collected and controlled all round and releases the waves of the waters to flow. Accordingly he prepares the paths of water movement downward and lets the waters join the sea (thereby completing the natural cycle of water energy across the three oceans).

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6.17.13

ए॒वा ता विश्वा॑ चकृ॒वांस॒मिन्द्रं॑ म॒हामु॒ग्रम॑जु॒र्यं स॑हो॒दाम् । सु॒वीरं॑ त्वा स्वायु॒धं सु॒वज्र॒मा ब्रह्म॒ नव्य॒मव॑से ववृत्यात् ॥

Thus may our new homage of praise, prayer and yajnic service reach Indra, omnipotent lord of the universe, absolute doer of all actions, mighty, refulgent, unaging and imperishable, giver of strength and forbearance, commander of heroes, all armed and wielder of the thunderbolt of nature’s cyclic energy, and may our prayer move the lord for our protection and progress.

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6.17.14

स नो॒ वाजा॑य॒ श्रव॑स इ॒षे च॑ रा॒ये धे॑हि द्यु॒मत॑ इन्द्र॒ विप्रा॑न् । भ॒रद्वा॑जे नृ॒वत॑ इन्द्र सू॒रीन्दि॒वि च॑ स्मैधि॒ पार्ये॑ न इन्द्र ॥

May Indra, lord ruler of the universe, accept us, vibrant seekers of light, for the gift of speed and progress toward victory, honour and excellence, food and energy, and all round wealth of life. May Indra bless the brave leaders of humanity, and may the lord establish us all in the light of divinity and guide us on the path of total worldly fulfilment and freedom of ultimate salvation.

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6.17.15

अ॒या वाजं॑ दे॒वहि॑तं सनेम॒ मदे॑म श॒तहि॑माः सु॒वीराः॑ ॥

Thus do we offer ardent praise and seek to share divine favour and inspiration fit for dedicated humanity and pray we may live happy a full hundred years blest with noble and heroic generations of progeny.

✦ Sukta 18 · 15 verses ✦

6.18.1

तमु॑ ष्टुहि॒ यो अ॒भिभू॑त्योजा व॒न्वन्नवा॑तः पुरुहू॒त इन्द्रः॑ । अषा॑ळ्हमु॒ग्रं सह॑मानमा॒भिर्गी॒र्भिर्व॑र्ध वृष॒भं च॑र्षणी॒नाम् ॥

Adore him who tames and controls brute force, loves and shares life with all, unshaken and all admired, that is Indra, potent ruler of the world, intrepidable, blazing refulgent, challenging yet forbearing, most generous and creative of people. With these words of celebration, exalt him, and you too would rise.

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6.18.2

स यु॒ध्मः सत्वा॑ खज॒कृत्स॒मद्वा॑ तुविम्र॒क्षो न॑दनु॒माँ ऋ॑जी॒षी । बृ॒हद्रे॑णु॒श्च्यव॑नो॒ मानु॑षीणा॒मेकः॑ कृष्टी॒नाम॑भवत्स॒हावा॑ ॥

Indra is a hero, strong and realistic, a warrior, socially committed, all loving and friendly, eloquent, simple, natural and honest, dynamic, stormy in movement, and a unique embodiment of courage and tolerance among the best of thinking humanity.

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6.18.3

त्वं ह॒ नु त्यद॑दमयो॒ दस्यूँ॒रेकः॑ कृ॒ष्टीर॑वनो॒रार्या॑य । अस्ति॑ स्वि॒न्नु वी॒र्यं१॒॑ तत्त॑ इन्द्र॒ न स्वि॑दस्ति॒ तदृ॑तु॒था वि वो॑चः ॥

Indra, you for sure are the one who fight out and control the wicked and violent elements and bring the world communities together for a united world of progressive and cultured humanity. That indeed is your strength, real heroism, is it not? Pray speak of that courage, competence and vision according to the needs of time and season.

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6.18.4

सदिद्धि ते॑ तुविजा॒तस्य॒ मन्ये॒ सहः॑ सहिष्ठ तुर॒तस्तु॒रस्य॑ । उ॒ग्रमु॒ग्रस्य॑ त॒वस॒स्तवी॒योऽर॑ध्रस्य रध्र॒तुरो॑ बभूव ॥

Real and true indeed is the courage and tolerance of the world hero, yours all, I believe, O boldest and most forbearing warrior, which defines the light, power and victory of the ruler who is the instant victor over the victorious, blazing over the violent, stronger than the strongest and most powerful non-violent destroyer of the destructive.

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6.18.5

तन्नः॑ प्र॒त्नं स॒ख्यम॑स्तु यु॒ष्मे इ॒त्था वद॑द्भिर्व॒लमङ्गि॑रोभिः । हन्न॑च्युतच्युद्दस्मे॒षय॑न्तमृ॒णोः पुरो॒ वि दुरो॑ अस्य॒ विश्वाः॑ ॥

That age-old friendship of ours with you may, we pray, be firmly established in you and remain thus with the vibrant celebrants too who speak this same way in praise of you, and just as the sun breaks the cloud and opens the flood gates of rain showers, so may you, O lord imperishable and generous, shaker of the otherwise unshaken, destroy the darkness of evil, inspire and advance the dynamic leaders, and open all the gates of the human cities on the world highways.

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6.18.6

स हि धी॒भिर्हव्यो॒ अस्त्यु॒ग्र ई॑शान॒कृन्म॑ह॒ति वृ॑त्र॒तूर्ये॑ । स तो॒कसा॑ता॒ तन॑ये॒ स व॒ज्री वि॑तन्त॒साय्यो॑ अभवत्स॒मत्सु॑ ॥

That is the lord worthy of homage with all our intelligence and holy actions, refulgent maker of leaders and achievers in the great human struggle against evil and deprivation. That wielder of adamantine power is to be exalted and glorified in the battles of humanity for the advancement and progress of our children and grand children for future generations.

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6.18.7

स म॒ज्मना॒ जनि॑म॒ मानु॑षाणा॒मम॑र्त्येन॒ नाम्नाति॒ प्र स॑र्स्रे । स द्यु॒म्नेन॒ स शव॑सो॒त रा॒या स वी॒र्ये॑ण॒ नृत॑मः॒ समो॑काः ॥

With immortal power he continues and extends the name and identity of humanity and, as highest leader of supreme human virtues and all pervasive with human presence, he advances the human generations with honour and excellence, courage and valour, wealth and fame, and manly vigour and splendour.

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6.18.8

स यो न मु॒हे न मिथू॒ जनो॒ भूत्सु॒मन्तु॑नामा॒ चुमु॑रिं॒ धुनिं॑ च । वृ॒णक्पिप्रुं॒ शम्ब॑रं॒ शुष्ण॒मिन्द्रः॑ पु॒रां च्यौ॒त्नाय॑ श॒यथा॑य॒ नू चि॑त् ॥

The man who never suffers from error, never feels bewildered, stupefied, infatuated or perverted but remains self-possessed, conscious of his essential identity and constancy of character, who shakes the ogre, the hoarder, the vociferous bully and the exploiter, and favours the generous, peace loving and enlightened persons, is Indra, worthy to be the ruler for the peace and progress of the common-wealth of nations for sure.

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6.18.9

उ॒दाव॑ता॒ त्वक्ष॑सा॒ पन्य॑सा च वृत्र॒हत्या॑य॒ रथ॑मिन्द्र तिष्ठ । धि॒ष्व वज्रं॒ हस्त॒ आ द॑क्षिण॒त्राभि प्र म॑न्द पुरुदत्र मा॒याः ॥

And by raising and refining the admirable power of action, O lord ruler and sovereign, ascend your chariot for the battle of life against darkness and deprivation. Take up the thunderous weapon of power and force in the right hand, generous lord, shine in all your majesty and glory of action and destroy the force and wiles of the enemy.

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6.18.10

अ॒ग्निर्न शुष्कं॒ वन॑मिन्द्र हे॒ती रक्षो॒ नि ध॑क्ष्य॒शनि॒र्न भी॒मा । ग॒म्भी॒रय॑ ऋ॒ष्वया॒ यो रु॒रोजाध्वा॑नयद्दुरि॒ता द॒म्भय॑च्च ॥

Just as fire burns down dry forest woods to ash, so Indra, O lord ruler awful as thunder, shatter the forces of terror and destruction, you who, with a mighty blow of the weapon of justice and punishment, crush the evils of fear, deceit and terror

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6.18.11

आ स॒हस्रं॑ प॒थिभि॑रिन्द्र रा॒या तुवि॑द्युम्न तुवि॒वाजे॑भिर॒र्वाक् । या॒हि सू॑नो सहसो॒ यस्य॒ नू चि॒ददे॑व॒ ईशे॑ पुरुहूत॒ योतोः॑ ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, lord of abundant wealth, power, honour and excellence, child of omnipotence, universally invoked and adored, who join and reshape the uniform and various powers of nature and humanity, come here to a thousand devotees by a thousand ways with wealth of a thousand forms of food, energy and advancement, lord whose favour and friendship even the semipious desire to have.

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6.18.12

प्र तु॑विद्यु॒म्नस्य॒ स्थवि॑रस्य॒ घृष्वे॑र्दि॒वो र॑रप्शे महि॒मा पृ॑थि॒व्याः । नास्य॒ शत्रु॒र्न प्र॑ति॒मान॑मस्ति॒ न प्र॑ति॒ष्ठिः पु॑रुमा॒यस्य॒ सह्योः॑ ॥

The greatness and glory of this lord of abundance, most ancient and venerable, self-refulgent tamer of evil, transcends the bounds of the earth. There is no enemy, no equal measure or rival, nor any defined seat of stability of this self-sufficient, omnipotent and forbearing lord.

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6.18.13

प्र तत्ते॑ अ॒द्या कर॑णं कृ॒तं भू॒त्कुत्सं॒ यदा॒युम॑तिथि॒ग्वम॑स्मै । पु॒रू स॒हस्रा॒ नि शि॑शा अ॒भि क्षामुत्तूर्व॑याणं धृष॒ता नि॑नेथ ॥

Surely great are your acts, activities and ways of earthly accomplishment today, as you bring a thousand gifts of wealth, knowledge and competence to this mighty, vibrating and hospitable humanity and raise the earth to the heights of speed and progress.

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6.18.14

अनु॒ त्वाहि॑घ्ने॒ अध॑ देव दे॒वा मद॒न्विश्वे॑ क॒वित॑मं कवी॒नाम् । करो॒ यत्र॒ वरि॑वो बाधि॒ताय॑ दि॒वे जना॑य त॒न्वे॑ गृणा॒नः ॥

Refulgent lord, brilliant sages of the world rejoice in unison with you in honour as the dispeller of demonic darkness and adore you as wisest of divine visionaries since, adored and exalted by them, you bring gifts of freedom and deliverance for the distressed as well as for the brilliant and give them health and material well being.

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6.18.15

अनु॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी तत्त॒ ओजोऽम॑र्त्या जिहत इन्द्र दे॒वाः । कृ॒ष्वा कृ॑त्नो॒ अकृ॑तं॒ यत्ते॒ अस्त्यु॒क्थं नवी॑यो जनयस्व य॒ज्ञैः ॥

Indra, lord omnipotent, heaven and earth and the immortals and brilliants of nature and humanity move in observance of that support and splendour of yours. O lord of action, inspire us to accomplish what is yet to be accomplished and to create the latest songs of adoration by yajnas and yajnic acts of social development for all.

✦ Sukta 19 · 13 verses ✦

6.19.1

म॒हाँ इन्द्रो॑ नृ॒वदा च॑र्षणि॒प्रा उ॒त द्वि॒बर्हा॑ अमि॒नः सहो॑भिः । अ॒स्म॒द्र्य॑ग्वावृधे वी॒र्या॑यो॒रुः पृ॒थुः सुकृ॑तः क॒र्तृभि॑र्भूत् ॥

May the great Indra, the sun, overseeing and commanding cosmic energy inspiring humanity, pervasive and expansive over heaven and earth, impetuous but unafflictive, come to us with auxiliary forces and grow vast and high, helping noble work by the assistance of active and expert workers.

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6.19.2

इन्द्र॑मे॒व धि॒षणा॑ सा॒तये॑ धाद्बृ॒हन्त॑मृ॒ष्वम॒जरं॒ युवा॑नम् । अषा॑ळ्हेन॒ शव॑सा शूशु॒वांसं॑ स॒द्यश्चि॒द्यो वा॑वृ॒धे असा॑मि ॥

Whoever with relentless action and intelligence and unchallengeable power and courage, for the sake of development and progress, dedicates himself to Indra, sun and cosmic energy, vast and high, pervasive, impetuous, indestructible, ever fresh and youthful, and forceful, soon for sure grows to power and prosperity to the full.

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6.19.3

पृ॒थू क॒रस्ना॑ बहु॒ला गभ॑स्ती अस्म॒द्र्य१॒॑क्सं मि॑मीहि॒ श्रवां॑सि । यू॒थेव॑ प॒श्वः प॑शु॒पा दमू॑ना अ॒स्माँ इ॑न्द्रा॒भ्या व॑वृत्स्वा॒जौ ॥

Indra,, lord of power and peaceful controller, extend your open, generous and sanctifying hand of plentiful abundance to us for the gift of food and energy, power and fame, and guide us constantly in our battle of life for victory like a shepherd watching, controlling and guiding his flock.

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6.19.4

तं व॒ इन्द्रं॑ च॒तिन॑मस्य शा॒कैरि॒ह नू॒नं वा॑ज॒यन्तो॑ हुवेम । यथा॑ चि॒त्पूर्वे॑ जरि॒तार॑ आ॒सुरने॑द्या अनव॒द्या अरि॑ष्टाः ॥

O children of the earth, for the sake of you all here in the world, we invoke, invite and adore that lord Indra, fearless giver of joy, with all his power and forces, in pursuit of knowledge, peace and progress, just as the sagely celebrants of all time do and live blameless, irreproachable, and safe and secure against fear and injury.

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6.19.5

धृ॒तव्र॑तो धन॒दाः सोम॑वृद्धः॒ स हि वा॒मस्य॒ वसु॑नः पुरु॒क्षुः । सं ज॑ग्मिरे प॒थ्या॒३॒॑ रायो॑ अस्मिन्त्समु॒द्रे न सिन्ध॑वो॒ याद॑मानाः ॥

Indra is the lord ordainer and observer of unshakable discipline of law and order, giver of wealth, exalted in honour and excellence, and abundant treasurehold of cherished riches of the world. Indeed all wealth, powers and honours of the world move, each in its own right course, and concentrate in him just as the rivers flow and all together join and concentrate in the sea.

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6.19.6

शवि॑ष्ठं न॒ आ भ॑र शूर॒ शव॒ ओजि॑ष्ठ॒मोजो॑ अभिभूत उ॒ग्रम् । विश्वा॑ द्यु॒म्ना वृष्ण्या॒ मानु॑षाणाम॒स्मभ्यं॑ दा हरिवो माद॒यध्यै॑ ॥

Heroic Indra, destroyer of the evil, leader of the brave and tempestuous forces of humanity, bring us the strongest power and valour, most burning and blazing lustre and dignity, and give us showers of all the wealth and honours of the world good for the people for their joy and celebration.

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6.19.7

यस्ते॒ मदः॑ पृतना॒षाळमृ॑ध्र॒ इन्द्र॒ तं न॒ आ भ॑र शूशु॒वांस॑म् । येन॑ तो॒कस्य॒ तन॑यस्य सा॒तौ मं॑सी॒महि॑ जिगी॒वांस॒स्त्वोताः॑ ॥

Indra, invincible hero, ruler of life, bless us with that righteous passion of yours, challenging and victorious yet forbearing and unhurtful, which inspires all good virtues and by which, under your protection, we may triumph in life and live happy in the company of our children and grand children.

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6.19.8

आ नो॑ भर॒ वृष॑णं॒ शुष्म॑मिन्द्र धन॒स्पृतं॑ शूशु॒वासं॑ सु॒दक्ष॑म् । येन॒ वंसा॑म॒ पृत॑नासु॒ शत्रू॒न्तवो॒तिभि॑रु॒त जा॒मीँरजा॑मीन् ॥

Indra, lord of life and ruler of the world, bless us with that overwhelming vigour and power victorious in our struggles for wealth and prosperity ever rising in excellence, expertise and generosity by which, under your guidance and protection, we may be successful in our battles of life against negative forces and win over our own people and others unrelated, strangers and aliens.

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6.19.9

आ ते॒ शुष्मो॑ वृष॒भ ए॑तु प॒श्चादोत्त॒राद॑ध॒रादा पु॒रस्ता॑त् । आ वि॒श्वतो॑ अ॒भि समे॑त्व॒र्वाङिन्द्र॑ द्यु॒म्नं स्व॑र्वद्धेह्य॒स्मे ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, may overwhelming and generous vigour, force and power come and flow for you all round from above and below, front and behind, all ways and every way constantly without break, and may it come to us from all sides. O lord of peace, prosperity and happiness, hold, protect and promote the wealth, honour and excellence of life for us and bless us with the grace of holy living on earth.

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6.19.10

नृ॒वत्त॑ इन्द्र॒ नृत॑माभिरू॒ती वं॑सी॒महि॑ वा॒मं श्रोम॑तेभिः । ईक्षे॒ हि वस्व॑ उ॒भय॑स्य राज॒न्धा रत्नं॒ महि॑ स्थू॒रं बृ॒हन्त॑म् ॥

Lord of humanity, leader of world pioneers, illustrious ruling power, refulgent Indra, we pray may we share and enjoy your most human favour and protection and have the cherished graces of life with revelations of the Word and actions of holiness. O refulgent lord, I see your divine glory of both heaven and earth prevailing among rulers and the people, and pray sustain this glory of life, great, constant, expansive and infinite.

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6.19.11

म॒रुत्व॑न्तं वृष॒भं वा॑वृधा॒नमक॑वारिं दि॒व्यं शा॒समिन्द्र॑म् । वि॒श्वा॒साह॒मव॑से॒ नूत॑नायो॒ग्रं स॑हो॒दामि॒ह तं हु॑वेम ॥

Here on the vedi of this dear green earth, for the protection of life and the environment and for progress of the latest order, we invoke, invite and celebrate Indra, lord of glory, commanding humanity and the winds, generously valorous, ever rising, free from detractors, divinely refulgent, all ruling, all forbearing and victorious, illustrious giver of both tolerance and fighting power over evil for victory of the good for constant growth.

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6.19.12

जनं॑ वज्रि॒न्महि॑ चि॒न्मन्य॑मानमे॒भ्यो नृभ्यो॑ रन्धया॒ येष्वस्मि॑ । अधा॒ हि त्वा॑ पृथि॒व्यां शूर॑सातौ॒ हवा॑महे॒ तन॑ये॒ गोष्व॒प्सु ॥

O lord of the thunderbolt of power, justice and punishment, humble that man who proudly holds himself as the greatest and mightiest against these people among whom I live and justify my existence. And now, O lord, for the sake of these very people on earth and in the battles of the brave for victory, we invoke, invite and celebrate you among our children, our cows, our lands and waters, and in the onward flow of our life and progress.

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6.19.13

व॒यं त॑ ए॒भिः पु॑रुहूत स॒ख्यैः शत्रोः॑शत्रो॒रुत्त॑र॒ इत्स्या॑म । घ्नन्तो॑ वृ॒त्राण्यु॒भया॑नि शूर रा॒या म॑देम बृह॒ता त्वोताः॑ ॥

We are yours, O lord universally invoked and adored, and we pray that by these friendly words and acts of service we may be constantly superior to one enemy after another enemy of life and progress, fighting out and destroying the evils of darkness and want in both spiritual and material fields of life on earth, so that, under the umbrella of your protection and guidance, we may enjoy life with wealth, honour and excellence, rising higher and higher.

✦ Sukta 20 · 13 verses ✦

6.20.1

द्यौर्न य इ॑न्द्रा॒भि भूमा॒र्यस्त॒स्थौ र॒यिः शव॑सा पृ॒त्सु जना॑न् । तं नः॑ स॒हस्र॑भरमुर्वरा॒सां द॒द्धि सू॑नो सहसो वृत्र॒तुर॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of life, creator giver of strength, commander of power and forbearance, give us that wealth and life’s value and that master ruling power vast as skies and bright as sun which, by its intrinsic strength of character can stand by people in the face of hostile forces in our struggle for progress, fight a thousand battles with success, give us lands of fertility and smiling greenery, and overcome the darkness of ignorance, poverty and injustice.

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6.20.2

दि॒वो न तुभ्य॒मन्वि॑न्द्र स॒त्रासु॒र्यं॑ दे॒वेभि॑र्धायि॒ विश्व॑म् । अहिं॒ यद्वृ॒त्रम॒पो व॑व्रि॒वांसं॒ हन्नृ॑जीषि॒न्विष्णु॑ना सचा॒नः ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, observer of the original law and keeper of the honest simplicity of natural conduct, when in union with omnipresent Vishnu, omnipotent cosmic energy, you break the cloud of serpentine motion holding showers of the waters of life in hiding, then, together with the showers, universal life breath of vital energies is received, like light of the sun from heaven, by the brilliancies of humanity and of nature such as earth to bless you and your people.

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6.20.3

तूर्व॒न्नोजी॑यान्त॒वस॒स्तवी॑यान्कृ॒तब्र॒ह्मेन्द्रो॑ वृ॒द्धम॑हाः । राजा॑भव॒न्मधु॑नः सो॒म्यस्य॒ विश्वा॑सां॒ यत्पु॒रां द॒र्त्नुमाव॑त् ॥

Indra, refulgent and illustrious leader, is mightiest of the mighty. Breaking the clouds for shower, having created abundance of food, energy and literature of vision and wisdom, and having raised a team of veteran assistants, he becomes the real ruler of humanity, commander of honey sweets of peace and joy and saviour of all cities of the common wealth against the assailant and destroyer.

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6.20.4

श॒तैर॑पद्रन्प॒णय॑ इ॒न्द्रात्र॒ दशो॑णये क॒वये॒ऽर्कसा॑तौ । व॒धैः शुष्ण॑स्या॒शुष॑स्य मा॒याः पि॒त्वो नारि॑रेची॒त्किं च॒न प्र ॥

Here in the world of business and administration in the advancement of life and light for the men of vision and wisdom protected from all ten directions, misers, thieves and robbers all run off by a hundred onslaughts of the ruler’s admirers. Indra, O lord ruler of light and life, can any one exhaust, surpass or defeat the power, knowledge and abundance of the mighty and generous ruling order? None.

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6.20.5

म॒हो द्रु॒हो अप॑ वि॒श्वायु॑ धायि॒ वज्र॑स्य॒ यत्पत॑ने॒ पादि॒ शुष्णः॑ । उ॒रु ष स॒रथं॒ सार॑थये क॒रिन्द्रः॒ कुत्सा॑य॒ सूर्य॑स्य सा॒तौ ॥

When on the fall of the mighty thunderbolt of justice and punishment the demon of darkness and denial is fallen and the sustaining force of all hate, jealousy and enmity is withdrawn, then the mighty Indra, further, opens and extends the field for the positive leaders and pioneers of vision, creativity and power for the nation on the march in the higher battle of light and culture.

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6.20.6

प्र श्ये॒नो न म॑दि॒रमं॒शुम॑स्मै॒ शिरो॑ दा॒सस्य॒ नमु॑चेर्मथा॒यन् । प्राव॒न्नमीं॑ सा॒प्यं स॒सन्तं॑ पृ॒णग्रा॒या समि॒षा सं स्व॒स्ति ॥

Crushing the head of the violent destroyer, churning the mind of the persistent sabotager to correction, saving the humbled opponent at the end of his tether now lying at peace for mercy, and providing all such with adequate means and materials with food and sustenance for a life of comfort and well being, the leader, commander, ruler, Indra, like a victorious eagle, should bring the exhilarating drink of new life and joy of celebration for this social order.

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6.20.7

वि पिप्रो॒रहि॑मायस्य दृ॒ळ्हाः पुरो॑ वज्रि॒ञ्छव॑सा॒ न द॑र्दः । सुदा॑म॒न्तद्रेक्णो॑ अप्रमृ॒ष्यमृ॒जिश्व॑ने दा॒त्रं दा॒शुषे॑ दाः ॥

O lord of the power of thunderbolt, with your power and force, pray never destroy the strongholds and cities of the protective and promotive leader of versatile genius and competence. Instead, O lord of generosity, for such a philanthropic leader of simple and honest law and conduct of pious virtue, provide generous gifts and grants of irresistible and permanent value.

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6.20.8

स वे॑त॒सुं दश॑मायं॒ दशो॑णिं॒ तूतु॑जि॒मिन्द्रः॑ स्वभि॒ष्टिसु॑म्नः । आ तुग्रं॒ शश्व॒दिभं॒ द्योत॑नाय मा॒तुर्न सी॒मुप॑ सृजा इ॒यध्यै॑ ॥

Indra, refulgent ruler commanding noble peace and cherished well being, in order to continuously advance the dominion and raise it to splendour, adopt, nurse and promote the world famous, ten ways versatile, ten ways expansive, powerful and ambitiously receptive and progressive social order as your own family, just as the mother elephant nurses, guides and promotes her calf to maturity without let up.

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6.20.9

स ईं॒ स्पृधो॑ वनते॒ अप्र॑तीतो॒ बिभ्र॒द्वज्रं॑ वृत्र॒हणं॒ गभ॑स्तौ । तिष्ठ॒द्धरी॒ अध्यस्ते॑व॒ गर्ते॑ वचो॒युजा॑ वहत॒ इन्द्र॑मृ॒ष्वम् ॥

Indra, glorious ruler, enemies unknown, takes on and wins over the rivals and contenders and, wielding the cloud-breaking thunderbolt in hand and settled in his dominion seat of power, he aims like an archer and rides his chariot driven by word-controlled horse powers which drive the mighty ruler over the expanse of his dominion.

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6.20.10

स॒नेम॒ तेऽव॑सा॒ नव्य॑ इन्द्र॒ प्र पू॒रवः॑ स्तवन्त ए॒ना य॒ज्ञैः । स॒प्त यत्पुरः॒ शर्म॒ शार॑दी॒र्दर्द्धन्दासीः॑ पुरु॒कुत्सा॑य॒ शिक्ष॑न् ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence, by virtue of your protection and promotion, we enjoy the latest gifts of life, and the citizens adore you by these programmes of yajna since you establish seven cities for comfortable living, open out seven abundant autumnal streams against drought and deprivation, and destroy all forms of slavery and impiety for the education and advancement of the heroic wielder of power and weapons of defence.

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6.20.11

त्वं वृ॒ध इ॑न्द्र पू॒र्व्यो भू॑र्वरिव॒स्यन्नु॒शने॑ का॒व्याय॑ । परा॒ नव॑वास्त्वमनु॒देयं॑ म॒हे पि॒त्रे द॑दाथ॒ स्वं नपा॑तम् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of honour and excellence, knowledge, wisdom and generosity, be the first and foremost leader in the service of the great advancing human nation, specially for the inspired and ambitious pioneer of art, science and culture. Give the best and latest home and infrastructure worthy of being granted to the great father figure of future development which must not be self-destructive or self-defeating in any way.

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6.20.12

त्वं धुनि॑रिन्द्र॒ धुनि॑मतीर्ऋ॒णोर॒पः सी॒रा न स्रव॑न्तीः । प्र यत्स॑मु॒द्रमति॑ शूर॒ पर्षि॑ पा॒रया॑ तु॒र्वशं॒ यदुं॑ स्व॒स्ति ॥

Indra, you are the shaker and arouser of life and passion. Arouse, accelerate and control the roaring streams of the nation’s life and wealth like the pulsating veins and arteries of the human system. O brave hero, you cross the seas and traverse the skies, let there be peace and well being with the industrious, selfcontrolled and dynamic humanity.

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6.20.13

तव॑ ह॒ त्यदि॑न्द्र॒ विश्व॑मा॒जौ स॒स्तो धुनी॒चुमु॑री॒ या ह॒ सिष्व॑प् । दी॒दय॒दित्तुभ्यं॒ सोमे॑भिः सु॒न्वन्द॒भीति॑रि॒ध्मभृ॑तिः प॒क्थ्य१॒॑र्कैः ॥

Indra, lord sustainer and giver of peace and joy, in the business of life, all that roaring action or sufferance or consumption, all is your world, for you : the idle, the restful, the sleeping, the shining, the violent, the faithful bearing holy fuel, the cook, whether preparing soma with sacred work or doing homage with songs and prayers of adoration, everything is yours, all is for you.

✦ Sukta 21 · 12 verses ✦

6.21.1

इ॒मा उ॑ त्वा पुरु॒तम॑स्य का॒रोर्हव्यं॑ वीर॒ हव्या॑ हवन्ते । धियो॑ रथे॒ष्ठाम॒जरं॒ नवी॑यो र॒यिर्विभू॑तिरीयते वच॒स्या ॥

Heroic Indra, leader of the world, you are ageless, ever new, ever fresh. These creations of the most versatile artist worthy of presentation glorify you, adorable lord, and they are offered to you in homage since all creations of intelligence, all wealth and celebrated glory reach you, lord of the nation’s chariot, and everything flows from you.

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6.21.2

तमु॑ स्तुष॒ इन्द्रं॒ यो विदा॑नो॒ गिर्वा॑हसं गी॒र्भिर्य॒ज्ञवृ॑द्धम् । यस्य॒ दिव॒मति॑ म॒ह्ना पृ॑थि॒व्याः पु॑रुमा॒यस्य॑ रिरि॒चे म॑हि॒त्वम् ॥

Indra is the lord omniscient who alone knows the ultimate mystery of existence. I adore and glorify him who is the ultimate content of all speech, who is exalted by songs of adoration in yajnas, and whose glory by its sublimity and omnipotence transcends the light of heaven and the magnitude of the world of nature.

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6.21.3

स इत्तमो॑ऽवयु॒नं त॑त॒न्वत्सूर्ये॑ण व॒युन॑वच्चकार । क॒दा ते॒ मर्ता॑ अ॒मृत॑स्य॒ धामेय॑क्षन्तो॒ न मि॑नन्ति स्वधावः ॥

The lord of his own absolute omniscience and omnipotence illuminates the world of darkness and ignorance by the light of expansive knowledge like the sun which dispels the darkness of night. The mortals, O lord immortal, who seek to join your domain never violate your laws.

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6.21.4

यस्ता च॒कार॒ स कुह॑ स्वि॒दिन्द्रः॒ कमा जनं॑ चरति॒ कासु॑ वि॒क्षु । कस्ते॑ य॒ज्ञो मन॑से॒ शं वरा॑य॒ को अ॒र्क इ॑न्द्र कत॒मः स होता॑ ॥

Who is that Indra and where, that lord omnipotent who does all those things? Which people does he favour and visit? Among which community or nation? O lord omnipotent, which sacred act of yajna is that which pleases you at heart and gives you the satisfaction of your choice? What sort of praise and adoration? Who is the yajaka you listen to and respond?

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6.21.5

इ॒दा हि ते॒ वेवि॑षतः पुरा॒जाः प्र॒त्नास॑ आ॒सुः पु॑रुकृ॒त्सखा॑यः । ये म॑ध्य॒मास॑ उ॒त नूत॑नास उ॒ताव॒मस्य॑ पुरुहूत बोधि ॥

O lord of universal acts, universally invoked and adored, all are your friends, pray know and enlighten them all here and now, all those who are ancient, old and eminent, middling ones, moderns, most recent ones, existing and active all over the world.

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6.21.6

तं पृ॒च्छन्तोऽव॑रासः॒ परा॑णि प्र॒त्ना त॑ इन्द्र॒ श्रुत्यानु॑ येमुः । अर्चा॑मसि वीर ब्रह्मवाहो॒ यादे॒व वि॒द्म तात्त्वा॑ म॒हान्त॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of knowledge and power, brave leader and ruler of the world, the seekers of truth young and old, ancient and modern all, trying to know you by question and answer in faith, go by the Word which is eternal and highest. O lord giver of divine vision, sustainer of the life and wealth of existence, the more we know, the greater we find you and worship you as lord supreme.

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6.21.7

अ॒भि त्वा॒ पाजो॑ र॒क्षसो॒ वि त॑स्थे॒ महि॑ जज्ञा॒नम॒भि तत्सु ति॑ष्ठ । तव॑ प्र॒त्नेन॒ युज्ये॑न॒ सख्या॒ वज्रे॑ण धृष्णो॒ अप॒ ता नु॑दस्व ॥

Against you stands the force of evil powers, O potent lord of courage and valour, face that firmly and, with your age old ally and friendly thunderbolt of justice and punishment, crush those forces and wipe them out before they rise to dangerous proportions.

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6.21.8

स तु श्रु॑धीन्द्र॒ नूत॑नस्य ब्रह्मण्य॒तो वी॑र कारुधायः । त्वं ह्या॒३॒॑पिः प्र॒दिवि॑ पितॄ॒णां शश्व॑द्ब॒भूथ॑ सु॒हव॒ एष्टौ॑ ॥

Indra, potent lord of courage and valour, sustainer of the artist, scientist and their creations, listen to the prayer of the latest seeker of the wealth and wisdom of existence. O lord responsive to our call in cherished plans and programmes, you are and have been the constant friend and guardian of our forefathers in their search divine for light and fulfilment.

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6.21.9

प्रोतये॒ वरु॑णं मि॒त्रमिन्द्रं॑ म॒रुतः॑ कृ॒ष्वाव॑से नो अ॒द्य । प्र पू॒षणं॒ विष्णु॑म॒ग्निं पुरं॑धिं सवि॒तार॒मोष॑धीः॒ पर्व॑तांश्च ॥

O scholar of science, study, research, realise and bring for our protection and advancement the divine bounties of nature: vital udana and prana energies, electricity, winds, nourishing vitality of samana energy, vyana and dhananjaya energies, heat, cosmic energy of universal sustenance, solar energy, herbs, clouds and mountains for showers and herbs.

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6.21.10

इ॒म उ॑ त्वा पुरुशाक प्रयज्यो जरि॒तारो॑ अ॒भ्य॑र्चन्त्य॒र्कैः । श्रु॒धी हव॒मा हु॑व॒तो हु॑वा॒नो न त्वावाँ॑ अ॒न्यो अ॑मृत॒ त्वद॑स्ति ॥

O lord omnipotent, adorable in yajna, these celebrants of your divine powers honour and worship you with their offers of homage and adoration. Listen to the devotee’s call and supplications while invoked. There is none other than you who is like you and who commands powers and virtues such as yours, immortal as you are.

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6.21.11

नू म॒ आ वाच॒मुप॑ याहि वि॒द्वान्विश्वे॑भिः सूनो सहसो॒ यज॑त्रैः । ये अ॑ग्निजि॒ह्वा ऋ॑त॒साप॑ आ॒सुर्ये मनुं॑ च॒क्रुरुप॑रं॒ दसा॑य ॥

O lord of knowledge, creator and giver of strength, listen to my words of prayer and come to me with all universal forms of wealth and those adorable powers worthy of being cherished who have the tongue of fire, serve the truth of divine law and who raise humanity high like the cloud for charity toward the weak and exhausted.

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6.21.12

स नो॑ बोधि पुरए॒ता सु॒गेषू॒त दु॒र्गेषु॑ पथि॒कृद्विदा॑नः । ये अश्र॑मास उ॒रवो॒ वहि॑ष्ठा॒स्तेभि॑र्न इन्द्रा॒भि व॑क्षि॒ वाज॑म् ॥

May he, Indra, the lord all-knowing, know us and enlighten us, the leader who goes forward as pioneer over paths both easy and difficult, carving new channels of progress over annals of history, and may he bring us those modes of energy, power and transport which are wide and versatile beyond wear and tear, indefatigable, inexhaustible.

✦ Sukta 22 · 11 verses ✦

6.22.1

य एक॒ इद्धव्य॑श्चर्षणी॒नामिन्द्रं॒ तं गी॒र्भिर॒भ्य॑र्च आ॒भिः । यः पत्य॑ते वृष॒भो वृष्ण्या॑वान्त्स॒त्यः सत्वा॑ पुरुमा॒यः सह॑स्वान् ॥

The one sole lord of humanity worthy of yajnic homage is Indra, whom I adore with these words of praise. He it is, lord generous, giver of showers of strength and bliss, eternal, imperishable, omnificent, omnipotent and forbearing who protects and sustains life as supreme father and guardian.

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6.22.2

तमु॑ नः॒ पूर्वे॑ पि॒तरो॒ नव॑ग्वाः स॒प्त विप्रा॑सो अ॒भि वा॒जय॑न्तः । न॒क्ष॒द्दा॒भं ततु॑रिं पर्वते॒ष्ठामद्रो॑घवाचं म॒तिभिः॒ शवि॑ष्ठम् ॥

Him our ancient forefathers and the seven sages, like our five senses, mind and intellect, alongwith their fellow men, have celebrated and glorified, the lord that is tamer and controller of opposition, saviour from suffering, pervasive in clouds and over mountains, sweet of tongue and strongest in force and power.

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6.22.3

तमी॑मह॒ इन्द्र॑मस्य रा॒यः पु॑रु॒वीर॑स्य नृ॒वतः॑ पुरु॒क्षोः । यो अस्कृ॑धोयुर॒जरः॒ स्व॑र्वा॒न्तमा भ॑र हरिवो माद॒यध्यै॑ ॥

We pray to Indra for his gifts of wealth, happy progeny, man power and generous abundance which he, lord of unlimited potential, ageless and blissful, commanding men and transport, would, we hope, bring us for his joy and ours.

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6.22.4

तन्नो॒ वि वो॑चो॒ यदि॑ ते पु॒रा चि॑ज्जरि॒तार॑ आन॒शुः सु॒म्नमि॑न्द्र । कस्ते॑ भा॒गः किं वयो॑ दुध्र खिद्वः॒ पुरु॑हूत पुरूवसोऽसुर॒घ्नः ॥

Indra, speak to us how the ancient celebrants of yours were blest with the gift of peace and joy. Say what is your share and contribution therein, what joy and ecstasy of being, O lord irresistible, forceful, universally invoked, commanding immense riches, destroyer of evil and the wicked.

· · ·

6.22.5

तं पृ॒च्छन्ती॒ वज्र॑हस्तं रथे॒ष्ठामिन्द्रं॒ वेपी॒ वक्व॑री॒ यस्य॒ नू गीः । तु॒वि॒ग्रा॒भं तु॑विकू॒र्मिं र॑भो॒दां गा॒तुमि॑षे॒ नक्ष॑ते॒ तुम्र॒मच्छ॑ ॥

If the voice and words of a person are vibrant with devotion and eloquent with enquiry in right earnest about Indra, lord of power, honour and excellence, wielder of the thunderbolt in hand, riding the chariot of life, strong with iron grasp, bold in action, giver of tempestuous strength and commander of cosmic force, then such a person wins the lord’s favour of dominion over land for food, energy and the happiness of his heart’s desire.

· · ·

6.22.6

अ॒या ह॒ त्यं मा॒यया॑ वावृधा॒नं म॑नो॒जुवा॑ स्वतवः॒ पर्व॑तेन । अच्यु॑ता चिद्वीळि॒ता स्वो॑जो रु॒जो वि दृ॒ळ्हा धृ॑ष॒ता वि॑रप्शिन् ॥

O lord of your own essential strength and splendour, divine and exuberant, with this thunder force of yours fast as mind, imperishable and indomitable, pray shatter that stronghold of evil growing by illusion firmly fixed and even reinforced by deceptive reason.

· · ·

6.22.7

तं वो॑ धि॒या नव्य॑स्या॒ शवि॑ष्ठं प्र॒त्नं प्र॑त्न॒वत्प॑रितंस॒यध्यै॑ । स नो॑ वक्षदनिमा॒नः सु॒वह्मेन्द्रो॒ विश्वा॒न्यति॑ दु॒र्गहा॑णि ॥

May Indra, lord of infinite knowledge and power, bless us and you all with the best and latest vision and intelligence in order that we may adore and glorify the omnipotent eternal lord as ever, and may the lord saviour of the celestial chariot bring the universal strength of action, otherwise unattainable, and take us across all impassable impediments.

· · ·

6.22.8

आ जना॑य॒ द्रुह्व॑णे॒ पार्थि॑वानि दि॒व्यानि॑ दीपयो॒ऽन्तरि॑क्षा । तपा॑ वृषन्वि॒श्वतः॑ शो॒चिषा॒ तान्ब्र॑ह्म॒द्विषे॑ शोचय॒ क्षाम॒पश्च॑ ॥

O lord of generous showers of light and purity of peace, light up and reveal the blazing magnificence of the regions of earth, firmament and heaven for people stricken with hate, jealousy and enmity against life, humanity, divinity and revelation of the glory of existence. Let them feel the heat and light of the blaze from all sides, heat up even the green earth and cool waters for them and thus let them be cleansed through suffering and penitence.

· · ·

6.22.9

भुवो॒ जन॑स्य दि॒व्यस्य॒ राजा॒ पार्थि॑वस्य॒ जग॑तस्त्वेषसंदृक् । धि॒ष्व वज्रं॒ दक्षि॑ण इन्द्र॒ हस्ते॒ विश्वा॑ अजुर्य दयसे॒ वि मा॒याः ॥

Indra, self-refulgent ruler of earth and the world of light, of humanity and the moving world, ageless lord of light and justice, take the thunderbolt of light and justice in the right hand, destroy the wiles of the wicked and give the light of knowledge to the seekers.

· · ·

6.22.10

आ सं॒यत॑मिन्द्र णः स्व॒स्तिं श॑त्रु॒तूर्या॑य बृह॒तीममृ॑ध्राम् । यया॒ दासा॒न्यार्या॑णि वृ॒त्रा करो॑ वज्रिन्त्सु॒तुका॒ नाहु॑षाणि ॥

Indra, lord of adamantine will and power, ruler of the world, bring in that wide ranging and inviolable peace and well being in a state of constant vigilance and dynamism to win over enmity and opposition by which darkness and ignorance can be replaced by light and knowledge and the lower and average orders of society can be raised to higher state

of enlightenment and action.

· · ·

6.22.11

स नो॑ नि॒युद्भिः॑ पुरुहूत वेधो वि॒श्ववा॑राभि॒रा ग॑हि प्रयज्यो । न या अदे॑वो॒ वर॑ते॒ न दे॒व आभि॑र्याहि॒ तूय॒मा म॑द्र्य॒द्रिक् ॥

O lord all wise and worshipful, universally adored and invited, come to us by well controlled and well directed modes and means of advancement with those laws and policies of universal interest and value and application, which neither the impious obstruct nor the pious camouflage. Come straight here to us with these without delay.

✦ Sukta 23 · 10 verses ✦

6.23.1

सु॒त इत्त्वं निमि॑श्ल इन्द्र॒ सोमे॒ स्तोमे॒ ब्रह्म॑णि श॒स्यमा॑न उ॒क्थे । यद्वा॑ यु॒क्ताभ्यां॑ मघव॒न्हरि॑भ्यां॒ बिभ्र॒द्वज्रं॑ बा॒ह्वोरि॑न्द्र॒ यासि॑ ॥

Indra, lord of honour, wealth and excellence of the world, when the soma is distilled, songs of prayer and adoration are sung and the music of Vedic hymns swells in the air, and when you move and come, one with us, loving and ecstatic, drawn by your own fiery motive powers of saving grace and holding the thunderbolt in hand, you are great and glorious.

