Sukta 4

Mantra 1

ऋषभः १८ उपरिष्टाद्बृहती, २१ आस्तारपङ्क्तिः। साहस्रस्त्वेष ऋषभः पयस्वान् विश्वा रूपाणि वक्षणासु बिभ्रत्। भद्रं दात्रे यजमानाय शीक्षन् बार्हस्पत्य उस्रियस्तन्तुमातान्

A thousand-fold, vehement Bull, rich in milk, bearing all forms of might within his flanks—teaching auspicious good to the giver, to the sacrificer—Bṛhaspati’s own, amid the mother-cows, the thread of lineage.

Mantra 2

अपां यो अग्ने प्रतिमा बभूव प्रभूः सर्वस्मै पृथिवीव देवी। पिता वत्सानां पतिरघ्न्यानां साहस्रे पोषे अपि नः कृणोतु

He who, O Agni, hath become the waters’ very counterpart—mighty for all, like Earth the Goddess—father of calves, lord of the inviolable cows: in thousandfold thriving let him make it come upon us.

Mantra 3

पुमानन्तर्वान्त्स्थविरः पयस्वान् वसोः कबन्धमृषभो बिभर्ति । तमिन्द्राय पथिभिर्देवयानैर्हुतमग्निर्वहतु जातवेदाः

Male, inwardly full, stout, rich in milk—the Bull bears the very trunk of wealth. Him, offered for Indra, by paths that lead to Gods, let Agni Jātavedas convey.

Mantra 4

पिता वत्सानां पतिरघ्न्यानामथो पिता महतां गर्गराणाम्। वत्सो जरायु प्रतिधुक् पीयूष आमिक्षा घृतं तद् वस्य रेतः

Father of calves, lord of the inviolable cows—yea, father besides of the great gargaras. The calf, the afterbirth, the milk-yield, the colostrum, the clotted milk, the ghee—this is his seed.

Mantra 5

देवानां भाग उपनाह एषो३पां रस ओषधीनां घृतस्य । सोमस्य भक्षमवृणीत शक्रो बृहन्नद्रिरभवद् यच्छरीरम्

This is the Gods’ appointed portion, this fastening-on: the sap of waters, of herbs, of ghee. Śakra chose for himself Soma’s edible share; great became the stone, when it was body.

Mantra 6

सोमेन पूर्णं कलशं बिभर्षि त्वष्टा रुपाणां जनिता पशूनाम्। शिवास्ते सन्तु प्रजन्वऽ इह या इमा न्यस्मभ्यं स्वधिते यच्छ या अमूः

With Soma filled thou holdest the jar: Tvaṣṭṛ, begetter of forms, begetter of cattle. Auspicious be thy generative powers here—both these that are present; and, O well-edged (Svadhiti), grant us those that are yonder.

Mantra 7

आज्यं बिभर्ति घृतमस्य रेतः साहस्रः पोषस्तमु यज्ञमाहुः । इन्द्रस्य रूपमृषभो वसानः सो अस्मान् देवाः शिव ऐतु दत्तः

The ājya bears ghee as its seed: thousandfold nourishment—so, indeed, they call that a sacrifice. Wearing Indra’s form, a bull, may he—bestowed—come to us, O Gods, auspicious.

Mantra 8

इन्द्रस्यौजो वरुणस्य बाहू अश्विनोरंसौ मरुतामियं ककुत्। बृहस्पतिं संभृतमेतमाहुर्ये धीरासः कवयो ये मनीषिणः

Indra’s might, Varuṇa’s arms, the Aśvins’ shoulders—this is the Maruts’ summit. This they call Bṛhaspati, well-compounded, even they who are steadfast, poets, and discerning.

Mantra 9

दैवीर्विशः पयस्वाना तनोषि त्वामिन्द्रं त्वां सरस्वन्तमाहुः । सहस्रं स एकमुखा ददाति यो ब्राह्मण ऋषभमाजुहोति

The divine clans, rich in milk, thou spreadest forth: thee they call Indra, thee Sarasvant. A thousand, from one mouth, he bestows—he who, a Brahman, offers the bull.

Mantra 10

बृहस्पतिः सविता ते वयो दधौ त्वष्टुर्वायोः पर्यात्मा त आभृतः । अन्तरिक्षे मनसा त्वा जुहोमि बर्हिष्टे द्यावापृथिवी उभे स्ताम्

Bṛhaspati and Savitar have set for thee thy vital vigour; the all-encompassing essence of Tvaṣṭṛ and of Vāyu is brought hither for thee. In the mid-air, with mind I offer thee; upon the sacred grass let Heaven and Earth, both twain, stand fast.

Mantra 11

य इन्द्र इव देवेषु गोष्वेति विवावदत्। तस्य ऋषभस्याङ्गानि ब्रह्मा सं स्तौतु भद्रया

He who, like Indra among the Gods, moves amid the kine and sounds aloud—of that bull’s limbs let the Brahman wholly speak in praise with auspicious word.

