Sukta 12

Mantra 1

ऋतस्य यज्ञः। समिद्धो अद्य मनुषो दुरोणे देवो देवान् यजसि जातवेदः । आ च वह मित्रमहश्चिकित्वान्त्वं दूतः कविरसि प्रचेताः

The sacrifice is of ṛta. Kindled to-day in the house of man, thou, O Jātavedas, the God, dost worship the Gods. Hither, too, bear Mitra, thou who knowest the days: thou art messenger, seer, of forethought.

Mantra 2

तनूनपात् पथ ऋतस्य यानान् मध्वा समञ्जन्त्स्वदया सुजिह्व । मन्मानि धीभिरुत यज्ञमृन्धन् देवत्रा च कृणुह्यध्वरं नः

O Tanūnapāt, the paths—the courses of ṛta—fitting them together with sweetness, make them pleasant, O fair-tongued. Further our hymns with insights, and the sacrifice besides; and make our rite go god-ward.

Mantra 3

आजुह्वान ईड्यो बन्द्यश्चा याह्यग्ने वसुभिः सजोषाः । त्वं देवानामसि यह्व होता स एनान् यक्षीषितो यजीयान्

Having made oblation, worthy of praise and reverence, come hither, O Agni, with the Vasus in one accord. Thou art the gods’ impetuous Hotar: from hence do thou sacrifice unto these, the more worship-worthy.

Mantra 4

प्राचीनं बर्हिः प्रदिशा पृथिव्या वस्तोरस्या वृज्यते अग्रे अह्नाम्। व्युऽप्रथते वितरं वरीयो देवेभ्यो अदितये स्योनम्

Eastward the sacred grass is strewn, in the earth’s fore-direction, in this our dwelling, at the days’ beginning. It spreads forth wider, more spacious— a kindly couch for the gods, for Aditi.

Mantra 5

व्यचस्वतीरुर्विया वि श्रयन्तां पतिभ्यो न जनयः शुम्भमानाः । देवीर्द्वारो बृहतीर्विश्वमिन्वा देवेभ्यो भवत सुप्रायणाः

Wide-opening, broad—let them stand apart, like wives adorning themselves for their lords. O divine Doors, great and all-impelling, become for the gods of happy entrance.

Mantra 6

आ सुष्वयन्ती यजते उपाके उषासानक्ता सदतां नि योनौ । दिव्ये योषणे बृहती सुरुक्मे अधि श्रियं शुक्रपिशं दधाने

Hither, resounding fair, near to the sacrifice—let Dawn and Night sit down within their seat; in the heavenly maidenly abode, great, well-golden, bearing upon them splendour, bright-adorned.

Mantra 7

दैव्या होतारा प्रथमा सुवाचा मिमाना यज्ञं मनुषो यजध्यै । प्रचोदयन्ता विदथेषु कारू प्राचीनं ज्योतिः प्रदिशा दिशन्ता

The two divine Hotars, foremost, fair-speaking, measuring out the sacrifice for Manu’s worship—impelling the poet in the assemblies, and pointing out eastward light in the fore-direction.

Mantra 8

आ नो यज्ञं भारती तूयमेत्विडा मनुष्वदिह चेतयन्ती । तिस्रो देवीर्बर्हिरेदं स्योनं सरस्वतीः स्वपसः सदन्ताम्

Hither to us let Bhāratī come swiftly unto the sacrifice; let Iḍā, after the manner of Manu, here awaken (our rite). Let the three Goddesses sit upon this pleasant, kindly Barhis—Sarasvatīs, of goodly operation.

Mantra 9

य इमे द्यावापृथिवी जनित्री रूपैरपिंशद् भुवनानि विश्वा । तमद्य होतरिषितो यजीयान् देवं त्वष्टारमिहयक्षि विद्वान्

He who with forms hath fashioned these two Begetters, Heaven and Earth, and wrought all worlds—him, today, O Hotṛ, impelled (to thy task), the more adorable God, Tvaṣṭṛ, here worship thou, as one that knoweth.

Mantra 10

उपावसृज त्मन्या समञ्जन् देवानां पाथ ऋतुथा हवींषि । वनस्पतिः शमिता देवो अग्निः स्वदन्तु हव्यं मधुना घृतेन

Send forth, of thine own might, duly ordering the gods’ path, the oblations in their season. Let the Lord of the Forest, the appeaser, the god Agni—let them relish the offering with honey and with ghee.

Mantra 11

सद्यो जातो व्यऽमिमीत यज्ञमग्निर्देवानामभवत् पुरोगाः । अस्य होतुः प्रशिष्यृतस्य वाचि स्वाहाकृतं हविरदन्तु देवाः

New-born, straightway he measured out the sacrifice: Agni became the gods’ forerunner. In the speech of this well-instructed Hotṛ, let the Gods eat the oblation made fast with Svāhā.