· · ·

6.23.2

यद्वा॑ दि॒वि पार्ये॒ सुष्वि॑मिन्द्र वृत्र॒हत्येऽव॑सि॒ शूर॑सातौ । यद्वा॒ दक्ष॑स्य बि॒भ्युषो॒ अबि॑भ्य॒दर॑न्धयः॒ शर्ध॑त इन्द्र॒ दस्यू॑न् ॥

Or when, O mighty lord Indra, free from fear, you protect the creator of the soma of life’s joy in the battle of the brave for the elimination of darkness and want and for advancement of light and showers of love and cherished prosperity, or when you scare away even the mighty fearsome warriors against life, you shine in divine glory. O lord Indra, we pray, subdue the forces of violence, fear and destruction.

· · ·

6.23.3

पाता॑ सु॒तमिन्द्रो॑ अस्तु॒ सोमं॑ प्रणे॒नीरु॒ग्रो ज॑रि॒तार॑मू॒ती । कर्ता॑ वी॒राय॒ सुष्व॑य उ लो॒कं दाता॒ वसु॑ स्तुव॒ते की॒रये॑ चित् ॥

May Indra, ruler of the world, be protector of the joy of life created with cooperative effort under divine guidance. May the lord of splendour be the leader to guide the celebrant to the desired goal in protection and security of justice. May the lord be the creator of a world of beauty for the brave who endeavour to contribute to the health and joy of life. May the lord bless the divine poet and celebrant with wealth and prosperity in life.

· · ·

6.23.4

गन्तेया॑न्ति॒ सव॑ना॒ हरि॑भ्यां ब॒भ्रिर्वज्रं॑ प॒पिः सोमं॑ द॒दिर्गाः । कर्ता॑ वी॒रं नर्यं॒ सर्व॑वीरं॒ श्रोता॒ हवं॑ गृण॒तः स्तोम॑वाहाः ॥

Listen ye all celebrants and yajakas, Indra, ruler of the world, is he who reaches all programmes of positive and creative development by the fastest transport with dynamic experts of theory and practice both, who wields thunderous power and weapons, protects, promotes and shares the soma, invigorating joys of life, gives cows, fertile lands and brilliant words of wisdom and guiding policy, creates bravest of the brave leaders, and listens and appreciates the songs and celebrations of the admirers among the people.

· · ·

6.23.5

अस्मै॑ व॒यं यद्वा॒वान॒ तद्वि॑विष्म॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ यो नः॑ प्र॒दिवो॒ अप॒स्कः । सु॒ते सोमे॑ स्तु॒मसि॒ शंस॑दु॒क्थेन्द्रा॑य॒ ब्रह्म॒ वर्ध॑नं॒ यथास॑त् ॥

Whatever Indra, lord ruler of light and love, wishes, we do for him since he creates for us the holy acts and does all other divine acts of sustenance. When the soma is distilled and the songs of praise arise, we celebrate and exalt him so that knowledge, food, energy and moral rectitude may arise and grow the way it should.

· · ·

6.23.6

ब्रह्मा॑णि॒ हि च॑कृ॒षे वर्ध॑नानि॒ ताव॑त्त इन्द्र म॒तिभि॑र्विविष्मः । सु॒ते सोमे॑ सुतपाः॒ शंत॑मानि॒ रान्द्र्या॑ क्रियास्म॒ वक्ष॑णानि य॒ज्ञैः ॥

Indra, lord ruler, the more noble acts of growth and development you do, the more with our intelligentsia and our people we do our acts of duty for you. O lord lover of honour and excellence, when the work is done, the soma is distilled and the time is come for celebration, we do praise worthy acts with yajnas and sing most delightful songs of joy in your honour.

· · ·

6.23.7

स नो॑ बोधि पुरो॒ळाशं॒ ररा॑णः॒ पिबा॒ तु सोमं॒ गोऋ॑जीकमिन्द्र । एदं ब॒र्हिर्यज॑मानस्य सीदो॒रुं कृ॑धि त्वाय॒त उ॑ लो॒कम् ॥

Indra, lord of majesty, know and enlighten us, happily taste the delicious pudding and drink the exhilarating soma seasoned with cow’s milk so soothing to the mind and senses. Come, be seated on the yajamana’s vedi, and create a wider and higher world of beauty for your devotees.

· · ·

6.23.8

स म॑न्दस्वा॒ ह्यनु॒ जोष॑मुग्र॒ प्र त्वा॑ य॒ज्ञास॑ इ॒मे अ॑श्नुवन्तु । प्रेमे हवा॑सः पुरुहू॒तम॒स्मे आ त्वे॒यं धीरव॑स इन्द्र यम्याः ॥

Indra, refulgent lord, enjoy and rejoice in response to these yajnic acts of our homage as they may please you, and may these our addresses of invocation reach you, lord universally loved, and may this song of adoration and enlightened awareness appeal to you for our protection and advancement.

· · ·

6.23.9

तं वः॑ सखायः॒ सं यथा॑ सु॒तेषु॒ सोमे॑भिरीं पृणता भो॒जमिन्द्र॑म् । कु॒वित्तस्मा॒ अस॑ति नो॒ भरा॑य॒ न सुष्वि॒मिन्द्रोऽव॑से मृधाति ॥

O friends, in all your acts of divine service, admire and adore Indra, lord giver of light and food, with yajnic offers of water and endeavours of creative joy dedicated to him so that the great and magnanimous lord would be gracious in the sustenance and protection of you and us all, since he never forsakes the earnest creator of soma.

· · ·

6.23.10

ए॒वेदिन्द्रः॑ सु॒ते अ॑स्तावि॒ सोमे॑ भ॒रद्वा॑जेषु॒ क्षय॒दिन्म॒घोनः॑ । अस॒द्यथा॑ जरि॒त्र उ॒त सू॒रिरिन्द्रो॑ रा॒यो वि॒श्ववा॑रस्य दा॒ता ॥

Thus is Indra admired and adored among saints and scholars in the world of honour and excellence when the soma is distilled and ready for celebration so that he, lord of honour, power and knowledge, may settle and abide by men of power and prosperity and be the giver of universal wealth of value to the devoted celebrant.

✦ Sukta 24 · 10 verses ✦

6.24.1

वृषा॒ मद॒ इन्द्रे॒ श्लोक॑ उ॒क्था सचा॒ सोमे॑षु सुत॒पा ऋ॑जी॒षी । अ॒र्च॒त्र्यो॑ म॒घवा॒ नृभ्य॑ उ॒क्थैर्द्यु॒क्षो राजा॑ गि॒रामक्षि॑तोतिः ॥

Indra, refulgent ruler, is generous as a cloud of showers in the holy programmes of peace and progress of the social order, joy incarnate, delightful as a poem, sacred as a hymn, loved as a friend, lover and protector of the people’s happiness and achievement, simple, honest and natural in conduct, admired, revered and consecrated for the people and celebrated by the holiest of their voices, lord of honour, power and glory wrapped in heavenly light, inviolable, ever protective, a very haven of peace and security.

· · ·

6.24.2

ततु॑रिर्वी॒रो नर्यो॒ विचे॑ताः॒ श्रोता॒ हवं॑ गृण॒त उ॒र्व्यू॑तिः । वसुः॒ शंसो॑ न॒रां का॒रुधा॑या वा॒जी स्तु॒तो वि॒दथे॑ दाति॒ वाज॑म् ॥

Pressing fast forward against the enemies, brave, leader of leaders, wide awake and all aware, attentive to the call of the supplicant, all round protector of the people, haven and home and real asset of the nation, admired by the people, patron of artists and expert professionals, swift and powerful, adored in yajnic programmes, Indra, the ruler, gives speed and sustenance to the nation’s progress.

· · ·

6.24.3

अक्षो॒ न च॒क्र्योः॑ शूर बृ॒हन्प्र ते॑ म॒ह्ना रि॑रिचे॒ रोद॑स्योः । वृ॒क्षस्य॒ नु ते॑ पुरुहूत व॒या व्यू॒३॒॑तयो॑ रुरुहुरिन्द्र पू॒र्वीः ॥

Like the axis of two moving bodies such as two wheels or stars and planets or sun and earth, O mighty lord of majesty, Indra, universally invoked and adored, the eternal processes of your creation, protection and promotion of the expansive universe grow and extend like the branches of a tree by virtue of your infinite power and excell the light of the sun and generosity of the earth.

· · ·

6.24.4

शची॑वतस्ते पुरुशाक॒ शाका॒ गवा॑मिव स्रु॒तयः॑ सं॒चर॑णीः । व॒त्सानां॒ न त॒न्तय॑स्त इन्द्र॒ दाम॑न्वन्तो अदा॒मानः॑ सुदामन् ॥

Indra, refulgent lord ruler of the world, destroyer of suffering, manifold are your deeds, unbounded your intelligence, and countless your people. The abundant streams of your generous acts are expansive, associative and convergent like waves of light rays and paths of cows and orbits of stars, and, like tethers of the calves and axes of planets, they are controllers and yet givers of freedom, O generous lord of law and liberty.

· · ·

6.24.5

अ॒न्यद॒द्य कर्व॑रम॒न्यदु॒ श्वोऽस॑च्च॒ सन्मुहु॑राच॒क्रिरिन्द्रः॑ । मि॒त्रो नो॒ अत्र॒ वरु॑णश्च पू॒षार्यो वश॑स्य पर्ये॒तास्ति॑ ॥

Indra, our friend here, great and just, life giver and sustainer, master and over all controller of controllers does one act today, another tomorrow, creative and destructive, integrating and disintegrating, making and unmaking, and goes on doing thus again and again in a positive cyclic order.

· · ·

6.24.6

वि त्वदापो॒ न पर्व॑तस्य पृ॒ष्ठादु॒क्थेभि॑रिन्द्रानयन्त य॒ज्ञैः । तं त्वा॒भिः सु॑ष्टु॒तिभि॑र्वा॒जय॑न्त आ॒जिं न ज॑ग्मुर्गिर्वाहो॒ अश्वाः॑ ॥

Indra, lord of beneficence sung and celebrated in hymns of holiness, just as warriors rush to battle for victory, so do joyous devotees and celebrants eager for karmic action and life’s victory hasten to you with homage and yajnas performed with these hymns of praise and songs of adoration, and then, just as rain showers pour from the heights of clouds and streams flow down from the top of mountains, so do fruits of piety and gifts of divine grace shower down and flow, from you.

· · ·

6.24.7

न यं जर॑न्ति श॒रदो॒ न मासा॒ न द्याव॒ इन्द्र॑मवक॒र्शय॑न्ति । वृ॒द्धस्य॑ चिद्वर्धतामस्य त॒नूः स्तोमेभि॑रु॒क्थैश्च॑ श॒स्यमा॑ना ॥

Winters and years wither him not, nor months weaken him, nor the sun and days wear out Indra celebrated by hymns of divine praise and songs of adoration. May the existential manifestation of the lord supreme, eternal Indra grow on and on in majesty. May the body and mind of this eternal jiva, individual soul, grow by the chant of sacred songs and hymns of divine praise.

· · ·

6.24.8

न वी॒ळवे॒ नम॑ते॒ न स्थि॒राय॒ न शर्ध॑ते॒ दस्यु॑जूताय स्त॒वान् । अज्रा॒ इन्द्र॑स्य गि॒रय॑श्चिदृ॒ष्वा ग॑म्भी॒रे चि॑द्भवति गा॒धम॑स्मै ॥

He bows not to the strong and forceful, nor bends before the resolute, nor does he praise or flatter the bold nor anyone allied to the wicked. Mighty mountains are, for Indra, plain as fields, and for him the ocean in the depth becomes firm ground and a fordable flow.

· · ·

6.24.9

ग॒म्भी॒रेण॑ न उ॒रुणा॑मत्रि॒न्प्रेषो य॑न्धि सुतपाव॒न्वाजा॑न् । स्था ऊ॒ षु ऊ॒र्ध्व ऊ॒ती अरि॑षण्यन्न॒क्तोर्व्यु॑ष्टौ॒ परि॑तक्म्यायाम् ॥

Mighty lord, purifier and sanctifier of things in the world of creation, with deep love, profound purpose and grace unbound, give us abundance of food and energy and wide ranging knowledge and success. Stay with us constant with your protection high over us, at dawn and at dusk, night and day without hurt or let up.

· · ·

6.24.10

सच॑स्व ना॒यमव॑से अ॒भीक॑ इ॒तो वा॒ तमि॑न्द्र पाहि रि॒षः । अ॒मा चै॑न॒मर॑ण्ये पाहि रि॒षो मदे॑म श॒तहि॑माः सु॒वीराः॑ ॥

Indra, ruling lord of the realm, be with us, our leadership and our policy, and justice for protection and progress. Save the system here and afar, at home and abroad, from fear and violence so that, blest with the brave, we may live and rejoice for a full hundred years.

✦ Sukta 25 · 9 verses ✦

6.25.1

या त॑ ऊ॒तिर॑व॒मा या प॑र॒मा या म॑ध्य॒मेन्द्र॑ शुष्मि॒न्नस्ति॑ । ताभि॑रू॒ षु वृ॑त्र॒हत्ये॑ऽवीर्न ए॒भिश्च॒ वाजै॑र्म॒हान्न॑ उग्र ॥

Indra, mighty ruler, dispenser of justice and giver of inspiring vigour and vision, whatever your modes of safety and security at the primary level, whatever at the middle level and whatever of the highest level of the order, with all those protect us in the battle against darkness, want and negation, and bless us with these flights of progress and victory, O lord great and refulgent.

· · ·

6.25.2

आभिः॒ स्पृधो॑ मिथ॒तीररि॑षण्यन्न॒मित्र॑स्य व्यथया म॒न्युमि॑न्द्र । आभि॒र्विश्वा॑ अभि॒युजो॒ विषू॑ची॒रार्या॑य॒ विशोऽव॑ तारी॒र्दासीः॑ ॥

Indra, mighty ruler and commander, with these forces of defence and protection engaged in action, break down the pride and morale of the enemy and, with these, without loss of men and materials or interests of the country, protect and advance the cooperative powers employed across the land, the people, and the services for the noble citizens of the nation.

· · ·

6.25.3

इन्द्र॑ जा॒मय॑ उ॒त येऽजा॑मयोऽर्वाची॒नासो॑ व॒नुषो॑ युयु॒ज्रे । त्वमे॑षां विथु॒रा शवां॑सि ज॒हि वृष्ण्या॑नि कृणु॒ही परा॑चः ॥

Indra, mighty ruler and commander of the common wealth, whether it is your own people or other distant ones or sabotagers who join upfront against you to injure the system, you destroy their forces of sabotage, eliminate their growing potential and throw them out.

· · ·

6.25.4

शूरो॑ वा॒ शूरं॑ वनते॒ शरी॑रैस्तनू॒रुचा॒ तरु॑षि॒ यत्कृ॒ण्वैते॑ । तो॒के वा॒ गोषु॒ तन॑ये॒ यद॒प्सु वि क्रन्द॑सी उ॒र्वरा॑सु॒ ब्रवै॑ते ॥

When the brave engage the brave in battle with brilliance of physical force of body, or when people argue, dispute and shout over rights and inheritance in relation to children and grand children, or about fertile lands and cows or waters, then, too, judge and resolve the dispute.

· · ·

6.25.5

न॒हि त्वा॒ शूरो॒ न तु॒रो न धृ॒ष्णुर्न त्वा॑ यो॒धो मन्य॑मानो यु॒योध॑ । इन्द्र॒ नकि॑ष्ट्वा॒ प्रत्य॑स्त्येषां॒ विश्वा॑ जा॒तान्य॒भ्य॑सि॒ तानि॑ ॥

Neither the brave nor impetuous nor violent nor warrior, however great and proud, can stand and fight against you. Indra, lord almighty, none is your equal, none adversary, you are supreme over all those that are born and existent.

· · ·

6.25.6

स प॑त्यत उ॒भयो॑र्नृ॒म्णम॒योर्यदी॑ वे॒धसः॑ समि॒थे हव॑न्ते । वृ॒त्रे वा॑ म॒हो नृ॒वति॒ क्षये॑ वा॒ व्यच॑स्वन्ता॒ यदि॑ वितन्त॒सैते॑ ॥

If two partners in the matter of integration or division or separation of finances or management of a large corporate organisation of men dispute, then he gets control of the money or the assets whom judges of piety and penetrative intelligence call upon to manage, and above all Indra, the ruler, is the ultimate master.

· · ·

6.25.7

अध॑ स्मा ते चर्ष॒णयो॒ यदेजा॒निन्द्र॑ त्रा॒तोत भ॑वा वरू॒ता । अ॒स्माका॑सो॒ ये नृत॑मासो अ॒र्य इन्द्र॑ सू॒रयो॑ दधि॒रे पु॒रो नः॑ ॥

And also, O lord ruler and master, giver of honour and excellence, destroyer of evil and wickedness, Indra, be the saviour and protector of all your people specially of those who are stricken with fear. Be the defender and promoter of those people of ours who are the highest leading lights and bravest heroes who hold the forts and maintain the cities for us.

· · ·

6.25.8

अनु॑ ते दायि म॒ह इ॑न्द्रि॒याय॑ स॒त्रा ते॒ विश्व॒मनु॑ वृत्र॒हत्ये॑ । अनु॑ क्ष॒त्रमनु॒ सहो॑ यज॒त्रेन्द्र॑ दे॒वेभि॒रनु॑ ते नृ॒षह्ये॑ ॥

Consequently, O lord most adorable, supreme ruler, protector of life and destroyer of negation, appropriate to your greatness and majesty, in keeping with the honour and dignity of the world social order, and in view of the courage and fortitude required to face the challenges to humanity, the whole world is given unto you and entrusted, in truth, by the leading lights and brilliant visionaries of nations in the battle of light against darkness, of goodness against evil, and of prosperity against want and squalor.

· · ·

6.25.9

ए॒वा नः॒ स्पृधः॒ सम॑जा स॒मत्स्विन्द्र॑ रार॒न्धि मि॑थ॒तीरदे॑वीः । वि॒द्याम॒ वस्तो॒रव॑सा गृ॒णन्तो॑ भ॒रद्वा॑जा उ॒त त॑ इन्द्र नू॒नम् ॥

Thus, O lord Indra, giver of honour and victory, we pray, inspire us to advance in our ambition to win over our rivals in the battles of life. O lord destroyer, subdue the warring forces of darkness and selfishness. Let us all, celebrants and men of knowledge and action, singing and celebrating your honour day and night, know you for sure and win the victories by virtue of your guidance and protection.

✦ Sukta 26 · 8 verses ✦

6.26.1

श्रु॒धी न॑ इन्द्र॒ ह्वया॑मसि त्वा म॒हो वाज॑स्य सा॒तौ वा॑वृषा॒णाः । सं यद्विशोऽय॑न्त॒ शूर॑साता उ॒ग्रं नोऽवः॒ पार्ये॒ अह॑न्दाः ॥

Indra, lord ruler and giver of honour and excellence, listen to us: overwhelming and exuberant we call upon you in the great battle of sustenance and advancement. When the people march on in the battle of the brave, then on the decisive day give us the blazing passion of your force and protection to victory.

· · ·

6.26.2

त्वां वा॒जी ह॑वते वाजिने॒यो म॒हो वाज॑स्य॒ गध्य॑स्य सा॒तौ । त्वां वृ॒त्रेष्वि॑न्द्र॒ सत्प॑तिं॒ तरु॑त्रं॒ त्वां च॑ष्टे मुष्टि॒हा गोषु॒ युध्य॑न् ॥

The war-like scion of a heroic family of learned leaders and scholars, seeker of a great new success just at hand in the field of food, energy, knowledge and progress, invokes you, Indra, potent lord victor, you saviour of devotees and defender of truth, and, fighting hand to hand, looks up to you at the decisive moment of victory for the acquisition of new wealths of light and development of lands, cows and branches of energy.

· · ·

6.26.3

त्वं क॒विं चो॑दयो॒ऽर्कसा॑तौ॒ त्वं कुत्सा॑य॒ शुष्णं॑ दा॒शुषे॑ वर्क् । त्वं शिरो॑ अम॒र्मणः॒ परा॑हन्नतिथि॒ग्वाय॒ शंस्यं॑ करि॒ष्यन् ॥

You enthuse and inspire the creative visionary in the work on solar energy, thunder and lightning. You break open the secrets of concentrated energy for the man of power and generosity. Thus you shake and subdue the head of invulnerable pride and intransigence and do praise-worthy service to the leader who honours and keeps open house for visiting scholars.

· · ·

6.26.4

त्वं रथं॒ प्र भ॑रो यो॒धमृ॒ष्वमावो॒ युध्य॑न्तं वृष॒भं दश॑द्युम् । त्वं तुग्रं॑ वेत॒सवे॒ सचा॑ह॒न्त्वं तुजिं॑ गृ॒णन्त॑मिन्द्र तूतोः ॥

Indra, ruler and commander, you create and maintain an invulnerable war chariot and protect the strong fighting force shining in ten directions for days on end. In full dedication to the honour and brilliance of the social order, destroy violence and terror and advance the strong, promotive and allied powers that do honour to the nation.

· · ·

6.26.5

त्वं तदु॒क्थमि॑न्द्र ब॒र्हणा॑ कः॒ प्र यच्छ॒ता स॒हस्रा॑ शूर॒ दर्षि॑ । अव॑ गि॒रेर्दासं॒ शम्ब॑रं ह॒न्प्रावो॒ दिवो॑दासं चि॒त्राभि॑रू॒ती ॥

Indra, mighty destroyer of evil and preserver of the good, it is praise worthy that with your great force you destroy a hundred thousand evils, O brave lord, and, with wondrous saving powers, release from the cloud pent up showers, so soothing and refreshing, and thus relieve and protect humanity dedicated as a liberal servant of divinity.

· · ·

6.26.6

त्वं श्र॒द्धाभि॑र्मन्दसा॒नः सोमै॑र्द॒भीत॑ये॒ चुमु॑रिमिन्द्र सिष्वप् । त्वं र॒जिं पिठी॑नसे दश॒स्यन्ष॒ष्टिं स॒हस्रा॒ शच्या॒ सचा॑हन् ॥

Indra, ruling lord destroyer and preserver, rejoicing with faithful homage and joyous celebrations of dedicated followers, you send the oppressive ogre to sleep in order to save the oppressed and, favouring the man of right conduct in keeping with your holiness, you give him the right direction and ward off a sixty thousand obstacles from his path.

· · ·

6.26.7

अ॒हं च॒न तत्सू॒रिभि॑रानश्यां॒ तव॒ ज्याय॑ इन्द्र सु॒म्नमोजः॑ । त्वया॒ यत्स्तव॑न्ते सधवीर वी॒रास्त्रि॒वरू॑थेन॒ नहु॑षा शविष्ठ ॥

Indra, bravest lord of the house of the brave, I pray, may I too, along with the learned and the wise and great, attain that high order of vigour and splendour, peace and well being, with the grace of your presence bestowed by you, lord of three worlds, which the brave and learned people value, admire and pray for.

· · ·

6.26.8

व॒यं ते॑ अ॒स्यामि॑न्द्र द्यु॒म्नहू॑तौ॒ सखा॑यः स्याम महिन॒ प्रेष्ठाः॑ । प्रात॑र्दनिः क्षत्र॒श्रीर॑स्तु॒ श्रेष्ठो॑ घ॒ने वृ॒त्राणां॑ स॒नये॒ धना॑नाम् ॥

Indra, greatest lord of grace and glory, may we, in this yajnic programme of power and prosperity of the human nation, be your dearest friends and supportive participants, and may the rising generosity and gracious glory of the world order rise highest in our battle against darkness of ignorance, injustice and poverty for the achievement of all round prosperity and well being.

✦ Sukta 27 · 8 verses ✦

6.27.1

किम॑स्य॒ मदे॒ किम्व॑स्य पी॒ताविन्द्रः॒ किम॑स्य स॒ख्ये च॑कार । रणा॑ वा॒ ये नि॒षदि॒ किं ते अ॑स्य पु॒रा वि॑विद्रे॒ किमु॒ नूत॑नासः ॥

What does Indra, destroyer of suffering, do in the ecstasy of this soma, for the beauty and glory of this order? What in the exuberance of the drink, in the joyous experience of its management and satisfaction therefrom? What in the friendly identity with it and its people? And what do they know and discern, the veterans and the youngest of the new generation, who joyously celebrate in the company of this Indra in the House? What do they gain?

· · ·

6.27.2

सद॑स्य॒ मदे॒ सद्व॑स्य पी॒ताविन्द्रः॒ सद॑स्य स॒ख्ये च॑कार । रणा॑ वा॒ ये नि॒षदि॒ सत्ते अ॑स्य पु॒रा वि॑विद्रे॒ सदु॒ नूत॑नासः ॥

Noble deeds of the truth of its reality does Indra perform in the rapture of its dignity, noble and true indeed when he drinks of the soma of that experience, nothing but the truth and dignity of action and policy in friendly identity with this social order. And they who joyously sit in his company in the House identified with the glory of this order, veterans as well as new ones, they too know and realise the truth and the reality, nothing but the truth, whole and undiluted.

· · ·

6.27.3

न॒हि नु ते॑ महि॒मनः॑ समस्य॒ न म॑घवन्मघव॒त्त्वस्य॑ वि॒द्म । न राध॑सोराधसो॒ नूत॑न॒स्येन्द्र॒ नकि॑र्ददृश इन्द्रि॒यं ते॑ ॥

Indra, lord of wealth, power and majesty, we know not anyone equal to you in greatness and glory, nothing like your regality and munificence, nothing so perfect as your perfection which reveals ever new possibilities. None comprehends your omniscience and your omnipotence.

· · ·

6.27.4

ए॒तत्यत्त॑ इन्द्रि॒यम॑चेति॒ येनाव॑धीर्व॒रशि॑खस्य॒ शेषः॑ । वज्र॑स्य॒ यत्ते॒ निह॑तस्य॒ शुष्मा॑त्स्व॒नाच्चि॑दिन्द्र पर॒मो द॒दार॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and perfection, this omnipotence of yours is apprehended when with it you strike and destroy the greatest and highest adversary to the very end, which too is just the tip of the might of omnipotence, and when, by the force of the mere roar and rumble of the thunderbolt hurled, the proudest enemy is shattered.

· · ·

6.27.5

वधी॒दिन्द्रो॑ व॒रशि॑खस्य॒ शेषो॑ऽभ्याव॒र्तिने॑ चायमा॒नाय॒ शिक्ष॑न् । वृ॒चीव॑तो॒ यद्ध॑रियू॒पीया॑यां॒ हन्पूर्वे॒ अर्धे॑ भि॒यसाप॑रो॒ दर्त् ॥

Just as Indra, the sun, breaks the cloud on high to the last drop of rain, so should Indra, eminent teacher as well as the ruler, in the act of giving instruction to the dedicated learners all round vigilant in a sustained manner, while giving them pioneering enlightenment in their love of scholars and scholarship, dispel their basic fear, ignorance and negative tendencies and thus eliminate the possibilities of later resurgence of evil with the healthy fear of unknown and unexpected consequences.

· · ·

6.27.6

त्रिं॒शच्छ॑तं व॒र्मिण॑ इन्द्र सा॒कं य॒व्याव॑त्यां पुरुहूत श्रव॒स्या । वृ॒चीव॑न्तः॒ शर॑वे॒ पत्य॑मानाः॒ पात्रा॑ भिन्दा॒ना न्य॒र्थान्या॑यन् ॥

Indra, mighty lord ruler universally invoked and honoured, let thirty hundred renowned warriors in armour in a well provided army in top gear breaking through the enemy lines, shattering the defences, achieve their decisive goal.

· · ·

6.27.7

यस्य॒ गावा॑वरु॒षा सू॑यव॒स्यू अ॒न्तरू॒ षु चर॑तो॒ रेरि॑हाणा । स सृञ्ज॑याय तु॒र्वशं॒ परा॑दाद्वृ॒चीव॑तो दैववा॒ताय॒ शिक्ष॑न् ॥

The ruler whose power and law, internal policy and external defence, both like two healthy, ruddy and loving cows, well provided and happily self-satisfied, operate in the dominion, he, training the efficient force in radiative communication and productive science, would throw off the destructive elements of the state.

· · ·

6.27.8

द्व॒याँ अ॑ग्ने र॒थिनो॑ विंश॒तिं गा व॒धूम॑न्तो म॒घवा॒ मह्यं॑ स॒म्राट् । अ॒भ्या॒व॒र्ती चा॑यमा॒नो द॑दाति दू॒णाशे॒यं दक्षि॑णा पार्थ॒वाना॑म् ॥

Agni, refulgent ruler, commanding wealth, power, honour and excellence, dynamic leader ever on the move for progress and victory, revered and celebrated all round, gives me both chariot warriors for defence of the nation and happy families and a team of twenty creative ministers to bear the burdens of the nation, which gift from any of global rulers is invulnerable indeed.

✦ Sukta 28 · 8 verses ✦

6.28.1

आ गावो॑ अग्मन्नु॒त भ॒द्रम॑क्र॒न्त्सीद॑न्तु गो॒ष्ठे र॒णय॑न्त्व॒स्मे । प्र॒जाव॑तीः पुरु॒रूपा॑ इ॒ह स्यु॒रिन्द्रा॑य पू॒र्वीरु॒षसो॒ दुहा॑नाः ॥

Let the cows come as rays of the sun, sit and rest in the stalls, be happy and bring us happiness and good fortune. May they be fertile with many calves, of many colours and breeds, abundant, yielding plenty of milk for the health and prosperity of the nation, and thereby let them be harbingers of light like the morning dawns.

· · ·

6.28.2

इन्द्रो॒ यज्व॑ने पृण॒ते च॑ शिक्ष॒त्युपेद्द॑दाति॒ न स्वं मु॑षायति । भूयो॑भूयो र॒यिमिद॑स्य व॒र्धय॒न्नभि॑न्ने खि॒ल्ये नि द॑धाति देव॒युम् ॥

Indra, the ruler, gives protection and maintenance grants to the man dedicated to yajna. He engages him in creative and educational work and thus gives him fulfilment and purpose in life. This way too he does not deplete his own knowledge and culture but maintains it. Constantly and continuously he adds to the wealth of the nation and, in every region of the land, he looks after and maintains the devotees of learning, society and divinity without taking away anything from them materially.

· · ·

6.28.3

न ता न॑शन्ति॒ न द॑भाति॒ तस्क॑रो॒ नासा॑मामि॒त्रो व्यथि॒रा द॑धर्षति । दे॒वाँश्च॒ याभि॒र्यज॑ते॒ ददा॑ति च॒ ज्योगित्ताभिः॑ सचते॒ गोप॑तिः स॒ह ॥

Knowledge, fruits of yajna, generosity, patronage of learning and culture, these rays of light do not perish nor deplete nor fade away. The thief steals them not, no enemy can afflict them, nor can anyone injure or insult them. The lord of these cows, lights and radiations, with which he serves the divinities, learned and the wise, gives, creates and adds to life’s beauty, also, he constantly and continuously lives, lasts and rises with them.

· · ·

6.28.4

न ता अर्वा॑ रे॒णुक॑काटो अश्नुते॒ न सं॑स्कृत॒त्रमुप॑ यन्ति॒ ता अ॒भि । उ॒रु॒गा॒यमभ॑यं॒ तस्य॒ ता अनु॒ गावो॒ मर्त॑स्य॒ वि च॑रन्ति॒ यज्व॑नः ॥

Neither a vociferous brute raising clouds of dust like a war horse attains to these rays of light and culture, nor do these radiations penetrate the thick head of a violent man insulated against enlightenment. Like cows, the rays of refinement roam freely round the open pastures of the generous man of yajna and social service, a boundless world of freedom and fearlessness.

· · ·

6.28.5

गावो॒ भगो॒ गाव॒ इन्द्रो॑ मे अच्छा॒न् गावः॒ सोम॑स्य प्रथ॒मस्य॑ भ॒क्षः । इ॒मा या गावः॒ स ज॑नास॒ इन्द्र॑ इ॒च्छामीद्धृ॒दा मन॑सा चि॒दिन्द्र॑म् ॥

May Bhaga, lord of wealth and good fortune, give me cows. May Indra, lord of power and majesty, give me good cows. May Bhaksha, adorable lord of primal food, energy and ecstasy of life, give me good cows for milk. O people, O lord of power and glory, Indra, I love and love to have all that is cows, i.e., mothers of food and energy, sources of sweetness, light and culture, masters of knowledge and wisdom, honour and excellence. I love that all with my heart and mind, the beauty, the glory, the ecstasy!

· · ·

6.28.6

यू॒यं गा॑वो मेदयथा कृ॒शं चि॑दश्री॒रं चि॑त्कृणुथा सु॒प्रती॑कम् । भ॒द्रं गृ॒हं कृ॑णुथ भद्रवाचो बृ॒हद्वो॒ वय॑ उच्यते स॒भासु॑ ॥

You develop the cows of life, mother spirits of body, mind and soul. Give health and vigour to the weak and emaciated, turn the ugly and unpleasant to beautiful, graceful and illustrious. Make the home overflow with peace, prosperity and the bliss of good fortune. You command noble speech in the assemblies of the wise and powerful leaders so that your life and work is praised and appreciated wide and high in the world.

· · ·

6.28.7

प्र॒जाव॑तीः सू॒यव॑सं रि॒शन्तीः॑ शु॒द्धा अ॒पः सु॑प्रपा॒णे पिब॑न्तीः । मा वः॑ स्ते॒न ई॑शत॒ माघशं॑सः॒ परि॑ वो हे॒ती रु॒द्रस्य॑ वृज्याः ॥

O fertile and abundant cows blest with calves, feeding on fine green grass and drinking pure water from transparent pools, may no thief ever overpower you, may no strike of the cruel and sinful butcher ever slaughter you. (Swami Dayanand applies this mantra to the duties of the ruler: The ruler should look after the cattle wealth of the country. The government must protect and promote the cows. Not only that. Even the people and their education culture and efficiency are, like the holy cow, to be protected against violence and promoted with good food and water and all means of prevention of social crime and violence.)

· · ·

6.28.8

उपे॒दमु॑प॒पर्च॑नमा॒सु गोषूप॑ पृच्यताम् । उप॑ ऋष॒भस्य॒ रेत॒स्युपे॑न्द्र॒ तव॑ वी॒र्ये॑ ॥

In this social order and in the policy, let there be a union and identity of the ruler with the people, their lands and their languages. Indra, noble and illustrious ruler, all giver, let the people share, join and support you in your creative acts of courage and development.

✦ Sukta 29 · 6 verses ✦

6.29.1

इन्द्रं॑ वो॒ नरः॑ स॒ख्याय॑ सेपुर्म॒हो यन्तः॑ सुम॒तये॑ चका॒नाः । म॒हो हि दा॒ता वज्र॑हस्तो॒ अस्ति॑ म॒हामु॑ र॒ण्वमव॑से यजध्वम् ॥

O citizens of the land, leading lights of humanity in love with knowledge, wisdom and guidance, to win your friendship and to rise to the heights of life for your sake, honour and serve Indra, supreme ruler, lord of knowledge and power. Great is he, all giver, and wields the sceptre of light, power and justice. Join the great lord of love and joy and honour him with homage and yajnic service for protection and progress.

· · ·

6.29.2

आ यस्मि॒न्हस्ते॒ नर्या॑ मिमि॒क्षुरा रथे॑ हिर॒ण्यये॑ रथे॒ष्ठाः । आ र॒श्मयो॒ गभ॑स्त्योः स्थू॒रयो॒राध्व॒न्नश्वा॑सो॒ वृष॑णो युजा॒नाः ॥

Indra in whose hands are all the gifts of life for mankind rides the golden chariot of the cosmos, holding reins of the world in his mighty hands, controlling the potent forces of nature like horses on the course of time and destiny

· · ·

6.29.3

श्रि॒ये ते॒ पादा॒ दुव॒ आ मि॑मिक्षुर्धृ॒ष्णुर्व॒ज्री शव॑सा॒ दक्षि॑णावान् । वसा॑नो॒ अत्कं॑ सुर॒भिं दृ॒शे कं स्व१॒॑र्ण नृ॑तविषि॒रो ब॑भूथ ॥

Gracious are your feet firmly fixed in liberality and compassion. The devotees offer their homage of soma there for glory. You are all conquering, wielder of the thunderbolt, mighty generous by your own essential power and munificence, and, wearing a fragrant, glorious and heavenly robe, blissful sight for all to see, O director of the cosmic dance, you are the all moving, all inspiring, omniscient presence and power.

· · ·

6.29.4

स सोम॒ आमि॑श्लतमः सु॒तो भू॒द्यस्मि॑न्प॒क्तिः प॒च्यते॒ सन्ति॑ धा॒नाः । इन्द्रं॒ नरः॑ स्तु॒वन्तो॑ ब्रह्मका॒रा उ॒क्था शंस॑न्तो दे॒ववा॑ततमाः ॥

That is the blessed dominion of Indra, ideal world order raised to systemic purity and integrated to organismic unity wherein soma is distilled and seasoned in plenty, ample food is prepared for all, food grains are grown in abundance, and leading lights of the people, divinely occupied, sing songs of appreciation in praise of Indra and rise to the heights of excellence bordering on divinity.

· · ·

6.29.5

न ते॒ अन्तः॒ शव॑सो धाय्य॒स्य वि तु बा॑बधे॒ रोद॑सी महि॒त्वा । आ ता सू॒रिः पृ॑णति॒ तूतु॑जानो यू॒थेवा॒प्सु स॒मीज॑मान ऊ॒ती ॥

No one can reach the end of your power, the force that binds up heaven and earth as a handful of dust in space. Still the man of courage and vision without fear, moving at supersonic speed under the cover of your protection, does attain that pleasure of fulfilment which a host of thirsty travellers finds at a shady fount of holy waters.

· · ·

6.29.6

ए॒वेदिन्द्रः॑ सु॒हव॑ ऋ॒ष्वो अ॑स्तू॒ती अनू॑ती हिरिशि॒प्रः सत्वा॑ । ए॒वा हि जा॒तो अस॑मात्योजाः पु॒रू च॑ वृ॒त्रा ह॑नति॒ नि दस्यू॑न् ॥

Thus may the lord sublime, omnipotent Indra, ever active in golden glory, listen to the prayers of universal humanity in all direct and indirect modes of divine protection and grace. Thus does the lord, selfmanifest in boundless power and glory, create and preserve the abundant wealth of good and destroy darkness, enmity and negation of evil.

✦ Sukta 30 · 5 verses ✦

6.30.1

भूय॒ इद्वा॑वृधे वी॒र्या॑यँ॒ एको॑ अजु॒र्यो द॑यते॒ वसू॑नि । प्र रि॑रिचे दि॒व इन्द्रः॑ पृथि॒व्या अ॒र्धमिद॑स्य॒ प्रति॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे ॥

Again and again the one ageless Indra grows in manifestation to express his power and creates, preserves and gives all wealths of the world. The sun from the regions of light covers half of the earth and relieves the other half. In turn, the earth and the sky both receive only half of the light and heat, and the sun exceeds and excels both.

· · ·

6.30.2

अधा॑ मन्ये बृ॒हद॑सु॒र्य॑मस्य॒ यानि॑ दा॒धार॒ नकि॒रा मि॑नाति । दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ सूर्यो॑ दर्श॒तो भू॒द्वि सद्मा॑न्युर्वि॒या सु॒क्रतु॑र्धात् ॥

And I know and honour the extensive luminous life giving power and energy of this sun and of the many planets that it holds and sustains, which no power can deny, disturb, diminish or destroy. Day by day, every morning, the sun rises glorious and, holy participant in the cosmic yajna of Indra, it generates and sustains many abodes of life along with the wide earth.

· · ·

6.30.3

अ॒द्या चि॒न्नू चि॒त्तदपो॑ न॒दीनां॒ यदा॑भ्यो॒ अर॑दो गा॒तुमि॑न्द्र । नि पर्व॑ता अद्म॒सदो॒ न से॑दु॒स्त्वया॑ दृ॒ळ्हानि॑ सुक्रतो॒ रजां॑सि ॥

Indra, refulgent lord, now as ever you draw up the waters of the rivers by evaporation, shower them and let them flow in river beds to the sea. You attract the earth by gravitation and let it move in orbit. You fix the mountains in place and float the clouds in windy courses, everything in place like guests in a dinner party. Indeed, O lord of holy action in cosmic yajna, by you are all regions of the universe set in place, firm and secure.

· · ·

6.30.4

स॒त्यमित्तन्न त्वावाँ॑ अ॒न्यो अ॒स्तीन्द्र॑ दे॒वो न मर्त्यो॒ ज्याया॑न् । अह॒न्नहिं॑ परि॒शया॑न॒मर्णोऽवा॑सृजो अ॒पो अच्छा॑ समु॒द्रम् ॥

Indra, refulgent lord eternal, true it is there is no one else divine or human as great as you who break the dark and dormant cloud, release the showers of rain and let the whirling streams flow and join the rolling ocean. Similarly, O lord omnipotent, you break the dark silence of sleeping nature from the state of inertness and set the processes of creative evolution aflow and let them ultimately recede into the fathomless ocean of silence again.

· · ·

6.30.5

त्वम॒पो वि दुरो॒ विषू॑ची॒रिन्द्र॑ दृ॒ळ्हम॑रुजः॒ पर्व॑तस्य । राजा॑भवो॒ जग॑तश्चर्षणी॒नां सा॒कं सूर्यं॑ ज॒नय॒न्द्यामु॒षास॑म् ॥

Indra, you break open the impenetrable doors of the cloud and release the rain showers. You break the adamantine mountains and let the waters flow in river courses. You break the bottomless inertness of life energy and let it flow in evolutionary channels of human action and courses of history. Creating the children of the moving world along with the sun and dawn of the day and the regions of heaven and earth, you reign supreme as light of the world, refulgent creator and ultimate dispenser.

✦ Sukta 31 · 5 verses ✦

6.31.1

अभू॒रेको॑ रयिपते रयी॒णामा हस्त॑योरधिथा इन्द्र कृ॒ष्टीः । वि तो॒के अ॒प्सु तन॑ये च॒ सूरेऽवो॑चन्त चर्ष॒णयो॒ विवा॑चः ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, in you vests the governance and control of the entire wealth and assets of the nation, pray be the sole possessor and custodian of national wealth, O lord of honour and excellence. In your hands alone lies the direction of the nation, producers, workers and defence forces all. The wisest people of the land speaking different languages in different styles, in their words and actions describe and celebrate the brilliance of the rule and governance of Indra to their children and grand children.

· · ·

6.31.2

त्वद्भि॒येन्द्र॒ पार्थि॑वानि॒ विश्वाच्यु॑ता चिच्च्यावयन्ते॒ रजां॑सि । द्यावा॒क्षामा॒ पर्व॑तासो॒ वना॑नि॒ विश्वं॑ दृ॒ळ्हं भ॑यते॒ अज्म॒न्ना ते॑ ॥

Indra, sole lord of law and power, by the fear and pressure of your presence, all the unshakables on earth and in the skies stir and move along their functional course. Heaven and earth, clouds and mountains, deep forests, indeed the entire fixed and functionary world of existence fears the unmoved motion of your pervasive presence and dare not relent in their function.

