Sukta 50

Mantra 1

रात्रिः। अध रात्रि तृष्टधूममशीर्षाणमहिं कृणु । अक्षौ वृकस्य निर्जह्यास्तेन तं द्रुपदे जहि

Night! Now, O Night, make the serpent smoke-choked, make him headless. Tear out the wolf’s two eyes; smite that thief with the wooden fetter, in the stocks.

Mantra 2

ये ते रात्र्यनड्वाहस्तीक्ष्णशृङ्गाः स्वाशवः । तेभिर्नो अद्य पारयाति दुर्गाणि विश्वहा

Those oxen of thine, O Night, sharp-horned and of good speed—by them do thou to-day bear us across, beyond all difficult passes, for evermore.

Mantra 3

रात्रिंरात्रिमरिष्यन्तस्तरेम तन्वा वयम्। गम्भीरमप्लवा इव न तरेयुररातयः

Night after night, unperishing, may we pass over with our very bodies; but the hostile, like men without a boat upon the deep, may they not pass across.

Mantra 4

यथा शाम्याकः प्रपतन्नपवान् नानुविद्यते । एवा रात्रि प्र पातय यो अस्मां अभ्यघायति

As a śāmyāka, hurled forth and wind-driven, is not found again—so, O Night, drive far away, cast down, him who deviseth evil against us.

Mantra 5

अप स्तेनं वासो गोअजमुत तस्करम्। अथो यो अर्वतः शिरोऽभिधाय निनीषति

Away the thief—away the robber of garment, of cow and goat; yea, and him who, seizing the horse by the head, would fain lead it off.

Mantra 6

यदद्या रात्रि सुभगे विभजन्त्ययो वसु । यदेतदस्मान् भोजय यथेदन्यानुपायसि

What wealth of metal they apportion to-day, O Night, thou gracious one—therewith do thou make us to have enjoyment, even as thou art wont to draw near unto others.

Mantra 7

उषसे नः परि देहि सर्वान् रात्र्यनागसः । उषा नो अह्ने आ भजादहस्तुभ्यं विभावरि

O Dawn, encompass and bestow on us—on all of us—sinlessness against the Night. Let Dawn apportion us unto the Day; this day is for thee, O far-radiant One.