Sukta 3

Mantra 1

शाला। उपमितां प्रतिमितामथो परिमितामुत। शालाया विश्ववाराया नद्धानि वि चृतामसि

The house,—measured near, measured duly, yea measured all about,—the fastenings of the all-warding house, those do we sunder and cut apart.

Mantra 2

यत् ते नद्धं विश्ववारे पाशो ग्रन्थिश्च यः कृतः । बृहस्पतिरिवाहं बलं वाचा वि स्रंसयामि तत्

What binding thou hast, O all-warding,—the noose, the knot, which hath been made,—that, like Bṛhaspati, I with speech unloose, and make its force fall away.

Mantra 3

आ ययाम सं बबर्ह ग्रन्थींश्चकार ते दृढान्। परूंषि विद्वांछस्तेवेन्द्रेण वि चृतामसि

Hither we come: he hath bound fast, he hath made for thee firm knots. Thy joints, as one that knoweth, as with an axe,—with Indra—do we cut apart.

Mantra 4

वंशानां ते नहनानां प्राणाहस्य तृणस्य च । पक्षाणां विश्ववारे ते नद्धानि वि चृतामसि

The fastenings of thy bamboos, of thy bindings that seize the breath, and of thy grass; the fastenings of thy sides, O all-warding,—those do we cut apart.

Mantra 5

संदंशानां पलदानां परिष्वञ्जल्यस्य च । इदं मानस्य पत्न्या नद्धानि वि चृतामसि

The fastenings of the clamps, the fastenings of the coverings, and of the tight-embracing wrap,—these bindings of Māna’s wife do we cut apart.

Mantra 6

यानि तेऽन्तः शिक्याऽन्याबेधू रण्याऽय कम्। प्र ते तानि चृतामसि शिवा मानस्य पत्नि न उद्धिता तन्वेऽ भव

What things of thine, within, in sling and other fastenings, have been driven in—belonging to the wild—those, forth for thee, we cut away. Be gracious, O wife of Māna; uplifted, be thou for us, for bodily weal.

Mantra 7

हविर्धानमग्निशालं पत्नीनां सदनं सदः । सदो देवानामसि देवि शाले

Thou art the oblation-store, the hall of Agni, the wives’ own dwelling-seat, the session. The session of the Gods art thou, O goddess Hall.

Mantra 8

अक्षुमोपशं विततं सहस्राक्षं विषूवति । अवनद्धमभिहितं ब्रह्मणा वि चृतामसि

The eye-beset covering, outspread, thousand-eyed, lying athwart—bound about and laid on—this, with sacred spell, we cut apart.

Mantra 9

यस्त्वा शाले प्रतिगृह्णाति येन चासि मिता त्वम्। उभौ मानस्य पत्नि तौ जीवतां जरदष्टी

He who, O Hall, receives thee, and he by whom thou art measured out—let both, O wife of Māna, live on, beholding old age.

Mantra 10

अमुत्रैनमा गच्छताद् दृढा नद्धा परिष्कृता । यस्यास्ते विचृतामस्यङ्गमङ्गं परुष्परुः

Yonder let this depart. Firm-bound, well-fastened, well-prepared—she of whom we have cut away for thee, part by part, joint by joint.

Mantra 11

यस्त्वा शाले निमिमाय संजभार वनस्पतीन्। प्रजायै चक्रे त्वा शाले परमेष्ठी प्रजापतिः

He who, O House, measured thee forth and gathered together the forest-lords (the timbers),—Prajāpati, the Highest-Stationed, made thee, O House, for progeny.

Mantra 12

नमस्तस्मै नमो दात्रे शालापतये च कृण्मः । नमोऽग्नये प्रचरते पुरुषाय च ते नमः

Homage to him; homage we make to the Giver, and to the Lord of the House. Homage to Agni as he ranges abroad; and homage be to thee, to the Person (within).

Mantra 13

गोभ्यो अश्वेभ्यो नमो यच्छालायां विजायते । विजावति प्रजावति वि ते पाशांश्चृतामसि

Homage to the kine, homage to the steeds—since in the House there is brought forth (increase). Offspring-rich, progeny-rich, thou cuttest away thy nooses.

Mantra 14

अग्निमन्तश्छादयसि पुरुषान् पशुभिः सह। विजावति प्रजावति वि ते पाशांश्चृतामसि

Agni within thou coverest, sheltering men together with their cattle. Offspring-rich, progeny-rich, thou cuttest away thy nooses.

Mantra 15

अन्तरा द्यां च पृथिवीं च यद् व्यचस्तेन शालां प्रति गृह्णामि त इमाम्। यदन्तरिक्षं रजसो विमानं तत् कृण्वेऽहमुदरं शेवधिभ्यः । तेन शालां प्रति गृह्णामि तस्मै

With that which is spread out betwixt heaven and earth, thereby I take to me, in due relation, this House for thee. What is the atmosphere, the measured expanse of the airy region—that I make a belly for treasures: thereby I take to me the House for him.