· · ·

6.31.3

त्वं कुत्से॑ना॒भि शुष्ण॑मिन्द्रा॒शुषं॑ युध्य॒ कुय॑वं॒ गवि॑ष्टौ । दश॑ प्रपि॒त्वे अध॒ सूर्य॑स्य मुषा॒यश्च॒क्रमवि॑वे॒ रपां॑सि ॥

Indra, lord ruler and giver of light, having fought out the voracious drought and bad harvest with the thunderbolt of natural energy, keen for success in the development of lands and cows and the project of solar energy, you deplete ten injurious impediments and ride the chariot of the dominion like the sun in orbit.

· · ·

6.31.4

त्वं श॒तान्यव॒ शम्ब॑रस्य॒ पुरो॑ जघन्थाप्र॒तीनि॒ दस्योः॑ । अशि॑क्षो॒ यत्र॒ शच्या॑ शचीवो॒ दिवो॑दासाय सुन्व॒ते सु॑तक्रे भ॒रद्वा॑जाय गृण॒ते वसू॑नि ॥

Break open the hundreds of hidden strongholds and treasures of the wealth and power of the dark clouds and hoards collected by the thief, and there, O lord of light and power of knowledge and wisdom, with knowledge and expertise, provide the means and materials of prosperity and well being for the advancement of the generous scientist, creative artist, pharmacist, technologist and celebrant of divinity.

· · ·

6.31.5

स स॑त्यसत्वन्मह॒ते रणा॑य॒ रथ॒मा ति॑ष्ठ तुविनृम्ण भी॒मम् । या॒हि प्र॑पथि॒न्नव॒सोप॑ म॒द्रिक्प्र च॑ श्रुत श्रावय चर्ष॒णिभ्यः॑ ॥

O lord commander of the power of truth and reality, master of manifold wealth and splendour, ready for the arduous battle of life, ride the awesome chariot, go forward, traveller of the path of rectitude, come to us too with the wisdom of revealed omniscience with all your modes of defence and protection and proclaim the truth for the people.

✦ Sukta 32 · 5 verses ✦

6.32.1

अपू॑र्व्या पुरु॒तमा॑न्यस्मै म॒हे वी॒राय॑ त॒वसे॑ तु॒राय॑ । वि॒र॒प्शिने॑ व॒ज्रिणे॒ शंत॑मानि॒ वचां॑स्या॒सा स्थवि॑राय तक्षम् ॥

Let me compose an original and comprehensive song of praise in my own, words in a state of peace overflowing with reverence in honour of this great hero, Indra, mighty performer of action, admirable wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and punishment, unshakable embodiment of tranquillity.

· · ·

6.32.2

स मा॒तरा॒ सूर्ये॑णा कवी॒नामवा॑सयद्रु॒जदद्रिं॑ गृणा॒नः । स्वा॒धीभि॒र्ऋक्व॑भिर्वावशा॒न उदु॒स्रिया॑णामसृजन्नि॒दान॑म् ॥

By the light of the sun, he illuminates the heaven and earth, protectors and inspirers of poets like father and mother. Breaking the cloud of showers, shaking the mountains of impediments and inhibitions of mind, sung and celebrated in songs of praise and jubilation, pleased, inspiring and illuminant in response to the homage of reverence, he opens the flood gates of light and song in words, breaking off all impediments to the original vision and imagination of the poet.

· · ·

6.32.3

स वह्नि॑भि॒र्ऋक्व॑भि॒र्गोषु॒ शश्व॑न्मि॒तज्ञु॑भिः पुरु॒कृत्वा॑ जिगाय । पुरः॑ पुरो॒हा सखि॑भिः सखी॒यन्दृ॒ळ्हा रु॑रोज क॒विभिः॑ क॒विः सन् ॥

He is the ruler, himself a visionary, friend of friends, relentless hero of abundant action, breaker of the strongholds of darkness, and with the company and support of assisting partners, celebrants and poetic creators sitting in meditative posture, he breaks the adamantine rigidities of dead wood and wins the battles for the development of lands and cows and the advancement of knowledge, arts and enlightenment.

· · ·

6.32.4

स नी॒व्या॑भिर्जरि॒तार॒मच्छा॑ म॒हो वाजे॑भिर्म॒हद्भि॑श्च॒ शुष्मैः॑ । पु॒रु॒वीरा॑भिर्वृषभ क्षिती॒नामा गि॑र्वणः सुवि॒ताय॒ प्र या॑हि ॥

Indra, mighty brave and generous ruler, sung and celebrated in song, come well to the celebrant for the well being of the people and bless them with high spirits and ambition for victory and latest

great powers and forces manned by many heroic leaders and warriors of the rising generation.

· · ·

6.32.5

स सर्गे॑ण॒ शव॑सा त॒क्तो अत्यै॑र॒प इन्द्रो॑ दक्षिण॒तस्तु॑रा॒षाट् । इ॒त्था सृ॑जा॒ना अन॑पावृ॒दर्थं॑ दि॒वेदि॑वे विविषुरप्रमृ॒ष्यम् ॥

Indra, mighty ruler, instant victor, come happy and jubilant with vibrant new forces of creation, with dynamic pioneers advancing like winds who may, thus, creating, preserving, reconstructing, discovering new goals day by day, move on, realise anew indestructible eternal values and never look back.

✦ Sukta 33 · 5 verses ✦

6.33.1

य ओजि॑ष्ठ इन्द्र॒ तं सु नो॑ दा॒ मदो॑ वृषन्त्स्वभि॒ष्टिर्दास्वा॑न् । सौव॑श्व्यं॒ यो व॒नव॒त्स्वश्वो॑ वृ॒त्रा स॒मत्सु॑ सा॒सह॑द॒मित्रा॑न् ॥

Indra, lord of honour and excellence, ruler most illustrious, generous, victorious and beneficent, inspired with ardent passion, give us that stormy force of dynamic action for achievement which, equipped with instant and unfailing capability, may fight out the unfriendly powers of darkness in the contests of life and win the wealths of high value in the world for our cherished goal.

· · ·

6.33.2

त्वां ही॒३॒॑न्द्राव॑से॒ विवा॑चो॒ हव॑न्ते चर्ष॒णयः॒ शूर॑सातौ । त्वं विप्रे॑भि॒र्वि प॒णीँर॑शाय॒स्त्वोत॒ इत्सनि॑ता॒ वाज॒मर्वा॑ ॥

You alone, O lord ruler, Indra, the people of diverse speech adore and invoke in diverse words in battles of the brave for protection and success. You alone, with the wise and vibrant, subdue the uncreative and greedy, and you alone give peace and rest to the celebrants. Indeed, under your protection only, does the cavalier and the warrior win the light of knowledge and victory in action.

· · ·

6.33.3

त्वं ताँ इ॑न्द्रो॒भयाँ॑ अ॒मित्रा॒न्दासा॑ वृ॒त्राण्यार्या॑ च शूर । वधी॒र्वने॑व॒ सुधि॑तेभि॒रत्कै॒रा पृ॒त्सु द॑र्षि नृ॒णां नृ॑तम ॥

Indra, brave ruler, leading light of the leaders, with focussed, objective and decisive judgement, distinguish between both opponents and supporters, the vile and the noble, split open both clearly to full exposure, and, with decisive blows of unfailing tactic, fight out the negatives in the contests of the dominion just like a forester felling the dead wood with sharpened axe.

· · ·

6.33.4

स त्वं न॑ इ॒न्द्राक॑वाभिरू॒ती सखा॑ वि॒श्वायु॑रवि॒ता वृ॒धे भूः॑ । स्व॑र्षाता॒ यद्ध्वया॑मसि त्वा॒ युध्य॑न्तो ने॒मधि॑ता पृ॒त्सु शू॑र ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world, life of life and giver of showers of bliss, be our friend and protector with all your modes of defence and protection for our advancement without reserve or restriction. Fighting our battles of life, O brave and generous hero, defender of good against evil, we invoke and call upon you to come and help us with love and grace.

· · ·

6.33.5

नू॒नं न॑ इन्द्राप॒राय॑ च स्या॒ भवा॑ मृळी॒क उ॒त नो॑ अ॒भिष्टौ॑ । इ॒त्था गृ॒णन्तो॑ म॒हिन॑स्य॒ शर्म॑न्दि॒वि ष्या॑म॒ पार्ये॑ गो॒षत॑माः ॥

Indra, lord of life, for sure be our friend and protector, and saviour of others too, for now and for ever, and for the attainment of our cherished goal be kind and gracious. Singing, celebrating and glorifying the splendour of the great lord, we pray, may we abide in the high heaven of divine felicity and, blest with the sacred Word of Divinity, swim across the seas of suffering to freedom.

✦ Sukta 34 · 5 verses ✦

6.34.1

सं च॒ त्वे ज॒ग्मुर्गिर॑ इन्द्र पू॒र्वीर्वि च॒ त्वद्य॑न्ति वि॒भ्वो॑ मनी॒षाः । पु॒रा नू॒नं च॑ स्तु॒तय॒ ऋषी॑णां पस्पृ॒ध्र इन्द्रे॒ अध्यु॑क्था॒र्का ॥

Indra, lord giver of thought, speech and knowledge, all universal thoughts and diverse forms and words of the eternal Word, all languages past, present and future, proceed from you, return unto you and abide in you. For sure, all ancient hymns and recitations, all interpretive adorations of the seers divining into the visions and meanings of the mantras vie with each other to reach and concentrate on the glory of Indra.

· · ·

6.34.2

पु॒रु॒हू॒तो यः पु॑रुगू॒र्त ऋभ्वाँ॒ एकः॑ पुरुप्रश॒स्तो अस्ति॑ य॒ज्ञैः । रथो॒ न म॒हे शव॑से युजा॒नो॒३॒॑स्माभि॒रिन्द्रो॑ अनु॒माद्यो॑ भूत् ॥

Indra who is invoked by many, admired by many, sole lord adored by many, is sought after by the wise through creative and reflective yajnic endeavours for the pursuit of great vision and power with concentrated mind in meditation. May he be like a chariot for us across the world of life and consequently give us ultimate freedom and joy.

· · ·

6.34.3

न यं हिंस॑न्ति धी॒तयो॒ न वाणी॒रिन्द्रं॒ नक्ष॒न्तीद॒भि व॒र्धय॑न्तीः । यदि॑ स्तो॒तारः॑ श॒तं यत्स॒हस्रं॑ गृ॒णन्ति॒ गिर्व॑णसं॒ शं तद॑स्मै ॥

No thoughts can violate Indra, the ruler, nor hurt him, nor can words comprehend him. In fact, the thoughts and words of devotees exalt and glorify him. And when celebrants offer a hundred and thousand adorations to this lord of exaltation, he is pleased and then peace and bliss of well being descends on the devotee.

· · ·

6.34.4

अस्मा॑ ए॒तद्दि॒व्य१॒॑र्चेव॑ मा॒सा मि॑मि॒क्ष इन्द्रे॒ न्य॑यामि॒ सोमः॑ । जनं॒ न धन्व॑न्न॒भि सं यदापः॑ स॒त्रा वा॑वृधु॒र्हव॑नानि य॒ज्ञैः ॥

Just as soma, nectar juice of nature, mixes with the moon and the moon mixes fully with the sun once in the month on full moon night, so in this heavenly relation of life and action between Indra, the ruler, and the devotee, I join with Indra, and just as showers of rain in the desert exhilarate the people so may the sessions of yajna advance the devotees and thereby may they exalt and glorify the lord.

· · ·

6.34.5

अस्मा॑ ए॒तन्मह्यां॑ङ्गू॒षम॑स्मा॒ इन्द्रा॑य स्तो॒त्रं म॒तिभि॑रवाचि । अस॒द्यथा॑ मह॒ति वृ॑त्र॒तूर्य॒ इन्द्रो॑ वि॒श्वायु॑रवि॒ता वृ॒धश्च॑ ॥

For this Indra, this ruler, this giver of the light of life, is this exalted song of praise and adoration sung and offered by faithful and intelligent devotees so that for the victory of light over darkness and ignorance in this battle of life Indra, lord of all life and the world, may be our protector and guardian for advancement.

✦ Sukta 35 · 5 verses ✦

6.35.1

क॒दा भु॑व॒न्रथ॑क्षयाणि॒ ब्रह्म॑ क॒दा स्तो॒त्रे स॑हस्रपो॒ष्यं॑ दाः । क॒दा स्तोमं॑ वासयोऽस्य रा॒या क॒दा धियः॑ करसि॒ वाज॑रत्नाः ॥

When would your chariots come to rest in the garage? When do you give away a thousand prizes of support and sustenance at the victory celebration? When do you reward the celebrant with wealth for his song? And when do you make our acts of thought and will fructify with the wealth of success and victory?

· · ·

6.35.2

कर्हि॑ स्वि॒त्तदि॑न्द्र॒ यन्नृभि॒र्नॄन्वी॒रैर्वी॒रान्नी॒ळया॑से॒ जया॒जीन् । त्रि॒धातु॒ गा अधि॑ जयासि॒ गोष्विन्द्र॑ द्यु॒म्नं स्व॑र्वद्धेह्य॒स्मे ॥

When is it, Indra, brilliant ruler, that you bring people to meet with people, the brave to meet with the brave, vying in contest to win the battles of progress, conquer threefold wealth of knowledge and minerals over the lands and create and bring us celestial and blissful wealth, honour and excellence?

· · ·

6.35.3

कर्हि॑ स्वि॒त्तदि॑न्द्र॒ यज्ज॑रि॒त्रे वि॒श्वप्सु॒ ब्रह्म॑ कृ॒णवः॑ शविष्ठ । क॒दा धियो॒ न नि॒युतो॑ युवासे क॒दा गोम॑घा॒ हव॑नानि गच्छाः ॥

Indra, most potent ruler of the world, when would you bring that wealth of knowledge and holiness of universal form and character which we too desire for the celebrant? Commanding highest virtue, when would you join and inspire our thought and will to rise for the grand leap forward? When would you lead us to win the cherished honour, splendour and glory of the earth worthy of you?

· · ·

6.35.4

स गोम॑घा जरि॒त्रे अश्व॑श्चन्द्रा॒ वाज॑श्रवसो॒ अधि॑ धेहि॒ पृक्षः॑ । पी॒पि॒हीषः॑ सु॒दुघा॑मिन्द्र धे॒नुं भ॒रद्वा॑जेषु सु॒रुचो॑ रुरुच्याः ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, give us the honour and excellence of a free world order, liquid wealth of gold in circulation, progressive advancement and renown in abundance for a planned programme, and drink the soma of attainable success worthy of a nation of knowledge, virtue and love of divinity, and thus help us create and structure an earthly order of fruitful prosperity for the dynamic bearers of science and action, a lovely world of beauty and splendour indeed.

· · ·

6.35.5

तमा नू॒नं वृ॒जन॑म॒न्यथा॑ चि॒च्छूरो॒ यच्छ॑क्र॒ वि दुरो॑ गृणी॒षे । मा निर॑रं शुक्र॒दुघ॑स्य धे॒नोरा॑ङ्गिर॒सान्ब्रह्म॑णा विप्र जिन्व ॥

Indra, valiant ruler, lord of knowledge and power, destroyer of darkness, hate and enmity, let the paths of love and progress you approve and proclaim and the doors of new knowledge you open never be otherwise, keep them wide open onwards. O vibrant lover of knowledge and advancement, never forsake the faithful scholars of divine nature’s fertility, vitality and virility, never desert the visionaries of the divine Word of Veda, serve and advance them with means and materials for relentless pursuit of knowledge and life’s sanctity.

✦ Sukta 36 · 5 verses ✦

6.36.1

स॒त्रा मदा॑स॒स्तव॑ वि॒श्वज॑न्याः स॒त्रा रायोऽध॒ ये पार्थि॑वासः । स॒त्रा वाजा॑नामभवो विभ॒क्ता यद्दे॒वेषु॑ धा॒रय॑था असु॒र्य॑म् ॥

Truly all your joys and inspirations, Indra, are universal, meant for the world. Truly all your earthly wealth, power and honour is for all children of the earth. Truly you are the wielder and distributor of all forms of food and energy which you bear and bring forth in the divinities of nature and humanity as the very breath of life.

· · ·

6.36.2

अनु॒ प्र ये॑जे॒ जन॒ ओजो॑ अस्य स॒त्रा द॑धिरे॒ अनु॑ वी॒र्या॑य । स्यू॒म॒गृभे॒ दुध॒येऽर्व॑ते च॒ क्रतुं॑ वृञ्ज॒न्त्यपि॑ वृत्र॒हत्ये॑ ॥

Consequently people honour, value and worship the vigour and splendour of Indra in this world, and truly they develop it for the attainment of higher strength and vitality, and, for the attainment of united advancement of the progressive forces and countering the forces of negation in the battle against darkness, they gather their powers, perform concerted yajnic action and root out evil and wickedness.

· · ·

6.36.3

तं स॒ध्रीची॑रू॒तयो॒ वृष्ण्या॑नि॒ पौंस्या॑नि नि॒युतः॑ सश्चु॒रिन्द्र॑म् । स॒मु॒द्रं न सिन्ध॑व उ॒क्थशु॑ष्मा उरु॒व्यच॑सं॒ गिर॒ आ वि॑शन्ति ॥

All modes of protection and security, showers of strength and generosity, manliness and vigour and allied virtues and actions converge to Indra, join and abide in him. Just as rivers flow and reach the sea, so do all resonant voices of adoration and admirable qualities of life reach the lord all pervasive in the wide world.

· · ·

6.36.4

स रा॒यस्खामुप॑ सृजा गृणा॒नः पु॑रुश्च॒न्द्रस्य॒ त्वमि॑न्द्र॒ वस्वः॑ । पति॑र्बभू॒थास॑मो॒ जना॑ना॒मेको॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ राजा॑ ॥

Indra, sole ruler of the whole world, be the one unequalled master and protector of the people and of the golden wealth of the land, and, adored and glorified by them, release the streams of wealth, honour and excellence of the world for us.

· · ·

6.36.5

स तु श्रु॑धि॒ श्रुत्या॒ यो दु॑वो॒युर्द्यौर्न भूमा॒भि रायो॑ अ॒र्यः । असो॒ यथा॑ नः॒ शव॑सा चका॒नो यु॒गेयु॑गे॒ वय॑सा॒ चेकि॑तानः ॥

Listen to our prayers and adorations, Indra, lord ruler who love the prayers and adorations of devotees, who are resplendent as sun and boundless as space, master, protector and giver of wealth, honour and excellence, so that shining by wealth and power, growing in knowledge and awareness day by day, you be, as you have been, kind and gracious to us as ever before.

✦ Sukta 37 · 5 verses ✦

6.37.1

अ॒र्वाग्रथं॑ वि॒श्ववा॑रं त उ॒ग्रेन्द्र॑ यु॒क्तासो॒ हर॑यो वहन्तु । की॒रिश्चि॒द्धि त्वा॒ हव॑ते॒ स्व॑र्वानृधी॒महि॑ सध॒माद॑स्ते अ॒द्य ॥

Indra, resplendent lord ruler of the world, we pray, may the motive powers attached to your chariot of universal wealth and bliss bring you hither to us. So does the enlightened celebrant with joy at heart invoke and invite you today so that we too who abide with you in the hall of assembly may grow and prosper.

· · ·

6.37.2

प्रो द्रोणे॒ हर॑यः॒ कर्मा॑ग्मन्पुना॒नास॒ ऋज्य॑न्तो अभूवन् । इन्द्रो॑ नो अ॒स्य पू॒र्व्यः प॑पीयाद्द्यु॒क्षो मद॑स्य सो॒म्यस्य॒ राजा॑ ॥

Let the people go forward and higher in the measure of action and achievement and continue to rise in the sacred manner of simple and natural rectitude. And may Indra, ancient ruler of the world bright as heaven on earth, shining and ruling over the delightful order of bliss, rise exuberant and drink of the joy of soma, peace and glory of the order.

· · ·

6.37.3

आ॒स॒स्रा॒णासः॑ शवसा॒नमच्छेन्द्रं॑ सुच॒क्रे र॒थ्या॑सो॒ अश्वाः॑ । अ॒भि श्रव॒ ऋज्य॑न्तो वहेयु॒र्नू चि॒न्नु वा॒योर॒मृतं॒ वि द॑स्येत् ॥

May the motive powers of the chariot of mighty Indra, ever on the move in the divine orbit in a simple and natural manner, gracefully bear the lord to the chant of our yajnic programmes of humanity. Let the immortal breath of life never be exhausted, let no one waste away the nectar vitality of immortality.

· · ·

6.37.4

वरि॑ष्ठो अस्य॒ दक्षि॑णामिय॒र्तीन्द्रो॑ म॒घोनां॑ तुविकू॒र्मित॑मः । यया॑ वज्रिवः परि॒यास्यंहो॑ म॒घा च॑ धृष्णो॒ दय॑से॒ वि सू॒रीन् ॥

Indra, highest power of the dominion and fastest performer among men of wealth and splendour, achieves and raises the strength and honour of this social order by which, O lord of courage and power, wielder of the thunder of justice and punishment, you remove sin and crime and give rich gifts of reward and recognition to the scholars and the brave heroes.

· · ·

6.37.5

इन्द्रो॒ वाज॑स्य॒ स्थवि॑रस्य दा॒तेन्द्रो॑ गी॒र्भिर्व॑र्धतां वृ॒द्धम॑हाः । इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्रं हनि॑ष्ठो अस्तु॒ सत्वा ता सू॒रिः पृ॑णति॒ तूतु॑जानः ॥

Indra is the giver of solid strength and stable progress. May Indra, celebrated by the great and exalted by our words of adoration, rise in glory. Indra is the destroyer of darkness in the extreme, brilliant and brave in the essence, and, instant performer as he is, learned, he is, and the giver of complete fulfilment.

✦ Sukta 38 · 5 verses ✦

6.38.1

अपा॑दि॒त उदु॑ नश्चि॒त्रत॑मो म॒हीं भ॑र्षद्द्यु॒मती॒मिन्द्र॑हूतिम् । पन्य॑सीं धी॒तिं दैव्य॑स्य॒ याम॒ञ्जन॑स्य रा॒तिं व॑नते सु॒दानुः॑ ॥

May Indra, lord immaculate, wondrous power and glorious ruler, perfect, self-existent and selfsustained, be here direct and accept and exalt our sincere, abundant and brilliant voice of adoration in honour of divinity. The lord is a generous and munificent giver, loves the celebrative voice of the heart and cherishes the homage of noble godly people on way to divinity.

· · ·

6.38.2

दू॒राच्चि॒दा व॑सतो अस्य॒ कर्णा॒ घोषा॒दिन्द्र॑स्य तन्यति ब्रुवा॒णः । एयमे॑नं दे॒वहू॑तिर्ववृत्यान्म॒द्र्य१॒॑गिन्द्र॑मि॒यमृ॒च्यमा॑ना ॥

The ears of this lord Indra receive the voice of the speaker even from far off wherever he be, and from that voice, speaking in response, he raises it to the roar of thunder. May this voice of mine in honour of divinity, reaching and celebrating the lord of glory, come back to me, complete the circuit and bless me as voice divine.

· · ·

6.38.3

तं वो॑ धि॒या प॑र॒मया॑ पुरा॒जाम॒जर॒मिन्द्र॑म॒भ्य॑नूष्य॒र्कैः । ब्रह्मा॑ च॒ गिरो॑ दधि॒रे सम॑स्मिन्म॒हांश्च॒ स्तोमो॒ अधि॑ वर्ध॒दिन्द्रे॑ ॥

For you all with the best and highest of mind and faith I proclaim and celebrate the ancient and unaging Indra, cosmic energy of the Divine with yajnic gifts of homage. The eternal consciousness of omniscience and the voice of the Vedas all resound in this cosmic medium and the mighty yajna of creation and evolution too renews, evolves and expands under this same Indra, divine energy.

· · ·

6.38.4

वर्धा॒द्यं य॒ज्ञ उ॒त सोम॒ इन्द्रं॒ वर्धा॒द्ब्रह्म॒ गिर॑ उ॒क्था च॒ मन्म॑ । वर्धाहै॑नमु॒षसो॒ याम॑न्न॒क्तोर्वर्धा॒न्मासाः॑ श॒रदो॒ द्याव॒ इन्द्र॑म् ॥

Let yajna, corporate programmes of research and development, advance Indra, power and application of the electric energy of nature. Let soma, positive creations and the scholar dedicated to peace and universal happiness extend the possibilities of power. Let the divine words of the Veda and the achievement of food and energy of universal value exalt Indra, lord of divine energy. And let the dawns, days and nights, hours, months, seasons, earth and heaven, all glorify Indra, lord of the universe. Let our thought and chants of holy word glorify him.

· · ·

6.38.5

ए॒वा ज॑ज्ञा॒नं सह॑से॒ असा॑मि वावृधा॒नं राध॑से च श्रु॒ताय॑ । म॒हामु॒ग्रमव॑से विप्र नू॒नमा वि॑वासेम वृत्र॒तूर्ये॑षु ॥

Thus for the sake of strength and power, patience and fortitude as well as for challenge, for defence, protection and victory in our battles against darkness, want and evil, for the sake of onward achievement of wealth and success, and for the use and advancement of the vibrant learned scholar, O holy sage, let us all dedicate ourselves decisively and relentlessly to the great, illustrious, and perfect energy of divine nature, evolving, rising, and constantly developing it for us by our yajnic efforts, and let us thus serve and glorify Indra, omnipotent lord of the universe.

✦ Sukta 39 · 5 verses ✦

6.39.1

म॒न्द्रस्य॑ क॒वेर्दि॒व्यस्य॒ वह्ने॒र्विप्र॑मन्मनो वच॒नस्य॒ मध्वः॑ । अपा॑ न॒स्तस्य॑ सच॒नस्य॑ दे॒वेषो॑ युवस्व गृण॒ते गोअ॑ग्राः ॥

Taste the honey sweet of the Word of this happy and blissful divine poet, celebrant of light, inspirer of passion and vision of wisdom, and friend of Divinity. O refulgent lord of generosity, protect and promote the brilliant and revealing Word of the poet, bless the servant of divinity with energy and sustenance and reveal the words of divinity for the celebrant.

· · ·

6.39.2

अ॒यमु॑शा॒नः पर्यद्रि॑मु॒स्रा ऋ॒तधी॑तिभिर्ऋत॒युग्यु॑जा॒नः । रु॒जदरु॑ग्णं॒ वि व॒लस्य॒ सानुं॑ प॒णीँर्वचो॑भिर॒भि यो॑ध॒दिन्द्रः॑ ॥

This poet, like the sun, loving, inspiring and impassioned, in unison with the truth and law of existence, with waves of energy bearing rays of light and showers of rain, breaks the clouds of darkness, lights up impenetrable tops of mighty mountains, opens up treasures of wealth, and blesses the untainted and the celebrants. Thus does Indra fight and shine.

· · ·

6.39.3

अ॒यं द्यो॑तयद॒द्युतो॒ व्य१॒॑क्तून्दो॒षा वस्तोः॑ श॒रद॒ इन्दु॑रिन्द्र । इ॒मं के॒तुम॑दधु॒र्नू चि॒दह्नां॒ शुचि॑जन्मन उ॒षस॑श्चकार ॥

Thus does this sun, this cosmic drop of divine soma, light up the unlighted: the nights, the mornings, days and seasons of the year. Thus does Indra create the light of immaculate dawns which bear up the light as banner of the days.

· · ·

6.39.4

अ॒यं रो॑चयद॒रुचो॑ रुचा॒नो॒३॒॑यं वा॑सय॒द्व्यृ१॒॑तेन॑ पू॒र्वीः । अ॒यमी॑यत ऋत॒युग्भि॒रश्वैः॑ स्व॒र्विदा॒ नाभि॑ना चर्षणि॒प्राः ॥

This Indra, the sun, itself refulgent, lights up the lightless such as earth and moon, and it lights up the ancient dawns, by the operation of cosmic law. It goes on in orbit by the centre pin of cosmic gravitation with other heavenly bodies such as planets and satellites, drawn by the motive forces of cosmic law and giving light and comfort primarily to the people of the earth.

· · ·

6.39.5

नू गृ॑णा॒नो गृ॑ण॒ते प्र॑त्न राज॒न्निषः॑ पिन्व वसु॒देया॑य पू॒र्वीः । अ॒प ओष॑धीरवि॒षा वना॑नि॒ गा अर्व॑तो॒ नॄनृ॒चसे॑ रिरीहि ॥

Rajan, brilliant ruler, ancient power, praised and celebrated by devotees, develop and increase abundant food, energy and wealth for the dedicated liberal giver of charities, and for the development and accomplishment of holy programmes give waters, herbs, inobnoxious forests, cows, horses and brave leaders and competent manpower for the celebrant.

✦ Sukta 40 · 5 verses ✦

6.40.1

इन्द्र॒ पिब॒ तुभ्यं॑ सु॒तो मदा॒याव॑ स्य॒ हरी॒ वि मु॑चा॒ सखा॑या । उ॒त प्र गा॑य ग॒ण आ नि॒षद्याथा॑ य॒ज्ञाय॑ गृण॒ते वयो॑ धाः ॥

Indra, refulgent ruler, drink the soma of joy distilled for your pleasure and majesty, let the motive power of the dominion, the government and the people, too be free and relax since they are friends. Sit in the assembly of the dominion and sing and inspire the people to celebrate the holy occasion, and bear and bring food, good health and long age for the celebrant of the dominion to carry on the corporate business of governance and administration as a yajna for the lord.

· · ·

6.40.2

अस्य॑ पिब॒ यस्य॑ जज्ञा॒न इ॑न्द्र॒ मदा॑य॒ क्रत्वे॒ अपि॑बो विरप्शिन् । तमु॑ ते॒ गावो॒ नर॒ आपो॒ अद्रि॒रिन्दुं॒ सम॑ह्यन्पी॒तये॒ सम॑स्मै ॥

Indra, mighty ruler, drink of this nectar sweet of soma which you tasted at your birth and which you drank for passion and exhilaration while you arose for great action in the field of knowledge and governance, the same soma which the cows and rays of the sun, men and leaders, waters, clouds and mountains have collected and seasoned for this drink of yours.

· · ·

6.40.3

समि॑द्धे अ॒ग्नौ सु॒त इ॑न्द्र॒ सोम॒ आ त्वा॑ वहन्तु॒ हर॑यो॒ वहि॑ष्ठाः । त्वा॒य॒ता मन॑सा जोहवी॒मीन्द्रा या॑हि सुवि॒ताय॑ म॒हे नः॑ ॥

When the fire is kindled and rising and the soma is distilled, let the strongest motive forces of transport and the most powerful leaders who can bear the burdens of the commonwealth bring you here. And when you are here I invoke and invite you with a mind wholly dedicated to you, Indra, destroyer of pain and suffering, come for our great pleasure and prosperity of well being.

· · ·

6.40.4

आ या॑हि॒ शश्व॑दुश॒ता य॑या॒थेन्द्र॑ म॒हा मन॑सा सोम॒पेय॑म् । उप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि शृणव इ॒मा नोऽथा॑ ते य॒ज्ञस्त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ वयो॑ धात् ॥

Indra, mighty ruler and dispenser of peace and prosperity, come here without let up with inspired sages and leaders with magnanimous mind and morale to this nectar drink of the soma of governance and enlightenment. Listen carefully to these songs of adoration and words of the Veda, and, we pray, may this yajnic business of governance and administration bear and bring us good food, energy and a long age of good health for our person and the social order.

· · ·

6.40.5

यदि॑न्द्र दि॒वि पार्ये॒ यदृध॒ग्यद्वा॒ स्वे सद॑ने॒ यत्र॒ वासि॑ । अतो॑ नो य॒ज्ञमव॑से नि॒युत्वा॑न्त्स॒जोषाः॑ पाहि गिर्वणो म॒रुद्भिः॑ ॥

Indra, enlightened ruler, admired and adored in refined words of homage and reverence, whether you are in a far off land of your choice you love to promote in a special direction or in your own place of residence, or wherever you happen to be, from there, O loving and friendly leader dedicated to the yajnic order of governance for its defence and protection, develop and promote the order by the most vibrant force of daring commandos.

✦ Sukta 41 · 5 verses ✦

6.41.1

अहे॑ळमान॒ उप॑ याहि य॒ज्ञं तुभ्यं॑ पवन्त॒ इन्द॑वः सु॒तासः॑ । गावो॒ न व॑ज्रि॒न्त्स्वमोको॒ अच्छेन्द्रा ग॑हि प्रथ॒मो य॒ज्ञिया॑नाम् ॥

Indra, lord ruler of glory and power, giver of freedom and dignity, come loving and favourable, grace our yajna of life and living. Drops of soma flow from the press for you and sanctify and brighten up the yajna. O lord of thunder and justice, first and foremost of the holiest guardians of yajna, just as mother cows rush to their stalls for their calves, so eagerly come to us and bless the devotees.

· · ·

6.41.2

या ते॑ का॒कुत्सुकृ॑ता॒ या वरि॑ष्ठा॒ यया॒ शश्व॒त्पिब॑सि॒ मध्व॑ ऊ॒र्मिम् । तया॑ पाहि॒ प्र ते॑ अध्व॒र्युर॑स्था॒त्सं ते॒ वज्रो॑ वर्ततामिन्द्र ग॒व्युः ॥

Indra, ruling lord of Dharma and rectitude, by that sophisticated and discriminative palate of yours by which you always taste the sweets of the flow of life, and by that discriminative and sublimated thought and speech by which you always distil the essence and value of the sweets and shades of life and respond to human action, taste the sweets of our yajnic performance, and protect and promote us by your words of wisdom through the rise and fall of life’s movement. The highpriest dedicated to love and non-violence awaits you at the altar. May your wheel of justice and governance over the earth ever revolve over the order of humanity.

· · ·

6.41.3

ए॒ष द्र॒प्सो वृ॑ष॒भो वि॒श्वरू॑प॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ वृष्णे॒ सम॑कारि॒ सोमः॑ । ए॒तं पि॑ब हरिवः स्थातरुग्र॒ यस्येशि॑षे प्र॒दिवि॒ यस्ते॒ अन्न॑म् ॥

This soma of the order of beauty and sweetness of bliss, flowing, free from intoxication and illusion, creative and exuberant, universal and open in form and performance, is distilled to the essence in honour of the generous and potent lord of power and glory. Drink of it, taste and judge of it, O lord illustrious ever on the move by motive forces yet settled at centre, rule over it in the light of heaven, live it, it is the very food for your life and existence.

· · ·

6.41.4

सु॒तः सोमो॒ असु॑तादिन्द्र॒ वस्या॑न॒यं श्रेया॑ञ्चिकि॒तुषे॒ रणा॑य । ए॒तं ति॑तिर्व॒ उप॑ याहि य॒ज्ञं तेन॒ विश्वा॒स्तवि॑षी॒रा पृ॑णस्व ॥

This soma, blissful order of life fashioned into form from the raw materials of life and thought, O lord of power and glory, is better, more fragrant and inspiring for the man of intelligence and culture in search of a life of knowledge, achievement and happiness. Come, O lord victorious over opposition and contradictions, to this yajnic order of society and thereby strengthen all forces of action for advancement and total fulfilment.

· · ·

6.41.5

ह्वया॑मसि॒ त्वेन्द्र॑ याह्य॒र्वाङरं॑ ते॒ सोम॑स्त॒न्वे॑ भवाति । शत॑क्रतो मा॒दय॑स्वा सु॒तेषु॒ प्रास्माँ अ॑व॒ पृत॑नासु॒ प्र वि॒क्षु ॥

Indra, ruler and protector, we invoke and exhort you, go forward, let the soma of exhilaration and social dignity be sufficient and inspiring for your health and the body politic. O lord of a hundred great actions and yajnic victories, rise and celebrate the glory of life among the people raised and refined to the sweetness and beauty of culture. Guide on, protect and promote us among the nations and powers of the world.

✦ Sukta 42 · 4 verses ✦

6.42.1

प्रत्य॑स्मै॒ पिपीष॑ते॒ विश्वा॑नि वि॒दुषे॑ भर । अ॒रं॒ग॒माय॒ जग्म॒येऽप॑श्चाद्दध्वने॒ नरे॑ ॥

Indra, ruler and patron of knowledge and culture, provide all facilities of the world for this bold and courageous leading scholar thirsting for knowledge and constantly going forward to reach the expansive bounds of his subject, never tarrying, never looking back.

· · ·

6.42.2

एमे॑नं प्र॒त्येत॑न॒ सोमे॑भिः सोम॒पात॑मम् । अम॑त्रेभिर्ऋजी॒षिण॒मिन्द्रं॑ सु॒तेभि॒रिन्दु॑भिः ॥

In consequence and return, O scholars and citizens of the land, be grateful to this Indra, brilliant ruler, lover of the peace and pleasure of the soma of knowledge and enlightenment and promoter of scholars and men of truth and naturalness. Do all possible homage to him with ample measures of work and knowledge distilled like soma in the essence from your brilliant work and noble conduct.

· · ·

6.42.3

यदी॑ सु॒तेभि॒रिन्दु॑भिः॒ सोमे॑भिः प्रति॒भूष॑थ । वेदा॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ मेधि॑रो धृ॒षत्तन्त॒मिदेष॑ते ॥

If you honour the lord ruler with the homage of pure and brilliant soma of knowledge and yajnic action in response to his magnanimity, the wise and adorable lord of the world would acknowledge and appreciate each act of homage.

· · ·

6.42.4

अ॒स्माअ॑स्मा॒ इदन्ध॒सोऽध्व॑र्यो॒ प्र भ॑रा सु॒तम् । कु॒वित्स॑मस्य॒ जेन्य॑स्य॒ शर्ध॑तो॒ऽभिश॑स्तेरव॒स्पर॑त् ॥

O high priest of the yajnic order, bear and bring an equable share of bright and inspiring food and maintenance for every one. And may the great and wise one, the lord, preserve, protect, promote and defend the rightful constancy of the admirable force and power of the order against violence and calumny.

✦ Sukta 43 · 4 verses ✦

6.43.1

यस्य॒ त्यच्छम्ब॑रं॒ मदे॒ दिवो॑दासाय र॒न्धयः॑ । अ॒यं स सोम॑ इन्द्र ते सु॒तः पिब॑ ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, this is that soma distilled and seasoned for you in the exhilaration and ecstasy of which you, like the sun on high, break down the forces of darkness and evil to promote the spirit of light and generosity. Pray drink of it to your heart’s content and protect and promote the spirit of it.

· · ·

6.43.2

यस्य॑ तीव्र॒सुतं॒ मदं॒ मध्य॒मन्तं॑ च॒ रक्ष॑से । अ॒यं स सोम॑ इन्द्र ते सु॒तः पिब॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler, this is that soma, the power and glory of the yajnic order, distilled and refined in your honour, the brilliant and pure spirit of which in the essence you protect and promote in the beginning, in the middle and at the end of its completion. Pray drink of it to your heart’s content and rejoice in the splendour and ecstasy of it.

· · ·

6.43.3

यस्य॒ गा अ॒न्तरश्म॑नो॒ मदे॑ दृ॒ळ्हा अ॒वासृ॑जः । अ॒यं स सोम॑ इन्द्र ते सु॒तः पिब॑ ॥

Indra, lord of glory, this is that soma of knowledge and power distilled and refined for you under the force and exhilaration of which you release mighty waves of energy confined in the thickest cloud and most solid materials. Drink of it to your heart’s content and protect and promote the science and power of it.

· · ·

6.43.4

यस्य॑ मन्दा॒नो अन्ध॑सो॒ माघो॑नं दधि॒षे शवः॑ । अ॒यं स सोम॑ इन्द्र ते सु॒तः पिब॑ ॥

Indra, lord of vision, knowledge and power, happy and worshipful devotee of the sweetness, beauty and ecstasy of life, this is that soma of existence distilled and refined in the essence for you, the mighty energy, force and exuberant vitality of which you bear, protect and promote. Live it, enjoy it to your heart’s content, and protect and promote its glory on and on.

✦ Sukta 44 · 24 verses ✦

6.44.1

यो र॑यिवो र॒यिन्त॑मो॒ यो द्यु॒म्नैर्द्यु॒म्नव॑त्तमः । सोमः॑ सु॒तः स इ॑न्द्र॒ तेऽस्ति॑ स्वधापते॒ मदः॑ ॥

Indra, supreme lord of your own nature, power and law, that soma beauty and bliss of the world of existence created by you, which is most abundant in wealth and brilliance, which is most glorious in splendour and majesty, is all yours, all for yourself, all your own pleasure, passion and ecstasy.

· · ·

6.44.2

यः श॒ग्मस्तु॑विशग्म ते रा॒यो दा॒मा म॑ती॒नाम् । सोमः॑ सु॒तः स इ॑न्द्र॒ तेऽस्ति॑ स्वधापते॒ मदः॑ ॥

Indra, O mighty lord most kind, master of your own power and potential, that exciting peace and pleasure of life created, those gifts of wealth showered on rational humanity, the exuberance of munificence, all is yours, for your own pleasure and ecstasy, and rendered back to you in homage and gratitude.

· · ·

6.44.3

येन॑ वृ॒द्धो न शव॑सा तु॒रो न स्वाभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ । सोमः॑ सु॒तः स इ॑न्द्र॒ तेऽस्ति॑ स्वधापते॒ मदः॑ ॥

Indra, mighty ruler, protector and sustainer of your own creation, your power and potential and your own forces of protection by which you promote the good and positive and destroy the evil and negative like the ancient and eternal father guardian and like a protective destroyer for preservation, that is the beauty and glory and assertive energy of life created by you. That is yours, your fatherly pleasure and ecstasy. Pray let it evolve and rise.

· · ·

6.44.4

त्यमु॑ वो॒ अप्र॑हणं गृणी॒षे शव॑स॒स्पति॑म् । इन्द्रं॑ विश्वा॒साहं॒ नरं॒ मंहि॑ष्ठं वि॒श्वच॑र्षणिम् ॥

All ye children of the earth, for you all I praise and celebrate that Indra, lord dispenser of justice and punishment without anger or violence, commander of power and forces of the nation, challenger of all negative forces of the world, leader of humanity, and great and glorious ruler of the men of vision and acts of universal value.

· · ·

6.44.5

यं व॒र्धय॒न्तीद्गिरः॒ पतिं॑ तु॒रस्य॒ राध॑सः । तमिन्न्व॑स्य॒ रोद॑सी दे॒वी शुष्मं॑ सपर्यतः ॥

Indra whom universal voices of the world exalt and celebrate in adoration, is the ruler and protector of all the effective achievers of the world of nature and humanity. Him, in truth, the brilliant heaven and the green earth both serve under his power and law. To him our homage is always due.

· · ·

6.44.6

तद्व॑ उ॒क्थस्य॑ ब॒र्हणेन्द्रा॑योपस्तृणी॒षणि॑ । विपो॒ न यस्यो॒तयो॒ वि यद्रोह॑न्ति स॒क्षितः॑ ॥

That lord you exalt by the beauty and sublimity of your holy song of praise in honour of Indra whose protections and modes of advancement then rise together like shoots of soma inwardly stirred by the song under his umbrella.

· · ·

6.44.7

अवि॑द॒द्दक्षं॑ मि॒त्रो नवी॑यान्पपा॒नो दे॒वेभ्यो॒ वस्यो॑ अचैत् । स॒स॒वान्त्स्तौ॒लाभि॑र्धौ॒तरी॑भिरुरु॒ष्या पा॒युर॑भव॒त्सखि॑भ्यः ॥

The rising youth, friendly and protective, knows and achieves strength and expertise, and provides a place of rest and security for the noble and the wise. Well provided with food and means of sustenance, eager to protect and promote, he rises as a guardian power for friends and companions with unshakable forces of defence and protection.

