23. Yajur Veda — Chapter 23

【 Verse 23.1 】

▸ Veda Mantra: हि॒र॒ण्य॒ग॒र्भः सम॑वर्त्त॒ताग्रे॑ भू॒तस्य॑ जा॒तः पति॒रेक॑ऽआसीत्। स दा॑धार पृथि॒वीं द्यामु॒तेमां कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥१ ॥

▸ Translation: The Great Golden Egg, the mighty original womb of the lights of the world such as the sun and moon, exists by Himself before the world comes into existence. He is the sole lord manifest, preserver, creator and guardian of the world of forms. He holds this earth and Heaven, and to that lord of bliss and majesty we offer our homage and worship with the surrender of our mind and soul.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.2 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उ॒प॒या॒मगृ॑हीतोऽसि प्र॒जाप॑तये त्वा॒ जुष्टं॑ गृह्णाम्ये॒ष ते॒ योनिः॒ सूर्य्य॑स्ते महि॒मा। यस्तेऽह॑न्त्संवत्स॒रे म॑हि॒मा स॑म्ब॒भूव॒ यस्ते॑ वा॒याव॒न्तरि॑क्षे महि॒मा स॑म्ब॒भूव॒ यस्ते॑ दि॒वि सूर्ये॑ महि॒मा स॑म्ब॒भूव॒ तस्मै॑ ते महि॒म्ने प्र॒जाप॑तये॒ स्वाहा॑ दे॒वेभ्यः॑ ॥२ ॥

▸ Translation: Lord of this great universe, through the discipline of yoga you are realized and consecrated in the heart and soul, and loved in faith for the sake of Prajapati, protector and guardian of the people. I accept and surrender to you. This Prakriti and the world of forms is your seat of immanence. The sun is the manifestation of your grandeur. The glory of yours which manifests in the day and in the year, the glory which manifests in the air and in the sky, the glory which manifests in the sun and in heaven, to that glory and to you we offer our homage and worship for the sake of Prajapati, guardian of the people, and the devas, noble and generous powers of nature and humanity.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.3 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यः प्रा॑ण॒तो नि॑मिष॒तो म॑हि॒त्वैक॒ऽइद्राजा॒ जग॑तो ब॒भूव॑। यऽईशे॑ऽअ॒स्य द्वि॒पद॒श्चतु॑ष्पदः॒ कस्मै॑ दे॒वाय॑ ह॒विषा॑ विधेम ॥३ ॥

▸ Translation: The sole one lord who, with His own might, creates and rules over the world of those who breathe and see, the lord who rules over men and animals, to that sovereign lord of bliss and majesty we offer our homage and worship with our heart and soul.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.4 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उ॒प॒या॒मगृ॑हीतोऽसि प्र॒जाप॑तये त्वा॒ जुष्टं॑ गृह्णाम्ये॒ष ते॒ योनि॑श्च॒न्द्रमा॑स्ते महि॒मा। यस्ते॒ रात्रौ॑ संवत्स॒रे म॑हि॒मा स॑म्ब॒भूव॒ यस्ते॑ पृथि॒व्याम॒ग्नौ म॑हि॒मा स॑म्ब॒भूव॒ यस्ते॒ नक्ष॑त्रेषु च॒न्द्रम॑सि महि॒मा स॑म्ब॒भूव॒ तस्मैं॑ ते महि॒म्ने प्र॒जाप॑तये दे॒वेभ्यः॒ स्वाहा॑ ॥४ ॥

▸ Translation: Lord of the universe, seated and consecrated you are in the heart. Loved and worshipped you are in faith. I surrender to you for the sake of Prajapati, protector and guardian of the people. This world is your space of immanence and omnipotence. The moon is the symbol of your glory. The grandeur of yours which manifests in the night and in the year, the generosity of yours which manifests in the earth and in the universal fire vitality, the glory of yours which manifests in the stars and in the moon, to that glory of yours and to you we offer our homage and worship for the sake of Prajapati and the noble and brilliant powers of nature and humanity.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.5 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यु॒ञ्जन्ति॑ ब्र॒ध्नम॑रु॒षं चर॑न्तं॒ परि॑ त॒स्थुषः॑। रोच॑न्ते रोच॒ना दि॒वि ॥५ ॥

▸ Translation: Those who join their mind and soul to the great and glorious presence of God vibrating like electric energy in the moving and non-moving forms of existence, shine like the sunlight in heaven.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.6 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यु॒ञ्जन्त्य॑स्य॒ काम्या॒ हरी॒ विप॑क्षसा॒ रथे॑। शोणा॑ धृ॒ष्णू नृ॒वाह॑सा ॥६ ॥

▸ Translation: Just as they yoke to the chariot two strong, handsome, reddish horses worthy of ride by men and loved by all, so do the yogis join their senses, mind and soul to Ishvara, lord and light of the world. (So do the scientists use the carrier currents of solar and electric energy, i.e., the energy of Surya/sun and Indra/electricity, in the service of humanity for the divine purpose.)

