Sukta 8

Mantra 1

ज्येष्ठब्रह्मवर्णनम्। १२ पुरोबृहती त्रिष्टुब्गर्भाऽऽर्षी पङ्क्तिः, १५, २७ भुरिग्बृहती, २२ पुर उष्णिक्, यो भूतं च भव्यं च सर्वं यश्चाधितिष्ठति । स्व१र्यस्य च केवलं तस्मै ज्येष्ठाय ब्रह्मणे नमः

Who ruleth over all—what hath been and what shall be—and whose alone is heaven: to that pre-eminent Brahman be reverent homage.

Mantra 2

स्कम्भेनेमे विष्टभिते द्यौश्च भूमिश्च तिष्ठतः । स्कम्भ इदं सर्वमात्मन्वद् यत् प्राणन्निमिषच्च यत्

By Skambha are these twain—Heaven and Earth—set fast and held apart. Skambha is all this world, ensouled: whatever breatheth, whatever winketh into life.

Mantra 3

तिस्रो ह प्रजा अत्यायमायन् न्य१न्या अर्कमभितोऽविशन्त । बृहन् ह तस्थौ रजसो विमानो हरितो हरिणीरा विवेश

Three, verily, were the creatures: they went on, passing beyond; the others entered round about the Sun. The Vast One stood fast, measuring out the airy realm; the tawny powers, the tawny mothers, entered in.

Mantra 4

द्वादश प्रधयश्चक्रमेकं त्रीणि नभ्यानि क उ तच्चिकेत । तत्राहतास्त्रीणि शतानि शङ्कवः षष्टिश्च खीला अविचाचला ये

Twelve are the fellies of the single wheel; three are the naves—who, indeed, hath discerned it? Therein are driven fast three hundred pegs, and sixty stakes besides, that stir not from their place.

Mantra 5

इदं सवितर्वि जानीहि षड् यमा एक एकजः । तस्मिन् हापित्वमिछन्ते य एषामेक एकजः

This, O Savitar, discern thou clearly: six are the paired ordinances; one is the single-born. In him they seek participation and kinship—he who is, of these, the one single-born.

Mantra 6

आविः सन्निहितं गुहा जरन्नाम महत् पदम्। तत्रेदं सर्वमार्पितमेजत् प्राणत् प्रतिष्ठितम्

Manifest, yet laid away in secrecy, is the great station, ancient by name. Therein is all this fastened—moving, breathing—set firm in its abiding-place.

Mantra 7

एकचक्रं वर्तत एकनेमि सहस्राक्षरं प्र पुरो नि पश्चा । अर्धेन विश्वं भुवनं जजान यदस्यार्धं क्व१तद् बभूव

One-wheeled it turns, one-rimmed, of a thousand syllables, moving forward—moving after. With half it generated all the world of being: where, then, was the other half of it become?

Mantra 8

पञ्चवाही वहत्यग्रमेषां प्रष्टयो युक्ता अनुसंवहन्ति । अयातमस्य ददृशे न यातं परं नेदीयोऽवरं दवीयः

Five-drawing, she beareth on the foremost point of these; the traces, duly yoked, bear onward in ordered union. Of him the untraversed is seen, not the traversed: the farther, the nearer; the lower, the more distant.

Mantra 9

तिर्यग्बिलश्चमस ऊर्ध्वबुध्नस्तस्मिन् यशो निहितं विश्वरूपम्। तदासत ऋषयः सप्त साकं ये अस्य गोपा महतो बभूवुः

A cup with sideward opening, with bottom set aloft: therein is glory laid away, of universal form. There sat the Seven Seers together, who became the guardians of this Great One.

Mantra 10

या पुरस्ताद् युज्यते या च पश्चाद् या विश्वतो युज्यते या च सर्वतः । यया यज्ञः प्राङ् तायते तां त्वा पृछामि कतमा सर्चाम्

She who is yoked in front, and she who behind; she who is yoked from every side, and she from all quarters: by whom the Sacrifice is stretched forth and drawn onward—her I ask of thee: which of the verses is she?