· · ·

6.44.8

ऋ॒तस्य॑ प॒थि वे॒धा अ॑पायि श्रि॒ये मनां॑सि दे॒वासो॑ अक्रन् । दधा॑नो॒ नाम॑ म॒हो वचो॑भि॒र्वपु॑र्दृ॒शये॑ वे॒न्यो व्या॑वः ॥

On the path of truth and eternal law, the man of knowledge and wisdom is protected, and the noble and the wise control and transform their minds for the beauty and grace of manners and culture. May the Great one, kind and loving, bearing the holy name, reveal his divine presence in response to our prayers and protect us through the paths of life.

· · ·

6.44.9

द्यु॒मत्त॑मं॒ दक्षं॑ धेह्य॒स्मे सेधा॒ जना॑नां पू॒र्वीररा॑तीः । वर्षी॑यो॒ वयः॑ कृणुहि॒ शची॑भि॒र्धन॑स्य सा॒ताव॒स्माँ अ॑विड्ढि ॥

Grant us strength and expertise of the brightest order, accomplish the tasks on hand and ward off the age-old adversities of the people, bless us with a long age of charity and generosity, and let us join and participate in the battles for wealth and success with the best of actions and intelligence among people.

· · ·

6.44.10

इन्द्र॒ तुभ्य॒मिन्म॑घवन्नभूम व॒यं दा॒त्रे ह॑रिवो॒ मा वि वे॑नः । नकि॑रा॒पिर्द॑दृशे मर्त्य॒त्रा किम॒ङ्ग र॑ध्र॒चोद॑नं त्वाहुः ॥

Indra, lord of power and majesty, let us be, let us live and work only for you, generous and charitable ruler. Pray do not ignore us, do not neglect us. There is none visible among the mortals around here our own such as you, lord of horse and men, otherwise, O lord dear as breath of life, why would they call you the inspirer for the achievement of honour and excellence in life?

· · ·

6.44.11

मा जस्व॑ने वृषभ नो ररीथा॒ मा ते॑ रे॒वतः॑ स॒ख्ये रि॑षाम । पू॒र्वीष्ट॑ इन्द्र नि॒ष्षिधो॒ जने॑षु ज॒ह्यसु॑ष्वी॒न्प्र वृ॒हापृ॑णतः ॥

Indra, mighty generous destroyer of suffering, deliver us not to the unjust and the hungry grabber. Let us never suffer in the friendship of the generous lord nor fall off from loyalty. Let us take advantage of the age old facilities of success among the people. Eliminate the uncreative and keep us away from ungrateful negationists.

· · ·

6.44.12

उद॒भ्राणी॑व स्त॒नय॑न्निय॒र्तीन्द्रो॒ राधां॒स्यश्व्या॑नि॒ गव्या॑ । त्वम॑सि प्र॒दिवः॑ का॒रुधा॑या॒ मा त्वा॑दा॒मान॒ आ द॑भन्म॒घोनः॑ ॥

And like thundering clouds, Indra moves and declares the gifts of success and munificence, horses and fast accomplishment, cows and abundant food and drink. O lord, you are the patron sustainer of brilliant artists, inventive scientists and expert technologists. Let the miserly non-giver never deceive you or injure you, and never let him deceive the generous and prosperous people. deliver us not to the unjust and the hungry grabber. Let us never suffer in the friendship of the generous lord nor fall off from loyalty. Let us take advantage of the age old facilities of success among the people. Eliminate the uncreative and keep us away from ungrateful negationists.

· · ·

6.44.13

अध्व॑र्यो वीर॒ प्र म॒हे सु॒ताना॒मिन्द्रा॑य भर॒ स ह्य॑स्य॒ राजा॑ । यः पू॒र्व्याभि॑रु॒त नूत॑नाभिर्गी॒र्भिर्वा॑वृ॒धे गृ॑ण॒तामृषी॑णाम् ॥

O brave high priest of the social order of the yajna of love and non-violence, bear the best of soma distilled for homage in honour of the great Indra, ruler of the world. He alone is the ruler of this order worthy to rule who rises in personal and social esteem by the holy voices, both old and new, of the admirers and the wise seers of the land.

· · ·

6.44.14

अ॒स्य मदे॑ पु॒रु वर्पां॑सि वि॒द्वानिन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्राण्य॑प्र॒ती ज॑घान । तमु॒ प्र हो॑षि॒ मधु॑मन्तमस्मै॒ सोमं॑ वी॒राय॑ शि॒प्रिणे॒ पिब॑ध्यै ॥

Under the inspiration and ardent passion of this soma, Indra, irresistible lord ruler all wise, destroys many covert forces of darkness and evil. That same soma, honey sweet and exhilarating you bear for a drink to this brave hero who shines in brilliant helmet and armour.

· · ·

6.44.15

पाता॑ सु॒तमिन्द्रो॑ अस्तु॒ सोमं॒ हन्ता॑ वृ॒त्रं वज्रे॑ण मन्दसा॒नः । गन्ता॑ य॒ज्ञं प॑रा॒वत॑श्चि॒दच्छा॒ वसु॑र्धी॒नाम॑वि॒ता का॒रुधा॑याः ॥

Let Indra, the ruler, drink the soma distilled from exhilarating herbs and protect the spirit and honour of the nation arisen from the noble rule of the order. Let him, happy and inspired, destroy the demon of evil and darkness with the thunderbolt of justice and power. Let him go and attend the yajna of the order well even from afar, provide happy and peaceful settlement for all the people, protect and promote intellectual work and programmes of corporate action, and sustain and advance the experts in art, science and technology.

· · ·

6.44.16

इ॒दं त्यत्पात्र॑मिन्द्र॒पान॒मिन्द्र॑स्य प्रि॒यम॒मृत॑मपायि । मत्स॒द्यथा॑ सौमन॒साय॑ दे॒वं व्य१॒॑स्मद्द्वेषो॑ यु॒यव॒द्व्यंहः॑ ॥

This is that life-giving cup of Indra’s nectar drink, his favourite, from which he drinks the dear delicious elixir of life so that he feels happy at heart and inspires the divine force of cosmic energy to ward off hate and enmity from us and cast away all sin and evil, and thereby save and strengthen the immortal soul.

· · ·

6.44.17

ए॒ना म॑न्दा॒नो ज॒हि शू॑र॒ शत्रू॑ञ्जा॒मिमजा॑मिं मघवन्न॒मित्रा॑न् । अ॒भि॒षे॒णाँ अ॒भ्या॒३॒॑देदि॑शाना॒न्परा॑च इन्द्र॒ प्र मृ॑णा ज॒ही च॑ ॥

This way Indra, O valiant hero, happy at heart and joyous, commanding wealth, power and excellence of the world, give up all enemies whether among the related or unrelated people, all unfriendly and menacing forces, all oppositions up front, and all those who order you about like bullies, ward them off, throw them out far away, destroy them all. Keep the soul untainted and free.

· · ·

6.44.18

आ॒सु ष्मा॑ णो मघवन्निन्द्र पृ॒त्स्व१॒॑स्मभ्यं॒ महि॒ वरि॑वः सु॒गं कः॑ । अ॒पां तो॒कस्य॒ तन॑यस्य जे॒ष इन्द्र॑ सू॒रीन्कृ॑णु॒हि स्मा॑ नो अ॒र्धम् ॥

In these battles of life, among these forces of positive action, O lord of wealth, power and majesty, Indra, destroyer of negativities and enmities, make the way clear for us for the achievement of life’s great honour and excellence. Indra, lord of glory and victory, bless us with bravery and spirit of heroism, high intelligence, and power and prosperity of success in our struggle and attainment of the waters of life, noble actions and brave children and grand children.

· · ·

6.44.19

आ त्वा॒ हर॑यो॒ वृष॑णो युजा॒ना वृष॑रथासो॒ वृष॑रश्म॒योऽत्याः॑ । अ॒स्म॒त्राञ्चो॒ वृष॑णो वज्र॒वाहो॒ वृष्णे॒ मदा॑य सु॒युजो॑ वहन्तु ॥

Indra, O leading light and spirit of the nation of humanity, may the pioneers, brave and heroic, united with you in thought and action, blazing as sunrays and falling as showers, instant in initiative and perfect in aim, riding mighty chariots, concentrating on our defence and protection, generous and magnanimous, wielding thunder and lightning, willing warriors all, conduct and bring you here for our strength and joy of life’s victory.

· · ·

6.44.20

आ ते॑ वृष॒न्वृष॑णो॒ द्रोण॑मस्थुर्घृत॒प्रुषो॒ नोर्मयो॒ मद॑न्तः । इन्द्र॒ प्र तुभ्यं॒ वृष॑भिः सु॒तानां॒ वृष्णे॑ भरन्ति वृष॒भाय॒ सोम॑म् ॥

Indra, lord of power and glory, delightful showers of soma, exuberant and exhilarating like dancing waves of the sea, come and fill your cup of nectar and sprinkle your altar of yajna with ghrta. Thus do the leading lights of nature and humanity bear and bring the soma of life’s light and joy distilled by brave and generous leaders of the yajnic order for the mighty and magnanimous lord ruler of the world.

· · ·

6.44.21

वृषा॑सि दि॒वो वृ॑ष॒भः पृ॑थि॒व्या वृषा॒ सिन्धू॑नां वृष॒भः स्तिया॑नाम् । वृष्णे॑ त॒ इन्दु॑र्वृषभ पीपाय स्वा॒दू रसो॑ मधु॒पेयो॒ वरा॑य ॥

You are the showerer of the light of heaven. You are the inspirer of the life of earth. You are the showerer of the waters of rivers and the seas. You are the

life breath of things moving and non-moving all together. This is the homage, honey drink, bright, delicious, the very nectar of life for the lord ruler.

· · ·

6.44.22

अ॒यं दे॒वः सह॑सा॒ जाय॑मान॒ इन्द्रे॑ण यु॒जा प॒णिम॑स्तभायत् । अ॒यं स्वस्य॑ पि॒तुरायु॑धा॒नीन्दु॑रमुष्णा॒दशि॑वस्य मा॒याः ॥

This brilliant and divine soma rising and manifesting with exhilaration and ardent passion, friend of Indra and one with his glory, stabilises the admirable rule and order of the world and strengthens the supporters of it. This soma, bright and blissful as the moon, keeps the arms and armaments and the justice and administration of its creator and ruler in order, and it frustrates the plans and wiles of the unruly and the unholy.

· · ·

6.44.23

अ॒यम॑कृणोदु॒षसः॑ सु॒पत्नी॑र॒यं सूर्ये॑ अदधा॒ज्ज्योति॑र॒न्तः । अ॒यं त्रि॒धातु॑ दि॒वि रो॑च॒नेषु॑ त्रि॒तेषु॑ विन्दद॒मृतं॒ निगू॑ळ्हम् ॥

This ardent passion of Indra, lord omnipotent creator, makes the dawns bright and blissful inspirers of love and devotion, vests the sun with light within, creates the universe of three natural principles of mind, energy and matter, and infuses the immortal spirit, as mysterious and immanent spirit, in the three bright worlds of heaven, earth and the firmament, and helps us to discover the immortal bliss with ardent passion of holiness.

· · ·

6.44.24

अ॒यं द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी वि ष्क॑भायद॒यं रथ॑मयुनक्स॒प्तर॑श्मिम् । अ॒यं गोषु॒ शच्या॑ प॒क्वम॒न्तः सोमो॑ दाधार॒ दश॑यन्त्र॒मुत्स॑म् ॥

This passion and omnipotence of Indra wields and stabilises the heaven and earth in orbit. It ordains the seven-rayed chariot of the sun in the system. With its power and action it places mature living energy in the fertility of earths, milk in cows and warmth in the rays of sunlight, and thus it holds and sustains soma, life energy of existence, in the universe, thereby making it a living system of tenfold nature, i.e., five elements and five pranic energies.

✦ Sukta 45 · 33 verses ✦

6.45.1

य आन॑यत्परा॒वतः॒ सुनी॑ती तु॒र्वशं॒ यदु॑म् । इन्द्रः॒ स नो॒ युवा॒ सखा॑ ॥

May Indra, that eternal lord omnipotent, that youthful ruler, and that forceful leader, be our friend and companion so that he may lead the man of instant decision and action and the hardworking people on way to wisdom and right living even from far off distance.

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6.45.2

अ॒वि॒प्रे चि॒द्वयो॒ दध॑दना॒शुना॑ चि॒दर्व॑ता । इन्द्रो॒ जेता॑ हि॒तं धन॑म् ॥

He brings food, health and age, life and light of knowledge for the innocent and for the ignorant and unintelligent too and wins wealth and honour for the good life at the fastest without haste and impatience.

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6.45.3

म॒हीर॑स्य॒ प्रणी॑तयः पू॒र्वीरु॒त प्रश॑स्तयः । नास्य॑ क्षीयन्त ऊ॒तयः॑ ॥

Great are this ruler’s policies and acts of leadership, universal and admirable. Never do his honour, reputation and modes of defence, protection and progress go down.

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6.45.4

सखा॑यो॒ ब्रह्म॑वाह॒सेऽर्च॑त॒ प्र च॑ गायत । स हि नः॒ प्रम॑तिर्म॒ही ॥

Come ye friends and comrades, adore the harbinger and protector of divine sustenance and light of universal knowledge, celebrate him in song and proclaim his gifts of kindness. He is the light of sublimity, he alone is our vision and wisdom.

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6.45.5

त्वमेक॑स्य वृत्रहन्नवि॒ता द्वयो॑रसि । उ॒तेदृशे॒ यथा॑ व॒यम् ॥

O lord destroyer of evil like the sun, breaker of the clouds, you are the saviour and protector of the one, the lonely and helpless as well as of both the people and the officers of administration as we too likewise are supporters of the ruler and the people.

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6.45.6

नय॒सीद्वति॒ द्विषः॑ कृ॒णोष्यु॑क्थशं॒सिनः॑ । नृभिः॑ सु॒वीर॑ उच्यसे ॥

You control, guide and manage even the stubborn hatefuls and convert them to ardent admirers of positive knowledge as men of faith and enlightenment. So you are called the real heroic leader and ruler by the leading lights.

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6.45.7

ब्र॒ह्माणं॒ ब्रह्म॑वाहसं गी॒र्भिः सखा॑यमृ॒ग्मिय॑म् । गां न दो॒हसे॑ हुवे ॥

I invoke and celebrate in holy words the seer and scholar of the universal knowledge of the Vedas, adorable friend and exponent of divine knowledge as one would serve and milk the cow for living energy or study and meditate on the holy Word for living light.

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6.45.8

यस्य॒ विश्वा॑नि॒ हस्त॑योरू॒चुर्वसू॑नि॒ नि द्वि॒ता । वी॒रस्य॑ पृतना॒षहः॑ ॥

Seers and scholars say that in the hands of the heroic leader and ruler, brave challenger and subduer of all forces, lie and abide all treasures of the world both material and spiritual. (The real scholar too is one who commands the knowledge of nature as well as of the spirit, of this world and of the world beyond.)

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6.45.9

वि दृ॒ळ्हानि॑ चिदद्रिवो॒ जना॑नां शचीपते । वृ॒ह मा॒या अ॑नानत ॥

O bold and intrepidable ruler and protector of the people, lord of mighty action, you break the clouds and shake the mountains. Pray strengthen the strongholds of the people and uproot the wiles of the wicked.

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6.45.10

तमु॑ त्वा सत्य सोमपा॒ इन्द्र॑ वाजानां पते । अहू॑महि श्रव॒स्यवः॑ ॥

Indra, lord ever true and redoubtable, protector of the spirit and culture of the good life, ruler and promoter of food, energy and progressive advancement of the people, we invoke and call upon you to lead us in our pursuit of sustenance, progress, honour and excellence and immortal fame.

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6.45.11

तमु॑ त्वा॒ यः पु॒रासि॑थ॒ यो वा॑ नू॒नं हि॒ते धने॑ । हव्यः॒ स श्रु॑धी॒ हव॑म् ॥

You who have ever been with us and for us since eternity, who surely are with us in our best of prosperity and ever at the call of action, the same, O lord adorable, we invoke and pray listen to our call and come and bless.

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6.45.12

धी॒भिरर्व॑द्भि॒रर्व॑तो॒ वाजाँ॑ इन्द्र श्र॒वाय्या॑न् । त्वया॑ जेष्म हि॒तं धन॑म् ॥

With our intelligence and actions, with our drive and horses, and with your helping hand and grace, O lord of victory, destroyer and preserver, Indra, rising and advancing, we pray, let us succeed in our battles of life and win wholesome and reputable treasures of peace and prosperity.

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6.45.13

अभू॑रु वीर गिर्वणो म॒हाँ इ॑न्द्र॒ धने॑ हि॒ते । भरे॑ वितन्त॒साय्यः॑ ॥

Indra, lord giver of honour and excellence, great, adored in words of praise and prayer, when the call is given, the forces are in array and the battle is raging, then, O lord of victory, be with us.And when the treasure is won and abounds for the good in life, then too, O lord pervasive, be with us.

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6.45.14

या त॑ ऊ॒तिर॑मित्रहन्म॒क्षूज॑वस्त॒मास॑ति । तया॑ नो हिनुही॒ रथ॑म् ॥

And when your umbrella of protection and promotion grows most extensively fast and wide, then by that accelerate our chariot of honour and glory and let it range wider and wider.

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6.45.15

स रथे॑न र॒थीत॑मो॒ऽस्माके॑नाभि॒युग्व॑ना । जेषि॑ जिष्णो हि॒तं धन॑म् ॥

O leader and ruler, Indra, bravest commander of the fastest chariot of our social order, thirsting for victory, by that united chariot of ours in unison with us you win the treasures of life good for the nation of humanity.

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6.45.16

य एक॒ इत्तमु॑ ष्टुहि कृष्टी॒नां विच॑र्षणिः । पति॑र्ज॒ज्ञे वृष॑क्रतुः ॥

O man, invoke, admire and celebrate that one alone who is unique by himself, ever watchful guardian of the people, generous performer and showerer of blissful fruits of his action, and who emerges and rises as the protector and ruler of all.

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6.45.17

यो गृ॑ण॒तामिदासि॑था॒पिरू॒ती शि॒वः सखा॑ । स त्वं न॑ इन्द्र मृळय ॥

Indra, potent lord of action, destroyer of suffering and giver of bliss, who are good and kind, friendly and one with the celebrants as our kith and kin, all protective under your umbrella, such as you are, we pray, be kind and gracious to us and lead us to the peace and happiness of the good life.

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6.45.18

धि॒ष्व वज्रं॒ गभ॑स्त्यो रक्षो॒हत्या॑य वज्रिवः । सा॒स॒ही॒ष्ठा अ॒भि स्पृधः॑ ॥

O wielder of the thunderbolt of defence and power, take up the adamantine mace and thunder of power and justice in your hands for the destruction of evil and wickedness and face, challenge, resolve and win the battles ahead.

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6.45.19

प्र॒त्नं र॑यी॒णां युजं॒ सखा॑यं कीरि॒चोद॑नम् । ब्रह्म॑वाहस्तमं हुवे ॥

I invoke and celebrate that most eminent sage and scholar of universal Vedic knowledge who is great as ancient seers, friend, and inspirer of dedicated disciples to win the wealth of life both spiritual and material.

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6.45.20

स हि विश्वा॑नि॒ पार्थि॑वाँ॒ एको॒ वसू॑नि॒ पत्य॑ते । गिर्व॑णस्तमो॒ अध्रि॑गुः ॥

He alone, most adorable, instant mover and omnipresent lord of the universe, solely by himself, rules, protects and promotes all treasures of the earth. (He alone deserves to be ruler of the world who is an earthly embodiment of such universal virtues.)

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6.45.21

स नो॑ नि॒युद्भि॒रा पृ॑ण॒ कामं॒ वाजे॑भिर॒श्विभिः॑ । गोम॑द्भिर्गोपते धृ॒षत् ॥

O lord of land with controlled mind and senses, bold and resolute, come to us with your teams of harnessed services and commissioned forces commanding speed and movement, warriors of horse and armour, managers of lands and cattle wealth, controllers of information and communication, and with all this infrastructure fulfil our desires and ambitions for the good life of success and progress.

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6.45.22

तद्वो॑ गाय सु॒ते सचा॑ पुरुहू॒ताय॒ सत्व॑ने । शं यद्गवे॒ न शा॒किने॑ ॥

In your soma yajna in the business of the world of the lord’s creation, sing together songs of homage in honour of the universally adored, ever true and eternal almighty Indra, songs which may be as pleasing to the mighty lord as to the seeker and the celebrant.

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6.45.23

न घा॒ वसु॒र्नि य॑मते दा॒नं वाज॑स्य॒ गोम॑तः । यत्सी॒मुप॒ श्रव॒द्गिरः॑ ॥

And surely the lord giver of settlement and gifts of knowledge, power and speedy progress does not withhold the gifts since he closely hears the prayers of the devotee and responds.

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6.45.24

कु॒वित्स॑स्य॒ प्र हि व्र॒जं गोम॑न्तं दस्यु॒हा गम॑त् । शची॑भि॒रप॑ नो वरत् ॥

May the lord destroyer of evil, negativity and poverty visit the homestead of the prayerful devotee blest with lands, cows and divine knowledge and open up the flood gates of wealth, power and divine grace for us with his vision and powers.

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6.45.25

इ॒मा उ॑ त्वा शतक्रतो॒ऽभि प्र णो॑नुवु॒र्गिरः॑ । इन्द्र॑ व॒त्सं न मा॒तरः॑ ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the world and guardian of the people, just as mother cows look toward and low out of affection for the calf, so do these people look up to you with love and reverence, and their voices of adoration exalt you, O lord of a hundred acts of kindness and holiness.

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6.45.26

दू॒णाशं॑ स॒ख्यं तव॒ गौर॑सि वीर गव्य॒ते । अश्वो॑ अश्वाय॒ते भ॑व ॥

Indra, potent lord ruler of multifarious acts and potential, never can your friendship toward the people be lost or destroyed, it is permanent and versatile. You are all love and revelation to a person in search of faith and knowledge, and you are all impetuous victor for a person thirsting for speed and progress. (The way we think and act, you respond.)

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6.45.27

स म॑न्दस्वा॒ ह्यन्ध॑सो॒ राध॑से त॒न्वा॑ म॒हे । न स्तो॒तारं॑ नि॒दे क॑रः ॥

Indra, ruler of the world of knowledge and action, be happy at heart by body, mind and soul with good food, energy and soma, and make others happy. Subject not your devoted celebrant to the malignity of revilers.

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6.45.28

इ॒मा उ॑ त्वा सु॒तेसु॑ते॒ नक्ष॑न्ते गिर्वणो॒ गिरः॑ । व॒त्सं गावो॒ न धे॒नवः॑ ॥

These words and voices of adoration, O spirit adorable, reach you, in every yajna, in every cycle of creation, like cows rushing to the calf with love.

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6.45.29

पु॒रू॒तमं॑ पुरू॒णां स्तो॑तॄ॒णां विवा॑चि । वाजे॑भिर्वाजय॒ताम् ॥

May the most ancient and eternal knowledge in the speech of the ancient celebrants of divinity, enlightening and energising humanity with the vital spirits of existence, reaching the primeval soul, come to us too, enlighten and energise us too.

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6.45.30

अ॒स्माक॑मिन्द्र भूतु ते॒ स्तोमो॒ वाहि॑ष्ठो॒ अन्त॑मः । अ॒स्मान्रा॒ये म॒हे हि॑नु ॥

Indra, lord giver of honour and excellence, may our song of celebration in your honour carry our message of homage closest to your heart to exalt you, and may you, we pray, inspire us to achieve the highest wealths of life.

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6.45.31

अधि॑ बृ॒बुः प॑णी॒नां वर्षि॑ष्ठे मू॒र्धन्न॑स्थात् । उ॒रुः कक्षो॒ न गा॒ङ्ग्यः ॥

Let the maker, artist, analyst and architect, occupy and preside over the highest position in the world of business, wide and high like the embankment of a mighty river, to contain and control the flow of the current of waters.

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6.45.32

यस्य॑ वा॒योरि॑व द्र॒वद्भ॒द्रा रा॒तिः स॑ह॒स्रिणी॑ । स॒द्यो दा॒नाय॒ मंह॑ते ॥

Whose gifts to society flow in a thousand directions like the currents of wind, his generosity and charities always and instantly, rise and continue to rise for the progress of humanity.

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6.45.33

तत्सु नो॒ विश्वे॑ अ॒र्य आ सदा॑ गृणन्ति का॒रवः॑ । बृ॒बुं स॑हस्र॒दात॑मं सू॒रिं स॑हस्र॒सात॑मम् ॥

All our artists and artisans always appreciate and admire the chief architect, learned, wise and brave, giver of a thousand gifts and sharer of a thousand things with thousands of people. He indeed is the head of our business world.

✦ Sukta 46 · 14 verses ✦

6.46.1

त्वामिद्धि हवा॑महे सा॒ता वाज॑स्य का॒रवः॑ । त्वां वृ॒त्रेष्वि॑न्द्र॒ सत्प॑तिं॒ नर॒स्त्वां काष्ठा॒स्वर्व॑तः ॥

Indra, lord of power and advancement, you alone we invoke and call upon for acquisition of food, energy, honour, excellence and progress. All of us, leading people, makers, poets, artists, artisans and architects of the nation, fast advancing in all directions, invoke and exhort you, protector and promoter of universal truth and values in human struggles for light, goodness and generosity, and the wealth of life.

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6.46.2

स त्वं न॑श्चित्र वज्रहस्त धृष्णु॒या म॒हः स्त॑वा॒नो अ॑द्रिवः । गामश्वं॑ र॒थ्य॑मिन्द्र॒ सं कि॑र स॒त्रा वाजं॒ न जि॒ग्युषे॑ ॥

Indra, lord of wondrous powers and performance, wielding the thunderbolt of justice and punishment in hand, great and glorious, breaker of the clouds and shaker of mountains, invoked and adored in song, with truth and science, power and force, collect, organise and win for us the wealth of lands, cows and rays of the sun, horses, transports and chariots like the victories of wealth and glory for the ambitious nation.

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6.46.3

यः स॑त्रा॒हा विच॑र्षणि॒रिन्द्रं॒ तं हू॑महे व॒यम् । सह॑स्रमुष्क॒ तुवि॑नृम्ण॒ सत्प॑ते॒ भवा॑ स॒मत्सु॑ नो वृ॒धे ॥

We invoke and adore Indra, lord of glory, constant watcher of humanity and human actions, and pray: O lord protector of truth, commanding thousandfold vitality and flames of fiery forces, master of universal wealth, be with us for our advancement in the struggles of life.

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6.46.4

बाध॑से॒ जना॑न्वृष॒भेव॑ म॒न्युना॒ घृषौ॑ मी॒ळ्ह ऋ॑चीषम । अ॒स्माकं॑ बोध्यवि॒ता म॑हाध॒ने त॒नूष्व॒प्सु सूर्ये॑ ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, sacred as hymns of Rgveda, as a bull controls the herd, so you control as well as defend people with righteous passion and justice when they rub against each other or face great conflicts. O lord, be our saviour, giver of enlightenment in the great battles for wealth, health care, water management and the harnessing of solar energy.

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6.46.5

इन्द्र॒ ज्येष्ठं॑ न॒ आ भ॑रँ॒ ओजि॑ष्ठं॒ पपु॑रि॒ श्रवः॑ । येने॒मे चि॑त्र वज्रहस्त॒ रोद॑सी॒ ओभे सु॑शिप्र॒ प्राः ॥

Indra, lord of noblest virtue and knowledge, bear and bring us that best and most lustrous food for the nourishment of body and mind by which, O wondrous hero of golden helmet and wielder of thunder in hand, you may reach both this earth and this sky upto the heaven.

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6.46.6

त्वामु॒ग्रमव॑से चर्षणी॒सहं॒ राज॑न्दे॒वेषु॑ हूमहे । विश्वा॒ सु नो॑ विथु॒रा पि॑ब्द॒ना व॑सो॒ऽमित्रा॑न्त्सु॒षहा॑न्कृधि ॥

For our defence and protection, O ruler, of all the brilliant, generous and mighty powers, we invoke you, illustrious challenger of the enemies of humanity. O lord giver of peace and settlement in security, crush and scatter the obdurate negative forces within and outside, and turn the opponents into friends and unquestionable supporters.

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6.46.7

यदि॑न्द्र॒ नाहु॑षी॒ष्वाँ ओजो॑ नृ॒म्णं च॑ कृ॒ष्टिषु॑ । यद्वा॒ पञ्च॑ क्षिती॒नां द्यु॒म्नमा भ॑र स॒त्रा विश्वा॑नि॒ पौंस्या॑ ॥

Indra, ruler of the world, whatever the lustre and splendour in humanity across history, whatever the power and wealth among communities, whatever the virtue and quality in the five elements of nature or lands of the earth, or whatever the strength and vigour of the world of existence, you bear and symbolise all that. Pray, O lord, bear and bring us all that.

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6.46.8

यद्वा॑ तृ॒क्षौ म॑घवन्द्रु॒ह्यावा जने॒ यत्पू॒रौ कच्च॒ वृष्ण्य॑म् । अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ तद्रि॑रीहि॒ सं नृ॒षाह्ये॒ऽमित्रा॑न्पृ॒त्सु तु॒र्वणे॑ ॥

O lord of wealth and power of the world, whatever the wisdom among the learned, whatever the energy among people of anger and hostility, or whatever strength and vigour among people of fullness of virility and generosity, at their best, bring us all that in the battles of human contest and competition so that we may face, fight out and eliminate anger, enmity and malice.

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6.46.9

इन्द्र॑ त्रि॒धातु॑ शर॒णं त्रि॒वरू॑थं स्वस्ति॒मत् । छ॒र्दिर्य॑च्छ म॒घव॑द्भ्यश्च॒ मह्यं॑ च या॒वया॑ दि॒द्युमे॑भ्यः ॥

Indra, lord ruler of the wealth of nations, for the men of wealth, power, honour and generosity of heart, and for me too, give a home made of three metals and materials, comfortable in three seasons of summer, winter and rains, a place of rest, peace and security for complete well being. Give the light for them, keep off the blaze from them.

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6.46.10

ये ग॑व्य॒ता मन॑सा॒ शत्रु॑माद॒भुर॑भिप्र॒घ्नन्ति॑ धृष्णु॒या । अध॑ स्मा नो मघवन्निन्द्र गिर्वणस्तनू॒पा अन्त॑मो भव ॥

Indra, lord of peace and power, exalted by words of adoration, give us warriors who, with their love of cows, lands and speech and with the force of their mind and strength of arm and courage, press down the enemies and destroy their arms and armies, and then, also, O lord protector of our person and body politic, be with us at the closest, deep within.

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6.46.11

अध॑ स्मा नो वृ॒धे भ॒वेन्द्र॑ ना॒यम॑वा यु॒धि । यद॒न्तरि॑क्षे प॒तय॑न्ति प॒र्णिनो॑ दि॒द्यव॑स्ति॒ग्ममू॑र्धानः ॥

Indra, chief of defence forces, give us those flying birds of defence and protection which blaze through skies and spaces carrying deep penetrative war heads in front, and then, also, be with us for our leadership, defend and protect us in the battles for our advancement.

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6.46.12

यत्र॒ शूरा॑सस्त॒न्वो॑ वितन्व॒ते प्रि॒या शर्म॑ पितॄ॒णाम् । अध॑ स्मा यच्छ त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ तने॑ च छ॒र्दिर॒चित्तं॑ या॒वय॒ द्वेषः॑ ॥

Give us the sweet home where the brave extend the honour and achievement of their forefathers, and then, for further extension of the honour, achievement and tradition of the nation, give us peace and security free from mental worry and keep off all jealousy, malice and hostility

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6.46.13

यदि॑न्द्र॒ सर्गे॒ अर्व॑तश्चो॒दया॑से महाध॒ने । अ॒स॒म॒ने अध्व॑नि वृजि॒ने प॒थि श्ये॒नाँइ॑व श्रवस्य॒तः ॥

And when, in the effort for creation and in the struggle for extension of honour and achievement of new wealth, you inspire the stormy pioneers and ambitious warriors thirsting for fame, and urge them on to fly like eagles on unequal paths and winding ways of progress and possibility, then also, O lord, be with us all through.

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6.46.14

सिन्धूँ॑रिव प्रव॒ण आ॑शु॒या य॒तो यदि॒ क्लोश॒मनु॒ ष्वणि॑ । आ ये वयो॒ न वर्वृ॑त॒त्यामि॑षि गृभी॒ता बा॒ह्वोर्गवि॑ ॥

The pioneers and warriors of new projects on earth fly on and move like rivers rushing down to the sea. They move by superfast carriers whose controls are held fast in hands, and instantly act in response to the sound signal and pounce upon the target like birds on food at sight, intensively.

✦ Sukta 47 · 31 verses ✦

6.47.1

स्वा॒दुष्किला॒यं मधु॑माँ उ॒तायं ती॒व्रः किला॒यं रस॑वाँ उ॒तायम् । उ॒तो न्व१॒॑स्य प॑पि॒वांस॒मिन्द्रं॒ न कश्च॒न स॑हत आह॒वेषु॑ ॥

Soma: of course it is delicious, honey sweet, and it is sharp and strong and intense, and also it has wonderful flavour. And when Indra, the mighty one, has happily drunk of this soma, this nectar of life, none can withstand him in battles.

· · ·

6.47.2

अ॒यं स्वा॒दुरि॒ह मदि॑ष्ठ आस॒ यस्येन्द्रो॑ वृत्र॒हत्ये॑ म॒माद॑ । पु॒रूणि॒ यश्च्यौ॒त्ना शम्ब॑रस्य॒ वि न॑व॒तिं नव॑ च दे॒ह्यो॒३॒॑हन् ॥

It is delicious, most exhilarating here in the business of life. Indra, mighty ruler, having drunk of it, exults in the battle against want and wickedness for the achievement of prosperity and, waxing in strength and passion, destroys the multitudinous forces of evil and breaks ninety and nine strongholds of darkness like the sun breaking clouds for rain.

· · ·

6.47.3

अ॒यं मे॑ पी॒त उदि॑यर्ति॒ वाच॑म॒यं म॑नी॒षामु॑श॒तीम॑जीगः । अ॒यं षळु॒र्वीर॑मिमीत॒ धीरो॒ न याभ्यो॒ भुव॑नं॒ कच्च॒नारे ॥

This ecstasy of soma stimulates and refines my speech, it energises and sublimates my mind and awareness to love and passion for divinity. Man in the state of mental stability and spiritual constancy realises the six dimensional universe of existence beyond which there is no world of matter or mind higher or lower.

· · ·

6.47.4

अ॒यं स यो व॑रि॒माणं॑ पृथि॒व्या व॒र्ष्माणं॑ दि॒वो अकृ॑णोद॒यं सः । अ॒यं पी॒यूषं॑ ति॒सृषु॑ प्र॒वत्सु॒ सोमो॑ दाधारो॒र्व१॒॑न्तरि॑क्षम् ॥

This soma is that cosmic energy which causes the showers of vitality from the sun and creates the fertility of the earth. It bears the nectar sweets of three rolling oceans of heaven, earth and the middle region and sustains the vast skies.

· · ·

6.47.5

अ॒यं वि॑दच्चित्र॒दृशी॑क॒मर्णः॑ शु॒क्रस॑द्मनामु॒षसा॒मनी॑के । अ॒यं म॒हान्म॑ह॒ता स्कम्भ॑ने॒नोद्द्याम॑स्तभ्नाद्वृष॒भो म॒रुत्वा॑न् ॥

This generous and exuberant energy of the universe commanding the force of the currents of nature’s inherent power vests the beatific ocean of the glorious sunrays of immaculate beauty of the mornings. It is great and, by its mighty gravitational force, sustains the solar region in position above.

· · ·

6.47.6

धृ॒षत्पि॑ब क॒लशे॒ सोम॑मिन्द्र वृत्र॒हा शू॑र सम॒रे वसू॑नाम् । माध्यं॑दिने॒ सव॑न॒ आ वृ॑षस्व रयि॒स्थानो॑ र॒यिम॒स्मासु॑ धेहि ॥

Bold and resolute Indra, ruler, destroyer of darkness and poverty, drink the soma from the vessel for the battle of life’s wealth. Come to the mid-day session of yajna and bring the showers. As you yourself are the treasurehold of wealth, bless us with the wealth of life.

· · ·

6.47.7

इन्द्र॒ प्र णः॑ पुरए॒तेव॑ पश्य॒ प्र नो॑ नय प्रत॒रं वस्यो॒ अच्छ॑ । भवा॑ सुपा॒रो अ॑तिपार॒यो नो॒ भवा॒ सुनी॑तिरु॒त वा॒मनी॑तिः ॥

Indra, leader and commander of world power, look at us and watch like a leader moving fast forward. Lead us to wealth of the world across the oceans. Be the unswerving pilot of the nation, take us to the shores beyond and lead us on by the policy and practice of nobility and gracious living.

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6.47.8

उ॒रुं नो॑ लो॒कमनु॑ नेषि वि॒द्वान्त्स्व॑र्व॒ज्ज्योति॒रभ॑यं स्व॒स्ति । ऋ॒ष्वा त॑ इन्द्र॒ स्थवि॑रस्य बा॒हू उप॑ स्थेयाम शर॒णा बृ॒हन्ता॑ ॥

Indra, sagely scholar and just ruler of the world, lead us to the higher regions of life, fearless, full of heavenly light, a haven of bliss and well being. O lord of constancy, we pray, may we abide in the shelter and security of the umbrella of your mighty protective hands.

· · ·

6.47.9

वरि॑ष्ठे न इन्द्र व॒न्धुरे॑ धा॒ वहि॑ष्ठयोः शताव॒न्नश्व॑यो॒रा । इष॒मा व॑क्षी॒षां वर्षि॑ष्ठां॒ मा न॑स्तारीन्मघव॒न्रायो॑ अ॒र्यः ॥

Indra, ruler and guardian of the people, master and controller of the wealth and power of the world, let us ride and abide in the best chariot of our choice in your well managed system of governance run by the strongest and most efficient leaders and forces. O lord of a hundred powers and actions, bring us the best and most abundant food and sustenance, energy and power. Let no one as master tread over our wealth, power, and basic rights of life and freedom.

· · ·

6.47.10

इन्द्र॑ मृ॒ळ मह्यं॑ जी॒वातु॑मिच्छ चो॒दय॒ धिय॒मय॑सो॒ न धारा॑म् । यत्किं चा॒हं त्वा॒युरि॒दं वदा॑मि॒ तज्जु॑षस्व कृ॒धि मा॑ दे॒वव॑न्तम् ॥

Indra, ruler sustainer of all, be kind and gracious to me, please to wish me the good life, sharpen and inspire my mind and intellect like the razor’s edge. And whatever I wish out of love and devotion, to you I say this: Please to accept and grant, and raise me up to the love and favour of divinity.

· · ·

6.47.11

त्रा॒तार॒मिन्द्र॑मवि॒तार॒मिन्द्रं॒ हवे॑हवे सु॒हवं॒ शूर॒मिन्द्र॑म् । ह्वया॑मि श॒क्रं पु॑रुहू॒तमिन्द्रं॑ स्व॒स्ति नो॑ म॒घवा॑ धा॒त्विन्द्रः॑ ॥

In every battle of life one after another, I invoke Indra, lord giver of wealth, honour and power, saviour Indra, protector Indra, brave Indra invoked with love and devotion, pure and powerful, universally invoked and adored. May Indra bring us the good life and all round well being.

· · ·

6.47.12

इन्द्रः॑ सु॒त्रामा॒ स्ववाँ॒ अवो॑भिः सुमृळी॒को भ॑वतु वि॒श्ववे॑दाः । बाध॑तां॒ द्वेषो॒ अभ॑यं कृणोतु सु॒वीर्य॑स्य॒ पत॑यः स्याम ॥

Indra, lord omniscient, mighty protector and sole lord of his own essential powers may, we pray, be kind and gracious with his modes of protection and advancement, ward off hate and enmity and grant us freedom from fear so that we may be masters and promoters of the noble strength and honour of life.

· · ·

6.47.13

तस्य॑ व॒यं सु॑म॒तौ य॒ज्ञिय॒स्यापि॑ भ॒द्रे सौ॑मन॒से स्या॑म । स सु॒त्रामा॒ स्ववाँ॒ इन्द्रो॑ अ॒स्मे आ॒राच्चि॒द्द्वेषः॑ सनु॒तर्यु॑योतु ॥

May we enjoy the favour, kindness and love of that lord adorable, all protective Indra, sole master of his own essential powers and forces, who may always ward off from us all hate and enmity far or near.

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6.47.14

अव॒ त्वे इ॑न्द्र प्र॒वतो॒ नोर्मिर्गिरो॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि नि॒युतो॑ धवन्ते । उ॒रू न राधः॒ सव॑ना पु॒रूण्य॒पो गा व॑ज्रिन्युवसे॒ समिन्दू॑न् ॥

Indra, O ruler of the world, like streams of flood rushing down to the sea, all voices of prayer and adoration, offers of homage and chants of the holy Word dedicated to your service rise, reach and concentrate in you. O wielder of the thunderbolt of power and justice, you hold, integrate, treasure and distribute immense wealth of means and materials of success, yajnic sessions and inspirations, wide ranging waters and social programmes of action, lands, cows and lights of knowledge, and all things of beauty and joy leading to mental and spiritual bliss of peace.

· · ·

6.47.15

क ईं॑ स्तव॒त्कः पृ॑णा॒त्को य॑जाते॒ यदु॒ग्रमिन्म॒घवा॑ वि॒श्वहावे॑त् । पादा॑विव प्र॒हर॑न्न॒न्यम॑न्यं कृ॒णोति॒ पूर्व॒मप॑रं॒ शची॑भिः ॥

Who can praise and fully celebrate him? Who can finally serve and join him? Whoever is passionately dedicated and whom the lord of glory may favour, govern, and protect day and night, the lord who, like a man on the walk alternating his feet in motion moving the hind one forward and leaving the forward one then behind, dispenses people up and down according to their actions and the law of karma.

· · ·

6.47.16

शृ॒ण्वे वी॒र उ॒ग्रमु॑ग्रं दमा॒यन्न॒न्यम॑न्यमतिनेनी॒यमा॑नः । ए॒ध॒मा॒न॒द्विळु॒भय॑स्य॒ राजा॑ चोष्कू॒यते॒ विश॒ इन्द्रो॑ मनु॒ष्या॑न् ॥

I hear that Indra, potent lord, controller of all proud and passionate ones, leading all up and down by their performance, favouring the good and punishing the rising proud and arrogant, rules all communities of humanity, good and evil, and calls them up for justice and dispensation.

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6.47.17

परा॒ पूर्वे॑षां स॒ख्या वृ॑णक्ति वि॒तर्तु॑राणो॒ अप॑रेभिरेति । अना॑नुभूतीरवधून्वा॒नः पू॒र्वीरिन्द्रः॑ श॒रद॑स्तर्तरीति ॥

With love and understanding, Indra, lord ruler, gives up the dead wood of the old and goes forward taking on other new forms of life and society like waves of the sea pressing on fast forward. Shaking off the callous who refuse to learn by experience he goes on like the sun crossing over the years of time gone by and living and shaping new eras of time.