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.7 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यद्वातो॑ऽअ॒पोऽअग॑नीगन्प्रि॒यामिन्द्र॑स्य त॒न्व᳖म्। ए॒तस्तो॑तर॒नेन॑ प॒था पुन॒रश्व॒माव॑र्त्तयासि नः ॥७ ॥

▸ Translation: O man of the science-mantra, the celestial horse, mighty carrier, flies across the waters of the sky and the wondrous oceans of space on the wings of the winds. The same horse, by the same paths of energy, you bring us back and take us round.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.8 】

▸ Veda Mantra: व॑सवस्त्वाञ्जन्तु गाय॒त्रेण॒ छन्द॑सा रु॒द्रास्त्वा॑ञ्जन्तु॒ त्रैष्टु॑भेन॒ छन्द॑सादि॒त्यास्त्वा॑ञ्जन्तु॒ जाग॑तेन॒ छन्द॑सा। भूर्भुवः॒ स्व᳕र्लाजी३ञ्छाची३न्यव्ये॒ गव्य॑ऽए॒तदन्न॑मत्त देवाऽए॒तदन्न॑मद्धि प्रजापते ॥८ ॥

▸ Translation: Prajapati, guardian and protector of the people, may the scholars of the Vasu order of twenty-four years celebrate you with the joy of the gayatri verses. May the scholars of the Rudra order of thirty-six years enlighten you with the knowledge of the trishtubh verses. May the scholars of the Aditya order of fortyeight years beatify you with the vision of the jagati verses. Receive the homage and be pleased by this celebration. Brilliant men of knowledge and vision, take the food from the fields of barley and milk of the cow and reach across the regions of the earth to the sky and the heavens orbiting in their own courses in space.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.9 】

▸ Veda Mantra: कः स्वि॑देका॒की चर॑ति॒ कऽउ॑ स्विज्जायते॒ पुनः॑। किस्वि॑द्धि॒मस्य॑ भेष॒जं किम्वा॒वप॑नं म॒हत्॥९ ॥

▸ Translation: Who moves alone (by itself, self-lighted)? Who is born again (in another’s light)? What is the antidote of cold? What is the great field for the sowing of seeds and the great store for things?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.10 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सूर्य॑ऽएका॒की च॑रति च॒न्द्रमा॑ जायते॒ पुनः॑। अ॒ग्निर्हि॒मस्य॑ भेष॒जं भूमि॑रा॒वप॑नं म॒हत्॥१० ॥

▸ Translation: The sun moves alone (self-lighted, on its own axis). The moon is born again (in the light of the sun). Fire is the antidote of cold. The earth is the great field for the sowing of seeds (and the great store-house of things, with its gravity).

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.11 】

▸ Veda Mantra: का स्वि॑दासीत्पू॒र्वचि॑त्तिः॒ किस्वि॑दासीद् बृ॒हद्वयः॑। का स्वि॑दासीत्पिलिप्पि॒ला का स्वि॑दासीत्पिशङ्गि॒ला ॥११ ॥

▸ Translation: What is the first object of perception and thought? What is the great bird of motion? What is soft, smooth and beautiful? What is it that devours light and form?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.12 】

▸ Veda Mantra: द्यौरा॑सीत्पू॒र्वचि॑त्ति॒रश्व॑ऽआसीद् बृ॒हद्वयः॑। अवि॑रासीत्पिलिप्पि॒ला रात्रि॑रासीत्पिशङ्गि॒ला ॥१२ ॥

▸ Translation: Heaven is the first object of perception and thought. Energy, electricity and light, is the greatest bird of motion. Protective mother earth is soft, smooth and beautiful. The night of darkness devours light and forms.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.13 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वा॒युष्ट्वा॑ पच॒तैर॑व॒त्वसि॑तग्रीव॒श्छागै॑र्न्य॒ग्रोध॑श्चम॒सैः श॑ल्म॒लिर्वृद्ध्या॑। ए॒ष स्य रा॒थ्यो वृषा॑ प॒ड्भिश्च॒तुर्भि॒रेद॑गन्ब्र॒ह्मा कृ॑ष्णश्च नोऽवतु॒ नमो॒ऽग्नये॑ ॥१३ ॥

▸ Translation: Seeker of knowledge, may the air protect you with maturation and perfection. May the fire nourish and protect you with the milk of goats. May the banyan tree strengthen and protect you with ladlefuls of juice. May the shalmali plant protect and advance you with growth. May this strong and virile chariot horse on its four legs carry you forward on your journey. Brahma, brilliant star of knowledge, guide and protect us. All homage, respect and support for Agni, light of knowledge and yajna.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.14 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सꣳशि॑तो र॒श्मिना॒ रथः॒ सꣳशि॑तो र॒श्मिना॒ हयः॑। सꣳशि॑तो अ॒प्स्व᳖प्सु॒जा ब्र॒ह्मा सोम॑पुरोगवः ॥१४ ॥

▸ Translation: The chariot is refined by the light of sunbeams. The horse is refined by sensitive reins of steering. The expert man of knowledge born of the energy of prana, working on energy, is refined by advancement in the knowledge of health, peace and value of honour.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.15 】

▸ Veda Mantra: स्व॒यं वा॑जिँस्त॒न्वं᳖ कल्पयस्व स्व॒यं य॑जस्व स्व॒यं जु॑षस्व। म॒हि॒मा ते॒ऽन्येन॒ न स॒न्नशे॑ ॥१५ ॥