Mantra 16

ऊर्जस्वती पयस्वती पृथिव्यां निमिता मिता। विश्वान्नं बिभ्रती शाले मा हिंसीः प्रतिगृह्णतः

Rich in vital strength, rich in milk, on Earth duly measured out and measured; bearing all manner of food, O Hall—harm not him that takes thee to himself.

Mantra 17

तृणैरावृता पलदान् वसाना रात्रीव शाला जगतो निवेशनी । मिता पृथिव्यां तिष्ठसि हस्तिनीव पद्वती

Covered with grasses, wearing her side-boards, like Night, O Hall, a lodging-place for all that moves; measured on Earth thou standest, firm-footed as a she-elephant.

Mantra 18

इटस्य ते वि चृताम्यपिनद्धमपोर्णुवन्। वरुणेन समुब्जितां मित्रः प्रातर्व्युऽब्जतु

Of Iṭa’s portion for thee I loosen what is bound on, uncovering it: what is well-fastened with Varuṇa—let Mitra in the morning unfasten it.

Mantra 19

ब्रह्मणा शालां निमितां कविभिर्निमितां मिताम्। इन्द्राग्नी रक्षतां शालाममृतौ सोम्यं सदः

By brahman was the Hall established, by seers established, measured out: let Indra and Agni, the two immortals, guard the Hall, the soma-gladdening seat.

Mantra 20

कुलायेऽधि कुलायं कोशे कोशः समुब्जितः । तत्र मर्तो वि जायते यस्माद् विश्वं प्रजायते

In nest upon nest, in sheath a sheath is firmly fitted: therein the mortal is born forth—whence all is generated.

Mantra 21

या द्विपक्षा चतुष्पक्षा षट् पक्षा या निमीयते । अष्टापक्षां दशपक्षां शालां मानस्य पत्नीमग्निर्गर्भ इवा शये

She that is two-flanked, four-flanked, six-flanked—she that is duly measured out; the Hall of eight flanks, of ten flanks, Māna’s spouse—within her Agni, like an embryo, lieth at rest.

Mantra 22

प्रतीचीं त्वा प्रतीचीनः शाले प्रैम्यहिंसतीम्। अग्निर्ह्य१न्तरापश्चर्तस्य प्रथमा द्वाः

Westward-turned, turned toward me, O Hall, I enter thee—harmless, injuring none. For Agni, and the Waters within, are the first door of Order (Ṛta).

Mantra 23

इमा आपः प्र भराम्ययक्ष्मा यक्ष्मनाशनीः । गृहानुप प्र सीदाम्यमृतेन सहाग्निना

These Waters I bring forth—free from wasting-sickness, destroyers of wasting-sickness. Unto the houses I draw near and settle me, with Deathlessness, together with Agni.

Mantra 24

मा नः पाशं प्रति मुचो गुरुर्भारो लघुर्भव । वधूमिव त्वा शाले यत्रकामं भरामसि

Cast not back upon us the noose: let the heavy burden be made light. Like a bride, O Hall, we bear thee onward, even as we list, unto the place desired.

Mantra 25

प्राच्या दिशः शालाया नमो महिम्ने स्वाहा देवेभ्यः स्वाह्येऽभ्यः

To the Eastern Quarter of the Hall—obeisance to its majesty: svāhā! To the Gods—svāhā! svāhā to those that are here invoked.

Mantra 26

दक्षिणाया दिशः शालाया नमो महिम्ने स्वाहा देवेभ्यः स्वाह्येऽभ्यः

To the Hall of the southern Quarter—obeisance to (its) Majesty: svāhā! To the Gods—svāhā! to those meet for svāhā.

Mantra 27

प्रतीच्या दिशः शालाया नमो महिम्ने स्वाहा देवेभ्यः स्वाह्येऽभ्यः

To the Hall of the western Quarter—obeisance to (its) Majesty: svāhā! To the Gods—svāhā! to those meet for svāhā.

Mantra 28

उदीच्या दिशः शालाया नमो महिम्ने स्वाहा देवेभ्यः स्वाह्येऽभ्यः

To the Hall of the northern Quarter—obeisance to (its) Majesty: svāhā! To the Gods—svāhā! to those meet for svāhā.

Mantra 29

ध्रुवाया दिशः शालाया नमो महिम्ने स्वाहा देवेभ्यः स्वाह्येऽभ्यः

To the Hall of the steadfast Quarter—obeisance to (its) Majesty: svāhā! To the Gods—svāhā! to those meet for svāhā.

Mantra 30

ऊर्ध्वाया दिशः शालाया नमो महिम्ने स्वाहा देवेभ्यः स्वाह्येऽभ्यः

To the Hall of the upward Quarter—obeisance to (its) Majesty: svāhā! To the Gods—svāhā! to those meet for svāhā.

Mantra 31

दिशोदिशः शालाया नमो महिम्ने स्वाहा देवेभ्यः स्वाह्येऽभ्यः

Homage to the quarters—yea, to every quarter—of the Hall; homage to its majesty. Svāhā! Svāhā to the Gods, to those meet for the Svāhā-call.