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6.47.18

रू॒पंरू॑पं॒ प्रति॑रूपो बभूव॒ तद॑स्य रू॒पं प्र॑ति॒चक्ष॑णाय । इन्द्रो॑ मा॒याभिः॑ पुरु॒रूप॑ ईयते यु॒क्ता ह्य॑स्य॒ हर॑यः श॒ता दश॑ ॥

Indra, the supreme soul, pervades all forms of existence to reveal that pervasive form of presence according to each form. The individual soul, the jiva, takes on one form of life after another to reveal that existential form of its real self. The ruler takes over each form of the institutions of his governance to reveal his power and presence through that institution. Indra thus, of many many forms of manifestation goes on by manifold powers and potentials, assisted by thousands of its motive forces like the master of a chariot drawn by horses.

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6.47.19

यु॒जा॒नो ह॒रिता॒ रथे॒ भूरि॒ त्वष्टे॒ह रा॑जति । को वि॒श्वाहा॑ द्विष॒तः पक्ष॑ आसत उ॒तासी॑नेषु सू॒रिषु॑ ॥

With its powers and potentials yoked to its chariot-like body form, Tvashta, the soul, shines gloriously in its existential form here. It takes the best form of its love and choice by karma, for who would choose to be with the malicious fools day and night when the wise and visionaries are sitting close by?

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6.47.20

अ॒ग॒व्यू॒ति क्षेत्र॒माग॑न्म देवा उ॒र्वी स॒ती भूमि॑रंहूर॒णाभू॑त् । बृह॑स्पते॒ प्र चि॑कित्सा॒ गवि॑ष्टावि॒त्था स॒ते ज॑रि॒त्र इ॑न्द्र॒ पन्था॑म् ॥

O noble people, brilliant pioneers, let us take over the vast virgin land which is a field good enough for warriors of action to develop and cultivate. O Brhaspati, lord of knowledge, protector and promoter of great things, Indra, destroyer of suffering, master of diagnostics and correctives, let us make the pathway for the development of cattlewealth and advancement of knowledge and education in the service of the present generation of the celebrants of divinity and nobilities of humanity

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6.47.21

दि॒वेदि॑वे स॒दृशी॑र॒न्यमर्धं॑ कृ॒ष्णा अ॑सेध॒दप॒ सद्म॑नो॒ जाः । अह॑न्दा॒सा वृ॑ष॒भो व॑स्न॒यन्तो॒दव्र॑जे व॒र्चिनं॒ शम्ब॑रं च ॥

Day by day the sun dispels the equal cover of darkness arisen at night from its abode to the other half of the globe. The mighty solar power of showers breaks the dark vapours concealed in the cloud, strikes the blazing lightning and opens the flood gates of rain to flow into streams on land. (So does the ruler dispel the darkness of ignorance, injustice and poverty and open the flood - gates of light and knowledge with justice and prosperity.)

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6.47.22

प्र॒स्तो॒क इन्नु राध॑सस्त इन्द्र॒ दश॒ कोश॑यी॒र्दश॑ वा॒जिनो॑ऽदात् । दिवो॑दासादतिथि॒ग्वस्य॒ राधः॑ शाम्ब॒रं वसु॒ प्रत्य॑ग्रभीष्म ॥

Indra, lord ruler, the celebrant of your means and materials of success and accomplishment has given ten treasure gifts of land and ten modes of fast transport. We accept and reciprocate the gifts of the lord’s showers of generosity and hospitality from the celebrant giver of the treasures of means and materials of success, water showers and the gifts of land, home and wealth for sustenance.

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6.47.23

दशाश्वा॒न्दश॒ कोशा॒न्दश॒ वस्त्राधि॑भोजना । दशो॑ हिरण्यपि॒ण्डान्दिवो॑दासादसानिषम् ॥

Let me receive and enjoy in common ten transports, ten treasures of wealth, ten garments, ten kinds of food and ten pieces of gold from the brilliant and generous giver. (Swami Dayanand suggests in his commentary that the ratio at the maximum between the lowest and highest paid working partner in the social order should be one to ten.)

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6.47.24

दश॒ रथा॒न्प्रष्टि॑मतः श॒तं गा अथ॑र्वभ्यः । अ॒श्व॒थः पा॒यवे॑ऽदात् ॥

Let the treasurer give ten chariots equipped with powerful steer and motive force to the guard and a hundred cows for the non-violent scholars of the physical and spiritual sciences of the Atharva Veda tradition.

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6.47.25

महि॒ राधो॑ वि॒श्वज॑न्यं॒ दधा॑नान्भ॒रद्वा॑जान्त्सार्ञ्ज॒यो अ॒भ्य॑यष्ट ॥

Let the ruler, descendant of the creators of all lawful forms of wealth, support and maintain the scholars and scientists who create, provide and manage the great wealth and power of universal value.

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6.47.26

वन॑स्पते वी॒ड्व॑ङ्गो॒ हि भू॒या अ॒स्मत्स॑खा प्र॒तर॑णः सु॒वीरः॑ । गोभिः॒ संन॑द्धो असि वी॒ळय॑स्वास्था॒ता ते॑ जयतु॒ जेत्वा॑नि ॥

O vanaspati, ruler, protector and promoter of forests and light of the sun for energy, be strong of your systemic body of governance and strong in the constituent parts of the system. Manned with noble young supporters, be our friend, pilot and saviour across the seas. You are self-controlled in mind and senses, strongly endowed with refined speech and manners, strengthen us who are committed to you, and let your forces win the battles with high morale.

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6.47.27

दि॒वस्पृ॑थि॒व्याः पर्योज॒ उद्भृ॑तं॒ वन॒स्पति॑भ्यः॒ पर्याभृ॑तं॒ सहः॑ । अ॒पामो॒ज्मानं॒ परि॒ गोभि॒रावृ॑त॒मिन्द्र॑स्य॒ वज्रं॑ ह॒विषा॒ रथं॑ यज ॥

Enlightened ruler and scholar, the energy collected and raised from the sun and earth, the energy, vitality and patience received and learnt from the trees and forests, the liquid power of the waters rising and reinforced with rays of the sun, and the forceful current of electric energy, with all these energies together harnessed, create and serve the chariot, the fast progressive social order worthy of your governance.

· · ·

6.47.28

इन्द्र॑स्य॒ वज्रो॑ म॒रुता॒मनी॑कं मि॒त्रस्य॒ गर्भो॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ नाभिः॑ । सेमां नो॑ ह॒व्यदा॑तिं जुषा॒णो देव॑ रथ॒ प्रति॑ ह॒व्या गृ॑भाय ॥

Enlightened ruler, lord of grace and pilot of the nation, loving and kind to participants in yajnic governance, you are the thunder and lightning of the cloud break of showers, you are the power and splendour of the people, you are offspring of the light of sun and love of divinity, you are the centre spring of justice and discrimination. Lord ruler, accept this offer of homage as our share of Raja-dharma in the service of the system.

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6.47.29

उप॑ श्वासय पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्यां पु॑रु॒त्रा ते॑ मनुतां॒ विष्ठि॑तं॒ जग॑त् । स दु॑न्दुभे स॒जूरिन्द्रे॑ण दे॒वैर्दू॒राद्दवी॑यो॒ अप॑ सेध॒ शत्रू॑न् ॥

O victorious lord ruler of the world, let the roar of the victory drum fill heaven and earth with a fresh lease of joy and new life. Lord of the whole nation, let the wide world moving and non-moving know of you and your glory. Blow over the world, equipped with armaments of thunder and vision of the wise, ward off the dangers and throw out the enemies far away.

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6.47.30

आ क्र॑न्दय॒ बल॒मोजो॑ न॒ आ धा॒ निः ष्ट॑निहि दुरि॒ता बाध॑मानः । अप॑ प्रोथ दुन्दुभे दु॒च्छुना॑ इ॒त इन्द्र॑स्य मु॒ष्टिर॑सि वी॒ळय॑स्व ॥

Call out the forces, challenge the enemies allround, inspire us with vigour and splendour, roar like thunder, repel all evils and negativities, scare away the barking maligners. You are the strike of lightning, rise and let us rise too with might and main.

· · ·

6.47.31

आमूर॑ज प्र॒त्याव॑र्तये॒माः के॑तु॒मद्दु॑न्दु॒भिर्वा॑वदीति । समश्व॑पर्णा॒श्चर॑न्ति नो॒ नरो॒ऽस्माक॑मिन्द्र र॒थिनो॑ जयन्तु ॥

Indra, lord ruler, throw out the enemy forces. Rally our forces back in form and array, ever ready. Let the battle drum boom, with the flag flying. Our warriors on the wing in armour and our leaders in the forefront advance and fight out the challenges. Let our heroes of the chariot come out with flying colours.

✦ Sukta 48 · 22 verses ✦

6.48.1

य॒ज्ञाय॑ज्ञा वो अ॒ग्नये॑ गि॒रागि॑रा च॒ दक्ष॑से । प्रप्र॑ व॒यम॒मृतं॑ जा॒तवे॑दसं प्रि॒यं मि॒त्रं न शं॑सिषम् ॥

In every yajnic programme of your creative and constructive work, in every word of our voice, join and let us honour, appraise and develop agni, imperishable energy pervasive in all things of existence and adore Agni, omniscient and omnipresent lord giver of knowledge and enlightenment.

· · ·

6.48.2

ऊ॒र्जो नपा॑तं॒ स हि॒नायम॑स्म॒युर्दाशे॑म ह॒व्यदा॑तये । भुव॒द्वाजे॑ष्ववि॒ता भुव॑द्वृ॒ध उ॒त त्रा॒ता त॒नूना॑म् ॥

Let us honour and serve Agni, infallible cosmic light and energy, power that is surely our own, lover and benefactor in matters of creation and development. MayAgni be our protector and promoter in our struggles for progress and may he be the saviour and cleanser of our health of body, mind and social order.

· · ·

6.48.3

वृषा॒ ह्य॑ग्ने अ॒जरो॑ म॒हान्वि॒भास्य॒र्चिषा॑ । अज॑स्रेण शो॒चिषा॒ शोशु॑चच्छुचे सुदी॒तिभिः॒ सु दी॑दिहि ॥

Agni, generous lord giver of showers of light and energy, wealth and power, you are great, unaging and immortal. You shine with lustre and purity. O lord pure and purifying, blazing with universal light and glory, enlighten us blissfully with the divine rays of eternal light, knowledge and purity

· · ·

6.48.4

म॒हो दे॒वान्यज॑सि॒ यक्ष्या॑नु॒षक्तव॒ क्रत्वो॒त दं॒सना॑ । अ॒र्वाचः॑ सीं कृणुह्य॒ग्नेऽव॑से॒ रास्व॒ वाजो॒त वं॑स्व ॥

Agni, giver of light and power, you join, honour and serve the bounties of nature and brilliancies of humanity. Join the great ones in order by holy acts of yajna, raise your actions and turn the divinities hitherward for our protection and advancement. Give us the courage and power to act and win, and join us in the celebrations of success.

· · ·

6.48.5

यमापो॒ अद्र॑यो॒ वना॒ गर्भ॑मृ॒तस्य॒ पिप्र॑ति । सह॑सा॒ यो म॑थि॒तो जाय॑ते॒ नृभिः॑ पृथि॒व्या अधि॒ सान॑वि ॥

Agni, eternal vitality is the generator as well as the generation of the cosmic heat of vitality and the cosmic law, whom, in the state of existence, the waters and actions of men, clouds and mountains, and the forests and sun rays feed and promote to the full, and which arises and kindles when it is produced by the force of attrition and churning by men on the surface of the earth.

· · ·

6.48.6

आ यः प॒प्रौ भा॒नुना॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे धू॒मेन॑ धावते दि॒वि । ति॒रस्तमो॑ ददृश॒ ऊर्म्या॒स्वा श्या॒वास्व॑रु॒षो वृषा श्या॒वा अ॑रु॒षो वृषा॑ ॥

Agni is that heat of vitality which fills both heaven and earth with sun light and rises to the skies from earth by smoke. It is seen to dispel the darkness prevailing over dark nights, shining red as harbinger of rain, while it shines in sun rays too as harbinger of the showers of light and rain.

· · ·

6.48.7

बृ॒हद्भि॑रग्ने अ॒र्चिभिः॑ शु॒क्रेण॑ देव शो॒चिषा॑ । भ॒रद्वा॑जे समिधा॒नो य॑विष्ठ्य रे॒वन्नः॑ शुक्र दीदिहि द्यु॒मत्पा॑वक दीदिहि ॥

O resplendent Agni, most youthful unaging power, bright and pure, kindled and rising in the mind and soul of sagely scholars in pursuit of science, energy and progress, shine with mighty flames of light, purity and power, and bring us the wealth of life replete with light and enlightenment. O generous light and fire of life, shine and enlighten us.

· · ·

6.48.8

विश्वा॑सां गृ॒हप॑तिर्वि॒शाम॑सि॒ त्वम॑ग्ने॒ मानु॑षीणाम् । श॒तं पू॒र्भिर्य॑विष्ठ पा॒ह्यंह॑सः समे॒द्धारं॑ श॒तं हिमाः॑ स्तो॒तृभ्यो॒ ये च॒ दद॑ति ॥

Agni, unaging light and fire of the youthful spirit of life, you are the master and guardian of the home of all the human communities of the world along with all the cities and settlements taken together. O destroyer of evil and purifier of life in the crucibles of existence, save from sin the yajamana, who kindles, raises and develops the fire energy, with a hundred ways of protection and bless those who support the developers and celebrants of fire with means and materials so that they live and work for a full hundred years.

· · ·

6.48.9

त्वं न॑श्चि॒त्र ऊ॒त्या वसो॒ राधां॑सि चोदय । अ॒स्य रा॒यस्त्वम॑ग्ने र॒थीर॑सि वि॒दा गा॒धं तु॒चे तु नः॑ ॥

Agni, wonderful lord of versatile action, giver of shelter and security of the home, with protection and advancement, inspire and raise our means and materials for success and achievement. O lord of knowledge and vision, you are the guide and pilot of the chariot and wealth and honours of this generation. Give us the message and

inspiration of peace, progress and security for our children.

· · ·

6.48.10

पर्षि॑ तो॒कं तन॑यं प॒र्तृभि॒ष्ट्वमद॑ब्धै॒रप्र॑युत्वभिः । अग्ने॒ हेळां॑सि॒ दैव्या॑ युयोधि॒ नोऽदे॑वानि॒ ह्वरां॑सि च ॥

Agni, lord of light and culture, you cleanse, refine and enrich our children and teenagers with all nourishments and safeguards for body, mind and soul with unfailing and unchallengeable modes and methods of education and refinement. Resist and overcome the passions and negativities which attract natural wrath and fight out impious temptations from us.

· · ·

6.48.11

आ स॑खायः सब॒र्दुघां॑ धे॒नुम॑जध्व॒मुप॒ नव्य॑सा॒ वचः॑ । सृ॒जध्व॒मन॑पस्फुराम् ॥

Come ye friends all, let us develop the language and culture of versatile possibilities of creative achievement by the latest methods and media of communication, and let us create a new and unshakable body of knowledge and language of lasting value.

· · ·

6.48.12

या शर्धा॑य॒ मारु॑ताय॒ स्वभा॑नवे॒ श्रवोऽमृ॑त्यु॒ धुक्ष॑त । या मृ॑ळी॒के म॒रुतां॑ तु॒राणां॒ या सु॒म्नैरे॑व॒याव॑री ॥

O mother teacher, O divine speech, you are the one who create, kindle, refine and raise the word and vision of immortal value for the strength and refinement of dynamic people for self-enlightenment, and who are a divine messenger for the good and well-being of vibrant people of fast action with gifts of comfort and cultured behaviour.

· · ·

6.48.13

भ॒रद्वा॑जा॒याव॑ धुक्षत द्वि॒ता । धे॒नुं च॑ वि॒श्वदो॑हस॒मिषं॑ च वि॒श्वभो॑जसम् ॥

O mother, you bear and bring the milk of twofold efficacy for the brilliant celebrant and bearer of science, power and fast action: divine speech yielding universal knowledge and enlightenment for all, and universal food for the body, mind and soul for the nourishment of all without discrimination.

· · ·

6.48.14

तं व॒ इन्द्रं॒ न सु॒क्रतुं॒ वरु॑णमिव मा॒यिन॑म् । अ॒र्य॒मणं॒ न म॒न्द्रं सृ॒प्रभो॑जसं॒ विष्णुं॒ न स्तु॑ष आ॒दिशे॑ ॥

O lovers of knowledge and fast action, for the sake of your guidance and enlightenment, I admire and pay homage to the divine teacher who is the hero of instant good action like Indra, cosmic electric energy, who is versatile and resourceful like Varuna, universal power of judgement and discrimination, who is happy and rejoicing like Aryaman, universal guide, and who provides universal food of delicate flavour like Vishnu, O lovers of knowledge and fast action, for the sake of your guidance and enlightenment, I admire and pay homage to the divine teacher who is the hero of instant good action like Indra, cosmic electric energy, who is versatile and resourceful like Varuna, universal power of judgement and discrimination, who is happy and rejoicing like Aryaman, universal guide, and who provides universal food of delicate flavour like Vishnu,

· · ·

6.48.15

त्वे॒षं शर्धो॒ न मारु॑तं तुवि॒ष्वण्य॑न॒र्वाणं॑ पू॒षणं॒ सं यथा॑ श॒ता । सं स॒हस्रा॒ कारि॑षच्चर्ष॒णिभ्य॒ आँ आ॒विर्गू॒ळ्हा वसू॑ करत्सु॒वेदा॑ नो॒ वसू॑ करत् ॥

I admire the divine teacher, harbinger of knowledge and power, I admire the power like the blazing force of the winds, I admire the resounding automotive chariot and the nourishing food products for sustenance so that wealth may be raised to hundred and from hundred to thousand for the people, hidden riches may be revealed from the depths, and the brilliant scholar may create further wealth and power for our peace and security of well being with knowledge and enlightenment.

· · ·

6.48.16

आ मा॑ पूष॒न्नुप॑ द्रव॒ शंसि॑षं॒ नु ते॑ अपिक॒र्ण आ॑घृणे । अ॒घा अ॒र्यो अरा॑तयः ॥

O lord giver of nourishment and sustenance, shining with knowledge and glowing with passion for action, come fast to me and I shall sing of your glory in truth close to your ear. O master of the community, eliminate hate, enmity, adversity and close-heartedness.

· · ·

6.48.17

म का॑क॒म्बीर॒मुद्वृ॑हो॒ वन॒स्पति॒मश॑स्ती॒र्वि हि नीन॑शः । मोत सूरो॒ अह॑ ए॒वा च॒न ग्री॒वा आ॒दध॑ते॒ वेः ॥

Do not uproot the trees such as the banyan which provide shelter to the poor innocent birds, but do remove the revilers and deplorables. The strong must not hurt the weak and their supports like the hunters who catch birds by the neck.

· · ·

6.48.18

दृते॑रिव तेऽवृ॒कम॑स्तु स॒ख्यम् । अच्छि॑द्रस्य दध॒न्वतः॒ सुपू॑र्णस्य दध॒न्वतः॑ ॥

Lord giver of nourishment and sustenance, let your friendship be non-violent, and unexploitative. Immaculate you are, spotlessly clean, totally selffulfilled, and you command immense plenty, prosperity and impeccability.

· · ·

6.48.19

प॒रो हि मर्त्यै॒रसि॑ स॒मो दे॒वैरु॒त श्रि॒या । अ॒भि ख्यः॑ पूष॒न्पृत॑नासु न॒स्त्वमवा॑ नू॒नं यथा॑ पु॒रा ॥

Pusha, giver of nourishment and sustenance, you are highest among mortals by nobility and grace, equal to the brilliant in nature and humanity in generosity. Watch us, guard us in the battles of life and protect and promote us as ever before.

· · ·

6.48.20

वा॒मी वा॒मस्य॑ धूतयः॒ प्रणी॑तिरस्तु सू॒नृता॑ । दे॒वस्य॑ वा मरुतो॒ मर्त्य॑स्य वेजा॒नस्य॑ प्रयज्यवः ॥

O Maruts, tempestuous heroes, movers and shakers in action and holy creative performers, let the policy, programmes and acts of the people be noble and graceful, inspired and directed by truth and righteousness, promotive for all, whether the person is exceptionally noble, or brilliant, or ordinary mortal, or a priest and yajaka.

· · ·

6.48.21

स॒द्यश्चि॒द्यस्य॑ चर्कृ॒तिः परि॒ द्यां दे॒वो नैति॒ सूर्यः॑ । त्वे॒षं शवो॑ दधिरे॒ नाम॑ य॒ज्ञियं॑ म॒रुतो॑ वृत्र॒हं शवो॒ ज्येष्ठं॑ वृत्र॒हं शवः॑ ॥

The ruler, whose action is instant, constant and ever true, whose people, leaders and warriors command sure, brilliant and yajnic force and power of the highest order to dispel darkness, evil and wickedness, rises and shines like the bright sun across the heavens.

· · ·

6.48.22

स॒कृद्ध॒ द्यौर॑जायत स॒कृद्भूमि॑रजायत । पृश्न्या॑ दु॒ग्धं स॒कृत्पय॒स्तद॒न्यो नानु॑ जायते ॥

The sun is born one and once unique, the earth is born one and once, unique, the skies and stars, milk and waters all are one, born once and unique. None else is born after exactly the same. That other, the creator is never born,

✦ Sukta 49 · 15 verses ✦

6.49.1

स्तु॒षे जनं॑ सुव्र॒तं नव्य॑सीभिर्गी॒र्भिर्मि॒त्रावरु॑णा सुम्न॒यन्ता॑ । त आ ग॑मन्तु॒ त इ॒ह श्रु॑वन्तु सुक्ष॒त्रासो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॒ग्निः ॥

With latest words and fresh voice, I honour and admire the man committed to duty and discipline, Mitra, the friend, and Varuna, the man of judgement and clear vision, both givers of peace and pleasure of well being. May they come here, I pray, and listen, They command the wealth and honour of the admirable social order, Mitra, Varuna and brilliant blazing Agni, all three like sun, ocean and fire.

· · ·

6.49.2

वि॒शोवि॑श॒ ईड्य॑मध्व॒रेष्वदृ॑प्तक्रतुमर॒तिं यु॑व॒त्योः । दि॒वः शिशुं॒ सह॑सः सू॒नुम॒ग्निं य॒ज्ञस्य॑ के॒तुम॑रु॒षं यज॑ध्यै ॥

I admire and adore Agni, leader of light and fire, honoured and worshipped in every community, calm and delighted in yajnic projects of love and nonviolence, free from illusion and infatuation, generated by youthful parents, i.e., sun and earth, child of cosmic energy, symbol and column of yajna, and crimson red like the dawn which is brilliant and soothing. I pray may Agni come and join us at our yajna.

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6.49.3

अ॒रु॒षस्य दुहि॒तरा॒ विरू॑पे॒ स्तृभि॑र॒न्या पि॑पि॒शे सूरो॑ अ॒न्या । मि॒थस्तुरा॑ वि॒चर॑न्ती पाव॒के मन्म॑ श्रु॒तं न॑क्षत ऋ॒च्यमा॑ने ॥

Two daughters of the glowing fire, the night and the day, different in form, one adorned with stars, the other lighted by the sun, move on alternating with each other. Both of them, pure, purifying and sanctifying, adorable and adored, pervade the world, and may they, we pray, inspire our thought and mind. (So may men and women be complementary to each other.)

· · ·

6.49.4

प्र वा॒युमच्छा॑ बृह॒ती म॑नी॒षा बृ॒हद्र॑यिं वि॒श्ववा॑रं रथ॒प्राम् । द्यु॒तद्या॑मा नि॒युतः॒ पत्य॑मानः क॒विः क॒विमि॑यक्षसि प्रयज्यो ॥

O venerable scholar of vision and imagination, dedicated to in-depth research with ambition for the honour and glory of success, with your brilliant and far-reaching intelligence and application, you study and plan to harness the abundantly rich and powerful universal energy of the divine wind and its carrier forces of energy, immensely useful to drive the chariot over the paths of light in space. Venerable scholar, honour the visionary seer, his vision and learning. (Swami Dayananda applies this manta also to the control of breath, pranic energy and mind for flights of the soul in samadhi for the achievement of suprasensuous experiences of universal nature.)

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6.49.5

स मे॒ वपु॑श्छदयद॒श्विनो॒र्यो रथो॑ वि॒रुक्मा॒न्मन॑सा युजा॒नः । येन॑ नरा नासत्येष॒यध्यै॑ व॒र्तिर्या॒थस्तन॑याय॒ त्मने॑ च ॥

That brilliant chariot of the Ashvins, complementary currents of universal energy of divine nature, directed by the mind, may, I pray, vest my body and mind with light and energy, the chariot by which leading lights of humanity dedicated to Truth and Divinity go by the path of righteousness in search of enlightenment for themselves and their children.

· · ·

6.49.6

पर्ज॑न्यवाता वृषभा पृथि॒व्याः पुरी॑षाणि जिन्वत॒मप्या॑नि । सत्य॑श्रुतः कवयो॒ यस्य॑ गी॒र्भिर्जग॑तः स्थात॒र्जग॒दा कृ॑णुध्वम् ॥

O generous and showerful winds and clouds, move the vapours of water from the earth and the firmament. O men of vision and imagination, established leaders and scholars of the world dedicated to truth and the voice of truth, listen to the scholar by whose words of knowledge you discover the world and work for its prosperity.

· · ·

6.49.7

पावी॑रवी क॒न्या॑ चि॒त्रायुः॒ सर॑स्वती वी॒रप॑त्नी॒ धियं॑ धात् । ग्नाभि॒रच्छि॑द्रं शर॒णं स॒जोषा॑ दुरा॒धर्षं॑ गृण॒ते शर्म॑ यंसत् ॥

Gracious Sarasvati, mother harbinger of knowledge and sacred speech, wondrous of form and life energy, spirit of purity and sanctity inspired and protected by omniscient and omnipotent Lord, may, we pray, bring us knowledge and wisdom in words of divine revelation and, loving and kind as the mother is, may she bless the celebrant with faultless haven and home of peace and well being free from fear and violence.

· · ·

6.49.8

प॒थस्प॑थः॒ परि॑पतिं वच॒स्या कामे॑न कृ॒तो अ॒भ्या॑नळ॒र्कम् । स नो॑ रासच्छु॒रुध॑श्च॒न्द्राग्रा॒ धियं॑धियं सीषधाति॒ प्र पू॒षा ॥

Let the supplicant inspired by love and reverence offer homage in holy words to adorable Pusha, giver of health and sustenance and guardian of people in all paths of life, and may that lord grant the supplicant invigorating herbs and brilliant life saving drugs. Pusha matures our mind and intelligence and gives us success in action and achievement.

· · ·

6.49.9

प्र॒थ॒म॒भाजं॑ य॒शसं॑ वयो॒धां सु॑पा॒णिं दे॒वं सु॒गभ॑स्ति॒मृभ्व॑म् । होता॑ यक्षद्यज॒तं प॒स्त्या॑नाम॒ग्निस्त्वष्टा॑रं सु॒हवं॑ वि॒भावा॑ ॥

Let agni, generous yajaka, join and offer abundant homage and service to Tvashta, maker of forms and institutions for humanity. Who is freely sociable, and first to be invited, famous and adorable, giver of health and long age, expert of hand in action, generous, brilliant, exceptionally intelligent, adorable and openly accessible and responsive to the brilliant host, agni.

· · ·

6.49.10

भुव॑नस्य पि॒तरं॑ गी॒र्भिरा॒भी रु॒द्रं दिवा॑ व॒र्धया॑ रु॒द्रम॒क्तौ । बृ॒हन्त॑मृ॒ष्वम॒जरं॑ सुषु॒म्नमृध॑ग्घुवेम क॒विने॑षि॒तासः॑ ॥

With all these words of homage by day and in the night, adore and exalt Rudra, guardian sustainer of the world and destroyer of suffering and disease. Inspired and exhorted by the wise poet of vision, let us all in truth and sincerity invoke and adore Rudra, dispenser of justice and punishment, great giver of advancement, unaging and blissful giver of peace and well being.

· · ·

6.49.11

आ यु॑वानः कवयो यज्ञियासो॒ मरु॑तो ग॒न्त गृ॑ण॒तो व॑र॒स्याम् । अ॒चि॒त्रं चि॒द्धि जिन्व॑था वृ॒धन्त॑ इ॒त्था नक्ष॑न्तो नरो अङ्गिर॒स्वत् ॥

Come O Maruts, youthful, creative visionaries and adorable yajakas vibrant as winds, and listen to the exhortations of the celebrants: you are leading lights of nature and humanity, messengers and harbingers of the breath of life, reaching everywhere, advancing yourself and raising all thus, you revitalise even the less than ordinary lands and rejuvenate worse than terminable cases of suffering and bless them with new life.

· · ·

6.49.12

प्र वी॒राय॒ प्र त॒वसे॑ तु॒रायाजा॑ यू॒थेव॑ पशु॒रक्षि॒रस्त॑म् । स पि॑स्पृशति त॒न्वि॑ श्रु॒तस्य॒ स्तृभि॒र्न नाकं॑ वच॒नस्य॒ विपः॑ ॥

Reach the brave, the courageous and the instant destroyer of suffering and darkness, and, like a shepherd leading the flock home, let your words of prayer and adoration rest there, and just as the sky is decked and adorned by the stars, so the listener is touched at heart by the words of the prayerful man of the revealed Word.

· · ·

6.49.13

यो रजां॑सि विम॒मे पार्थि॑वानि॒ त्रिश्चि॒द्विष्णु॒र्मन॑वे बाधि॒ताय॑ । तस्य॑ ते॒ शर्म॑न्नुपद॒द्यमा॑ने रा॒या म॑देम त॒न्वा॒३॒॑ तना॑ च ॥

O lord all pervasive, Vishnu, who have created the three regions of the universe for humanity and sustain the three to save us from the limitations of suffering and darkness, we pray that with the abundant and expansive gifts of health and wealth we may live and enjoy life in this vast home given by you.

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6.49.14

तन्नोऽहि॑र्बु॒ध्न्यो॑ अ॒द्भिर॒र्कैस्तत्पर्व॑त॒स्तत्स॑वि॒ता चनो॑ धात् । तदोष॑धीभिर॒भि रा॑ति॒षाचो॒ भगः॒ पुरं॑धिर्जिन्वतु॒ प्र रा॒ये ॥

That blessed home of ours, Lord of the deep caverns of the clouds formed in the sky, may sustain us with showers of waters and rays of the sun. That home, the mountain and the lord creator, Savita and sun may sustain and bring gifts of food for us therein. And the same, the lord abundant giver of wealth, power and honour and sustainer of the world, Bhaga, may promote and vitalise with herbs for us to live in plenty and prosperity.

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6.49.15

नू नो॑ र॒यिं र॒थ्यं॑ चर्षणि॒प्रां पु॑रु॒वीरं॑ म॒ह ऋ॒तस्य॑ गो॒पाम् । क्षयं॑ दाता॒जरं॒ येन॒ जना॒न्त्स्पृधो॒ अदे॑वीर॒भि च॒ क्रमा॑म॒ विश॒ आदे॑वीर॒भ्य१॒॑श्नवा॑म ॥

O lord creator and generous giver, give us the commonwealth equipped with chariots, good for all people, blest with many heroic children and warriors, great and protector of the truth and law of the world in existence. May the lord giver give us an unaging home land and shelter by which we may face and overcome the impious rivals contesting against us and build a nation of brilliant and God fearing people so that both the simple and the sophisticated people may live well.

✦ Sukta 50 · 15 verses ✦

6.50.1

हु॒वे वो॑ दे॒वीमदि॑तिं॒ नमो॑भिर्मृळी॒काय॒ वरु॑णं मि॒त्रम॒ग्निम् । अ॒भि॒क्ष॒दाम॑र्य॒मणं॑ सु॒शेवं॑ त्रा॒तॄन्दे॒वान्त्स॑वि॒तारं॒ भगं॑ च ॥

For your happiness and felicity I invoke, invite and honour with reverence and hospitality the Vishvedevas, powers and people of generous and divine nature : the brilliant mother scholar, the lady of exalted nature and character, and indestructible Aditi, Mother Nature, Varuna, udana energy of vitality and the man of elevating wisdom, Mitra, pranic energy and the friend dear as breath of life, Agni, fire and the man of passion and purity of action, Abhikshada, the generous person who is a spontaneous giver and fighter against adversity, Aryaman, the person who guides with judgement and discrimination between good and evil, the person committed to selfless service of the community, all noble and brilliant powers and people who help as saviours and path finders, Savita, giver of light and inspiration as the sun, Bhaga, lord of universal wealth and power, and the man who counts for the honour and excellence of humanity.

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6.50.2

सु॒ज्योति॑षः सूर्य॒ दक्ष॑पितॄननागा॒स्त्वे सु॑महो वीहि दे॒वान् । द्वि॒जन्मा॑नो॒ य ऋ॑त॒सापः॑ स॒त्याः स्व॑र्वन्तो यज॒ता अ॑ग्निजि॒ह्वाः ॥

O man bright as the sun, if you want to maintain your simplicity, innocence and freedom from sin, approach, honour and exalt the generous and brilliant seniors of parental nature who command the holy light of knowledge, expertise of action and greatness of character, who are nobly born and divinely educated, who are true to the bone and unshakably committed to nothing but the truth and the law of Dharma, and who enjoy perfect peace of mind with an open door hospitality but have a tongue of fire that brooks no nonsense and burns double dealing with a whiff of air.

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6.50.3

उ॒त द्या॑वापृथिवी क्ष॒त्रमु॒रु बृ॒हद्रो॑दसी शर॒णं सु॑षुम्ने । म॒हस्क॑रथो॒ वरि॑वो॒ यथा॑ नो॒ऽस्मे क्षया॑य धिषणे अने॒हः ॥

And O heaven and earth, give us the strength of a mighty social order, O magnetic and electric energy of the earth and firmament, great givers of peace and comfort, provide us a vast home of comfort and joy. O noble and generous divinities of nature and humanity, great things as you do, give us the best of wealth and competence for our life on earth so that our home and family may be free from sin and violence.

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6.50.4

आ नो॑ रु॒द्रस्य॑ सूनवो॑ नमन्ताम॒द्या हू॒तासो॒ वस॒वोऽधृ॑ष्टाः । यदी॒मर्भे॑ मह॒ति वा॑ हि॒तासो॑ बा॒धे म॒रुतो॒ अह्वा॑म दे॒वान् ॥

May the off-springs of Rudra, lord of justice and nature’s vitality, come down to us, invited they are today. Modest yet invincible, brilliant and vibrant as winds they are, givers of home and comfort, and since they are appointed to fight out adversaries in battles big or small, we call upon them.

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6.50.5

मि॒म्यक्ष॒ येषु॑ रोद॒सी नु दे॒वी सिष॑क्ति पू॒षा अ॑भ्यर्ध॒यज्वा॑ । श्रु॒त्वा हवं॑ मरुतो॒ यद्ध॑ या॒थ भूमा॑ रेजन्ते॒ अध्व॑नि॒ प्रवि॑क्ते ॥

O Maruts, vibrant warriors of nature and humanity with whom the energy and generosity of heaven and earth is joined and whom Pusha, vital energy of nature and humanity, blesses with reverence and recognition, go quick in response to the call and meet the purpose. And when you proceed in response to the call and march on the path, all those who inhabit the earth tremble on the route of your advance.

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6.50.6

अ॒भि त्यं वी॒रं गिर्व॑णसम॒र्चेन्द्रं॒ ब्रह्म॑णा जरित॒र्नवे॑न । श्रव॒दिद्धव॒मुप॑ च॒ स्तवा॑नो॒ रास॒द्वाजाँ॒ उप॑ म॒हो गृ॑णा॒नः ॥

O celebrant of nature, divinity and the best of humanity, sing in praise of that mighty adorable Indra, commander of glory and power, with the best and latest of your songs of celebration. And the great Indra, sung and celebrated thus, would closely hear the song and prayer and would grant you food and sustenance and fast progress and victories in the battles of life.

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6.50.7

ओ॒मान॑मापो मानुषी॒रमृ॑क्तं॒ धात॑ तो॒काय॒ तन॑याय॒ शं योः । यू॒यं हि ष्ठा भि॒षजो॑ मा॒तृत॑मा॒ विश्व॑स्य स्था॒तुर्जग॑तो॒ जनि॑त्रीः ॥

O waters of purity, Apah, O leaders of humanity pure at heart like holy waters, you are a bliss for humanity. Bear and bring nourishing, protective and unsullied food for our children and for our youth and bring about a state of peace free from sin and evil. You are the most motherly harbingers of health, the best physicians. You are the makers of a new generation for all the moving and non-moving world. Pray stay constant and friendly as you are.

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6.50.8

आ नो॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता त्राय॑माणो॒ हिर॑ण्यपाणिर्यज॒तो ज॑गम्यात् । यो दत्र॑वाँ उ॒षसो॒ न प्रती॑कं व्यूर्णु॒ते दा॒शुषे॒ वार्या॑णि ॥

May the divine and refulgent Savita, creator, preserver and generator of golden handed charity, loving and adorable, come and bless us, he who, all giving, opens up treasures of wealth for the generous giver like the first lights of the dawn.

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6.50.9

उ॒त त्वं सू॑नो सहसो नो अ॒द्या दे॒वाँ अ॒स्मिन्न॑ध्व॒रे व॑वृत्याः । स्याम॒हं ते॒ सद॒मिद्रा॒तौ तव॑ स्याम॒ग्नेऽव॑सा सु॒वीरः॑ ॥

O light and fire of life, Agni, off-spring of divine strength and vitality, in this yajnic programme of love and non-violent creation of an enlightened society, let the divine values and virtues of nature and humanity turn and come our way and flow on. O lord of brilliance, let me stay established for all time in the bliss of your generosity and, under your protection and guidance, let me command the heights of heroism with the brave.

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6.50.10

उ॒त त्या मे॒ हव॒मा ज॑ग्म्यातं॒ नास॑त्या धी॒भिर्यु॒वम॒ङ्ग वि॑प्रा । अत्रिं॒ न म॒हस्तम॑सोऽमुमुक्तं॒ तूर्व॑तं नरा दुरि॒ताद॒भीके॑ ॥

And may theAshvins, those two complementary currents of nature’s energy, the teacher and the preacher, leading lights of the world, vibrant benefactors dear as breath of life, both committed to truth and eternal law, come in response to my invitation with gifts of intelligence and competence for holy action, protect me as Atri, the man free from physical, mental and spiritual ailments, save me from deep darkness and release me from sin and evil all round prevailing.

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6.50.11

ते नो॑ रा॒यो द्यु॒मतो॒ वाज॑वतो दा॒तारो॑ भूत नृ॒वतः॑ पुरु॒क्षोः । द॒श॒स्यन्तो॑ दि॒व्याः पार्थि॑वासो॒ गोजा॑ता॒ अप्या॑ मृ॒ळता॑ च देवाः ॥

O divine powers of nature and humanity, learned and wise teachers and scholars, be you all givers of rich gifts of wealth, light, speed and success, human resources and food for sustenance. And may all the divinities celestial, terrestrial, spatial and aqueous bless us with peace and felicity

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6.50.12

ते नो॑ रु॒द्रः सर॑स्वती स॒जोषा॑ मी॒ळ्हुष्म॑न्तो॒ विष्णु॑र्मृळन्तु वा॒युः । ऋ॒भु॒क्षा वाजो॒ दैव्यो॑ विधा॒ता प॒र्जन्या॒वाता॑ पिप्यता॒मिषं॑ नः ॥

May Rudra, lord of justice and punishment, Sarasvati, mother of knowledge and speech, Vishnu, omnipresent spirit of the universe, Vayu, the winds, Rbhuksha, expert artist, universal energy, divine favour, law giver, clouds and winds, all virile and friendly, bring us food and energy and give us peace and felicity

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6.50.13

उ॒त स्य दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता भगो॑ नो॒ऽपां नपा॑दवतु॒ दानु॒ पप्रिः॑ । त्वष्टा॑ दे॒वेभि॒र्जनि॑भिः स॒जोषा॒ द्यौर्दे॒वेभिः॑ पृथि॒वी स॑मु॒द्रैः ॥

And that refulgent Savita, the sun, Bhaga, pranic energy, Apam-napat, unfailing electric energy born of waters, Tvashta, maker of forms with brilliant generative powers, the heaven with all its lights, the earth with the seas, may all these together, friendly and supportive, generously giving and fulfilling, protect and promote us in life.

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6.50.14

उ॒त नोऽहि॑र्बु॒ध्न्यः॑ शृणोत्व॒ज एक॑पात्पृथि॒वी स॑मु॒द्रः । विश्वे॑ दे॒वा ऋ॑ता॒वृधो॑ हुवा॒नाः स्तु॒ता मन्त्राः॑ कविश॒स्ता अ॑वन्तु ॥

And the deep cloud in the firmament, the unborn Spirit of the universe, the sole divine support of existence, the earth, the sea, all the divine forces of the universe which prove and maintain the eternal law invoked and adored, and Veda mantras taught by seers, may all these listen to our prayers and protect us.

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6.50.15

ए॒वा नपा॑तो॒ मम॒ तस्य॑ धी॒भिर्भ॒रद्वा॑जा अ॒भ्य॑र्चन्त्य॒र्कैः । ग्ना हु॒तासो॒ वस॒वोऽधृ॑ष्टा॒ विश्वे॑ स्तु॒तासो॑ भूता यजत्राः ॥

Thus do we bearers of science and power and our descendants and disciples offer homage with thoughts, words and actions of devotion and pray that the Vishvedevas, universal creators and unifiers of nature and humanity, and their potentials, invoked and admired, free and fearless, may continue to be providers of peace and shelter for all for ever.

✦ Sukta 51 · 16 verses ✦

6.51.1

उदु॒ त्यच्चक्षु॒र्महि॑ मि॒त्रयो॒राँ एति॑ प्रि॒यं वरु॑णयो॒रद॑ब्धम् । ऋ॒तस्य॒ शुचि॑ दर्श॒तमनी॑कं रु॒क्मो न दि॒व उदि॑ता॒ व्य॑द्यौत् ॥

Lo! the sun, that glorious eye of the universe, darling of the day and night, rises up undaunted, and like the pure, resplendent, golden face of heaven unveiled shines from the regions of eternal light. (The sunrise is a metaphor which may be applied to the rise of any great light - giving power, say a great leader, giver of enlightenment, a teacher, a reformer, or a great movement.)

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6.51.2

वेद॒ यस्त्रीणि॑ वि॒दथा॑न्येषां दे॒वानां॒ जन्म॑ सनु॒तरा च॒ विप्रः॑ । ऋ॒जु मर्ते॑षु वृजि॒ना च॒ पश्य॑न्न॒भि च॑ष्टे॒ सूरो॑ अ॒र्य एवा॑न् ॥

The lord of light who is all wise, too, knows, reaches and pervades three orders of the world, i.e., the earth, the middle regions of the skies, and the highest regions of the light of heaven; three fields of life, i.e., jnana or knowledge, karma or action, and upasana or prayer and meditation; and three departments of the social order, i.e., teaching and research, governance and administration, and dharma or values of life, law and justice. He also knows the birth and life of these Vishvedevas, i.e., the divinities of nature and humanity. And watching the simple and straight paths and performances as well as the tortuous and crooked movements of the mortals, the potent master reveals where they reach in consequence.