▸ Translation: Man of knowledge, seeker of advancement, develop your self by yourself. Do the yajna of joint work by your own choice. Serve the scholars and society by yourself. Your eminence and value must not be destroyed by others.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.16 】

▸ Veda Mantra: न वाऽउ॑ऽए॒तन्म्रि॑यसे॒ न रि॑ष्यसि दे॒वाँ२ऽइदे॑षि प॒थिभिः॑ सु॒गेभिः॑। यत्रास॑ते सु॒कृतो॒ यत्र॒ ते य॒युस्तत्र॑ त्वा दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता द॑धातु ॥१६ ॥

▸ Translation: Man of knowledge and yajna, you go to meet with the seers and sages by the straight and right paths of truth. Die you shall not, nor your value diminish. Where dwell the men of right action and where they realize lasting peace and joy, there may Savita, lord of light and life, establish you.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.17 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒ग्निः प॒शुरा॑सी॒त्तेना॑यजन्त॒ सऽए॒तं लो॒कम॑जय॒द् यस्मि॑न्न॒ग्निः स ते॑ लो॒को भ॑विष्यति॒ तं जे॑ष्यसि॒ पिबै॒ताऽअ॒पः। वा॒युः प॒शुरा॑सी॒त्तेना॑यजन्त॒ सऽए॒तं लो॒कम॑जय॒द् यस्मि॑न् वा॒युः स ते॑ लो॒को भ॑विष्यति॒ तं जे॑ष्यसि॒ पिबै॒ताऽअ॒पः। सूर्यः॑ प॒शुरा॑सी॒त्तेना॑यजन्त॒ सऽए॒तं लो॒कम॑जय॒द् यस्मि॒न्त्सूर्य्यः॒ स ते॑ लो॒को भ॑विष्यति॒ तं जे॑ष्यसि॒ पिबै॒ताऽअ॒पः ॥१७ ॥

▸ Translation: Agni, fire, is the soul of yajna, a direct participant. The divines perform yajna with agni. Who ever does the yajna with agni wins the sphere where agni is supreme. The same will become your sphere too, you would conquer it if you do yajna. Drink deep at the fount of knowledge and joy purified by agni. Vayu, wind, is the soul of yajna, a seer and participant. The divines perform yajna by vayu. Whoever does the yajna by vayu wins the sphere where vayu is supreme. The same will become your sphere too, you would conquer it if you do yajna. Drink deep at the fount of breath and energy purified by vayu. Surya, the sun, is the soul of yajna, a seer and participant. The divines perform yajna with the sun. Whoever does the yajna with the sun wins the sphere where the sun is supreme. The same will become your sphere too, you would win it if you do yajna. Drink deep at the fount of light and energy purified by the sun.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.18 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प्रा॒णाय॒ स्वाहा॑पा॒नाय॒ स्वाहा॑ व्या॒नाय॒ स्वाहा॑। अम्बे॒ऽअम्बि॒केऽम्बा॑लिके॒ न मा॑ नयति॒ कश्च॒न। सस॑स्त्यश्व॒कः सुभ॑द्रिकां काम्पीलवा॒सिनी॑म् ॥१८ ॥

▸ Translation: Best of thought, word and action in truth for prana, for apana and for vyana, the energy of breath, the energy for systemic cleansing, and the overall health and vitality of the body system. Mother, grand-mother, and great-grand-mother, none can retain and sustain me or anyone in the splendid good fortune and peaceful settled seat of the man of prosperity, who, though he might have been as fast and impetuous as a war-horse, goes to sleep in sloth after getting the wealth and comfort.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.19 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ग॒णानां॑ त्वा ग॒णप॑तिꣳहवामहे प्रि॒याणां॑ त्वा प्रि॒यप॑तिꣳहवामहे निधी॒नां त्वा॑ निधि॒पति॑ꣳ हवामहे वसो मम। आहम॑जानि गर्भ॒धमा त्वम॑जासि गर्भ॒धम् ॥१९ ॥

▸ Translation: Lord of the universe, you are the presiding and protective fatherly presence over all the groups, communities and republics of the world. Such as you are, we accept, realise and surrender unto you. You are the darling life-giver and protector of all things of existence which are so dear to you. We recognise, realise and worship you in love and faith. You are the giver, protector and promoter of all the wealths of the world. We surrender to you in worship and gratitude and pray to you for all the wealth, prosperity and happiness of life. Lord omnipresent in every particle of existence, every particle of existence exists in you. You are my haven and home too. You are the father of all forms of existence. I pray that I may know you, the father, that I may know Prakriti, the mother; and that I may know all the forms of existence, as you do.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.20 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ताऽउ॒भौ च॒तुरः॑ प॒दः स॒म्प्रसा॑रयाव स्व॒र्गे लो॒के प्रोर्णु॑वाथां॒ वृषा॑ वा॒जी रे॑तो॒धा रेतो॑ दधातु ॥२० ॥