Mantra 11

यदेजति पतति यच्च तिष्ठति प्राणदप्राणन्निमिषच्च यद् भुवत्। तद् दाधार पृथिवीं विश्वरूपं तत् संभूय भवत्येकमेव

What moveth, what flieth, and what standeth still; what breatheth and what is breathless, what winketh, and what hath come to be—That hath upheld the Earth of universal form; that, coalescing, becometh One alone.

Mantra 12

अनन्तं विततं पुरुत्रानन्तमन्तवच्चा समन्ते । ते नाकपालश्चरति विचिन्वन् विद्वान् भूतमुत भव्यमस्य

Endless, outstretched, in many a place—endless, and yet as having end, on every side: there the Guardian of the heavenly vault goeth, discerning, wise, knowing what hath been and what shall be of it.

Mantra 13

प्रजापतिश्चरति गर्भे अन्तरदृश्यमानो बहुधा वि जायते । अर्धेन विश्वं भुवनं जजान यदस्यार्धं कतमः स केतुः

Prajāpati moveth in the womb; seen only within, he is born abroad in many a form. With but a half he hath begotten all this world of being: what, then, is that other half of him, and what the sign thereof?

Mantra 14

ऊर्ध्वं भरन्तमुदकं कुम्भेनेवोदहार्यऽम्। पश्यन्ति सर्वे चक्षुषा न सर्वे मनसा विदुः

As water that is drawn aloft, as though with a pitcher, so is it borne upward: all men behold it with the eye, yet not all discern it with the mind.

Mantra 15

दूरे पूर्णेन वसति दूर ऊनेन हीयते । महद् यक्षं भुवनस्य मध्ये तस्मै बलिं राष्ट्रभृतो भरन्ति

Far off he dwelleth in his fulness; far off he is diminished by the lacking. A mighty Mystery standeth in the midmost of the world: to him the upholders of the realm bring tribute-offering.

Mantra 16

यतः सूर्यः उदेत्यस्तं यत्र च गच्छति । तदेव मन्येऽहं ज्येष्ठं तदु नात्येति किं चन

Whence the Sun ariseth, and whither he goeth down to rest—this very thing I hold for chiefest; beyond that naught at all doth pass.

Mantra 17

ये अर्वाङ् मध्य उत वा पुराणं वेदं विद्वांसमभितो वदन्ति । आदित्यमेव ते परि वदन्ति सर्वे अग्निं द्वितीयं त्रिवृतं च हंसम्

They who, on this side in the midst, discourse on every hand of the ancient Veda and of the knowing sage—these all, in their full speech, declare Āditya alone; and Agni as the second, and the threefold Haṃsa.

Mantra 18

सहस्राह्ण्यं वियतावस्य पक्षौ हरेर्हंसस्य पततः स्वर्गम्। स देवान्त्सर्वानुरस्युपदद्य संपश्यन् याति भुवनानि विश्वा

A thousand-day enduring are the wings of him whose range is the wide expanse—of Hari, of the flying Hamsa—toward heaven. He, laying all the Gods upon his breast, beholding them in full vision, goes on to all the worlds.

Mantra 19

सत्येनोर्ध्वस्तपति ब्रह्मणार्वाङ् वि पश्यति । प्राणेन तिर्यङ् प्राणति यस्मिन् ज्येष्ठमधि श्रितम्

By Truth he burns aloft; by Brahman he looks hitherward with clear sight. By Breath he breathes across; in him the Highest is established above.

Mantra 20

यो वै ते विद्यादरणी याभ्यां निर्मथ्यते वसु । स विद्वान् ज्येष्ठं मन्येत स विद्याद् ब्राह्मणं महत्

Whoso in truth should know thy Aranis—those twain whereby the good treasure is churned forth—he, being a knower, should count himself the chief; he would know the mighty Brahman.

Mantra 21

अपादग्रे समभवत् सो अग्रे स्व१राभरत्। चतुष्पाद् भूत्वा भोग्यः सर्वमादत्त भोजनम्

Footless at first he came to be; he at the first brought heaven’s light. Becoming four-footed, meet for enjoyment, he took to himself all food for eating.