Mantra 12

पार्श्वे आस्तामनुमत्या भगस्यास्तामनूवृजौ । अष्ठीवन्तावब्रवीन्मित्रो ममैतौ केवलाविति

At the flanks were set Anumati; of Bhaga were set the two adjacent parts, firm with bone. Mitra spake: ‘These twain are mine alone.’

Mantra 13

भसदासीदादित्यानां श्रोणी आस्तां बृहस्पतेः । पुच्छं वातस्य देवस्य तेन धूनोत्योषधीः

The rump was of the Ādityas; the hips were set as Bṛhaspati’s. The tail is of the god Wind: therewith he shakes and drives the plants abroad.

Mantra 14

गुदा आसन्त्सिनीवाल्याः सूर्यायास्त्वचमब्रुवन्। उत्थातुरब्रुवन् पद ऋषभं यदकल्पयन्

The anus-parts were Sinīvālī’s; the skin, they said, was Sūryā’s. Of the Uprising One they spake the feet, when they fashioned the Bull aright.

Mantra 15

क्रोड आसीज्जामिशंसस्य सोमस्य कलशो धृतः । देवाः संगत्य यत् सर्व ऋषभं व्यकल्पयन्

A lap there was: for Soma of the self-praising kinsman the jar was firmly held. When all the Gods, assembled in one accord, set forth and duly ordered the Bull.

Mantra 16

ते कुष्ठिकाः सरमायै कूर्मेभ्यो अदधुः शफान्। ऊबध्यमस्य कीटेभ्यः श्ववर्तेभ्यो अधारयन्

These Kuṣṭha-men bestowed the hoofs upon Saramā, taken from the tortoises; and from the insects, from the dog-haunting creatures, they held back the ūbadhya’s bane.

Mantra 17

शृङ्गाभ्यां रक्ष ऋषत्यवर्तिं हन्ति चक्षुषा । शृणोति भद्रं कर्णाभ्यां गवां यः पतिरघ्न्यः

With his two horns he smites the fiend that would assail; with his eye he slays the repulse. With his two ears he hearkens after good—he who is lord of kine, the inviolable.

Mantra 18

शतयाजं स यजते नैनं दुन्वन्त्यग्नयः । जिन्वन्ति विश्वे तं देवा यो ब्राह्मण ऋषभमाजुहोति

A hundred-sacrificer is he accounted; the Fires afflict him not. All Gods make him to thrive—who, being Brahman, offers up the Bull.

Mantra 19

ब्राह्मणेभ्य ऋषभं दत्त्वा वरीयः कृणुते मनः । पुष्टिं सो अघ्न्यानां स्वे गोष्ठेऽव पश्यते

Giving the Bull unto the Brahmans, he maketh his mind the more excellent; and thriving of the inviolable kine he plainly sees within his own cowshed.

Mantra 20

गावः सन्तु प्रजाः सन्त्वथो अस्तु तनूबलम्। तत् सर्वमनु मन्यन्तां देवा ऋषभदायिने

Let there be kine; let there be offspring; and further, let there be bodily strength. Let the Gods assent, in full, to all that—unto the giver of the bull.

Mantra 21

अयं पिपान इन्द्र इद् रयिं दधातु चेतनीम्। अयं धेनुं सुदुघां नित्यवत्सां वशं दुहां विपश्चितं परो दिवः

This Indra, waxing full, shall verily bestow quickening wealth. This (gift) shall bring a milch-cow, good at milking, ever with calf, obedient to the hand, yielding milk—wise—(a boon) from beyond the heaven.

Mantra 22

पिशङ्गरूपो नभसो वयोधा ऐन्द्रः शुष्मो विश्वरूपो न आगन्। आयुरस्मभ्यं दधत् प्रजां च रायश्च पोषैरभि नः सचताम्

Tawny of form, life-bestowing from the cloud, Indra’s might, all-formed, hath come to us. Setting for us life and progeny—let wealth also, with prosperings, cleave fast about us.

Mantra 23

उपेहोपपर्चनास्मिन् गोष्ठ उप पृञ्च नः । उप ऋषभस्य यद् रेत उपेन्द्र तव वीर्यऽम्

Hither, even here, O bedewer—within this cowshed—sprinkle upon us. Hither (bring) the bull’s seed, hither, O Indra, thy potency.

Mantra 24

एतं वो युवानं प्रति दध्मो अत्र तेन क्रीडन्तीश्चरत वशाँ अनु । मा नो हासिष्ट जनुषा सुभागा रायश्च पोषैरभि नः सचध्वम्

This youthful one we set before you here: with him, sporting, go your ways, ye tractable (cows), following after. Forsake us not, fortunate by your very birth; and with prosperings let wealth cleave fast about us.