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6.51.3

स्तु॒ष उ॑ वो म॒ह ऋ॒तस्य॑ गो॒पानदि॑तिं मि॒त्रं वरु॑णं सुजा॒तान् । अ॒र्य॒मणं॒ भग॒मद॑ब्धधीती॒नच्छा॑ वोचे सध॒न्यः॑ पाव॒कान् ॥

Happy and blest, I admire and celebrate in words of song all of you, Vishvedevas, great observers and protectors of the eternal law of Truth and righteousness: Aditi, indestructible mother nature, Mitra, sun and brilliant friend, Varuna, ocean and venerable judge, Aryaman, universal guide and discriminative path maker, Bhaga, lord of honour and excellence, universally known, dauntless, intelligent and wise purifying powers all.

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6.51.4

रि॒शाद॑सः॒ सत्प॑तीँ॒रद॑ब्धान्म॒हो राज्ञः॑ सुवस॒नस्य॑ दा॒तॄन् । यूनः॑ सुक्ष॒त्रान्क्षय॑तो दि॒वो नॄना॑दि॒त्यान्या॒म्यदि॑तिं दुवो॒यु ॥

I reach, admire and celebrateAditi, mother spirit of nature, and the offsprings of Aditi, destroyers of evil and protectors of the good and true, irresistible great rulers, givers of peaceful homes, ever young and unaging, makers of great social orders, well established leaders of light and all refulgent suns. I approach them with prayers for blessings, they love the supplicants.

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6.51.5

द्यौ॒३॒॑ष्पितः॒ पृथि॑वि॒ मात॒रध्रु॒गग्ने॑ भ्रातर्वसवो मृ॒ळता॑ नः । विश्व॑ आदित्या अदिते स॒जोषा॑ अ॒स्मभ्यं॒ शर्म॑ बहु॒लं वि य॑न्त ॥

O refulgent sun, O father, O earth, O mother, compassionate, free from hate and anger, O fire, O brother, givers of shelter and protection, give us peace and felicity. O children of mother Infinity, O Mother Nature, all ever our own, loving friends, pray bring us a homely settlement of joy and all round prosperity.

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6.51.6

मा नो॒ वृका॑य वृ॒क्ये॑ समस्मा अघाय॒ते री॑रधता यजत्राः । यू॒यं हि ष्ठा र॒थ्यो॑ नस्त॒नूनां॑ यू॒यं दक्ष॑स्य॒ वच॑सो बभू॒व ॥

Adorable friends and unifiers, divinities of nature and humanity, throw us not to the wolf and the thief nor to the rule of the sinner, nor relegate us to seizure, deprivation and exploitation. Pray stay you constant as our guide in matters of body, health and action and in the working of our social institutions, and be the carrier medium of the word and voice of the eminent expert.

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6.51.7

मा व॒ एनो॑ अ॒न्यकृ॑तं भुजेम॒ मा तत्क॑र्म वसवो॒ यच्चय॑ध्वे । विश्व॑स्य॒ हि क्षय॑थ विश्वदेवाः स्व॒यं रि॒पुस्त॒न्वं॑ रीरिषीष्ट ॥

O Vasus, givers of peace and settlement, dispensers of the laws of nature and humanity, let us not suffer your dispensation’s punishment for the sin and crime committed by others, nor let us do that act which you hate and prohibit. You are the rulers of the world and dispensers of justice and punishment, O divinities of nature and humanity. Let the hater and the evil doer be the instrument of his own self-infliction.

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6.51.8

नम॒ इदु॒ग्रं नम॒ आ वि॑वासे॒ नमो॑ दाधार पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्याम् । नमो॑ दे॒वेभ्यो॒ नम॑ ईश एषां कृ॒तं चि॒देनो॒ नम॒सा वि॑वासे ॥

Namas, the thunder of omnipotence and universal law, is mighty. Reverence on the human plane too has power. I respect law and reverence. Law and reverence sustain the earth and the sun. I offer reverence to the nobilities and the divinities. The power of the Divine and reverence for life rule the actions, good as well as evil, of all these people. I accept the power and value reverence with humility and submission to the divine dispensation.

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6.51.9

ऋ॒तस्य॑ वो र॒थ्यः॑ पू॒तद॑क्षानृ॒तस्य॑ पस्त्य॒सदो॒ अद॑ब्धान् । ताँ आ नमो॑भिरुरु॒चक्ष॑सो॒ नॄन्विश्वा॑न्व॒ आ न॑मे म॒हो य॑जत्राः ॥

O great divinities of nature and nobilities of humanity, I, moving forward by the chariot of law and reverence, bow with homage and surrender to you all, powers strengthened and sanctified by the law of eternal truth, invincible presences in human homes, who are vastly watchful guardians of all the people and their actions in the world.

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6.51.10

ते हि श्रेष्ठ॑वर्चस॒स्त उ॑ नस्ति॒रो विश्वा॑नि दुरि॒ता नय॑न्ति । सु॒क्ष॒त्रासो॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॒ग्निर्ऋ॒तधी॑तयो वक्म॒राज॑सत्याः ॥

They alone are Vishvadevas, men of highest excellence, they alone lead us over and across all evil and suffering of life, and they alone are the right rulers and managers of the social order, who are men of wisdom, right judgment and discrimination as Varuna, universal ruler, unifying sustainers and saviour friends as Mitra, the sun, and pure and purifying agents of action as Agni, the fire, who are committed in thought, word and action to universal truth and eternal values of life, and who have the courage of the conviction to speak the truth in matters of governance and administration in the political order of the world state.

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6.51.11

ते न॒ इन्द्रः॑ पृथि॒वी क्षाम॑ वर्धन्पू॒षा भगो॒ अदि॑तिः॒ पञ्च॒ जनाः॑ । सु॒शर्मा॑णः॒ स्वव॑सः सुनी॒था भव॑न्तु नः सुत्रा॒त्रासः॑ सुगो॒पाः ॥

May those divine powers of nature and humanity, cosmic energy, the firmament, the earth, the sustainer, glorious God, mother nature, all people dear as five pranic energies, all happy home dwellers nobly protected and well guided, be our saviours and protectors.

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6.51.12

नू स॒द्मानं॑ दि॒व्यं नंशि॑ देवा॒ भार॑द्वाजः सुम॒तिं या॑ति॒ होता॑ । आ॒सा॒नेभि॒र्यज॑मानो मि॒येधै॑र्दे॒वानां॒ जन्म॑ वसू॒युर्व॑वन्द ॥

o divine powers, the bearer of knowledge who invokes the divinities and serves the nobilities in yajnic programmes is blest with divine peace and settlement and enjoys wisdom and divine guidance. the yajamana in pursuit of wealth and excellence, sitting with inspiring and adorable yajakas, obtains the vision of rising divinities in his life.

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6.51.13

अप॒ त्यं वृ॑जि॒नं रि॒पुं स्ते॒नम॑ग्ने दुरा॒ध्य॑म् । द॒वि॒ष्ठम॑स्य सत्पते कृ॒धी सु॒गम् ॥

Agni, O divine leader, cast away that crooked thief, that strenuous enemy, far from the path of the aspirant. O protector and promoter of the good and the true, make it easy for him to follow the course simple and straight.

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6.51.14

ग्रावा॑णः सोम नो॒ हि कं॑ सखित्व॒नाय॑ वाव॒शुः । ज॒ही न्य१॒॑त्रिणं॑ प॒णिं वृको॒ हि षः ॥

o soma, giver of peace and inspiration, our holy ones generous as clouds and strong as granite love peace for divine favour and friendship. throw away the ogre of crooked behaviour, he is a wolf only.

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6.51.15

यू॒यं हि ष्ठा सु॑दानव॒ इन्द्र॑ज्येष्ठा अ॒भिद्य॑वः । कर्ता॑ नो॒ अध्व॒न्ना सु॒गं गो॒पा अ॒मा ॥

O Vishvedevas, bounties of nature divine and leading lights of humanity, stay you all generous as ever, shining as the sun on high above all. Make our march of progress simple and manageable, and protect our hearth and home.

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6.51.16

अपि॒ पन्था॑मगन्महि स्वस्ति॒गाम॑ने॒हस॑म् । येन॒ विश्वाः॒ परि॒ द्विषो॑ वृ॒णक्ति॑ वि॒न्दते॒ वसु॑ ॥

And also, let us move on by the path which is faultless, auspicious, sinless and inviolable, which leads to noble attainments with peace, and by which holy brave people remove all hate, jealousy and enmity and realize all wealth and self fulfillment.

✦ Sukta 52 · 17 verses ✦

6.52.1

न तद्दि॒वा न पृ॑थि॒व्यानु॑ मन्ये॒ न य॒ज्ञेन॒ नोत शमी॑भिरा॒भिः । उ॒ब्जन्तु॒ तं सु॒भ्वः१॒॑ पर्व॑तासो॒ नि ही॑यतामतिया॒जस्य॑ य॒ष्टा ॥

I believe the enthusiastic performer of yajna would not be forsaken by heaven or earth, nor would he be deprived of the rewards of his yajna or of all these noble actions. I pray may the showers of generous clouds bless him. (Let none neglect yajna.)

· · ·

6.52.2

अति॑ वा॒ यो म॑रुतो॒ मन्य॑ते नो॒ ब्रह्म॑ वा॒ यः क्रि॒यमा॑णं॒ निनि॑त्सात् । तपूं॑षि॒ तस्मै॑ वृजि॒नानि॑ सन्तु ब्रह्म॒द्विष॑म॒भि तं शो॑चतु॒ द्यौः ॥

O maruts, vibrant heroes, whoever hates us, or despises our wealth and piety, or deprecates our acts and holy programmes in progress, must have his tortuous paths exposed by the blazing light of truth. Let the loving and brilliant wise men subject the hater of nobility and eternal values to disapproval until he feels sorry.

· · ·

6.52.3

किम॒ङ्ग त्वा॒ ब्रह्म॑णः सोम गो॒पां किम॒ङ्ग त्वा॑हुरभिशस्ति॒पां नः॑ । किम॒ङ्ग नः॑ पश्यसि नि॒द्यमा॑नान्ब्रह्म॒द्विषे॒ तपु॑षिं हे॒तिम॑स्य ॥

O dear lover of peace and joy, would they not call you protector of the honour and wealth of humanity? O friend, shall we not call you protector of our honour and reputation? O leader, dear as breath of life, don’t you see our detractors and maligners? Pray strike the blazing thunderbolt upon the hater of nobility and universal values of spirituality.

· · ·

6.52.4

अव॑न्तु॒ मामु॒षसो॒ जाय॑माना॒ अव॑न्तु मा॒ सिन्ध॑वः॒ पिन्व॑मानाः । अव॑न्तु मा॒ पर्व॑तासो ध्रु॒वासोऽव॑न्तु मा पि॒तरो॑ दे॒वहू॑तौ ॥

Let the rising dawns inspire me. May the swelling seas raise and promote us. Let the steadfast mountains, deep clouds and generous warriors defend me. May the paternal powers of nature and humanity protect and advance us in our holy programmes of advancement in values and culture.

· · ·

6.52.5

वि॒श्व॒दानीं॑ सु॒मन॑सः स्याम॒ पश्ये॑म॒ नु सूर्य॑मु॒च्चर॑न्तम् । तथा॑ कर॒द्वसु॑पति॒र्वसू॑नां दे॒वाँ ओहा॒नोऽव॒साग॑मिष्ठः ॥

May we always be happy at heart and see the sun rise and sojourn in space higher and higher. May the lord protector of health and wealth and honour come with all modes of protection and progress, call upon us to rise and raise us to the heights of brilliance and generosity.

· · ·

6.52.6

इन्द्रो॒ नेदि॑ष्ठ॒मव॒साग॑मिष्ठः॒ सर॑स्वती॒ सिन्धु॑भिः॒ पिन्व॑माना । प॒र्जन्यो॑ न॒ ओष॑धीभिर्मयो॒भुर॒ग्निः सु॒शंसः॑ सु॒हवः॑ पि॒तेव॑ ॥

Let Indra, the ruler, come closest to us with modes of protection and progress. May Sarasvati, mother of knowledge and dynamic speech swelling with streams and showers of culture and refinement, come and bless. Let Agni, adorable leader of light and fire of action, responsive to our invocation, blissful like a father and guardian, come with herbs and comforts for health, honour and advancement.

· · ·

6.52.7

विश्वे॑ देवास॒ आ ग॑त शृणु॒ता म॑ इ॒मं हव॑म् । एदं ब॒र्हिर्नि षी॑दत ॥

O eminent brilliancies of the world, learned and generous presences, come, listen to this invocation of mine and grace this holy seat of our yajnic programme of study and development.

· · ·

6.52.8

यो वो॑ देवा घृ॒तस्नु॑ना ह॒व्येन॑ प्रति॒भूष॑ति । तं विश्व॒ उप॑ गच्छथ ॥

O generous and brilliant scholars and leading lights of the world, whoever the person that invites you and honours you with homage of yajna seasoned and refined with fragrant materials overflowing with ghrta, come to him and bless him with light, sweetness and advancement in knowledge, honour and wealth of life.

· · ·

6.52.9

उप॑ नः सू॒नवो॒ गिरः॑ शृ॒ण्वन्त्व॒मृत॑स्य॒ ये । सु॒मृ॒ळी॒का भ॑वन्तु नः ॥

May the Vishvedevas, eminent brilliancies of humanity, children of immortality and creators of the language of immortality in knowledge, come and listen to the prayers of the seekers and be givers of bliss to us. May the children listen to the voices of the immortals and be givers of joy to us.

· · ·

6.52.10

विश्वे॑ दे॒वा ऋ॑ता॒वृध॑ ऋ॒तुभि॑र्हवन॒श्रुतः॑ । जु॒षन्तां॒ युज्यं॒ पयः॑ ॥

May the leading lights of the world, sages and scholars, generous and brilliant, expanding the bounds of knowledge and universal law in truth and development, listen to our invitation, love, honour and bless the liquid and milky investments in the yajnic programmes of research and progress according to the seasons of time and social requirements.

· · ·

6.52.11

स्तो॒त्रमिन्द्रो॑ म॒रुद्ग॑ण॒स्त्वष्टृ॑मान्मि॒त्रो अ॑र्य॒मा । इ॒मा ह॒व्या जु॑षन्त नः ॥

May Indra, gracious ruler, leading group of dynamic people consisting of expert makers and designers, Mitra, expert of vision and future possibilities, brilliant and universal friend like the sun, and Aryama, pioneer of the paths of progress with judgement and directive control, accept, love and honour these offers of holy yajnic investments for us.

· · ·

6.52.12

इ॒मं नो॑ अग्ने अध्व॒रं होत॑र्वयुन॒शो य॑ज । चि॒कि॒त्वान्दैव्यं॒ जन॑म् ॥

Agni, leading light and majestic ruler, generous giver and highpriest of the yajnic order of humanity approved and honoured by enlightened people, you know the enlightened people and the peaceful non- violent order. Pray take over, rule and administer this order of ours according to the people’s performance and the law.

· · ·

6.52.13

विश्वे॑ देवाः शृणु॒तेमं हवं॑ मे॒ ये अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ य उप॒ द्यवि॒ ष्ठ । ये अ॑ग्निजि॒ह्वा उ॒त वा॒ यज॑त्रा आ॒सद्या॒स्मिन्ब॒र्हिषि॑ मादयध्वम् ॥

O Vishvedevas, leading lights and generous bounties of nature and humanity, listen to this invocation and invitation of ours, you who abide and operate in the middle region and the highest region of light, who have the tongue of fire and light of truth. You are lovable and adorable. Come, sit on this seat of holy grass in this yajna, rejoice and let us rejoice with you.

· · ·

6.52.14

विश्वे॑ दे॒वा मम॑ शृण्वन्तु य॒ज्ञिया॑ उ॒भे रोद॑सी अ॒पां नपा॑च्च॒ मन्म॑ । मा वो॒ वचां॑सि परि॒चक्ष्या॑णि वोचं सु॒म्नेष्विद्वो॒ अन्त॑मा मदेम ॥

O Vishvedevas, adorable leading lights, protective like both earth and sky, the fire divine, listen to my thought and word. Never shall I speak any words against your life sustaining powers and science worthy of universal celebration. Pray let us rejoice at the closest with you in comfort and joy of all aspects of life.

· · ·

6.52.15

ये के च॒ ज्मा म॒हिनो॒ अहि॑माया दि॒वो ज॑ज्ञि॒रे अ॒पां स॒धस्थे॑ । ते अ॒स्मभ्य॑मि॒षये॒ विश्व॒मायुः॒ क्षप॑ उ॒स्रा व॑रिवस्यन्तु दे॒वाः ॥

And whatever great powers of divine nature born on the earth and in the regions of firmament waters born of the sun, all these divine powers of nature and humanity may bring us universal life energy and happy days and nights for our sustenance and enlightenment.

· · ·

6.52.16

अग्नी॑पर्जन्या॒वव॑तं॒ धियं॑ मे॒ऽस्मिन्हवे॑ सुहवा सुष्टु॒तिं नः॑ । इळा॑म॒न्यो ज॒नय॒द्गर्भ॑म॒न्यः प्र॒जाव॑ती॒रिष॒ आ ध॑त्तम॒स्मे ॥

May the vital fire energy of light and electricity and the clouds of vapour in space protect and augment my intellect, and in this yajnic business of life promote our honour and fame in response to our invocation and invitation to yajna. One of these, the fire divine, generates and inspires our speech, and the other, the vapours, generate the cloud which fertilises earth and produces food. May the two bring us food, energy and noble progeny.

· · ·

6.52.17

स्ती॒र्णे ब॒र्हिषि॑ समिधा॒ने अ॒ग्नौ सू॒क्तेन॑ म॒हा नम॒सा वि॑वासे । अ॒स्मिन्नो॑ अ॒द्य वि॒दथे॑ यजत्रा॒ विश्वे॑ देवा ह॒विषि॑ मादयध्वम् ॥

O Vishvedevas, holy bounties of nature and humanity, the sacred grass is strewn on the vedi, the fire is kindled and rising with the holy chant of mantras and oblations of fragrant homage of havi. Today in this our yajnic programme, O adorables, accept and enjoy our offer of homage and hospitality and let us rejoice with you.

✦ Sukta 53 · 10 verses ✦

6.53.1

व॒यमु॑ त्वा पथस्पते॒ रथं॒ न वाज॑सातये । धि॒ये पू॑षन्नयुज्महि ॥

O Pusha, lord giver of food and energy and guide and director over all our paths of life, for the sake of vision and wisdom and to reach the goal in our mission of life we take to you as one rides a chariot piloted by an all-wise driver.

· · ·

6.53.2

अ॒भि नो॒ नर्यं॒ वसु॑ वी॒रं प्रय॑तदक्षिणम् । वा॒मं गृ॒हप॑तिं नय

॥

Take us to a plentiful home and gracious master, a brave leader of men and generous giver of the gifts of life’s wealth.

· · ·

6.53.3

अदि॑त्सन्तं चिदाघृणे॒ पूष॒न्दाना॑य चोदय । प॒णेश्चि॒द्वि म्र॑दा॒ मनः॑ ॥

Pusha, generous lord of light and grace, motivate the non-giver to give in charity and soften the heart of even the mean and miserly.

· · ·

6.53.4

वि प॒थो वाज॑सातये चिनु॒हि वि मृधो॑ जहि । साध॑न्तामुग्र नो॒ धियः॑ ॥

O resplendent leader and master of life force, select and secure for us the paths of advancement to energy and success, cast off the obstructions, and lead our plans and programmes of action to success.

· · ·

6.53.5

परि॑ तृन्धि पणी॒नामार॑या॒ हृद॑या कवे । अथे॑म॒स्मभ्यं॑ रन्धय ॥

O lord of vision and creativity, smite the hearts of the callous niggards with a goad, and subdue them to correction and maturity for the sake of us all.

· · ·

6.53.6

वि पू॑ष॒न्नार॑या तुद प॒णेरि॑च्छ हृ॒दि प्रि॒यम् । अथे॑म॒स्मभ्यं॑ रन्धय ॥

Pusha, lord giver of life, nourishment and inspiration, smite the callous, calculating and miserly in the heart with the pangs of affliction, wish him well for love and season him in the crucibles of remorse for our sake.

· · ·

6.53.7

आ रि॑ख किकि॒रा कृ॑णु पणी॒नां हृद॑या कवे । अथे॑म॒स्मभ्यं॑ रन्धय ॥

O creative lord of vision and foresight, write out the balance sheet of life’s hagglers and bargainers, touch their hearts, let them mature all round and let us be happy.

· · ·

6.53.8

यां पू॑षन्ब्रह्म॒चोद॑नी॒मारां॒ बिभ॑र्ष्याघृणे । तया॑ समस्य॒ हृद॑य॒मा रि॑ख किकि॒रा कृ॑णु ॥

Pusha, lord of light and grace, giver of food and growth for life, you command that analytical intellect which discriminates between truth and untruth and inspires the mind to have the vision of divinity. With that inspiring intelligence, imprint the settled mind with holiness and let it expand with ideas.

· · ·

6.53.9

या ते॒ अष्ट्रा॒ गोओ॑प॒शाघृ॑णे पशु॒साध॑नी । तस्या॑स्ते सु॒म्नमी॑महे ॥

Lord of creative knowledge and development, that versatile vision and expertise of yours which develops cattle wealth and builds vast dairies and veterinary institutions, we love, and we pray for the gifts of that vision for comfort and well being.

· · ·

6.53.10

उ॒त नो॑ गो॒षणिं॒ धिय॑मश्व॒सां वा॑ज॒सामु॒त । नृ॒वत्कृ॑णुहि वी॒तये॑ ॥

Lord of light and life’s development, give us the gift of that knowledge and intelligence which may develop the wealth of cows and horses and create modes and means of success and prosperity. Give us that intelligence inspired with love for people so that we may live in peace and joy.

✦ Sukta 54 · 10 verses ✦

6.54.1

सं पू॑षन्वि॒दुषा॑ नय॒ यो अञ्ज॑सानु॒शास॑ति । य ए॒वेदमिति॒ ब्रव॑त् ॥

Pusha, giver of food and nourishment for body and mind, take us forward truly with that scholar who teaches us of truth with confidence and definiteness, saying: This is what it is, and it is not otherwise.

· · ·

6.54.2

समु॑ पू॒ष्णा ग॑मेमहि॒ यो गृ॒हाँ अ॑भि॒शास॑ति । इ॒म ए॒वेति॑ च॒ ब्रव॑त् ॥

Let us go forward in life with that teacher, giver of nourishment for body, mind and soul, that family physician, who rules the home and governs home life, saying with confidence and definiteness: This is it, this way and not otherwise.

· · ·

6.54.3

पू॒ष्णश्च॒क्रं न रि॑ष्यति॒ न कोशोऽव॑ पद्यते । नो अ॑स्य व्यथते प॒विः ॥

The wheel of Pusha, lord of life and provider of growth and sustenance, never slackens, nor does it violate anything. His treasury never depletes, and his knowledge and arms of defence never hurt anything positive.

· · ·

6.54.4

यो अ॑स्मै ह॒विषावि॑ध॒न्न तं पू॒षापि॑ मृष्यते । प्र॒थ॒मो वि॑न्दते॒ वसु॑ ॥

Pusha, lord ruler and giver of nourishment and growth, does not hurt or challenge him who offers homage with creative and constructive projects in honour of him. Indeed, the first and original inventor and maker of basic things wins rewards of wealth for the invention.

· · ·

6.54.5

पू॒षा गा अन्वे॑तु नः पू॒षा र॑क्ष॒त्वर्व॑तः । पू॒षा वाजं॑ सनोतु नः ॥

Let Pusha, patron sustainer and promoter of artists, approve and support the development of lands, cows and words of knowledge. Let Pusha protect and promote horses and other modes of transport. Let Pusha create and provide food, energy and wealth of all kinds for us.

· · ·

6.54.6

पूष॒न्ननु॒ प्र गा इ॑हि॒ यज॑मानस्य सुन्व॒तः । अ॒स्माकं॑ स्तुव॒तामु॒त ॥

Pusha, giver of sustenance, acknowledge, protect and promote the developed lands, cows and words of knowledge of the yajamana and also of ours who are the celebrants of this yajna of development.

· · ·

6.54.7

माकि॑र्नेश॒न्माकीं॑ रिष॒न्माकीं॒ सं शा॑रि॒ केव॑टे । अथारि॑ष्टाभि॒रा ग॑हि ॥

Let none be frustrated. Let none frustrate anyone. Let none throw anyone into the pit of darkness and nothingness. O lord of nourishment and growth, come, bless us with everything whole and unhurt, with inviolable acts and unchallengeable policies.

· · ·

6.54.8

शृ॒ण्वन्तं॑ पू॒षणं॑ व॒यमिर्य॒मन॑ष्टवेदसम् । ईशा॑नं रा॒य ई॑महे ॥

Pusha, lord of nourishment and growth, is listening, inspiring and all round ruler and guardian of indestructible wealth and knowledge. We pray to the lord for wealth and honour of permanent nature.

· · ·

6.54.9

पूष॒न्तव॑ व्र॒ते व॒यं न रि॑ष्येम॒ कदा॑ च॒न । स्तो॒तार॑स्त इ॒ह स्म॑सि ॥

Lord of life, we are your devotees, celebrants here in life. Let us never suffer in the observance of your laws and discipline.

· · ·

6.54.10

परि॑ पू॒षा प॒रस्ता॒द्धस्तं॑ दधातु॒ दक्षि॑णम् । पुन॑र्नो न॒ष्टमाज॑तु ॥

May Pusha grant us the perfect umbrella of his right hand all over and help us recover the losses and accelerate our gains.

✦ Sukta 55 · 6 verses ✦

6.55.1

एहि॒ वां वि॑मुचो नपा॒दाघृ॑णे॒ सं स॑चावहै । र॒थीर्ऋ॒तस्य॑ नो भव ॥

Come resplendent spirit of freedom indestructible, be our guide and saviour as master and pilot of the chariot on the path of eternity and divine truth and we shall be ever together.

· · ·

6.55.2

र॒थीत॑मं कप॒र्दिन॒मीशा॑नं॒ राध॑सो म॒हः । रा॒यः सखा॑यमीमहे ॥

We adore the highest chariot hero of flying hair, our friend and saviour, great ruler and ordainer of the wealth of existence and pray to him for wealth and power for advancement in life.

· · ·

6.55.3

रा॒यो धारा॑स्याघृणे॒ वसो॑ रा॒शिर॑जाश्व । धीव॑तोधीवतः॒ सखा॑ ॥

O resplendent lord unborn and eternal, riding the waves of light, you are the treasure house of wealth and happy settlement, and you are a ceaseless flow of honour and excellence, a happy friend for every person blest with intelligence and wisdom.

· · ·

6.55.4

पू॒षणं॒ न्व१॒॑जाश्व॒मुप॑ स्तोषाम वा॒जिन॑म् । स्वसु॒र्यो जा॒र उ॒च्यते॑ ॥

We honour and adore the sun, Pusha, giver of vitality and potency, rider of the eternal chariot flying like a courser in space which steals away the dawn, its own creation, they say.

· · ·

6.55.5

मा॒तुर्दि॑धि॒षुम॑ब्रवं॒ स्वसु॑र्जा॒रः शृ॑णोतु नः । भ्रातेन्द्र॑स्य॒ सखा॒ मम॑ ॥

I speak of the sun, sustainer of the earth mother, lover of its own creation, the dawn, brother of electric energy of the cosmos, and my friend and companion for life. May the sun be close to us and respond to our prayer.

· · ·

6.55.6

आजासः॑ पू॒षणं॒ रथे॑ निशृ॒म्भास्ते ज॑न॒श्रिय॑म् । दे॒वं व॑हन्तु॒ बिभ्र॑तः ॥

May the radiations of the sun, waves of light energy firmly yoked in its chariot bearing life and lustre for humanity, bring the divine light and life into this world.

✦ Sukta 56 · 6 verses ✦

6.56.1

य ए॑नमा॒दिदे॑शति कर॒म्भादिति॑ पू॒षण॑म् । न तेन॑ दे॒व आ॒दिशे॑ ॥

If one were to describe this Pusha, the sun or the universal chemistry of nourishment and vital energy, and say: It is from the solar suction of waters from earth and all space, or that, on the level of the individual human, it is from oat meal cooked with milk, then by this the divine process is neither to be defined nor to be determined nor, yet, to be exaggerated.

· · ·

6.56.2

उ॒त धा॒ स र॒थीत॑मः॒ सख्या॒ सत्प॑तिर्यु॒जा । इन्द्रो॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जिघ्नते ॥

In fact, that fastest energy, Indra, heroic ruler of the chariot, supportive of the positive forces of nature and humanity in combination with friendly powers such as electric energy, breaks the clouds of darkness and want and thus remains the protector, promoter and ruling controller of natural truth.

· · ·

6.56.3

उ॒तादः प॑रु॒षे गवि॒ सूर॑श्च॒क्रं हि॑र॒ण्यय॑म् । न्यै॑रयद्र॒थीत॑मः ॥

And that mighty hero, solar energy in combination with electric energy, at the fastest chariot like velocity, sets in motion the golden circuit of developmental evolution in the fierce rays of the sun, in the battles of life and in the fiery communication of powerful speech.

· · ·

6.56.4

यद॒द्य त्वा॑ पुरुष्टुत॒ ब्रवा॑म दस्र मन्तुमः । तत्सु नो॒ मन्म॑ साधय ॥

O universal destroyer, preserver and promoter, most perceptive and conscientious, universally adored Pusha, lord giver of life, whatever we speak to you or wish to day, we pray, fructify and accomplish that thought and plan of ours.

· · ·

6.56.5

इ॒मं च॑ नो ग॒वेष॑णं सा॒तये॑ सीषधो ग॒णम् । आ॒रात्पू॑षन्नसि श्रु॒तः ॥

And this body of thought and speech of our socio-economic plan, pray, lead to completion and success. O lord, you are renowned far and wide as giver of success and onward progress for the achievement of wealth and honour.

· · ·

6.56.6

आ ते॑ स्व॒स्तिमी॑मह आ॒रेअ॑घा॒मुपा॑वसुम् । अ॒द्या च॑ स॒र्वता॑तये॒ श्वश्च॑ स॒र्वता॑तये ॥

We pray for your gifts of happiness and well being of the perfect order for all for today, for tomorrow and for all time for the elimination of sin and evil and for the attainment of wealth and excellence in a state of peace and harmony.

✦ Sukta 57 · 6 verses ✦

6.57.1

इन्द्रा॒ नु पू॒षणा॑ व॒यं स॒ख्याय॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ । हु॒वेम॒ वाज॑सातये ॥

We always invoke and call upon Indra, lord commander of power, honour and excellence, and Pusha, giver of nourishment energy and intelligence, for the sake of friendship and all round joy and well being and for the achievement of success and victory in the battles of life.

· · ·

6.57.2

सोम॑म॒न्य उपा॑सद॒त्पात॑वे च॒म्वोः॑ सु॒तम् । क॒र॒म्भम॒न्य इ॑च्छति ॥

One of them, Indra, abides in the middle region between earth and heaven and drinks the soma distilled there, i.e., it catalyses the vapours of the clouds into rain through electric charge, while the other, Pusha, loves karambha, i.e., the sun sucks up the vapours of water and herbal juices and turns them into soma clouds. Thus the two sit together and act.

· · ·

6.57.3

अ॒जा अ॒न्यस्य॒ वह्न॑यो॒ हरी॑ अ॒न्यस्य॒ संभृ॑ता । ताभ्यां॑ वृ॒त्राणि॑ जिघ्नते ॥

The carriers of one, Pusha, are the sun beams while those of the other, Indra, are positive and negative currents of electricity, and thereby the duo, Indra and Pusha, work together and break the clouds, and humanity gets the boons of food, energy and wealth.

· · ·

6.57.4

यदिन्द्रो॒ अन॑य॒द्रितो॑ म॒हीर॒पो वृष॑न्तमः । तत्र॑ पू॒षाभ॑व॒त्सचा॑ ॥

When most generous Indra moves and brings about heavy showers of rain, then Pusha too is the corporate power of natural energy. (Thus making and breaking, consumption and creation are simultaneous processes of natural metabolism in life.)

· · ·

6.57.5

तां पू॒ष्णः सु॑म॒तिं व॒यं वृ॒क्षस्य॒ प्र व॒यामि॑व । इन्द्र॑स्य॒ चा र॑भामहे ॥

That immanent will and wisdom of Pusha, divine nature’s creative and promotive power, and that catalytic power of Indra, natural electric energy, we love, join and apply at our level to have results like extensive branches of the tree.

· · ·

6.57.6

उत्पू॒षणं॑ युवामहे॒ऽभीशूँ॑रिव॒ सार॑थिः । म॒ह्या इन्द्रं॑ स्व॒स्तये॑ ॥

Just as a charioteer joins, holds and controls the reins of his horses, and just as the supreme charioteer of the universe holds and controls the activity of natural forces such as radiations of the sun and exudations of the earth or the gaseous vapours and electric charge, so do we join Pusha and Indra, study and apply complementary forces and processes for the earth and for the great happiness and well being of her children.

✦ Sukta 58 · 4 verses ✦

6.58.1

शु॒क्रं ते॑ अ॒न्यद्य॑ज॒तं ते॑ अ॒न्यद्विषु॑रूपे॒ अह॑नी॒ द्यौरि॑वासि । विश्वा॒ हि मा॒या अव॑सि स्वधावो भ॒द्रा ते॑ पूषन्नि॒ह रा॒तिर॑स्तु ॥

O Pusha, giver of nourishment for body, mind and soul, you are the light of the world as the sun. Two are the forms of your beauty and glory, both different yet alike like the twin forms of the day: one is bright and inspiring, the other is soothing sweet adorable as the night. Lord of your own essential might, you animate, inspire, preserve and promote all intelligence, energy and powers of the world community. We pray, may your gifts of generosity be good for all in this world.

· · ·

6.58.2

अ॒जाश्वः॑ पशु॒पा वाज॑पस्त्यो धियंजि॒न्वो भुव॑ने॒ विश्वे॒ अर्पि॑तः । अष्ट्रां॑ पू॒षा शि॑थि॒रामु॒द्वरी॑वृजत्सं॒चक्षा॑णो॒ भुव॑ना दे॒व ई॑यते ॥

Conducted by radiating beams for horses as motive power, protector of animal life, giver of plentiful homes, inspirer of intelligence and wisdom, the brilliant sun, generous light of life dedicated to the entire world, moves on and on watching the regions of the world and inspiring and elevating general intelligence and unambitious minds to initiative.

· · ·

6.58.3

यास्ते॑ पूष॒न्नावो॑ अ॒न्तः स॑मु॒द्रे हि॑र॒ण्ययी॑र॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ चर॑न्ति । ताभि॑र्यासि दू॒त्यां सूर्य॑स्य॒ कामे॑न कृत॒ श्रव॑ इ॒च्छमा॑नः ॥

O sagely scholar and realised soul, Pusha, giver of nourishment for body, mind and soul, golden are your vessels moving over the sea and in the sky. By these vessels you go round the world with love and desire for further food for knowledge and acting as messenger of the sun for the world.

· · ·

6.58.4

पू॒षा सु॒बन्धु॑र्दि॒व आ पृ॑थि॒व्या इ॒ळस्पति॑र्म॒घवा॑ द॒स्मव॑र्चाः । यं दे॒वासो॒ अद॑दुः सू॒र्यायै॒ कामे॑न कृ॒तं त॒वसं॒ स्वञ्च॑म् ॥

Pusha, giver of nourishment, is a noble friend and brother of all from earth to heaven, master of holy speech and light, possessing power, honour and excellence, and commanding extraordinary brilliance. A realised soul inspired with love and desire, mighty strong and self-cultured, the divinities dedicate him to Surya, dawn of a new day.

✦ Sukta 59 · 10 verses ✦

6.59.1

प्र नु वो॑चा सु॒तेषु॑ वां वी॒र्या॒३॒॑ यानि॑ च॒क्रथुः॑ । ह॒तासो॑ वां पि॒तरो॑ दे॒वश॑त्रव॒ इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ जीव॑थो यु॒वम् ॥

Indra and Agni, electric and heat energies of nature and their parent sources, I celebrate deeds of wondrous order you have performed in the yajnic creations of the world of nature. Gone are the opposite forces, and you two are alive and active.

· · ·

6.59.2

बळि॒त्था म॑हि॒मा वा॒मिन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ पनि॑ष्ठ॒ आ । स॒मा॒नो वां॑ जनि॒ता भ्रात॑रा यु॒वं य॒मावि॒हेह॑मातरा ॥

Indra and Agni, great and true and most admirable is your might and majesty. Your father, source of generation, is one and the same, you are twins, and your mother is right here, Nature, Shakti of the Supreme sovereign Spirit.

· · ·

6.59.3

ओ॒कि॒वांसा॑ सु॒ते सचाँ॒ अश्वा॒ सप्ती॑इ॒वाद॑ने । इन्द्रा॒ न्व१॒॑ग्नी अव॑से॒ह व॒ज्रिणा॑ व॒यं दे॒वा ह॑वामहे ॥

Indra and Agni, wielders of the thunderbolt, homogeneous powers in this business of life and nature, voracious consumers, like stormy war horses and creators, we, enlightened yajakas in developmental yajna, invoke, invite and develop you with all your protective and promotive powers right here.

· · ·

6.59.4

य इ॑न्द्राग्नी सु॒तेषु॑ वां॒ स्तव॒त्तेष्वृ॑तावृधा । जो॒ष॒वा॒कं वद॑तः पज्रहोषिणा॒ न दे॑वा भ॒सथ॑श्च॒न ॥

Indra, lord of power and energy, Agni, lord of light, bold speakers of truth, observers and promoters of the law of truth, whoever honours and adores you in creative yajnic acts of life, you respond to him in words of truth and favour loud and bold. The divines never speak words void of value.

· · ·

6.59.5

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ को अ॒स्य वां॒ देवौ॒ मर्त॑श्चिकेतति । विषू॑चो॒ अश्वा॑न्युयुजा॒न ई॑यत॒ एकः॑ समा॒न आ रथे॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, energy and power of heat and electricity, who is the mortal man in this world that knows both of you divines and who, using the all pervasive fire and electricity like horses moving in all directions, solely travels in a uniformly structured systemic chariot all by himself?

· · ·

6.59.6

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी अ॒पादि॒यं पूर्वागा॑त्प॒द्वती॑भ्यः । हि॒त्वी शिरो॑ जि॒ह्वया॒ वाव॑द॒च्चर॑त्त्रिं॒शत्प॒दा न्य॑क्रमीत् ॥

Lightning and fire divine, this light of the dawn, shaking up its locks of hair and proclaiming its rise with its flames, radiates before life on the earth is on wheels, and moves on thirty steps of time and space.

· · ·

6.59.7

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ आ हि त॑न्व॒ते नरो॒ धन्वा॑नि बा॒ह्वोः । मा नो॑ अ॒स्मिन्म॑हाध॒ने परा॑ वर्क्तं॒ गवि॑ष्टिषु ॥

Indra and Agni, cosmic energy and heat of life, leaders and best of humanity, stretch their bows between their arms. In this great battle business of life, pray do not forsake us in the heat of action in which light and fire must be integrated as life and inspiration.

· · ·

6.59.8

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ तप॑न्ति मा॒घा अ॒र्यो अरा॑तयः । अप॒ द्वेषां॒स्या कृ॑तं युयु॒तं सूर्या॒दधि॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, lords of existence, enmities and sinful negativities of life heat up and consume me. Throw off all hate and enmities and keep them away from the light of the sun.

· · ·

6.59.9

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी यु॒वोरपि॒ वसु॑ दि॒व्यानि॒ पार्थि॑वा । आ न॑ इ॒ह प्र य॑च्छतं र॒यिं वि॒श्वायु॑पोषसम् ॥

Indragni, give us here not only your own gifts but also the wealths and honours of the earth and heaven and bless us with full life and health distilled from the world of nature.

· · ·

6.59.10

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी उक्थवाहसा॒ स्तोमे॑भिर्हवनश्रुता । विश्वा॑भिर्गी॒र्भिरा ग॑तम॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, light and energy of the spirit of life, carriers and harbingers of songs of adoration, listening close by to the invocations and celebrations of the yajakas, come with all words of appreciation and praise and all voices of commendation and elevation to our yajnic performance and to taste the nectar sweet of its essence distilled.

✦ Sukta 60 · 15 verses ✦

6.60.1

श्नथ॑द्वृ॒त्रमु॒त स॑नोति॒ वाज॒मिन्द्रा॒ यो अ॒ग्नी सहु॑री सप॒र्यात् । इ॒र॒ज्यन्ता॑ वस॒व्य॑स्य॒ भूरेः॒ सह॑स्तमा॒ सह॑सा वाज॒यन्ता॑ ॥

One who honours and adores challenging and victorious Indra and Agni, vibrant, stormy and fiery electric forces of nature and humanity, conquers restraining opposition and wins food, energy and wealth of life. Both are most courageous and enduring commanders of power and victory, givers of honour and excellence, ample peace and settlement and harbingers of the glory of success and fulfilment.

· · ·

6.60.2

ता यो॑धिष्टम॒भि गा इ॑न्द्र नू॒नम॒पः स्व॑रु॒षसो॑ अग्न ऊ॒ळ्हाः । दिशः॒ स्व॑रु॒षस॑ इन्द्र चि॒त्रा अ॒पो गा अ॑ग्ने युवसे नि॒युत्वा॑न् ॥

Indra, lord of power and excellence, Agni, lord of light and vision, like lands and waters, sun and dawns joined together, defend and fight for lands and waters, words and wondrous actions to expand to the quarters of space, and shine and join the sun and the dawns. Indra, O controller, you join the sun and dawns, and Agni, O ruler, you control the lands and waters, words and actions.

· · ·

6.60.3

आ वृ॑त्रहणा वृत्र॒हभिः॒ शुष्मै॒रिन्द्र॑ या॒तं नमो॑भिरग्ने अ॒र्वाक् । यु॒वं राधो॑भि॒रक॑वेभिरि॒न्द्राग्ने॑ अ॒स्मे भ॑वतमुत्त॒मेभिः॑ ॥

Indra, thunderous ruler, Agni, enlightened teacher and citizen, both destroyers of evil and darkness, come hither to us with defensive, positive and protective forces and with ample measures of food, energy and advancement. O Indra, O Agni, both of you, pray, be ours, wholly for us all, with the best of unlimited and commendable means of success and progress.

· · ·

6.60.4

ता हु॑वे॒ ययो॑रि॒दं प॒प्ने विश्वं॑ पु॒रा कृ॒तम् । इ॒न्द्रा॒ग्नी न म॑र्धतः ॥

I invoke, admire and celebrate Indra, cosmic energy, and Agni, cosmic heat and light, both manifestations of divine vision, will and action, by whose power and operation this whole universe has evolved as of eternity. The two do not hurt, injure or destroy us.