Mantra 22

भोग्यो भवदथो अन्नमदद् बहु। यो देवमुत्तरावन्तमुपासातै सनातनम्

He became one meet for enjoyment, and moreover ate food in abundance—whoso attends in worship upon the God, the Superior Helper, the Everlasting.

Mantra 23

सनातनमेनमाहुरुताद्य स्यात् पुनर्णवः । अहोरात्रे प्र जायेते अन्यो अन्यस्य रूपयोः

They call him everlasting; yet even to-day he may be born anew. In Day-and-Night he is brought forth: one form is born from the other’s form.

Mantra 24

शतं सहस्रमयुतं न्यऽर्बुदमसंख्येयं स्वमस्मिन् निविष्टम्। तदस्य घ्नन्त्यभिपश्यत एव तस्माद् देवो रोचत एष एतत्

A hundred, a thousand, ten thousand—yea, a vast uncounted mass—his own is planted here within. That very store they smite, even while they look upon it; therefore the God shone forth—this is that.

Mantra 25

बालादेकमणीयस्कमुतैकं नेव दृश्यते । ततः परिष्वजीयसी देवता सा मम प्रिया

One is subtler than a hair; and one is not seen at all. From that thou claspest all about: that Goddess is my dear one.

Mantra 26

इयं कल्याण्य१जरा मर्त्यस्यामृता गृहे। यस्मै कृता शये स यश्चकार जजार सः

This auspicious Power, unaging, immortal, lies in the mortal’s house. For whom she is made to lie—he thrives; but he who made her, he is worn with age.

Mantra 27

त्वं स्त्री त्वं पुमानसि त्वं कुमार उत वा कुमारी॥ त्वं जीर्णो दण्डेन वञ्चसि त्वं जातो भवसि विश्वतोमुखः

Thou art woman, thou art man; thou art a boy, yea—or a maiden. Thou, grown old, dost move with staff; thou, when born, becomest all-faced, looking every way.

Mantra 28

उतैषां पितोत वा पुत्र एषामुतैषां ज्येष्ठ उत वा कनिष्ठः । एको ह देवो मनसि प्रविष्टः प्रथमो जातः स उ गर्भे अन्तः

And of these he is the Father; or again, the Son of these; and of these he is the Eldest, or again the Youngest. One God indeed, entered within the mind—first-born—he, verily, is within the womb, within.

Mantra 29

पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदचति पूर्णं पूर्णेन सिच्यते । उतो तदद्य विद्याम यतस्तत् परिषिच्यते

From the Full the Full comes forth; the Full is poured with the Full. Yea, that—this day—may we know: from what source that is wholly poured around.

Mantra 30

एषा सनत्नी सनमेव जातैषा पुराणी परि सर्वं बभूव । मही देव्यु१षसो विभाती सैकेनैकेन मिषता वि चष्टे

This is the ancient one, born from of old; this primeval one hath encompassed all around. Great is the Goddess—Dawn—shining forth: she, one by one, beholds distinctly the living that blink.

Mantra 31

अविर्वै नाम देवतर्तेनास्ते परीवृता । तस्या रूपेणेमे वृक्षा हरिता हरितस्रजः

‘Avī’ by name is a Deity: with Ṛta she sitteth, encompassed round. In her very form are these trees—green, green-garlanded.

Mantra 32

अन्ति सन्तं न जहात्यन्ति सन्तं न पश्यति । देवस्य पश्य काव्यं न ममार न जीर्यति

Near unto him, it leaveth him not; near unto him, yet he beholdeth it not. Behold the God’s wondrous art: it hath not died, it doth not waste away.

Mantra 33

अपूर्वेणेषिता वाचस्ता वदन्ति यथायथम्। वदन्तीर्यत्र गच्छन्ति तदाहुर्ब्राह्मणं महत्

Urged on by a power primeval and unexampled, the Voices speak, each after its proper fashion. Whither, still speaking, they proceed—this men proclaim to be the mighty Brahman.