▸ Translation: Let both of them, the ruler and the people, protect and support each other. May both realise and extend the four values of life: Dharma, righteous living, Artha, worldly well-being, kama, self-fulfilment, and Moksha, ultimate freedom. May the ruler, wielder of power, swift in action and advancement, strengthen the people with power, and the people, in return, strengthen the ruler with power.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.21 】

▸ Veda Mantra: उत्स॑क्थ्या॒ऽअव॑ गु॒दं धे॑हि॒ सम॒ञ्जिं चा॑रया वृषन्। य स्त्री॒णां जी॑व॒भोज॑नः ॥२१ ॥

▸ Translation: O Ruler, man of strength and power, if there is anyone evil who plays with the life and honour of women, punish him. Establish peace among the people. Establish the rule of law. Eliminate immorality and wantonness from the state.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.22 】

▸ Veda Mantra: य॒कास॒कौ श॑कुन्ति॒काहल॒गिति॒ वञ्च॑ति। आह॑न्ति ग॒भे पसो॒ निग॑ल्गलीति॒ धार॑का ॥२२ ॥

▸ Translation: Where the ruler strikes at the people, he strikes at the nation and the state because there the people, though otherwise they enjoyed comfort and happiness before, grow weaker and weaker now and fade like a helpless bird. When such a ruler exacts taxes from the farmers, he only cheats the nation.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.23 】

▸ Veda Mantra: य॒को᳖ऽस॒कौ श॑कुन्त॒कऽआ॒हल॒गिति॒ वञ्च॑ति। विव॑क्षतऽइव ते॒ मुख॒मध्व॑र्यो॒ मा न॒स्त्वम॒भि भा॑षथाः ॥२३ ॥

▸ Translation: Ruler, high-priest of the yajna of the state, make no false promises to us. Let your mouth be not like a boaster’s. If you tell lies, you will grow weaker and weaker like a helpless bird and end up, cheating yourself.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.24 】

▸ Veda Mantra: मा॒ता च॑ ते पि॒ता च॒ तेऽग्रं॑ वृ॒क्षस्य॑ रोहतः। प्रति॑ला॒मीति॑ ते पि॒ता ग॒भे मु॒ष्टिम॑तꣳसयत्॥२४ ॥

▸ Translation: Ruler, the earth your mother and the sun your father rise to the top of the world. The sun strikes at the treasure of space-waters with his light and power, the earth receives the showers and shines. Celebrate them with the people in yajna: It is beautiful, it is joyous. I am happy.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.25 】

▸ Veda Mantra: मा॒ता च॒ ते पि॒ता च॒ तेऽ ग्रे॑ वृ॒क्षस्य॑ क्रीडतः। विव॑क्षतऽइव ते॒ मुखं॒ ब्रह्म॒न्मा त्वं व॑दो ब॒हु ॥२५ ॥

▸ Translation: People of the land, your mother-land like the earth and the ruler, father of the nation, like the sun, both joyous, play on top of the world in the midst of beauty and prosperity. Ruler, Brahma, presiding priest of the national yajna, your mouth seems eager to shout with pride and joy. At that time, speak not much, control yourself.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.26 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ऊ॒र्ध्वामे॑ना॒मुच्छ्रा॑पय गि॒रौ भा॒रꣳ हर॑न्निव। अथा॑स्यै॒ मध्य॑मेधता शी॒ते वाते॑ पु॒नन्नि॑व ॥२६ ॥

▸ Translation: Ruler of the land, lead this rising nation to the heights of beauty and prosperity like a mountaineer bearing his banner to the top of the mount, and, in the midst of this people, being sanctified as if in the cool mountain breezes, move on higher and ever higher.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.27 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ऊ॒र्ध्वमे॑न॒मुच्छ्र॑यताद् गि॒रौ भा॒रꣳ हर॑न्निव। अथा॑स्य॒ मध्य॑मेजतु शी॒ते वाते॑ पु॒नन्नि॑व ॥२७ ॥

▸ Translation: Man of knowledge, enlightened citizen, support this rising ruler to the height of glory and power as a mountaineer carrying his burden to the top of the mount, and, in the midst of this nation, and sifting the truth from falsehood, as if, in the cool breeze, shine on in the beauty and prosperity of the land.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.28 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यद॑स्याऽअꣳहु॒भेद्याः॑ कृ॒धु स्थू॒लमु॒पात॑सत्। मु॒ष्काविद॑स्याऽएजतो गोश॒फे श॑कु॒लावि॑व ॥२८ ॥

▸ Translation: When the small and great acts of the people who clear out sin and crime from the society are appreciated by the ruler and the enlightened officers, they, the ruler and the elite, captivate the heart of the people and they shine in their eyes as shakula fish shine in a little pool of water.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.29 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यद्दे॒वासो॑ ल॒लाम॑गुं॒ प्र वि॑ष्टी॒मिन॒मावि॑षुः। स॒क्थ्ना दे॑दिश्यते॒ नारी॑ स॒त्यस्या॑क्षि॒भुवो॑ यथा ॥२९ ॥

▸ Translation: Just as noble people approach an eminent and reasonable judge for justice, just as a woman is distinguished by her body, so the men of reason find out the truth by direct observation of evidence.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.30 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यद्ध॑रि॒णो यव॒मत्ति॒ न पु॒ष्टं प॒शु मन्य॑ते। शू॒द्रा यदर्य॑जारा॒ न पोषा॑य धनायति ॥३० ॥