· · ·

6.60.5

उ॒ग्रा वि॑घ॒निना॒ मृध॑ इन्द्रा॒ग्नी ह॑वामहे । ता नो॑ मृळात ई॒दृशे॑ ॥

We invoke, invite and develop Indra and Agni, divine and blazing powers of nature’s energy and light, both destroyers of adversaries and life’s negativities. May they protect us and bless us with peace and prosperity in this world of our action and existence.

· · ·

6.60.6

ह॒तो वृ॒त्राण्यार्या॑ ह॒तो दासा॑नि॒ सत्प॑ती । ह॒तो विश्वा॒ अप॒ द्विषः॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, divine powers of omnipotent will and vision, of holy nature, character and action, defenders of Truth and Law, destroy evil, darkness and want, destroy pain, suffering and slavery, destroy and eliminate all hate and enmity.

· · ·

6.60.7

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी यु॒वामि॒मे॒३॒॑भि स्तोमा॑ अनूषत । पिब॑तं शंभुवा सु॒तम् ॥

Indra and Agni, powers of will and vision of action in nature and humanity, these songs of adoration celebrate you. O givers of peace, prosperity and well being, drink of the nectar of this joy and bliss distilled.

· · ·

6.60.8

या वां॒ सन्ति॑ पुरु॒स्पृहो॑ नि॒युतो॑ दा॒शुषे॑ नरा । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ ताभि॒रा ग॑तम् ॥

Indra and Agni, leading powers of humanity, come to the generous giver and celebrant yajaka with all those gifts and powers of yours which are loved and cherished by all.

· · ·

6.60.9

ताभि॒रा ग॑च्छतं न॒रोपे॒दं सव॑नं सु॒तम् । इन्द्रा॑ग्नी॒ सोम॑पीतये ॥

Indra and Agni, leading lights, with those cherished gifts and powers come and join this yajnic session to drink of the soma of joy distilled.

· · ·

6.60.10

तमी॑ळिष्व॒ यो अ॒र्चिषा॒ वना॒ विश्वा॑ परि॒ष्वज॑त् । कृ॒ष्णा कृ॒णोति॑ जि॒ह्वया॑ ॥

O celebrant, love and adore that power of divinity which with its refulgence pervades all rays of the sun, moves all floods of water, and envelops all forests and makes them green with its radiations.

· · ·

6.60.11

य इ॒द्ध आ॒विवा॑सति सु॒म्नमिन्द्र॑स्य॒ मर्त्यः॑ । द्यु॒म्नाय॑ सु॒तरा॑ अ॒पः ॥

Whoever the mortal that honours and adores the favour and grace of Indra when the fire is burning for the sake of excellence, the waters of his life and the flow of his actions would be blest with fulfilment.

· · ·

6.60.12

ता नो॒ वाज॑वती॒रिष॑ आ॒शून्पि॑पृत॒मर्व॑तः । इन्द्र॑म॒ग्निं च॒ वोळ्ह॑वे ॥

May the two, Indra andAgni, electricity and fire, give us food and sustenance full of energy and excellence and provide us with modes of travel and transport. Let us too develop the fire and electricity, energy for transport and communication.

· · ·

6.60.13

उ॒भा वा॑मिन्द्राग्नी आहु॒वध्या॑ उ॒भा राध॑सः स॒ह मा॑द॒यध्यै॑ । उ॒भा दा॒तारा॑वि॒षां र॑यी॒णामु॒भा वाज॑स्य सा॒तये॑ हुवे वाम् ॥

I invoke you both, Indra and Agni, lords of cosmic electricity and fire energy, to develop both heat and electricity in order to celebrate both with honours and wealth of success.And I honour and adore you both, beneficent givers of food, energy and wealth, for the winning of victory in life’s battle for excellence and advancement.

· · ·

6.60.14

आ नो॒ गव्ये॑भि॒रश्व्यै॑र्वस॒व्यै॒३॒॑रुप॑ गच्छतम् । सखा॑यौ दे॒वौ स॒ख्याय॑ शं॒भुवे॑न्द्रा॒ग्नी ता ह॑वामहे ॥

Indra and Agni, come you both to us and bring us the wealth of cows, horses and homes, lands and graces of speech and knowledge, travel, transport and communications, peace and prosperity of settled homes. Come friends, brilliant divine givers of good and well being for friendship and bonhomy. Pray come, we invoke, invite and adore you both.

· · ·

6.60.15

इन्द्रा॑ग्नी शृणु॒तं हवं॒ यज॑मानस्य सुन्व॒तः । वी॒तं ह॒व्यान्या ग॑तं॒ पिब॑तं सो॒म्यं मधु॑ ॥

Indra and Agni, scholars of fire and electric energy, listen to the invitation and adoration of the yajamana and institutor of the yajnic programme of creative development. Accept the invitation and offers of homage, come, and taste the honey sweets of the pleasure of somaic achievement distilled from natural energy.

✦ Sukta 61 · 14 verses ✦

6.61.1

इ॒यम॑ददाद्रभ॒समृ॑ण॒च्युतं॒ दिवो॑दासं वध्र्य॒श्वाय॑ दा॒शुषे॑ । या शश्व॑न्तमाच॒खादा॑व॒सं प॒णिं ता ते॑ दा॒त्राणि॑ तवि॒षा स॑रस्वति ॥

Sarasvati, this perennial stream of divine awareness, which stabilizes a permanent, all protective and adorable perspective dedicated to the light of Divinity, gives to the generous man of yajna blest with expansive mind and senses the zeal for action dedicated to fulfilment of obligations, a dynamic spirit which leads the man to freedom from all debts of life. These are thy brilliant gifts, O mother, to humanity.

· · ·

6.61.2

इ॒यं शुष्मे॑भिर्बिस॒खाइ॑वारुज॒त्सानु॑ गिरी॒णां त॑वि॒षेभि॑रू॒र्मिभिः॑ । पा॒रा॒व॒त॒घ्नीमव॑से सुवृ॒क्तिभिः॒ सर॑स्वती॒मा वि॑वासेम धी॒तिभिः॑ ॥

This stream of divine awareness and knowledge, with fierce blows and powerful waves of light and inspiration, breaks through the height of mountains and depths of clouds covering darkness and concealing treasures and opens them out like one who digs up and out the roots of lotus flowers. Let us adore and serve this brilliant mother stream, Sarasvati, breaking over the banks of floods, with sincere thoughts and holy actions and let us root out darkness and ignorance from life.

· · ·

6.61.3

सर॑स्वति देव॒निदो॒ नि ब॑र्हय प्र॒जां विश्व॑स्य॒ बृस॑यस्य मा॒यिनः॑ । उ॒त क्षि॒तिभ्यो॒ऽवनी॑रविन्दो वि॒षमे॑भ्यो अस्रवो वाजिनीवति ॥

O Sarasvati, mighty stream of light and inspiration, uproot the maligners of divinity and divine knowledge, take over the children of the wise givers of enlightenment across the world, adopt lands and nations, and let the streams of knowledge and culture flow for all peoples of the earth.

· · ·

6.61.4

प्र णो॑ दे॒वी सर॑स्वती॒ वाजे॑भिर्वा॒जिनी॑वती । धी॒नाम॑वि॒त्र्य॑वतु ॥

May Sarasvati, bright mother of divine light and knowledge, overflowing with streams of wealth, honour and spirit, protector and promoter of intelligence, will and enlightened action, save us from darkness and evil and advance us into the light of life.

· · ·

6.61.5

यस्त्वा॑ देवि सरस्वत्युपब्रू॒ते धने॑ हि॒ते । इन्द्रं॒ न वृ॑त्र॒तूर्ये॑ ॥

O brilliant and generous Mother Sarasvati, whoever calls upon you like one who calls upon Indra, omnipotent ruler, for the destruction of the demon of evil at the time when the battle is raging at the door, you listen, come and save the supplicant.

· · ·

6.61.6

त्वं दे॑वि सरस्व॒त्यवा॒ वाजे॑षु वाजिनि । रदा॑ पू॒षेव॑ नः स॒निम् ॥

O brilliant and generous mother of divine vision and wisdom, dynamic giver of knowledge, strength and energy in the struggle of life, remove the veil from our intelligence, give us nourishment like the earth and light of discrimination like the sun, and then draw out the plan of our destiny.

· · ·

6.61.7

उ॒त स्या नः॒ सर॑स्वती घो॒रा हिर॑ण्यवर्तनिः । वृ॒त्र॒घ्नी व॑ष्टि सुष्टु॒तिम् ॥

And may that Sarasvati, awful breaker of the clouds of darkness, come by the golden paths of light, listen and, with love and grace, acknowledge our song of praise.

· · ·

6.61.8

यस्या॑ अन॒न्तो अह्रु॑तस्त्वे॒षश्च॑रि॒ष्णुर॑र्ण॒वः । अम॒श्चर॑ति॒ रोरु॑वत् ॥

Whose radiation of light and dynamic flow of speech moves on and on endless, straight and upright, roaring across the ocean of space, that is the Mother Sarasvati.

· · ·

6.61.9

सा नो॒ विश्वा॒ अति॒ द्विषः॒ स्वसॄ॑र॒न्या ऋ॒ताव॑री । अत॒न्नहे॑व॒ सूर्यः॑ ॥

And may that flow of speech, warding off all hate and enmity, bearing truth like the light of dawn, lead us to other, different, sister streams of knowledge like the sun moving to other successive days, the same yet new.

· · ·

6.61.10

उ॒त नः॑ प्रि॒या प्रि॒यासु॑ स॒प्तस्व॑सा॒ सुजु॑ष्टा । सर॑स्वती॒ स्तोम्या॑ भूत् ॥

And may Sarasvati, dynamic stream of light, knowledge and speech, dearest among seven lovely sister streams of knowledge, word, and mind and senses, loving and blissful, be adorable and remain favourable.

· · ·

6.61.11

आ॒प॒प्रुषी॒ पार्थि॑वान्यु॒रु रजो॑ अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । सर॑स्वती नि॒दस्पा॑तु ॥

Pervading the objects of earth, the vast skies, the middle regions and the particles of nature, may the divine awareness and enlightening speech protect us against hate and enmity.

· · ·

6.61.12

त्रि॒ष॒धस्था॑ स॒प्तधा॑तुः॒ पञ्च॑ जा॒ता व॒र्धय॑न्ती । वाजे॑वाजे॒ हव्या॑ भूत् ॥

Existent and all pervasive in three regions of the world, sustained in seven, five elements, ahankara and mahat tattva, produced by five pranic energies, rising and expanding, Sarasvati, fluent speech and awareness, may, we pray, arise at our invocation.

· · ·

6.61.13

प्र या म॑हि॒म्ना म॒हिना॑सु॒ चेकि॑ते द्यु॒म्नेभि॑र॒न्या अ॒पसा॑म॒पस्त॑मा । रथ॑इव बृह॒ती वि॒भ्वने॑ कृ॒तोप॒स्तुत्या॑ चिकि॒तुषा॒ सर॑स्वती ॥

She that is distinguished as great by her grandeur in these things and regions, appears different and exceptional to different people by her light and lustre. She is most dynamic in the dynamics of existence, vast and expansive as space, created for the glory of Infinity by the lord creator, adorable by the celebrant: that is Sarasvati, dynamic spirit of omniscience.

· · ·

6.61.14

सर॑स्वत्य॒भि नो॑ नेषि॒ वस्यो॒ माप॑ स्फरीः॒ पय॑सा॒ मा न॒ आ ध॑क् । जु॒षस्व॑ नः स॒ख्या वे॒श्या॑ च॒ मा त्वत्क्षेत्रा॒ण्यर॑णानि गन्म ॥

Sarasvati, perennial harbinger of divine gifts of enlightenment and prosperity, pray bring us all that is lovely and excellent more and ever more. Pray do not spurn us, don’t cast us away, nor let us be consumed by excess of exuberance and power. Help us with love and friendship, and let us never fall off from you into lands forlorn and void of joy.

✦ Sukta 62 · 11 verses ✦

6.62.1

स्तु॒षे नरा॑ दि॒वो अ॒स्य प्र॒सन्ता॒ऽश्विना॑ हुवे॒ जर॑माणो अ॒र्कैः । या स॒द्य उ॒स्रा व्युषि॒ ज्मो अन्ता॒न्युयू॑षतः॒ पर्यु॒रू वरां॑सि ॥

I praise and celebrate the Ashvins, leading lights of heaven pervasive in this world, and worshipfully invoke them with holy chant of mantras. Complementary powers of nature’s circuitous energy and fertility, they always conduct the rays of the sun at dawn and fill the earth from end to end with choice things of excellence.

· · ·

6.62.2

ता य॒ज्ञमा शुचि॑भिश्चक्रमा॒णा रथ॑स्य भा॒नुं रु॑रुचू॒ रजो॑भिः । पु॒रू वरां॒स्यमि॑ता॒ मिमा॑ना॒ऽपो धन्वा॒न्यति॑ याथो॒ अज्रा॑न् ॥

Continuously energising nature’s sacred operations and augmenting the yajna with purest splendours, they light up the light of this beautiful world on the move with showers of mist and energies. Creating many gifts and waters of measureless value, they pass over and across regions of space yet untraversed.

· · ·

6.62.3

ता ह॒ त्यद्व॒र्तिर्यदर॑ध्रमुग्रे॒त्था धिय॑ ऊहथुः॒ शश्व॒दश्वैः॑ । मनो॑जवेभिरिषि॒रैः श॒यध्यै॒ परि॒ व्यथि॑र्दा॒शुषो॒ मर्त्य॑स्य ॥

They are the divinities vibrant and blazing as wind and lightning that reach the yajna by unfailing radiations of energy fast as mind and sensitive as thought. They inspire the mind and will of the mortal man otherwise groping in the pathless woods of action and raise the generous yajnic giver so that he may cross the hurdles and rest in peace with a perfect sense of fulfilment.

· · ·

6.62.4

ता नव्य॑सो॒ जर॑माणस्य॒ मन्मोप॑ भूषतो युयुजा॒नस॑प्ती । शुभं॒ पृक्ष॒मिष॒मूर्जं॒ वह॑न्ता॒ होता॑ यक्षत्प्र॒त्नो अ॒ध्रुग्युवा॑ना ॥

They bless the mind and fructify the intentions of the new celebrant in search of knowledge and power. Ever young and energetic as wind and lightning, using seven currents of nature’s centrifugal and centripetal energy, they bear and bring excellent gifts of water, food, energy and psychic determination. Let the learned yajaka, then, free from hate, jealousy and pride, dedicate himself to the youthful powers with faith and persistence.

· · ·

6.62.5

ता व॒ल्गू द॒स्रा पु॑रु॒शाक॑तमा प्र॒त्ना नव्य॑सा॒ वच॒सा वि॑वासे । या शंस॑ते स्तुव॒ते शंभ॑विष्ठा बभू॒वतु॑र्गृण॒ते चि॒त्ररा॑ती ॥

With the latest words of homage, I celebrate and glorify the twin Ashvin divinities: graceful, destroyers of want and suffering, most versatile of power, ancient and eternal powers of the divine, who may, we pray, be good and blissful to the devoted celebrant and bring an immense variety of wondrous gifts for the yajaka.

· · ·

6.62.6

ता भु॒ज्युं विभि॑र॒द्भ्यः स॑मु॒द्रात्तुग्र॑स्य सू॒नुमू॑हथू॒ रजो॑भिः । अ॒रे॒णुभि॒र्योज॑नेभिर्भु॒जन्ता॑ पत॒त्रिभि॒रर्ण॑सो॒ निरु॒पस्था॑त् ॥

I celebrate and glorify the twin Ashvins, protectors and sustainers of life, who raise by radiation usable products of nature’s energy from the waters and the seas by the regions of light, and who by forces of gravitation bring down by dustless usable paths of space energy from the depths of spatial waters.

· · ·

6.62.7

वि ज॒युषा॑ रथ्या यात॒मद्रिं॑ श्रु॒तं हवं॑ वृषणा वध्रिम॒त्याः । द॒श॒स्यन्ता॑ श॒यवे॑ पिप्यथुर्गामिति॑ च्यवाना सुम॒तिं भु॑रण्यू ॥

Ever anxious for all round victory and riding the chariot of waves of energy, you top the mountain and reach the cloud. Generous givers of showers, you perceive the invitation of the productive earth and the expansive skies. Mighty strong, you promote the earth and prompt the voice of her people so that they may be at peace, and, ever vibrant on the move, nourishing and sustaining, you inspire the mind with noble thoughts and will for holy actions.

· · ·

6.62.8

यद्रो॑दसी प्र॒दिवो॒ अस्ति॒ भूमा॒ हेळो॑ दे॒वाना॑मु॒त म॑र्त्य॒त्रा । तदा॑दित्या वसवो रुद्रियासो रक्षो॒युजे॒ तपु॑र॒घं द॑धात ॥

O heaven and earth, O light of the world, howsoever great be the anger of the holy ones and of the average mortals, that same anger, OAdityas, seasons of time, Vasus, shelter homes of life and sustenance, Rudras, powers of natural justice and dispensation, all that sin and sufferance, bear on and reserve for correction of the negative forces of hate and enmity.

· · ·

6.62.9

य ईं॒ राजा॑नावृतु॒था वि॒दध॒द्रज॑सो मि॒त्रो वरु॑ण॒श्चिके॑तत् । ग॒म्भी॒राय॒ रक्ष॑से हे॒तिम॑स्य॒ द्रोघा॑य चि॒द्वच॑स॒ आन॑वाय ॥

Let Mitra, man of love, and Varuna, man of judgement and discrimination, who fully knows and serves the Ashvins, pervasive and dynamic lights and rulers of world regions, according to the seasons of time, wield and duly order their power and force in respect of the inscrutable, the demoniac, the malignant as also for the latest word of praise or calumny.

· · ·

6.62.10

अन्त॑रैश्च॒क्रैस्तन॑याय व॒र्तिर्द्यु॒मता या॑तं नृ॒वता॒ रथे॑न । सनु॑त्येन॒ त्यज॑सा॒ मर्त्य॑स्य वनुष्य॒तामपि॑ शी॒र्षा व॑वृक्तम् ॥

O brilliant lords of humanity and nature, come by the chariot of internal wheels of the social order with leading lights of the people, making new paths for the coming generation with inspiring message of selfless performance of duty and also take off the heads of the terrorist forces of destruction.

· · ·

6.62.11

आ प॑र॒माभि॑रु॒त म॑ध्य॒माभि॑र्नि॒युद्भि॑र्यातमव॒माभि॑र॒र्वाक् । दृ॒ळ्हस्य॑ चि॒द्गोम॑तो॒ वि व्र॒जस्य॒ दुरो॑ वर्तं गृण॒ते चि॑त्रराती ॥

Ashvins, complementary ruling powers of love and judgement of the nation of humanity, creators and givers of wondrous gifts of plenty, come here by the highest, middling and lowest order of cooperative participants in the social order and open the doors of the fixed as well as of the movable treasures of the nation for the celebrant.

✦ Sukta 63 · 11 verses ✦

6.63.1

क्व१॒॑त्या व॒ल्गू पु॑रुहू॒ताद्य दू॒तो न स्तोमो॑ऽविद॒न्नम॑स्वान् । आ यो अ॒र्वाङ्नास॑त्या व॒वर्त॒ प्रेष्ठा॒ ह्यस॑थो अस्य॒ मन्म॑न् ॥

Where are the handsome twin divines, universally adored, today? Let the song of adoration reach them like an humble messenger so that the divines ever true come here and abide as the dearest divinities celebrated in song.

· · ·

6.63.2

अरं॑ मे गन्तं॒ हव॑नाया॒स्मै गृ॑णा॒ना यथा॒ पिबा॑थो॒ अन्धः॑ । परि॑ ह॒ त्यद्व॒र्तिर्या॑थो रि॒षो न यत्परो॒ नान्त॑रस्तुतु॒र्यात् ॥

Come well and happy in response to this invitation of mine and, revered and adored, drink the nectar sweets offered. Pray come by the path and to the home where no adversary far or near within may hurt us.

· · ·

6.63.3

अका॑रि वा॒मन्ध॑सो॒ वरी॑म॒न्नस्ता॑रि ब॒र्हिः सु॑प्राय॒णत॑मम् । उ॒त्ता॒नह॑स्तो युव॒युर्व॑व॒न्दा वां॒ नक्ष॑न्तो॒ अद्र॑य आञ्जन् ॥

Most excellent foods and drinks have been prepared for you and the softest grass carpet has been spread for you. With raised hands the high priest welcomes and adores you with love and reverence, and the devotees wait to honour and anoint you like the clouds of rain approaching.

· · ·

6.63.4

ऊ॒र्ध्वो वा॑म॒ग्निर॑ध्व॒रेष्व॑स्था॒त्प्र रा॒तिरे॑ति जू॒र्णिनी॑ घृ॒ताची॑ । प्र होता॑ गू॒र्तम॑ना उरा॒णोऽयु॑क्त॒ यो नास॑त्या॒ हवी॑मन् ॥

Brilliant leaders ever true, in honour of you both, up goes the fire in flames in the creative acts of love and non-violence. The abundant overflowing ladle of powerful ghrta moves forward with the oblation. And the zealous dedicated priest with faithful mind calls upon you to come and bless the yajna.

· · ·

6.63.5

अधि॑ श्रि॒ये दु॑हि॒ता सूर्य॑स्य॒ रथं॑ तस्थौ पुरुभुजा श॒तोति॑म् । प्र मा॒याभि॑र्मायिना भूत॒मत्र॒ नरा॑ नृतू॒ जनि॑मन्य॒ज्ञिया॑नाम् ॥

Just as the dawn, off spring of the sun, rides the radiant chariot of light with a hundred gifts of beauty and grace, similarly, O twin divines of nature, leaders of humanity, sustainers of many, lords of vision and power, come hither with all your gifts of light and graces and be inspirers of humanity in the life of revered performers of sacred acts of yajnic creation.

· · ·

6.63.6

यु॒वं श्री॒भिर्द॑र्श॒ताभि॑रा॒भिः शु॒भे पु॒ष्टिमू॑हथुः सू॒र्यायाः॑ । प्र वां॒ वयो॒ वपु॒षेऽनु॑ पप्त॒न्नक्ष॒द्वाणी॒ सुष्टु॑ता धिष्ण्या वाम् ॥

Ashvins, twin divines of nature’s dynamics, generous, devout and bold, with these open and gracious radiations of the light of dawn, you bring inspiring rejuvenation for the good of humanity, and then, like birds on the wing, excellent hymns of thanks and praise rise and reach you to do honour to your grace.

· · ·

6.63.7

आ वां॒ वयोऽश्वा॑सो॒ वहि॑ष्ठा अ॒भि प्रयो॑ नासत्या वहन्तु । प्र वां॒ रथो॒ मनो॑जवा असर्जी॒षः पृ॒क्ष इ॒षिधो॒ अनु॑ पू॒र्वीः ॥

Ashvins, twin divines ever real beyond destruction, may your strong carriers flying as birds, bring you to the food and fragrance of our yajna, and may your chariot of nature’s energy radiations faster than mind create food, energy and delicacies to our heart’s desire as of all time for our yajnic libations for further development.

· · ·

6.63.8

पु॒रु हि वां॑ पुरुभुजा दे॒ष्णं धे॒नुं न॒ इषं॑ पिन्वत॒मस॑क्राम् । स्तुत॑श्च वां माध्वी सुष्टु॒तिश्च॒ रसा॑श्च॒ ये वा॒मनु॑ रा॒तिमग्म॑न् ॥

O sustainers of all, great are your gifts. Pray give us and increase the food and gifts of the cow, the earth, the knowledge and the language of knowledge beyond challenge and deterioration. Celebrated are the songs of adoration in your honour, and honey sweet the flavours of your gifts which are all appropriate and enjoyable in respect of your generosity

· · ·

6.63.9

उ॒त म॑ ऋ॒ज्रे पुर॑यस्य र॒घ्वी सु॑मी॒ळ्हे श॒तं पे॑रु॒के च॑ प॒क्वा । शा॒ण्डो दा॑द्धिर॒णिनः॒ स्मद्दि॑ष्टी॒न्दश॑ व॒शासो॑ अभि॒षाच॑ ऋ॒ष्वान् ॥

In the simple, straight and bountiful social order of the pioneer ruler, let all the small and sophisticated rights and duties toward all simple and sophisticated projects be mine in a hundred ways, and let the giver of peace, freedom and refinement give me great, focussed, obedient and efficient assistants and co-workers directly responsible to me, in tens and hundreds of strength.

· · ·

6.63.10

सं वां॑ श॒ता ना॑सत्या स॒हस्राश्वा॑नां पुरु॒पन्था॑ गि॒रे दा॑त् । भ॒रद्वा॑जाय वीर॒ नू गि॒रे दा॑द्ध॒ता रक्षां॑सि पुरुदंससा स्युः ॥

Ashvins, ever true and indestructible powers of divinity, let the brave pioneer of your manifold path give hundreds and thousands of your motive forces to the celebrant and the man of science and energy with directions for noble policy and

communication in correct language and then, O givers of a thousand gifts, the wicked and the destroyers shall be eliminated of their own destiny.

· · ·

6.63.11

आ वां॑ सु॒म्ने वरि॑मन्त्सू॒रिभिः॑ ष्याम् ॥

Ashvins, pioneer lights of Divinity, let us ever abide in the peace and well being of the highest order under your protection along with the wise and the brave.

✦ Sukta 64 · 6 verses ✦

6.64.1

उदु॑ श्रि॒य उ॒षसो॒ रोच॑माना॒ अस्थु॑र॒पां नोर्मयो॒ रुश॑न्तः । कृ॒णोति॒ विश्वा॑ सु॒पथा॑ सु॒गान्यभू॑दु॒ वस्वी॒ दक्षि॑णा म॒घोनी॑ ॥

Bright and blazing, the lights of the dawn arise like waves of the sea for the beauty and glory of the earth. It brightens all noble paths of the world and makes them easy for us to follow. Bearing treasures of wealth and energy, let it be generous for the people of the world, we pray.

· · ·

6.64.2

भ॒द्रा द॑दृक्ष उर्वि॒या वि भा॒स्युत्ते॑ शो॒चिर्भा॒नवो॒ द्याम॑पप्तन् । आ॒विर्वक्षः॑ कृणुषे शु॒म्भमा॒नोषो॑ देवि॒ रोच॑माना॒ महो॑भिः ॥

Excellent and blissful you look and shine along the wide earth, the pure bright rays of light rising to heaven. O refulgent lady of morning divinity, graceful with the beauty and dignity of holiness, you reveal the heart and love of your bosom by the light apparel you wear.

· · ·

6.64.3

वह॑न्ति सीमरु॒णासो॒ रुश॑न्तो॒ गावः॑ सु॒भगा॑मुर्वि॒या प्र॑था॒नाम् । अपे॑जते॒ शूरो॒ अस्ते॑व॒ शत्रू॒न्बाध॑ते॒ तमो॑ अजि॒रो न वोळ्हा॑ ॥

Bright red and crimson rays of light conduct the glorious dawn expanding over the earth, the sun takes her over as a smart bride-groom leads away the bride, and, as a brave warrior shoots away the enemies like an archer, it dispels the darkness of the night.

· · ·

6.64.4

सु॒गोत ते॑ सु॒पथा॒ पर्व॑तेष्ववा॒ते अ॒पस्त॑रसि स्वभानो । सा न॒ आ व॑ह पृथुयामन्नृष्वे र॒यिं दि॑वो दुहितरिष॒यध्यै॑ ॥

O self-refulgent dawn, holy and easy are your paths over the clouds and mountains over which you radiate across the calm oceans of space without a stir of the wind. O glorious child of the light of heaven, commanding wide expanses of the universe, bring us the wealth, honour and excellence of the world for complete fulfilment of our heart’s desire.

· · ·

6.64.5

सा व॑ह॒ योक्षभि॒रवा॒तोषो॒ वरं॒ वह॑सि॒ जोष॒मनु॑ । त्वं दि॑वो दुहित॒र्या ह॑ दे॒वी पू॒र्वहू॑तौ मं॒हना॑ दर्श॒ता भूः॑ ॥

O dawn, you who rise with the love and excellence of your heart’s desire freely without the obstruction of even a whiff of air, come and bless us with the virilities and fertilities of the world. You, O child of heavenly light, brilliant and generous, be comely and gracious with all your glory at the first invocation of the day’s opening yajna.

· · ·

6.64.6

उत्ते॒ वय॑श्चिद्वस॒तेर॑पप्त॒न्नर॑श्च॒ ये पि॑तु॒भाजो॒ व्यु॑ष्टौ । अ॒मा स॒ते व॑हसि॒ भूरि॑ वा॒ममुषो॑ देवि दा॒शुषे॒ मर्त्या॑य ॥

O brilliant dawn, at the rise of the day, birds and men leave their dwelling to work for the day and enjoy their family dinner in the evening. O generous and brilliant lady of the morning light, you bring ample gifts of a happy home and delicious dinner for the mortal man of yajnic generosity abiding with you in love and faith. Note: Swami Dayananda interprets the dawn as the bride and the sun as the groom coming together in marriage by choice and beginning a new day of their life.

✦ Sukta 65 · 6 verses ✦

6.65.1

ए॒षा स्या नो॑ दुहि॒ता दि॑वो॒जाः क्षि॒तीरु॒च्छन्ती॒ मानु॑षीरजीगः । या भा॒नुना॒ रुश॑ता रा॒म्यास्वज्ञा॑यि ति॒रस्तम॑सश्चिद॒क्तून् ॥

Lo! there is the dawn, born daughter of heavenly light awakening and shining up our human habitations. Shining by the light of the sun, it is perceived shooting her rays of light across the darkness of the nights.

· · ·

6.65.2

वि तद्य॑युररुण॒युग्भि॒रश्वै॑श्चि॒त्रं भा॑न्त्यु॒षस॑श्च॒न्द्रर॑थाः । अग्रं॑ य॒ज्ञस्य॑ बृह॒तो नय॑न्ती॒र्वि ता बा॑धन्ते॒ तम॒ ऊर्म्या॑याः ॥

The dawns proceed by the golden chariot of bright crimson rays of the sun and wonderfully illuminate the world of humanity. Leading the yajnic business of the wide world, they dispel and stem away the darkness of the night.

· · ·

6.65.3

श्रवो॒ वाज॒मिष॒मूर्जं॒ वह॑न्ती॒र्नि दा॒शुष॑ उषसो॒ मर्त्या॑य । म॒घोनी॑र्वी॒रव॒त्पत्य॑माना॒ अवो॑ धात विध॒ते रत्न॑म॒द्य ॥

O glorious dawns, bearing food, energy, knowledge and the message of divinity for the generous mortals, your lights descending like brave powers of heaven, bear and bring protection, advancement and the jewel wealth of life for the celebrant devotee.

· · ·

6.65.4

इ॒दा हि वो॑ विध॒ते रत्न॒मस्ती॒दा वी॒राय॑ दा॒शुष॑ उषासः । इ॒दा विप्रा॑य॒ जर॑ते॒ यदु॒क्था नि ष्म॒ माव॑ते वहथा पु॒रा चि॑त् ॥

O dawns, here and now is the jewel wealth for the servant, for the brave, and for the generous giver. Here it is for the wise sage and for the worshipper. Here is the word of worship as before, pray bring the wealth of life as before for the celebrant like me.

· · ·

6.65.5

इ॒दा हि त॑ उषो अद्रिसानो गो॒त्रा गवा॒मङ्गि॑रसो गृ॒णन्ति॑ । व्य१॒॑र्केण॑ बिभिदु॒र्ब्रह्म॑णा च स॒त्या नृ॒णाम॑भवद्दे॒वहू॑तिः ॥

Here and now itself, O dawn of the light of heaven riding the heights of clouds, the sages of science and wisdom sing and celebrate in praise of you with chant of the Veda and offer of yajna and worship and break open the treasures of knowledge divine and secular. May the people’s yajna and worship be true and fruitful at the call of the divinities.

· · ·

6.65.6

उ॒च्छा दि॑वो दुहितः प्रत्न॒वन्नो॑ भरद्वाज॒वद्वि॑ध॒ते म॑घोनि । सु॒वीरं॑ र॒यिं गृ॑ण॒ते रि॑रीह्युरुगा॒यमधि॑ धेहि॒ श्रवो॑ नः ॥

O dawn, child of the light of heaven, harbinger of light and glory, shine as ever before and let us shine too like the celebrated sage of knowledge and power and servant and celebrant of the dawn of divinity. Bestow love and care upon the worshipful admirer, bless the supplicant with wealth and noble progeny, and favour us with honour, fame and excellence of universal order. Note: Swami Dayananda interprets this hymn as a metaphor of the virtues of women. He says that the birth of a girl child and the bride’s coming to her new home is like the dawn of a new day which brings light, grace and prosperity to the family.

✦ Sukta 66 · 11 verses ✦

6.66.1

वपु॒र्नु तच्चि॑कि॒तुषे॑ चिदस्तु समा॒नं नाम॑ धे॒नु पत्य॑मानम् । मर्ते॑ष्व॒न्यद्दो॒हसे॑ पी॒पाय॑ स॒कृच्छु॒क्रं दु॑दुहे॒ पृश्नि॒रूधः॑ ॥

For the man of vision and wisdom, the motherly form of nature is equal and similar by one name, Dhenu, mother cow. One on earth abounds with milk among the mortals to nurse her children, the other is Prshni, the middle region, mother of Maruts, winds or pranic energies, which simultaneously feeds the cloud with the purest soma of life energy

· · ·

6.66.2

ये अ॒ग्नयो॒ न शोशु॑चन्निधा॒ना द्विर्यत्त्रिर्म॒रुतो॑ वावृ॒धन्त॑ । अ॒रे॒णवो॑ हिर॒ण्यया॑स एषां सा॒कं नृ॒म्णैः पौंस्ये॑भिश्च भूवन् ॥

They, the Maruts, vital pranic energies, pure and shining like fires, grow double and triple. Non-particle and golden are their forms and conductors carrying simultaneously both bio-energy and intelligence for life on earth.

· · ·

6.66.3

रु॒द्रस्य॒ ये मी॒ळ्हुषः॒ सन्ति॑ पु॒त्रा यांश्चो॒ नु दाधृ॑वि॒र्भर॑ध्यै । वि॒दे हि मा॒ता म॒हो म॒ही षा सेत्पृश्निः॑ सु॒भ्वे॒३॒॑ गर्भ॒माधा॑त् ॥

These Maruts are children of Rudra, virile spiritual energy, and the mother is there to receive, hold and nourish them in her womb. For the reason of conceiving and bearing ‘the great ones, the mother is known as the great’, the Mother, the mother cow, the mother earth, the holy and the noble, the one who bears and gives birth to life.

· · ·

6.66.4

न य ईष॑न्ते ज॒नुषोऽया॒ न्व१॒॑न्तः सन्तो॑ऽव॒द्यानि॑ पुना॒नाः । निर्यद्दु॒ह्रे शुच॒योऽनु॒ जोष॒मनु॑ श्रि॒या तन्व॑मु॒क्षमा॑णाः ॥

The Maruts neither hurt nor forsake their nativity, nor do they neglect any creature by their ethics and policy, but being noble, pure and shining in the midst of life, purging away weaknesses and perfecting virtues, vitalising and refining their body and personality with beauty, virility and splendour according to their love and ambition, they absorb the essences of nature, distil the soma and give showers of joy.

· · ·

6.66.5

म॒क्षू न येषु॑ दो॒हसे॑ चिद॒या आ नाम॑ धृ॒ष्णु मारु॑तं॒ दधा॑नाः । न ये स्तौ॒ना अ॒यासो॑ म॒ह्ना नू चि॑त्सु॒दानु॒रव॑ यासदु॒ग्रान् ॥

There is none among them but instantly moves forward with showers of generosity. Bold and vibrant, they bear the name of children of the winds. They move not like thieves and sluggards by virtue of their might and grandeur, and only the generous man of holiness can approach and pacify these blazing heroes.

· · ·

6.66.6

त इदु॒ग्राः शव॑सा धृ॒ष्णुषे॑णा उ॒भे यु॑जन्त॒ रोद॑सी सु॒मेके॑ । अध॑ स्मैषु रोद॒सी स्वशो॑चि॒राम॑वत्सु तस्थौ॒ न रोकः॑ ॥

Shining and blazing by strength and superior power, commanding mighty forces of nature, they join the beautiful heaven and earth by their presence. And when these forceful presences pervade heaven and earth, therein abides the self-refulgent electric energy like light and splendour itself.

· · ·

6.66.7

अ॒ने॒नो वो॑ मरुतो॒ यामो॑ अस्त्वन॒श्वश्चि॒द्यमज॒त्यर॑थीः । अ॒न॒व॒सो अ॑नभी॒शू र॑ज॒स्तूर्वि रोद॑सी प॒थ्या॑ याति॒ साध॑न् ॥

O Maruts, vibrant powers of nature and humanity, let your course and chariot be free from sin and error. Let it be powered without horses and let it be driven without the driver. Let it be protected without external forces, moving without food and fuel, without reins, dispelling waves, clouds and the dust of earth and space, and let it go by paths of heaven and earth, fulfilling the ambitions of humanity.

· · ·

6.66.8

नास्य॑ व॒र्ता न त॑रु॒ता न्व॑स्ति॒ मरु॑तो॒ यमव॑थ॒ वाज॑सातौ । तो॒के वा॒ गोषु॒ तन॑ये॒ यम॒प्सु स व्र॒जं दर्ता॒ पार्ये॒ अध॒ द्योः ॥

O Maruts, in the serious warlike business of life, whoever you protect and promote for the sake of children, grand children, or lands and cows or waters, no one can overwhelm or circumvent, no one can cross, defeat and destroy. Indeed he will be the breaker of new paths and open new treasures and then cross through the skies to the bounds of the regions of light.

· · ·

6.66.9

प्र चि॒त्रम॒र्कं गृ॑ण॒ते तु॒राय॒ मारु॑ताय॒ स्वत॑वसे भरध्वम् । ये सहां॑सि॒ सह॑सा॒ सह॑न्ते॒ रेज॑ते अग्ने पृथि॒वी म॒खेभ्यः॑ ॥

O men of learning, bear and offer unique and wonderful songs and presentations of reverence for the adorable, vibrant, prompt and forceful band of heroes of their own essential power and excellence, those who meet the challenges of life and confrontations by their own strength and courage. O brilliant sage, Agni, the earth itself vibrates and shines by the holy and mighty exploits of the Maruts, heroes of the winds.

· · ·

6.66.10

त्विषी॑मन्तो अध्व॒रस्ये॑व दि॒द्युत्तृ॑षु॒च्यव॑सो जु॒ह्वो॒३॒॑ नाग्नेः । अ॒र्चत्र॑यो॒ धुन॑यो॒ न वी॒रा भ्राज॑ज्जन्मानो म॒रुतो॒ अधृ॑ष्टाः ॥

Bright and blazing, flames of a great yajna of love and non-violence, instantly moving to action and adorable, brave warriors born of light and fire, intrepidable heroes of the winds are shakers of the earth like the heroes of heaven. Such are the Maruts.

· · ·

6.66.11

तं वृ॒धन्तं॒ मारु॑तं॒ भ्राज॑दृष्टिं रु॒द्रस्य॑ सू॒नुं ह॒वसा वि॑वासे । दि॒वः शर्धा॑य॒ शुच॑यो मनी॒षा गि॒रयो॒ नाप॑ उ॒ग्रा अ॑स्पृध्रन् ॥

With homage and reverence I adore and serve that rising and exalting hero of the winds and the blazing lance of action who is a very child of Rudra awful divine power of force and justice, whom, for the sake of celestial power, the pure, immaculate heroes of fire and conscientious intelligence envy and emulate.

✦ Sukta 67 · 11 verses ✦

6.67.1

विश्वे॑षां वः स॒तां ज्येष्ठ॑तमा गी॒र्भिर्मि॒त्रावरु॑णा वावृ॒धध्यै॑ । सं या र॒श्मेव॑ य॒मतु॒र्यमि॑ष्ठा॒ द्वा जनाँ॒ अस॑मा बा॒हुभिः॒ स्वैः ॥

Mitra and Varuna, complementary pranic energies, holy powers of love and justice, I adore and exalt you both, highest of the divinities of the world, with the best of my voice and words, you both, unique and incomparable, most self-controlled controllers of humanity who guide and lead the people on the right path with your own hands, holding them by the reins and the light rays of their own inner mind.

· · ·

6.67.2

इ॒यं मद्वां॒ प्र स्तृ॑णीते मनी॒षोप॑ प्रि॒या नम॑सा ब॒र्हिरच्छ॑ । य॒न्तं नो॑ मित्रावरुणा॒वधृ॑ष्टं छ॒र्दिर्यद्वां॑ वरू॒थ्यं॑ सुदानू ॥

Mitra and Varuna, dear, loving and just teachers and preachers, the holy grass is well spread for you on the vedi, and this sincere address and invitation from the core of my heart reaches out to you with homage and humility. O generous masters of holiness and knowledge, come and bless us with your gifts of the peace and happiness of a comfortable home free from fear.

· · ·

6.67.3

आ या॑तं मित्रावरुणा सुश॒स्त्युप॑ प्रि॒या नम॑सा हू॒यमा॑ना । सं याव॑प्नः॒स्थो अ॒पसे॑व॒ जना॑ञ्छ्रुधीय॒तश्चि॑द्यतथो महि॒त्वा ॥

Mitra and Varuna, holiest loving and just powers of nature and humanity, dear as our own, invoked and invited with homage and humility, come and receive our prayer and adoration, you who, like parents of children, inspire obedient people keen for nourishment by your own action and greatness to rise together.

· · ·

6.67.4

अश्वा॒ न या वा॒जिना॑ पू॒तब॑न्धू ऋ॒ता यद्गर्भ॒मदि॑ति॒र्भर॑ध्यै । प्र या महि॑ म॒हान्ता॒ जाय॑माना घो॒रा मर्ता॑य रि॒पवे॒ नि दी॑धः ॥

Fast, strong and bright as heat and light all pervasive, akin to the purity of brotherly relationship, embodiments of truth and law of the universe, mother nature bears you for eternity, O Mitra and Varuna, who ever move forward as greater than the great ones, emerging, rising and blazing as terrible to the enemies of mankind from birth itself.

· · ·

6.67.5

विश्वे॒ यद्वां॑ मं॒हना॒ मन्द॑मानाः क्ष॒त्रं दे॒वासो॒ अद॑धुः स॒जोषाः॑ । परि॒ यद्भू॒थो रोद॑सी चिदु॒र्वी सन्ति॒ स्पशो॒ अद॑ब्धासो॒ अमू॑राः ॥

Since you pervade over and across the wide earth and heaven by your presence, the brilliant and generous great powers of the world, rejoicing by virtue of your grandeur and majesty, loving and cooperative together, hold sway over the social order of the earth and rule, intelligent and enlightened, undaunted and perceptive all over like watchful eyes and ears of the nation.

· · ·

6.67.6

ता हि क्ष॒त्रं धा॒रये॑थे॒ अनु॒ द्यून्दृं॒हेथे॒ सानु॑मुप॒मादि॑व॒ द्योः । दृ॒ळ्हो नक्ष॑त्र उ॒त वि॒श्वदे॑वो॒ भूमि॒माता॒न्द्यां धा॒सिना॒योः ॥

Indeed, you hold the wealth of the nation, and you sustain and expand the bounds of world order day by day like the sun, for example, expanding the bounds of light over the world. It is through you that the refulgent lord of the universe expands and lights the world of heaven and earth in existence by the food and energy of life.