Mantra 34

यत्र देवाश्च मनुष्याऽश्चारा नाभाविव श्रिताः । अपां त्वा पुष्पं पृच्छामि यत्र तन्मायया हितम्

Where Gods and men, as spokes upon the nave, are stayed and rest—O Flower of Waters, thee I question: where is that treasure by mysterious power deposited?

Mantra 35

ये भिर्वात इषितः प्रवाति ये ददन्ते पञ्च दिशः सध्रीचीः । य आहुतिमत्यमन्यन्त देवा अपां नेतारः कतमे त आसन्

By whom impelled blows forth the Wind; who set in order the five directions, knit together; who—leaders of the Waters—whom the Gods accounted the oblation’s highest worth: which were they?

Mantra 36

इमामेषां पृथिवीं वस्त एकोऽन्तरिक्षं पर्येको बभूव । दिवमेषां ददते यो विधर्ता विश्वा आशाः प्रति रक्षन्त्येके

One of them inhabits this Earth; one, encompassing, hath become the Mid-air. He who is Ordainer bestows on them the Heaven; and certain ones guard, each over against, all regions.

Mantra 37

यो विद्यात् सूत्रं विततं यस्मिन्नोताः प्रजा इमाः । सूत्रं सूत्रस्य यो विद्याद् स विद्याद् ब्राह्मणं महत्

Who knows the Thread outstretched, wherein these creatures all are woven; who knows the Thread of the Thread—he verily knows the mighty Brahman.

Mantra 38

वेदाहं सूत्रं विततं यस्मिन्नोताः प्रजा इमाः । सूत्रं सूत्रस्याहं वेदाथो यद् ब्राह्मणं महत्

I know the thread outstretched, wherein these creatures are inwoven. The thread, and the thread’s own secret, I know; yea, that which is the mighty Brahman.

Mantra 39

यदन्तरा द्यावापृथिवी अग्निरैत् प्रदहन् विश्वदाव्यः । यत्रातिष्ठन्नेकपत्नीः परस्तात् क्वेऽवासीन्मातरिश्वा तदानीम्

When, between Heaven and Earth, the Fire went forth, burning on, a universal conflagration—where then stood the faithful wives beyond; where, indeed, was Mātariśvan at that season?

Mantra 40

अप्स्वाऽसीन्मातरिश्वा प्रविष्टः प्रविष्टा देवाः सलिलान्यासन्॥ बृहन् ह तस्थौ रजसो विमानः पवमानो हरित आ विवेश

In the waters was Mātariśvan entered; entered were the Gods—there were the floods. The Great One stood, measuring out the mid-air; self-purifying, with tawny beams/steeds he entered in.

Mantra 41

उत्तरेणेव गायत्रीममृतेऽधि वि चक्रमे । साम्ना ये साम संविदुरजस्तद् ददृशे क्वऽ

As though beyond, the Gāyatrī hath strode forth upon immortality. By chant—those who know the chant—was that mid-space beheld: where is it?

Mantra 42

निवेशनः संगमनो वसूनां देव इव सविता सत्यधर्मा । इन्द्रो न तस्थौ समरे धनानाम्

A settler, a gatherer of riches—like Savitṛ, a god of truthful ordinance—he stood fast, as Indra, in the battle for the prizes.

Mantra 43

पुण्डरीकं नवद्वारं त्रिभिर्गुणेभिरावृतम्। तस्मिन् यद् यक्षमात्मन्वत् तद् वै ब्रह्मविदो विदुः

A lotus-seat with nine portals, enclosed about with the threefold qualities: what therein is selfed with wasting-disease, that, verily, the knowers of Brahman know.

Mantra 44

अकामो धीरो अमृतः स्वयंभू रसेन तृप्तो न कुतश्चनोनः । तमेव विद्वान् न बिभाय मृत्योरात्मानं धीरमजरं युवानम्

Desireless, steadfast, deathless, self-existent, filled with essence, lacking in naught from any quarter—knowing that very One, the wise man feareth not Death: the Self, the steadfast, unaging, ever-young.