▸ Translation: When the deer eats up the barley it does not care for the field but destroys it. A servant woman who is the mistress of her master loves money but not for the well-being of her master or of her family. So when a ruler exploits his people, he does not care for their wellbeing, he destroys the nation.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.31 】

▸ Veda Mantra: यद्ध॑रि॒णो यव॒मत्ति॒ न पु॒ष्टं ब॒हु मन्य॑ते। शू॒द्रो यदर्या॑यै जा॒रो न पोष॒मनु॑ मन्यते ॥३१ ॥

▸ Translation: The deer that eats up the barley cares not for the crop and the field. The servant who is a paramour of his mistress cares not for the well-being of the family. The ruler who exploits the people destroys the nation.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.32 】

▸ Veda Mantra: द॒धि॒क्राव्णो॑ऽअकारिषं जि॒ष्णोरश्व॑स्य वा॒जिनः॑। सु॒र॒भि नो॒ मुखा॑ कर॒त्प्र ण॒ऽआयू॑षि तारिषत्॥३२ ॥

▸ Translation: The hero is on guard, holding and protecting the land and people. Like a knight of horse panting for victory, fast advancing in the battle, I place him at the head of the nation. May he do us proud, holding our head high gracefully, and may he carry us across the field of life.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.33 】

▸ Veda Mantra: गा॒य॒त्री त्रि॒ष्टुब्जग॑त्यनु॒ष्टुप्प॒ङ्क्त्या स॒ह। बृ॒ह॒त्यु᳕ष्णिहा॑ क॒कुप्सू॒चीभिः॑ शम्यन्तु त्वा ॥३३ ॥

▸ Translation: May the scholars with research and action perfect and stabilize you in peace and tranquillity with the joyous gayatri, the stable trishtup, the protective anushtup, the comprehensive pankti, the expansive brihati, the lovely ushnih, and the charming kakup verses of the Veda. (May the scholars perfect the ruler.)

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.34 】

▸ Veda Mantra: द्विप॑दा॒ याश्चतु॑ष्पदा॒स्त्रिप॑दा॒ याश्च॒ षट्प॑दाः। विच्छ॑न्दा॒ याश्च॒ सच्छ॑न्दाः सू॒चीभिः॑ शम्यन्तु त्वा ॥३४ ॥

▸ Translation: O citizens of the nation, may the learned and the wise, with their knowledge and acts, perfect and stabilise you in peace and tranquillity with two-part, four-part, three-part, or six-part, or various or regular verses of the Veda.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.35 】

▸ Veda Mantra: म॒हाना॑म्न्यो रे॒वत्यो॒ विश्वा॒ आशाः॑ प्र॒भूव॑रीः। मैघी॑र्वि॒द्युतो॒ वाचः॑ सू॒चीभिः॑ शम्यन्तु त्वा ॥३५ ॥

▸ Translation: Seekers of knowledge, citizens of the nation, may the universal words of wisdom, golden rich, great and sublime, ringing in all directions, raining like the clouds, roaring like thunder, and blazing as lightning — may all these great voices perfect you with their integrative and elevating message of peace and stability.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.36 】

▸ Veda Mantra: नार्य॑स्ते॒ पत्न्यो॒ लोम॒ विचि॑न्वन्तु मनी॒षया॑। दे॒वानां॒ पत्न्यो॒ दिशः॑ सू॒चीभिः॑ शम्यन्तु त्वा ॥३६ ॥

▸ Translation: Ruler, citizens, teachers, may the women, virgins and wives of the noble people, protectors of the nation, listen and gather your words with care and understanding, and may they, like the pure transparent quarters of space, stabilise and perfect you with their integrative words and acts of love and wisdom.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.37 】

▸ Veda Mantra: र॒ज॒ता हरि॑णीः॒ सीसा॒ युजो॑ युज्यन्ते॒ कर्म॑भिः। अश्व॑स्य वा॒जिन॑स्त्व॒चि सिमाः॑ शम्यन्तु॒ शम्य॑न्तीः ॥३७ ॥

▸ Translation: Women in love, lovely, captivating, arresting with love and loyalty, exciting and dedicated, are joined in marriage to the protection and embrace of handsome, virile and generous young men by their own will and action. Bound in the discipline of matrimony, may they be at peace in security, and may they provide for the love, peace and security of the young men of their choice.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.38 】

▸ Veda Mantra: कु॒विद॒ङ्ग यव॑मन्तो॒ यव॑ञ्चि॒द्यथा॒ दान्त्य॑नुपू॒र्वं वि॒यूय॑। इ॒हेहै॑षां कृणुहि॒ भोज॑नानि॒ ये ब॒र्हिषो॒ नम॑ऽउक्तिं॒ यज॑न्ति ॥३८ ॥

▸ Translation: Dear Sabhasad, eminent member of the council, just as farmers blest with rich barley harvest the grain with discrimination, some plants separately and some together, so do the teachers sit on seats of grass, receive food and water, and carry on the yajna of education accomplishing their work with the disciples with judgement. Here in this school, provide for their food and maintenance.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.39 】

