Sukta 91

Mantra 1

इमां धियं सप्तशीर्ष्णीं पिता न ऋतप्रजातां बृहतीमविन्दत्। तुरीयं स्विज्जनयद् विश्वजन्योऽयास्य उक्थमिन्द्राय शंसन्

This thought, seven-headed, born of ṛta, lofty—our Father found it. A fourth (portion) verily did the all-men’s (seer) Ayāsya generate, reciting an utterance unto Indra.

Mantra 2

ऋतं शंसन्त ऋजु दीध्याना दिवस्पुत्रासो असुरस्य वीराः । विप्रं पदमङ्गिरसो दधाना यज्ञस्य धाम प्रथमं मनन्त

Praising the Rite, and straight in purpose, the Sons of Heaven, heroes of the Lordly Power, set fast the inspired seer’s station: the Angirases, establishing the holy step, conceived the sacrifice’s first abode.

Mantra 3

हंसैरिव सखिभिर्वावदद्भिरश्मन्मयानि नहना व्यस्यन्। बृहस्पतिरभिकनिक्रदद् गा उत प्रास्तौदुच्च विद्वां अगायत्

As with swans, with comrades loudly calling, they cast asunder the stone-wrought bonds. Bṛhaspati, crying out against them, won the cows; and he, the wise, both praised aloud and sang on high.

Mantra 4

अवो द्वाभ्यां पर एकया गा गुहा तिष्ठन्तीरनृतस्य सेतौ । बृहस्पतिस्तमसि ज्योतिरिच्छन्नुदुस्रा आकर्वि हि तिस्र आवः

With help of two, and passing with but one, he brought forth the cows that stood concealed within the cave, at Falsehood’s barrier. Bṛhaspati, seeking light amid the darkness, drew up the ruddy ones: for threefold are his aids.

Mantra 5

विभिद्या पुरं शयथेमपाचीं निस्त्रीणि साकमुदधेरकृन्तत्। बृहस्पतिरुषसं सूर्यं गामर्कं विवेद स्तनयन्निव द्यौः

Having cleft the backward-settled fortress, they cut forth, all at once, three treasures from the ocean-depth. Bṛhaspati found Dawn, the Sun, the Cow, the Hymn—thundering, as it were, like Heaven.

Mantra 6

इन्द्रो वलं रक्षितारं दुघानां करेणेव वि चकर्ता रवेण । स्वेदाञ्जिभिराशिरमिच्छमानोऽरोदयत् पणिमा गा अमुष्णात्

Indra, with roar, as with an elephant’s hand, clave Vala, the guardian of the milk-yielding kine. Seeking refreshment with his sweat-besprent helpers, he made the Paṇi wail, and carried off the cows.

Mantra 7

स ईं सत्येभिः सखिभिः शुचद्भिर्गोधायसं वि धनसैरदर्दः । ब्रह्मणस्पतिर्वृषभिर्वराहैर्घर्मस्वेदेभिर्द्रविणं व्याऽनट्

He, even he, with true comrades, with the pure and shining, clave the godhāyasa asunder with crushing smiters. Brahmaṇaspati, with bulls, with boars, with heat-sweating powers, won forth the treasure.

Mantra 8

ते सत्येन मनसा गोपतिं गा इयानास इषणयन्त धीभिः । बृहस्पतिर्मिथोअवद्यपेभिरुदुस्रिया असृजत स्वयुग्भिः

They, with truth for mind, advancing toward the Lord of cattle, impelled the cows with their inspired thoughts. Bṛhaspati, amid mutual revilers, sent forth the ruddy kine, with his own yoked powers.

Mantra 9

तं वर्धयन्तो मतिभिः शिवाभिः सिंहमिव नानदतं सधस्थे । बृहस्पतिं वृषणं शूरसातौ भरेभरे अनु मदेम जिष्णुम्

Him we strengthen with auspicious thoughts—him roaring like a lion in the common seat. Bṛhaspati, the bull, the victor in the winning of heroes—after him may we exult in every battle-burden, the conquering one.

Mantra 10

यदा वाजमसनद् विश्वरूपमा द्यामरुक्षदुत्तराणि सद्म । बृहस्पतिं वृषणं वर्धयन्तो नाना सन्तो बिभ्रतो ज्योतिरासा

When he won the prize, all-formed, and mounted unto heaven, unto the higher seats—then, strengthening Bṛhaspati the bull, being manifold, they bore the light and were established.

Mantra 11

सत्यमाशिषं कृणुता वयोधै कीरिं चिद्ध्यवथ स्वेभिरेवैः । पश्चा मृधो अप भवन्तु विश्वास्तद् रोदसी शृणुतं विश्वमिन्वे

Make true the blessing, O giver of vigor; for even the hymn thou aidest with thine own efficacious powers. Let all assaults be turned away behind us: that, O Heaven and Earth, hear ye—O all-impelling one.

Mantra 12

इन्द्रो मह्ना महतो अर्णवस्य वि मूर्धानमभिनदर्बुदस्य । अहन्नहिमरिणात् सप्त सिन्धून् देवैर्द्यावापृथिवी प्रावतं नः

Indra, by his mighty greatness, clave asunder the summit of the vast flood; he split the head of Arbuda. He smote the Serpent, he set free the Seven Rivers: with the Gods, O Heaven and Earth, do ye bear us onward in protection.