· · ·

6.67.7

ता वि॒ग्रं धै॑थे ज॒ठरं॑ पृ॒णध्या॒ आ यत्सद्म॒ सभृ॑तयः पृ॒णन्ति॑ । न मृ॑ष्यन्ते युव॒तयोऽवा॑ता॒ वि यत्पयो॑ विश्वजिन्वा॒ भर॑न्ते ॥

They bring the heave of passion and they bring the food too to quench the fire of that passion, and thus they sustain the wise with the food they aspire for, they who also lead the bearers of holy materials to fill the house of yajna and to feed the fire. And just as the sparkling sacred streams bear the waters of life, and unmarried maidens bear life-giving vitality, but they are never neglected and never injured in any way, so the wise and the sustainers of the wise must never be neglected, never injured.

· · ·

6.67.8

ता जि॒ह्वया॒ सद॒मेदं सु॑मे॒धा आ यद्वां॑ स॒त्यो अ॑र॒तिर्ऋ॒ते भूत् । तद्वां॑ महि॒त्वं घृ॑तान्नावस्तु यु॒वं दा॒शुषे॒ वि च॑यिष्ट॒मंहः॑ ॥

Mitra and Varuna, givers of ghrta and food for the fire, whoever the disciple, intelligent, faithful and true, established in truth and the law of truth by virtue of your voice of truth in this house of yajna, let that be your gracious gift of achievement. And we pray throw out all sin and crime for the sake of the giver in this holy programme of moral culture.

· · ·

6.67.9

प्र यद्वां॑ मित्रावरुणा स्पू॒र्धन्प्रि॒या धाम॑ यु॒वधि॑ता मि॒नन्ति॑ । न ये दे॒वास॒ ओह॑सा॒ न मर्ता॒ अय॑ज्ञसाचो॒ अप्यो॒ न पु॒त्राः ॥

O Mitra and Varuna, divinities of love and justice, those holy persons, who emulate and follow the rules and injunctions loved and ordained by you, and never violate them by their power and potential, are like your children by their karmas. On the other hand, those, who envy and are jealous, who violate the principles and institutions dear to you, who are not good and generous people, and in spite of their power and potential are mortals of inferior calibre without the love and performance of noble acts, deserve to be neither you, friends nor your children.

· · ·

6.67.10

वि यद्वाचं॑ की॒स्तासो॒ भर॑न्ते॒ शंस॑न्ति॒ के चि॑न्नि॒विदो॑ मना॒नाः । आद्वां॑ ब्रवाम स॒त्यान्यु॒क्था नकि॑र्दे॒वेभि॑र्यतथो महि॒त्वा ॥

The wise ones bear and offer words of praise in honour of you. Some others, thoughtful and faithful, offer songs of celebration. Then we too chant and address hymns of adoration to you. Joining with all holy ones by your grace and grandeur, there is none you hurt or injure.

· · ·

6.67.11

अ॒वोरि॒त्था वां॑ छ॒र्दिषो॑ अ॒भिष्टौ॑ यु॒वोर्मि॑त्रावरुणा॒वस्कृ॑धोयु । अनु॒ यद्गावः॑ स्फु॒रानृ॑जि॒प्यं धृ॒ष्णुं यद्रणे॒ वृष॑णं यु॒नज॑न् ॥

Mitra and Varuna, thus under your care and protection and in matters of family peace and prosperity of the home gifted by you, the beneficiary feels great and grateful. And in the battle business of life which is exciting and delightful, you engage the brave, generous, simple and straight man of truth and honesty celebrated in words of praise and adoration all round.

✦ Sukta 68 · 11 verses ✦

6.68.1

श्रु॒ष्टी वां॑ य॒ज्ञ उद्य॑तः स॒जोषा॑ मनु॒ष्वद्वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषो॒ यज॑ध्यै । आ य इन्द्रा॒वरु॑णावि॒षे अ॒द्य म॒हे सु॒म्नाय॑ म॒ह आ॑व॒वर्त॑त् ॥

Indra, glorious lord of power, and Varuna, lord of justice, peace and excellence, this yajna of evolution and advancement, kindled, conducted and jointly sustained by people in your honour, is for the union and cooperation of men dedicated to yajnic development and progress of the world community. Let it go on today and for ever onward for the growth of abundant food, energy and sustenance and for a high order of peace and excellent well being of life as a whole.

· · ·

6.68.2

ता हि श्रेष्ठा॑ दे॒वता॑ता तु॒जा शूरा॑णां॒ शवि॑ष्ठा॒ ता हि भू॒तम् । म॒घोनां॒ मंहि॑ष्ठा तुवि॒शुष्म॑ ऋ॒तेन॑ वृत्र॒तुरा॒ सर्व॑सेना ॥

You are the best and holiest, dedicated to the divine scheme of evolution, development and progress, being most vigorous, bravest of the brave, commanding highest power and excellence among the excellent and powerful, most high spirited by dedication to truth and the law of truth, breakers of the darkest clouds for showers of vitality. Indeed you are the leaders and commanders of the total forces of nature and humanity on the paths of universal progress.

· · ·

6.68.3

ता गृ॑णीहि नम॒स्ये॑भिः शू॒षैः सु॒म्नेभि॒रिन्द्रा॒वरु॑णा चका॒ना । वज्रे॑णा॒न्यः शव॑सा॒ हन्ति॑ वृ॒त्रं सिष॑क्त्य॒न्यो वृ॒जने॑षु॒ विप्रः॑ ॥

Honour and celebrate the two, Indra and Varuna, lords of peace, power and justice, with reverence and homage. Brilliant with strength and power, over-flowing with vitality and generosity, they are loving and kind. One of them, Indra, like the sun, breaks the clouds and destroys the enemies with the force of thunder, and the other, Varuna, cool as water and vibrant as the winds, follows to bless humanity with strength and energy on the paths of life.

· · ·

6.68.4

ग्नाश्च॒ यन्नर॑श्च वावृ॒धन्त॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वासो॑ न॒रां स्वगू॑र्ताः । प्रैभ्य॑ इन्द्रावरुणा महि॒त्वा द्यौश्च॑ पृथिवि भूतमु॒र्वी ॥

All the holy voices, men and women, leading lights of humanity and the holiest of the holy for the world, grow on by their own vision and performance in the course of nature. For all these who grow thus, O lords of power and peace, vision and wisdom, be good, kind and generous by your own grace and grandeur like the light of heaven and the wide expanse of mother earth.

· · ·

6.68.5

स इत्सु॒दानुः॒ स्ववाँ॑ ऋ॒तावेन्द्रा॒ यो वां॑ वरुण॒ दाश॑ति॒ त्मन् । इ॒षा स द्वि॒षस्त॑रे॒द्दास्वा॒न्वंस॑द्र॒यिं र॑यि॒वत॑श्च॒ जना॑न् ॥

He that is liberal, self confident and upright in matters of truth and divine law, and in his very soul does honour to you, shall, with his resources, conquer his opponents and enemies and, with his generosity, achieve wealth and power and win over men of wealth and power to his side for support and cooperation to give and share.

· · ·

6.68.6

यं यु॒वं दा॒श्व॑ध्वराय देवा र॒यिं ध॒त्थो वसु॑मन्तं पुरु॒क्षुम् । अ॒स्मे स इ॑न्द्रावरुणा॒वपि॑ ष्या॒त्प्र यो भ॒नक्ति॑ व॒नुषा॒मश॑स्तीः ॥

Indra and Varuna, lords of brilliance, power and wisdom of justice, that wealth and power which you bear and bestow upon the liberal yajaka of love and non-violence may, we pray, be for us too so that we share the honour and excellence which silences and shatters the calumny and criticism advanced by the selfish opposition.

· · ·

6.68.7

उ॒त नः॑ सुत्रा॒त्रो दे॒वगो॑पाः सू॒रिभ्य॑ इन्द्रावरुणा र॒यिः ष्या॑त् । येषां॒ शुष्मः॒ पृत॑नासु सा॒ह्वान्प्र स॒द्यो द्यु॒म्ना ति॒रते॒ ततु॑रिः ॥

And for us, O lords of power and justice, for the wise and brave whose force of arms and intelligence challenges the enemy and wins the victory in battles of life, let there be that common wealth of nations and that ruler who protects the protectors, defends and supports the wise and brilliant, and, as a superleader, wins wealth, honour and excellence for humanity always in the struggles for progress.

· · ·

6.68.8

नू न॑ इन्द्रावरुणा गृणा॒ना पृ॒ङ्क्तं र॒यिं सौ॑श्रव॒साय॑ देवा । इ॒त्था गृ॒णन्तो॑ म॒हिन॑स्य॒ शर्धो॒ऽपो न ना॒वा दु॑रि॒ता त॑रेम ॥

Indra and Varuna, brilliant and generous lords of nature and humanity praised and adored by all, bless us with abundant wealth for honour and excellence of life so that grateful and worshipful, celebrating the power and glory of your grace and grandeur, we may cross over the difficult problems, evils and negativities of the world as we cross the seas by boat.

· · ·

6.68.9

प्र स॒म्राजे॑ बृह॒ते मन्म॒ नु प्रि॒यमर्च॑ दे॒वाय॒ वरु॑णाय स॒प्रथः॑ । अ॒यं य उ॒र्वी म॑हि॒ना महि॑व्रतः॒ क्रत्वा॑ वि॒भात्य॒जरो॒ न शो॒चिषा॑ ॥

Offer the dearest homage and sincere adoration in full self-knowledge and awareness to the refulgent, generous and mighty benevolent ruler of the world, this lord Varuna who is vast as earth and shines by his glory and universal law, and illuminates the world by his holy action and light of glory blazing as refulgence beyond the rule and order of time and age.

· · ·

6.68.10

इन्द्रा॑वरुणा सुतपावि॒मं सु॒तं सोमं॑ पिबतं॒ मद्यं॑ धृतव्रता । यु॒वो रथो॑ अध्व॒रं दे॒ववी॑तये॒ प्रति॒ स्वस॑र॒मुप॑ याति पी॒तये॑ ॥

Indra and Varuna, rulers of power and justice, dedicated to your own law and discipline, protectors and sustainers of your own creation, come and drink of this exhilarating nectar of joyous celebration distilled for you. Your chariot moves to the constant selfsustaining yajna of love and non-violence every day so that you may drink of the soma in the company of divines.

· · ·

6.68.11

इन्द्रा॑वरुणा॒ मधु॑मत्तमस्य॒ वृष्णः॒ सोम॑स्य वृष॒णा वृ॑षेथाम् । इ॒दं वा॒मन्धः॒ परि॑षिक्तम॒स्मे आ॒सद्या॒स्मिन्ब॒र्हिषि॑ मादयेथाम् ॥

Generous Indra and Varuna, give us abundant showers of the most exhilarating honey sweets of soma. This nectar of devotion is distilled and seasoned for you. Come, sit on the holy grass and rejoice with us and for us.

✦ Sukta 69 · 8 verses ✦

6.69.1

सं वां॒ कर्म॑णा॒ समि॒षा हि॑नो॒मीन्द्रा॑विष्णू॒ अप॑सस्पा॒रे अ॒स्य । जु॒षेथां॑ य॒ज्ञं द्रवि॑णं च धत्त॒मरि॑ष्टैर्नः प॒थिभिः॑ पा॒रय॑न्ता ॥

Indra, lord commander of energy and power, Vishnu, lord provider of sustenance, whole heartedly I call upon you with food and energy and with action to take us successfully to the end of this programme of work and development. Join and enjoy the yajnic programme, create and bring wealth and honour. Indeed, you are pilots of the nation to lead us on by paths of freedom without fear and danger.

· · ·

6.69.2

या विश्वा॑सां जनि॒तारा॑ मती॒नामिन्द्रा॒विष्णू॑ क॒लशा॑ सोम॒धाना॑ । प्र वां॒ गिरः॑ श॒स्यमा॑ना अवन्तु॒ प्र स्तोमा॑सो गी॒यमा॑नासो अ॒र्कैः ॥

Indra and Vishnu, you are creators and producers of all things of the world. You are inspirers of the mind and intelligence of all people. You are the treasure caskets of wealth, honour and joyous excellence of the world. May our voices of invocation and invitation and our songs of adoration full of appreciation, praise and homage reach you with our reverence and holy presentations.

· · ·

6.69.3

इन्द्रा॑विष्णू मदपती मदाना॒मा सोमं॑ यातं॒ द्रवि॑णो॒ दधा॑ना । सं वा॑मञ्जन्त्व॒क्तुभि॑र्मती॒नां सं स्तोमा॑सः श॒स्यमा॑नास उ॒क्थैः ॥

Indra and Vishnu, ruler of power and sustainer of life, you are creators and protectors of the joy of life. Come and join the joyous celebrants over a drink of life’s soma of excellence and ecstasy, and bring the wealth and honour of human values for us. And may the songs of our leading intelligent people full of homage and service exalt you by day and by night with a chant of Vedic mantras.

· · ·

6.69.4

आ वा॒मश्वा॑सो अभिमाति॒षाह॒ इन्द्रा॑विष्णू सध॒मादो॑ वहन्तु । जु॒षेथां॒ विश्वा॒ हव॑ना मती॒नामुप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि शृणुतं॒ गिरो॑ मे ॥

Indra and Vishnu, leaders of the world vibrant as wind and brilliant as light of the sun, may the greatest and fastest challengers of want and enmity escort you to the joyous fellowship of the world. There share the offers, invitations and common wealths of the peoples of the world, and then listen to my voices of exhortation too.

· · ·

6.69.5

इन्द्रा॑विष्णू॒ तत्प॑न॒याय्यं॑ वां॒ सोम॑स्य॒ मद॑ उ॒रु च॑क्रमाथे । अकृ॑णुतम॒न्तरि॑क्षं॒ वरी॒योऽप्र॑थतं जी॒वसे॑ नो॒ रजां॑सि ॥

Indra and Vishnu, lord omnipotent and lord omnipresent of generosity, admirable is that act of yours by which, in the ecstasy of creation, you conceive, create and expand the excellent middle region of the universe between heaven and earth, and then for the sustenance of our life you create and expand other regions of earth and space.

· · ·

6.69.6

इन्द्रा॑विष्णू ह॒विषा॑ वावृधा॒नाग्रा॑द्वाना॒ नम॑सा रातहव्या । घृता॑सुती॒ द्रवि॑णं धत्तम॒स्मे स॑मु॒द्रः स्थः॑ क॒लशः॑ सोम॒धानः॑ ॥

Indra and Vishnu, you are exalted by the oblations of sacrificial havi and thereby you exalt all others. First receivers and consumers of food and homage, you give back every thing finer in return for others. O lords, receiving oblations of ghrta and blessing others with the best of things, bear and bring the wealth and honour of life for us. Be like the sea full of jewels, be like a cask of soma and the ecstasy of life.

· · ·

6.69.7

इन्द्रा॑विष्णू॒ पिब॑तं॒ मध्वो॑ अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य दस्रा ज॒ठरं॑ पृणेथाम् । आ वा॒मन्धां॑सि मदि॒राण्य॑ग्म॒न्नुप॒ ब्रह्मा॑णि शृणुतं॒ हवं॑ मे ॥

Indra and Vishnu, destroyers of want and suffering, drink of the honey sweets of this soma and quench the hunger and thirst of body, mind and soul. Both of you together, receive the exhilarating food and drinks of life, acknowledge our offers of homage, and listen to my voice of invocation and celebration.

· · ·

6.69.8

उ॒भा जि॑ग्यथु॒र्न परा॑ जयेथे॒ न परा॑ जिग्ये कत॒रश्च॒नैनोः॑ । इन्द्र॑श्च विष्णो॒ यदप॑स्पृधेथां त्रे॒धा स॒हस्रं॒ वि तदै॑रयेथाम् ॥

Both Indra and Vishnu are ever victorious. They are never defeated. Neither of them is ever vanquished or deprived. Indra and Vishnu, when you act together and contend with others, you stabilise your thousand forces, threefold raise their power and potency, and reduce the adversary to the lowest degree of efficiency.

✦ Sukta 70 · 6 verses ✦

6.70.1

घृ॒तव॑ती॒ भुव॑नानामभि॒श्रियो॒र्वी पृ॒थ्वी म॑धु॒दुघे॑ सु॒पेश॑सा । द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी वरु॑णस्य॒ धर्म॑णा॒ विष्क॑भिते अ॒जरे॒ भूरि॑रेतसा ॥

Radiant and fertile, beauties of the worlds, vast and abundant, extensive, replete with honey sweets, the sun and the earth are sustained by the laws of nature with the immanent will of Varuna, centre-hold of the universe. Undecaying they are, immensely creative and exuberant with the waters of life, beautiful, blissful.

· · ·

6.70.2

अस॑श्चन्ती॒ भूरि॑धारे॒ पय॑स्वती घृ॒तं दु॑हाते सु॒कृते॒ शुचि॑व्रते । राज॑न्ती अ॒स्य भुव॑नस्य रोदसी अ॒स्मे रेतः॑ सिञ्चतं॒ यन्मनु॑र्हितम् ॥

Both separate yet releasing together abundant streams of liquid vitality, they are holy in action and pure of purpose and discipline of the divine law, and they give us ceaseless showers of milk and water. Shining over and illuminating this world, O sun and earth, let streams of vitality, virility and fertility flow down to us for the good of humanity.

· · ·

6.70.3

यो वा॑मृ॒जवे॒ क्रम॑णाय रोदसी॒ मर्तो॑ द॒दाश॑ धिषणे॒ स सा॑धति । प्र प्र॒जाभि॑र्जायते॒ धर्म॑ण॒स्परि॑ यु॒वोः सि॒क्ता विषु॑रूपाणि॒ सव्र॑ता ॥

O heaven and earth, sustainers of life and illuminators of mind and intelligence, whoever the mortal that dedicates himself to you and abides by the laws you manifest for the sake of simple, straight guidance in the natural course of his life, wins success and honour and advances in life with his progeny higher and higher in the observance of Dharma, since it is from you that the diverse forms of life proceed alongwith the laws and manners of their species.

· · ·

6.70.4

घृ॒तेन॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒भीवृ॑ते घृत॒श्रिया॑ घृत॒पृचा॑ घृता॒वृधा॑ । उ॒र्वी पृ॒थ्वी हो॑तृ॒वूर्ये॑ पु॒रोहि॑ते॒ ते इद्विप्रा॑ ईळते सु॒म्नमि॒ष्टये॑ ॥

Heaven and earth are surrounded by cosmic waters, they are brilliant in beauty by waters, they are joined and grow in and by waters. O vast earth and heaven, wise sages serve and pray to you for the fulfilment of their desire and attainment of happiness, you being foremost in their selection of the highpriest who would lead them to honour and success.

· · ·

6.70.5

मधु॑ नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी मि॑मिक्षतां मधु॒श्चुता॑ मधु॒दुघे॒ मधु॑व्रते । दधा॑ने य॒ज्ञं द्रवि॑णं च दे॒वता॒ महि॒ श्रवो॒ वाज॑म॒स्मे सु॒वीर्य॑म् ॥

May heaven and earth create and provide for us the honey sweets of life. They shower the sweets of honey and honeyed pleasures of life and they are dedicated to the holy laws and purposes of nature for us. Divine they are, great and generous, they conduct nature’s yajnic cycle of life, they hold the treasures of the world for us, wealth and honour, knowledge and progress, and the virility and fertility of life’s continuity for us.

· · ·

6.70.6

ऊर्जं॑ नो॒ द्यौश्च॑ पृथि॒वी च॑ पिन्वतां पि॒ता मा॒ता वि॑श्व॒विदा॑ सु॒दंस॑सा । सं॒र॒रा॒णे रोद॑सी वि॒श्वशं॑भुवा स॒निं वाजं॑ र॒यिम॒स्मे समि॑न्वताम् ॥

Let the light of heaven and fertility of the earth, divine source givers of all achievement and performance of good works like father and mother, create, radiate and increase food and energy, knowledge and science. May they, abundant earth and heaven together, brilliant and joyous givers of comfort and happiness, both sources of bliss, bring us wealth and honour and fulfilment in togetherness.

✦ Sukta 71 · 6 verses ✦

6.71.1

उदु॒ ष्य दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता हि॑र॒ण्यया॑ बा॒हू अ॑यंस्त॒ सव॑नाय सु॒क्रतुः॑ । घृ॒तेन॑ पा॒णी अ॒भि प्रु॑ष्णुते म॒खो युवा॑ सु॒दक्षो॒ रज॑सो॒ विध॑र्मणि ॥

That refulgent and generous Savita, creator, generator and inspirer, ruler of the world, lord of holy action may, we pray, raise his golden hands and bless us with will and wisdom to perform creative and productive actions for common good. With showers of waters and grace, the lord of generous and adorable hands blesses the world regions and their people, as he is holy, creative, youthful, generous and perfect in various specific fields of action.

· · ·

6.71.2

दे॒वस्य॑ व॒यं स॑वि॒तुः सवी॑मनि॒ श्रेष्ठे॑ स्याम॒ वसु॑नश्च दा॒वने॑ । यो विश्व॑स्य द्वि॒पदो॒ यश्चतु॑ष्पदो नि॒वेश॑ने प्रस॒वे चासि॒ भूम॑नः ॥

Let us be established with dedication in the highest generosity, prosperity and abundance of the refulgent and gracious lord Savita’s dynamic creation. You, O lord, are absolute and omnipresent in the creation, generation, evolution and sustained development of the multitude of humans and animals of the wide world of peace and settlement for all.

· · ·

6.71.3

अद॑ब्धेभिः सवितः पा॒युभि॒ष्ट्वं शि॒वेभि॑र॒द्य परि॑ पाहि नो॒ गय॑म् । हिर॑ण्यजिह्वः सुवि॒ताय॒ नव्य॑से॒ रक्षा॒ माकि॑र्नो अ॒घशं॑स ईशत ॥

Savita, ruling lord of inspiration, protect and promote our home, our people and our wealth and honour by benevolent and inviolable modes of defence, peace and development. O lord of golden word and voice, bless us with the latest forms of protection, progress and well being. Let no thief or sinner dare rule or boss over us.

· · ·

6.71.4

उदु॒ ष्य दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता दमू॑ना॒ हिर॑ण्यपाणिः प्रतिदो॒षम॑स्थात् । अयो॑हनुर्यज॒तो म॒न्द्रजि॑ह्व॒ आ दा॒शुषे॑ सुवति॒ भूरि॑ वा॒मम् ॥

That brilliant and generous lord Savita of yajnic action, inspiration and advancement, golden generous of hands and honeyed sweet of animating voice, wearing a steel helmet, rises like the sun every day after night and abides by us, and blesses the generous giver and yajaka with abundant wealth, honour and graces of life. A friend and protector of the home and family, no one dare oppress, suppress or terrorize him.

· · ·

6.71.5

उदू॑ अयाँ उपव॒क्तेव॑ बा॒हू हि॑र॒ण्यया॑ सवि॒ता सु॒प्रती॑का । दि॒वो रोहां॑स्यरुहत्पृथि॒व्या अरी॑रमत्प॒तय॒त्कच्चि॒दभ्व॑म् ॥

Savita, refulgent illuminator and ruler of the world, glorious in form, raises his golden gracious arms like a rousing orator, ascends the heights of heaven, and sets in motion, conducts, directs and enjoys the great systemic business of the earth over day and night.

· · ·

6.71.6

वा॒मम॒द्य स॑वितर्वा॒ममु॒ श्वो दि॒वेदि॑वे वा॒मम॒स्मभ्यं॑ सावीः । वा॒मस्य॒ हि क्षय॑स्य देव॒ भूरे॑र॒या धि॒या वा॑म॒भाजः॑ स्याम ॥

O Savita, lord of illumination and inspiration, great creator and ruler of the world, create the best and most beautiful, the most satisfying and blissful, intentions, actions and results today and tomorrow in endless succession. O lord generous and refulgent, bless us with bright intelligence and spirit of holy action so that by virtue of that intelligence and action we may abide in and enjoy the peace and well-being of a home of great comfort, peace and grace divine.

✦ Sukta 72 · 5 verses ✦

6.72.1

इन्द्रा॑सोमा॒ महि॒ तद्वां॑ महि॒त्वं यु॒वं म॒हानि॑ प्रथ॒मानि॑ चक्रथुः । यु॒वं सूर्यं॑ विवि॒दथु॑र्यु॒वं स्व१॒॑र्विश्वा॒ तमां॑स्यहतं नि॒दश्च॑ ॥

Indra, lord of cosmic energy, and Soma, spirit of cosmic vitality, the greatness of your lustrous grandeur is this that you have done the first elemental grand acts of creation: you fashion forth the sun, you create the regions of light and the peace and paradisal bliss of existence, you dispel the darkness and ignorance of life, and you ward off the malice and negativities of the earthly community.

· · ·

6.72.2

इन्द्रा॑सोमा वा॒सय॑थ उ॒षास॒मुत्सूर्यं॑ नयथो॒ ज्योति॑षा स॒ह । उप॒ द्यां स्क॒म्भथुः॒ स्कम्भ॑ने॒नाप्र॑थतं पृथि॒वीं मा॒तरं॒ वि ॥

Lords of cosmic energy and universal bliss of life, you light up the dawns and lead the sun on course with its light. By the balance of forces you hold up and sustain the regions of light, and you unfold and sustain the earth in her motherly expense and variety of life.

· · ·

6.72.3

इन्द्रा॑सोमा॒वहि॑म॒पः प॑रि॒ष्ठां ह॒थो वृ॒त्रमनु॑ वां॒ द्यौर॑मन्यत । प्रार्णां॑स्यैरयतं न॒दीना॒मा स॑मु॒द्राणि॑ पप्रथुः पु॒रूणि॑ ॥

Lords of cosmic lightning energy and vibrating winds, you break the dark clouds of vapour up on the high skies and release the closed up waters, and as the skies are clear, the heavens acknowledge your grandeur with cheer and thankfulness. You set the floods of rivers aflow and fill the wide expanses of boundless seas in abundance.

· · ·

6.72.4

इन्द्रा॑सोमा प॒क्वमा॒मास्व॒न्तर्नि गवा॒मिद्द॑धथुर्व॒क्षणा॑सु । ज॒गृ॒भथु॒रन॑पिनद्धमासु॒ रुश॑च्चि॒त्रासु॒ जग॑तीष्व॒न्तः ॥

Lords of sun light and vital energy, you infuse the unripe forms of vegetation with ripe herbal juice, the udders of cows with delicious milk, the flowing streams with energising waters, and you concentrate the unbound energy of sun rays and put this shining vitality into these various and wonderful forms of existence.

· · ·

6.72.5

इन्द्रा॑सोमा यु॒वम॒ङ्ग तरु॑त्रमपत्य॒साचं॒ श्रुत्यं॑ रराथे । यु॒वं शुष्मं॒ नर्यं॑ चर्ष॒णिभ्यः॒ सं वि॑व्यथुः पृतना॒षाह॑मुग्रा ॥

Indra and Soma, lords of energy and life’s vitality, both dear as breath of life and bright as sun and moon, give us the light of knowledge worthy of remembrance that may save us from want and suffering across the present and future generations of our children. Interweave for all people strength and power worthy of leading heroes with which we may face and win all our battles of life against the adversaries of life and human society.

✦ Sukta 73 · 3 verses ✦

6.73.1

यो अ॑द्रि॒भित्प्र॑थम॒जा ऋ॒तावा॒ बृह॒स्पति॑राङ्गिर॒सो ह॒विष्मा॑न् । द्वि॒बर्ह॑ज्मा प्राघर्म॒सत्पि॒ता न॒ आ रोद॑सी वृष॒भो रो॑रवीति ॥

Breaking the clouds and shattering mountains, first self-manifested among things born, the very embodiment of universal law and the truth of existence, Brhaspati, lord creator, ruler, protector and promoter of the expansive universe is the very essence of the life and breath of existence who wields and governs all matters and materials of the world. Lord and master of the earth by virtue of knowledge and power of action, illustrious with the light and fire of life, he is our father generator who, like the mighty thunder, proclaims his power and presence across heaven and earth.

· · ·

6.73.2

जना॑य चि॒द्य ईव॑त उ लो॒कं बृह॒स्पति॑र्दे॒वहू॑तौ च॒कार॑ । घ्नन्वृ॒त्राणि॒ वि पुरो॑ दर्दरीति॒ जय॒ञ्छत्रूँ॑र॒मित्रा॑न्पृ॒त्सु साह॑न् ॥

Brhaspati, lord ruler of all, is he who, for the people in need, creates and gives a world of beauty and plenty when they approach him in the mood and spirit of supplication and prayer. When people invoke the divine lord, he breaks the thickest clouds of darkness and suffering, shatters the strongholds of exploitation and slavery, and challenges and wins over enemies and adversaries standing up in arms against humanity.

· · ·

6.73.3

बृह॒स्पतिः॒ सम॑जय॒द्वसू॑नि म॒हो व्र॒जान् गोम॑तो दे॒व ए॒षः । अ॒पः सिषा॑स॒न्त्स्व१॒॑रप्र॑तीतो॒ बृह॒स्पति॒र्हन्त्य॒मित्र॑म॒र्कैः ॥

This divine and illustrious lord of the universe, Brhaspati, overcomes the enemies, wins wealth and happiness, and reveals mighty treasures of lands and light of knowledge. Ruling over the dynamics of waters, energies and the karmic flow of nature’s law and light of heaven and bliss of life, himself unseen and undefeated, Brhaspati destroys all unfriendly forces confronting humanity by the strikes of his thunderbolt of justice and punishment by law.

✦ Sukta 74 · 4 verses ✦

6.74.1

सोमा॑रुद्रा धा॒रये॑थामसु॒र्यं१॒॑ प्र वा॑मि॒ष्टयोऽर॑मश्नुवन्तु । दमे॑दमे स॒प्त रत्ना॒ दधा॑ना॒ शं नो॑ भूतं द्वि॒पदे॒ शं चतु॑ष्पदे ॥

O Soma and Rudra, lords of health and well being and of the health and vitality of life, ruler of the land and powers of health services, you maintain the balance of nature and environment and the health and vitality of the community so that the desired results of social welfare be achieved to your satisfaction. Bearing seven-fold jewels of health and prosperity, bless the inmates of every home so that our people may be happy and healthy in peace and joy, and our bipeds and quadrupeds too may be healthy and happy

· · ·

6.74.2

सोमा॑रुद्रा॒ वि वृ॑हतं॒ विषू॑ची॒ममी॑वा॒ या नो॒ गय॑मावि॒वेश॑ । आ॒रे बा॑धेथां॒ निर्ऋ॑तिं परा॒चैर॒स्मे भ॒द्रा सौ॑श्रव॒सानि॑ सन्तु ॥

O Soma and Rudra, lords of peace and vitality, uproot sickness, ill

health, disease and epidemics such as cholera and others which spread to our homes and affect our children and institutions. Ward off want and adversity and keep it far away so that they never recur and we enjoy good health, well being and abounding graces.

· · ·

6.74.3

सोमा॑रुद्रा यु॒वमे॒तान्य॒स्मे विश्वा॑ त॒नूषु॑ भेष॒जानि॑ धत्तम् । अव॑ स्यतं मु॒ञ्चतं॒ यन्नो॒ अस्ति॑ त॒नूषु॑ ब॒द्धं कृ॒तमेनो॑ अ॒स्मत् ॥

Soma and Rudra, lord of health and vitality, ruler and physician, bear and bring all those herbs and medicaments for our body’s health and mental and spiritual strength by which you may throw off and eliminate from us whatever pollutes our body system and whatever sin or trespass or indiscretion has been committed by us.

· · ·

6.74.4

ति॒ग्मायु॑धौ ति॒ग्महे॑ती सु॒शेवौ॒ सोमा॑रुद्रावि॒ह सु मृ॑ळतं नः । प्र नो॑ मुञ्चतं॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ पाशा॑द्गोपा॒यतं॑ नः सुमन॒स्यमा॑ना ॥

Soma and Rudra, lords of health and total well being, bearing weapons of blazing efficacy and shattering blows of thundering strength, givers of peace and joy, bless us with health of body, mind and soul and lasting well being. Release us from the snares of Varuna, bondage of sin and disease by the laws of nature. Happy, kind and gracious, protect and promote us in life against sin, disease and indiscretion.

✦ Sukta 75 · 19 verses ✦

6.75.1

जी॒मूत॑स्येव भवति॒ प्रती॑कं॒ यद्व॒र्मी याति॑ स॒मदा॑मु॒पस्थे॑ । अना॑विद्धया त॒न्वा॑ जय॒ त्वं स त्वा॒ वर्म॑णो महि॒मा पि॑पर्तु ॥

When a warrior in armour advances to the battle front of war he looks like a mighty rain cloud. Go forward with your body unhurt, win the battle, and may the grandeur of your armour protect and defend you in war and peace.

· · ·

6.75.2

धन्व॑ना॒ गा धन्व॑ना॒जिं ज॑येम॒ धन्व॑ना ती॒व्राः स॒मदो॑ जयेम । धनुः॒ शत्रो॑रपका॒मं कृ॑णोति॒ धन्व॑ना॒ सर्वाः॑ प्र॒दिशो॑ जयेम ॥

Let us preserve and win lands and cows by the bow and reach our targets by the bow. Let us fight out the fiery passions by the bow and arrow of concentrated meditation. The bow and arrow thwarts the evil designs of enemy forces within and without both. Let us advance in all directions by the bow.

· · ·

6.75.3

व॒क्ष्यन्ती॒वेदा ग॑नीगन्ति॒ कर्णं॑ प्रि॒यं सखा॑यं परिषस्वजा॒ना । योषे॑व शिङ्क्ते॒ वित॒ताधि॒ धन्व॒ञ्ज्या इ॒यं सम॑ने पा॒रय॑न्ती ॥

Like a maiden embracing her dear lover and whispering into his ear as if saying something sweet, this string of the bow, its ends like loving hands clasping the ends of the bow, is stretched to the archer’s ear, rings and seems to say: Shoot, advance and make way through the opposite ranks.

· · ·

6.75.4

ते आ॒चर॑न्ती॒ सम॑नेव॒ योषा॑ मा॒तेव॑ पु॒त्रं बि॑भृतामु॒पस्थे॑ । अप॒ शत्रू॑न्विध्यतां संविदा॒ने आर्त्नी॑ इ॒मे वि॑ष्फु॒रन्ती॑ अ॒मित्रा॑न् ॥

Just as a young mother holds the baby in her lap with both hands, so may the two ends of the bow operative together in balance hold the string at both ends and shoot the arrow upon the enemies and thus scatter the unfriendly forces out of gear.

· · ·

6.75.5

ब॒ह्वी॒नां पि॒ता ब॒हुर॑स्य पु॒त्रश्चि॒श्चा कृ॑णोति॒ सम॑नाव॒गत्य॑ । इ॒षु॒धिः सङ्काः॒ पृत॑नाश्च॒ सर्वाः॑ पृ॒ष्ठे निन॑द्धो जयति॒ प्रसू॑तः ॥

Like a guardian having many children under his care, the quiver borne on the warrior’s back holds many arrows and rattles as the warrior enters upon the battle. The warrior with the bow and arrows in the quiver emerging on the battle field scatters all the enemy forces and wins all the battles of life.

· · ·

6.75.6

रथे॒ तिष्ठ॑न्नयति वा॒जिनः॑ पु॒रो यत्र॑यत्र का॒मय॑ते सुषार॒थिः । अ॒भीशू॑नां महि॒मानं॑ पनायत॒ मनः॑ प॒श्चादनु॑ यच्छन्ति र॒श्मयः॑ ॥

An expert driver on the steer of the chariot directs and leads the horses forward wherever he wants. Know this and admire the great importance of the bridle strings. As the driver controls the horses so does the mind control the senses. Control the strings of the mind and the senses would follow in your conduct of the chariot of life.

· · ·

6.75.7

ती॒व्रान्घोषा॑न्कृण्वते॒ वृष॑पाण॒योऽश्वा॒ रथे॑भिः स॒ह वा॒जय॑न्तः । अ॒व॒क्राम॑न्तः॒ प्रप॑दैर॒मित्रा॑न् क्षि॒णन्ति॒ शत्रूँ॒रन॑पव्ययन्तः ॥

Rushing on with the chariots, the warriors of mighty arm and war horses roar with awful war cries and, crushing the unfriendly forces with their advances without ever retreating, they eliminate the enemies.

· · ·

6.75.8

र॒थ॒वाह॑नं ह॒विर॑स्य॒ नाम॒ यत्रायु॑धं॒ निहि॑तमस्य॒ वर्म॑ । तत्रा॒ रथ॒मुप॑ श॒ग्मं स॑देम वि॒श्वाहा॑ व॒यं सु॑मन॒स्यमा॑नाः ॥

Where the chariot war materials of this warrior are collected and deposited, and where his arms and armour which routed the enemy are secured and guarded, there let us find our chariot of peace and well being for all time, planning and designing as we are always for the peace and joy of the mind.

· · ·

6.75.9

स्वा॒दु॒षं॒सदः॑ पि॒तरो॑ वयो॒धाः कृ॑च्छ्रे॒श्रितः॒ शक्ती॑वन्तो गभी॒राः । चि॒त्रसे॑ना॒ इषु॑बला॒ अमृ॑ध्राः स॒तोवी॑रा उ॒रवो॑ व्रातसा॒हाः ॥

Those who abide in the home or sit in the assembly with peace and joy at heart, who are senior parental people, advanced and experienced in age, observing Dharma without fluctuating from peace and rectitude even in crises, commanding strength and depth of wisdom, leading wonderful armies, having full forces of arms and armaments but never violent and destructive, brave heroes of truth and honesty, many, mighty and magnanimous, observers of self-chosen discipline and law of conduct, let such be our friends, ideals and leader guardians for a life of peace and happiness.

· · ·

6.75.10

ब्राह्म॑णासः॒ पित॑रः॒ सोम्या॑सः शि॒वे नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॑ने॒हसा॑ । पू॒षा नः॑ पातु दुरि॒तादृ॑तावृधो॒ रक्षा॒ माकि॑र्नो अ॒घशं॑स ईशत ॥

Sagely scholars, parental seniors, men of peace and good will, holy and blissful sun and earth which hurt no one, protective and promotive powers of nature and humanity, all observers and protectors of truth and law, may, we pray, protect us from sin and evil and defend us against violence. May no evil and violent power, no thief, rule over us.

· · ·

6.75.11

सु॒प॒र्णं व॑स्ते मृ॒गो अ॑स्या॒ दन्तो॒ गोभिः॒ संन॑द्धा पतति॒ प्रसू॑ता । यत्रा॒ नरः॒ सं च॒ वि च॒ द्रव॑न्ति॒ तत्रा॒स्मभ्य॒मिष॑वः॒ शर्म॑ यंसन् ॥

The sun wears the beauty of a divine bird and flies. The earth, its mountain tops illuminated by sun rays, moves on, urged and energised by the sun. On this earth where men run around together yet scattered, may the arrows of defence and protection and the light of the sun provide us a home of peace and stability.

· · ·

6.75.12

ऋजी॑ते॒ परि॑ वृङ्धि॒ नोऽश्मा॑ भवतु नस्त॒नूः । सोमो॒ अधि॑ ब्रवीतु॒ नोऽदि॑तिः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतु ॥

O ruler, let natural honesty and rectitude protect and promote us. Let our bodies be adamantine strong. Let soma, nectar juice of herbs, inspire us with its message of good health and rejuvenation. Let mother earth bless us with peace and comfort in a happy home.

· · ·

6.75.13

आ ज॑ङ्घन्ति॒ सान्वे॑षां ज॒घनाँ॒ उप॑ जिघ्नते । अश्वा॑जनि॒ प्रचे॑त॒सोऽश्वा॑न्त्स॒मत्सु॑ चोदय ॥

O inspirer of the brave like a goad, inspire the wise and brave warriors of the earth who break down the forces of these enemies of humanity and strike down the saboteurs and terrorists in the battles of life.

· · ·

6.75.14

अहि॑रिव भो॒गैः पर्ये॑ति बा॒हुं ज्याया॑ हे॒तिं प॑रि॒बाध॑मानः । ह॒स्त॒ध्नो विश्वा॑ व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वान्पुमा॒न्पुमां॑सं॒ परि॑ पातु वि॒श्वतः॑ ॥

Wrapped round the arm of a warring man of action like the coils of a snake, like an arm guard protecting the shooting arm against the strike back of the bow string after the shot of an arrow, or against the recoil of a gun, the man of knowledge well versed in all the ways of life and the world should protect the man of bold action all round.

· · ·

6.75.15

आला॑क्ता॒ या रुरु॑शी॒र्ष्ण्यथो॒ यस्या॒ अयो॒ मुख॑म् । इ॒दं प॒र्जन्य॑रेतस॒ इष्वै॑ दे॒व्यै बृ॒हन्नमः॑ ॥

Poison-tempered with head like a doe’s and a mouth of steel, generous and abundant like a rain cloud is the brave ruling queen of arrows. For the lady of divine velocity, unbounded praise and homage of a thousand salutations!

· · ·

6.75.16

अव॑सृष्टा॒ परा॑ पत॒ शर॑व्ये॒ ब्रह्म॑संशिते । गच्छा॒मित्रा॒न्प्र प॑द्यस्व॒ मामीषां॒ कं च॒नोच्छि॑षः ॥

O sharpest and fastest of missiles, tempered and tested by the best of defence scientists, shot and released, fly far, reach the target and fall upon the enemies. Spare none of them whatsoever even at the farthest distance.

· · ·

6.75.17

यत्र॑ बा॒णाः सं॒पत॑न्ति कुमा॒रा वि॑शि॒खाइ॑व । तत्रा॑ नो॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॒रदि॑तिः॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतु वि॒श्वाहा॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतु ॥

O ruler, where the young soldiers with shorn hair fall upon the enemy and showers of missiles rain down upon the targets, there let the controller of nation’s wealth provide us total security and let the mother earth provide us a safe and comfortable shelter, a shelter of all round security.

· · ·

6.75.18

मर्मा॑णि ते॒ वर्म॑णा छादयामि॒ सोम॑स्त्वा॒ राजा॒मृते॒नानु॑ वस्ताम् । उ॒रोर्वरी॑यो॒ वरु॑णस्ते कृणोतु॒ जय॑न्तं॒ त्वानु॑ दे॒वा म॑दन्तु ॥

O warrior of the bow, I cover the vital limbs of your body with armour for protection. Let the ruler Soma, immortal spirit of life’s vitality, give you close cover against death and mortality. Let the wise and judicious commander of the forces provide you the best and most abundant food and maintenance, and let the excellencies of the nation rejoice with you when you win the battle.

· · ·

6.75.19

यो नः॒ स्वो अर॑णो॒ यश्च॒ निष्ट्यो॒ जिघां॑सति । दे॒वास्तं सर्वे॑ धूर्वन्तु॒ ब्रह्म॒ वर्म॒ ममान्त॑रम् ॥

Any one, whether our own or a stranger far away non-fighting, or far off and low, that hurts and violates us deserves that the best and enlightened of the nation punish him to nullity. For me, the Lord Almighty and the divine knowledge and awareness within me is my best armour for protection.