▸ Veda Mantra: कस्त्वाछ्य॑ति॒ कस्त्वा॒ विशा॑स्ति॒ कस्ते॒ गात्रा॑णि शम्यति। कऽउ॑ ते शमि॒ता क॒विः ॥३९ ॥

▸ Translation: Young learner, who cuts, grinds and shapes you into form? Who teaches, directs and controls you? Who exercises your body-parts to suppleness and equipoise? Who is the sage and seer, high-priest of your education, giving the last oblation of completion?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.40 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ऋ॒तव॑स्तऽऋतु॒था पर्व॑ शमि॒तारो॒ विशा॑सतु। सं॒व॒त्स॒रस्य॒ तेज॑सा श॒मीभिः॑ शम्यन्तु त्वा ॥४० ॥

▸ Translation: Learner, seeker of knowledge and expertise, may the seasons and the teachers training you in peace and action instruct and temper you according to the needs of the time and the stage of your life, and may they complete and perfect you with the splendour of the sun round the year and peaceable action and refinement.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.41 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒र्द्ध॒मा॒साः परू॑षि ते॒ मासा॒ऽआच्छ्य॑न्तु॒ शम्य॑न्तः। अ॒हो॒रा॒त्राणि॑ म॒रुतो॒ विलि॑ष्टꣳ सूदयन्तु ते ॥४१ ॥

▸ Translation: Learner, seeker of knowledge, may the days and nights, fortnights and months developing you refine and strengthen your body parts and life’s periods, and may the learned soften your roughness and eliminate your hardness.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.42 】

▸ Veda Mantra: दैव्या॑ऽअध्व॒र्यव॒स्त्वाच्छ्य॑न्तु॒ वि च॑ शासतु। गात्रा॑णि पर्व॒शस्ते॒ सिमाः॑ कृण्वन्तु॒ शम्य॑न्तीः ॥४२ ॥

▸ Translation: Learner, seeker, ruler, citizen, may the divine highpriests of the yajna and development of the nation instruct and refine you and develop the parts of your body, life and community from every joint and transition onward. May the loving motherly women wholly dedicated soften your heart and refine your mind.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.43 】

▸ Veda Mantra: द्यौस्ते॑ पृथि॒व्य᳕न्तरि॑क्षं वा॒युश्छि॒द्रं पृ॑णातु ते। सूर्य॑स्ते॒ नक्ष॑त्रैः स॒ह लो॒कं कृ॑णोतु साधु॒या ॥४३ ॥

▸ Translation: May the heaven (with its light), the earth (with his generosity and stability), the sky (with its expanse), the wind and air (with speed and energy) make up your wants and repair your weaknesses. And may the sun, lord of light and life, with the stars and planets, create for you a straight and simple world of beauty, freedom and progress.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.44 】

▸ Veda Mantra: शं ते॒ परे॑भ्यो॒ गात्रे॑भ्यः॒ शम॒स्त्वव॑रेभ्यः। शम॒स्थभ्यो॑ म॒ज्जभ्यः॒ शम्व॑स्तु त॒न्वै᳕ तव॑ ॥४४ ॥

▸ Translation: Peace and health to the higher parts of your personality. Peace and health to the lower parts of your body. Peace and strength to your bones and marrow. Peace and well-being to your body and mind all over.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.45 】

▸ Veda Mantra: कः स्वि॑देका॒की च॑रति॒ कऽउ॑ स्विज्जायते॒ पुनः॑। किस्वि॑द्धि॒मस्य॑ भेष॒जं किम्वा॒वप॑नं म॒हत्॥४५ ॥

▸ Translation: Who moves alone? Who is born again and again? What is the antidote of cold? And what is the great field and hold of life, seed and sustenance?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.46 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सूर्य्य॑ऽएका॒की च॑रति च॒न्द्रमा॑ जायते॒ पुनः॑। अ॒ग्निर्हि॒मस्य॑ भेष॒जं भूमि॑रा॒वप॑नं म॒हत्॥४६ ॥

▸ Translation: The sun moves alone. The moon is born again and again. Fire, heat, is the antidote of cold. And earth is the great field and hold of life, seed and sustenance.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.47 】

▸ Veda Mantra: किꣳस्वि॒त्सूर्य॑समं॒ ज्योतिः॒ किꣳस॑मु॒द्रस॑म॒ꣳसरः॑। किꣳस्वि॑त्पृथि॒व्यै वर्षी॑यः॒ कस्य॒ मात्रा॒ न वि॑द्यते ॥४७ ॥

▸ Translation: What is the other light like the sun? What is the vessel-hold of water like the sea? What is larger than the earth? What is without limits in the world?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.48 】

▸ Veda Mantra: ब्रह्म॒ सूर्य॑समं॒ ज्योति॒र्द्यौः स॑मु॒द्रस॑म॒ꣳसरः॑। इन्द्रः॑ पृथि॒व्यै वर्षी॑या॒न् गोस्तु मात्रा॒ न वि॑द्यते ॥४८ ॥

▸ Translation: Brahma is the light like the sun. The sky is the great vessel-hold of waters like the sea. The sun is greater than the earth. Word, divine speech, has no limits.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.49 】

▸ Veda Mantra: पृ॒च्छामि॑ त्वा चि॒तये॑ देवसख॒ यदि॒ त्वमत्र॒ मन॑सा ज॒गन्थ॑। येषु॒ विष्णु॑स्त्रि॒षु प॒देष्वेष्ट॒स्तेषु॒ विश्वं॒ भुव॑न॒मावि॑वेशाँ३ऽ ॥४९ ॥

▸ Translation: Friend of the divine, I ask you for my understanding, if with your mind you can reach the answer: Does the living world exist in those three regions of the universe — the earth, the sky, and the heavens, wherein Vishnu, universal lord of the world, pervades?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.50 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अपि॒ तेषु॑ त्रि॒षु प॒देष्व॑स्मि॒ येषु॒ विश्वं॒ भुव॑नमा वि॒वेश॑। स॒द्यः पर्ये॑मि पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्यामेके॒नाङ्गे॑न दि॒वोऽअ॒स्य पृ॒ष्ठम् ॥५० ॥

▸ Translation: I am there, sure, in those three regions of the universe wherein the whole living world exists. I instantly and universally pervade the earth, the sky and the vault of heaven, each with one existential part of my omnipresence.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.51 】

▸ Veda Mantra: केष्व॒न्तः पुरु॑ष॒ऽआ वि॑वेश॒ कान्य॒न्तः पुरु॑षे॒ऽअर्पि॑तानि। ए॒तद् ब्र॑ह्म॒न्नुप॑ वल्हामसि त्वा॒ किस्वि॑न्नः॒ प्रति॑ वोचा॒स्यत्र॑ ॥५१ ॥

▸ Translation: Who and how many does the Purusha, supreme spirit, pervade? Who and how many reside in the Purusha? This, O man of knowledge, we ask you so that we too may excel. What do you say to us on this question?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.52 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प॒ञ्चस्व॒न्तः पुरु॑ष॒ऽआवि॑वेश॒ तान्य॒न्तः पुरु॑षे॒ऽअर्पि॑तानि। ए॒तत्त्वात्र॑ प्रतिमन्वा॒नोऽअ॑स्मि॒ न मा॒यया॑ भव॒स्युत्त॑रो॒ मत्॥५२ ॥

▸ Translation: In five (elements of Prakriti) does the Purusha pervade. These five elements reside within the Purusha. This I say on the question believing and asking you to accept and believe. Not by maya, nor by mere science, nor by knowledge alone of existence would you go farther than me (the Purusha).

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.53 】

▸ Veda Mantra: का स्वि॑दासीत्पू॒र्वचि॑त्तिः॒ कि॑स्वि॑दासीद् बृ॒हद्वयः॑। का स्वि॑दासीत्पिलिप्पि॒ला का स्वि॑दासीत्पिशङ्गि॒ला ॥५३ ॥

▸ Translation: What is the first original structure in time? What is the great womb of the forms of life? What is the finest pliant material? What is the universal devourer?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.54 】

▸ Veda Mantra: द्यौरा॑सीत्पू॒र्वचि॑त्ति॒रश्व॑ऽआसीद् बृ॒हद्वयः॑। अवि॑रासीत्पिलिप्पि॒ला रात्रि॑रासीत्पिशङ्गि॒ला ॥५४ ॥

▸ Translation: Heaven, light, i.e., divine vibration of thought energy is the first original step in creation. Mahat, the first mutation of original Prakriti, was the great womb of the forms of creation. Manifested Prakriti is the finest pliant material for creation. Pralaya, the night of annihilation devours the universe.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.55 】

▸ Veda Mantra: काऽईम॑रे पिशङ्गि॒ला काऽर्इं॑ कुरुपिशङ्गि॒ला। कऽर्इ॑मा॒स्कन्द॑मर्षति॒ कऽर्इं॒ पन्थां॒ विस॑र्पति ॥५५ ॥

▸ Translation: What is the cover of the forms of existence? Who destroys the beauty of the crops? Who moves jumping in leaps? Who creeps on the path?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.56 】

▸ Veda Mantra: अ॒जारे॑ पिशङ्गि॒ला श्वा॒वित्कु॑रुपिशङ्गि॒ला। श॒शऽआ॒स्कन्द॑मर्ष॒त्यहिः॒ पन्थां॒ वि स॑र्पति ॥५६ ॥

▸ Translation: Prakriti is the cover of forms. Porcupine is the destroyer of the beauty of crops in the field. Energy moves in currents. And the clouds sail upon their path.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.57 】

▸ Veda Mantra: कत्य॑स्य वि॒ष्ठाः कत्य॒क्षरा॑णि॒ कति॒ होमा॑सः कति॒धा समि॑द्धः। य॒ज्ञस्य॑ त्वा वि॒दथा॑ पृच्छ॒मत्र॒ कति॒ होता॑रऽऋतु॒शो य॑जन्ति ॥५७ ॥

▸ Translation: How many permanent materials? How many operations? How many fuels and modes of lighting? I ask you these questions on the subject of yajna for knowledge. How many priests perform it according to the seasons?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.58 】

▸ Veda Mantra: षड॑स्य वि॒ष्ठाः श॒तम॒क्षरा॑ण्यशी॒तिर्होमाः॑ स॒मिधो॑ ह ति॒स्रः। य॒ज्ञस्य॑ ते वि॒दथा॒ प्र ब्र॑वीमि स॒प्त होता॑रऽऋतु॒शो य॑जन्ति ॥५८ ॥

▸ Translation: Six seasons are the pillars of yajna. Hundreds are the materials of permanent nature. Eighty are the operations. Three are the fuels. I speak to you of the knowledge of yajna. Seven priests carry on the yajna according to the seasons.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.59 】

▸ Veda Mantra: कोऽअ॒स्य वे॑द॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ नाभिं॒ को द्यावा॑पृथि॒वीऽअ॒न्तरि॑क्षम्। कः सूर्य॑स्य वेद बृह॒तो ज॒नित्रं॒ को वे॑द च॒न्द्रम॑सं यतो॒जाः ॥५९ ॥

▸ Translation: Who knows the centre-hold of this world? Who knows the earth, the sky, and the heaven, region of light? Who knows the great creator of the sun? Who knows the moon and wherefrom it was born?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.60 】

▸ Veda Mantra: वेदा॒हम॒स्य भुव॑नस्य॒ नाभिं॒ वेद॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वीऽअ॒न्तरि॑क्षम्। वेद॒ सूर्य॑स्य बृह॒तो ज॒नित्र॒मथो॑ वेद च॒न्द्रम॑सं यतो॒जाः ॥६० ॥

▸ Translation: I know the centre-hold of this world. I know the heaven and earth and the middle regions of the sky. I know the great creator of the sun. I know the moon and wherefrom it was born. (The man of real knowledge is one who knows Brahma, creator and sustainer of the world, and the world itself, who knows the efficient cause, Brahma, and the material cause, Prakriti, and the beneficiary, the jiva. The speaker is such a man of knowledge. Alternatively, the speaker is Brahma Itself.)

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.61 】

▸ Veda Mantra: पृ॒च्छामि॑ त्वा॒ पर॒मन्तं॑ पृथि॒व्याः पृ॒च्छामि॒ यत्र॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ नाभिः॑। पृ॒च्छामि॑ त्वा॒ वृष्णो॒ऽअश्व॑स्य॒ रेतः॑ पृ॒च्छामि॑ वा॒चः प॑र॒मं व्यो॑म ॥६१ ॥

▸ Translation: I ask you: What is the highest end of the earth and where? I ask you: What and where is the centre of the world? I ask you: Where and what is the seed of the virility and fertility of the male? I ask you: What and where is the haven and home and ultimate preserve of the Word, universal speech?

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.62 】

▸ Veda Mantra: इ॒यं वेदिः॒ परो॒ऽअन्तः॑ पृथि॒व्याऽअ॒यं य॒ज्ञो भुव॑नस्य॒ नाभिः॑। अ॒यꣳ सोमो॒ वृष्णो॒ऽअश्व॑स्य॒ रेतो॑ ब्र॒ह्मायं वा॒चः प॑र॒मं व्यो॑म ॥६२ ॥

▸ Translation: This yajna-vedi is the supreme and ultimate end of the earth. This yajna is the centre and centre-hold of the world. This soma is the seed and source of the virility and fertility of the male. And Brahma is the haven and home and birth and preserve of the Word, divine speech.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.63 】

▸ Veda Mantra: सु॒भूः स्व॑य॒म्भूः प्र॑थ॒मो᳕ऽन्तर्म॑हत्य᳖र्ण॒वे। द॒धे ह॒ गर्भ॑मृ॒त्वियं॒ यतो॑ जा॒तः प्र॒जाप॑तिः ॥६३ ॥

▸ Translation: Gracious and glorious, self-existent and at the very centre in this grand ocean of the universe is Brahma. He plants the seed of creation into Prakriti according to the season of the creative cycle, and thence is born Prajapati, the sun, lord of life.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.64 】

▸ Veda Mantra: होता॑ यक्षत्प्र॒जाप॑ति॒ꣳ सोम॑स्य महि॒म्नः। जु॒षतां॒ पिब॑तु॒ सोम॒ꣳ होत॒र्यज॑ ॥६४ ॥

▸ Translation: The man of yajna performs the yajna in honour of Prajapati, father and sustainer of the world of creation by the grace and glory of Soma, lord of life and omnipotence. May he ever dedicate himself to the lord and drink the nectar of life and immortality by divine grace. Man of yajna, carry on the yajna, relent not ever.

───────────────────

【 Verse 23.65 】

▸ Veda Mantra: प्रजा॑पते॒ न त्वदे॒तान्य॒न्यो विश्वा॑ रू॒पाणि॒ परि॒ ता ब॑भूव। यत्का॑मास्ते जुहु॒मस्तन्नो॑ऽअस्तु व॒यꣳ स्या॑म॒ पत॑यो रयी॒णाम् ॥६५ ॥

▸ Translation: Prajapati, lord of creation, no one other than you is supreme over and beyond all these and other forms of existence. Whatever our ends and aims for which we offer our homage to you, may all that come true for us. May we, by Grace, be masters, promoters and preservers of the wealths of the world.