Sukta 117

Mantra 1

मध्वः सोमस्याश्विना मदाय प्रत्नो होता विवासते वाम् । बर्हिष्मती रातिर्विश्रिता गीरिषा यातं नासत्योप वाजैः ॥

For the delight of the honeyed Soma, O Aśvins, the ancient Hotṛ calls you to the offering. Spread out is the gift upon the barhis, and the word is set free with the impulsion of nourishment; come, O Nāsatyas, near with the vāja-forces—plenitudes of victorious energy.

Mantra 2

यो वामश्विना मनसो जवीयान्रथः स्वश्वो विश आजिगाति । येन गच्छथः सुकृतो दुरोणं तेन नरा वर्तिरस्मभ्यं यातम् ॥

That chariot of yours, O Ashvins, swifter than the mind, well-horsed, that reaches the peoples—by that perfected movement with which you go to the well-built home, by that path of advance come to us, O two lords of manhood.

Mantra 3

ऋषिं नरावंहसः पाञ्चजन्यमृबीसादत्रिं मुञ्चथो गणेन । मिनन्ता दस्योरशिवस्य माया अनुपूर्वं वृषणा चोदयन्ता ॥

You two, O lords of manhood, released the seer Atri, belonging to the fivefold human kind, from the crushing distress, with your host of powers—breaking step by step the hostile deceiver’s harmful spells and driving forward the victorious advance.

Mantra 4

अश्वं न गूळ्हमश्विना दुरेवैॠषिं नरा वृषणा रेभमप्सु । सं तं रिणीथो विप्रुतं दंसोभिर्न वां जूर्यन्ति पूर्व्या कृतानि ॥

As one finds a hidden horse, so you, O Ashvins, strong lords, found and gathered up Rebha the seer in the waters, broken and scattered—by your powers of skill; your ancient deeds do not grow old.

Mantra 5

सुषुप्वांसं न निॠतेरुपस्थे सूर्यं न दस्रा तमसि क्षियन्तम् । शुभे रुक्मं न दर्शतं निखातमुदूपथुरश्विना वन्दनाय ॥

As one lying in sleep in the lap of dissolution, as the sun dwelling in darkness, as a bright ornament buried from sight—you, O wondrous Ashvins, raised up Vandana, bringing him out again into the light of being.

Mantra 6

तद्वां नरा शंस्यं पज्रियेण कक्षीवता नासत्या परिज्मन् । शफादश्वस्य वाजिनो जनाय शतं कुम्भाँ असिञ्चतं मधूनाम् ॥

This deed of yours is to be proclaimed, O Nāsatyas, by Kakṣīvat the Pajriya: from the hoof of the forceful steed you poured for the human being a hundred jars of honeyed sweetness—plenitude of delight and strength.

Mantra 7

युवं नरा स्तुवते कृष्णियाय विष्णाप्वं ददथुर्विश्वकाय । घोषायै चित्पितृषदे दुरोणे पतिं जूर्यन्त्या अश्विनावदत्तम् ॥

You two, O lords, gave to the praising Kṛṣṇiya the all-pervading Viṣṇāpva; and to Ghoṣā—though she dwelt in the father’s house—you granted a husband when she was wasting away: thus you turn destiny toward fulfilment.

Mantra 8

युवं श्यावाय रुशतीमदत्तं महः क्षोणस्याश्विना कण्वाय । प्रवाच्यं तद्वृषणा कृतं वां यन्नार्षदाय श्रवो अध्यधत्तम् ॥

You two gave the shining one to Śyāva, O Ashvins, for the great Kṣoṇa, for Kaṇva; proclaimable is this deed of yours, O strong ones—when you set fame upon Nārṣadā, establishing the soul’s hearing of the true.

Mantra 9

पुरू वर्पांस्यश्विना दधाना नि पेदव ऊहथुराशुमश्वम् । सहस्रसां वाजिनमप्रतीतमहिहनं श्रवस्यं तरुत्रम् ॥

Wearing many forms, O Ashvins, you brought down for Pedu a swift horse—winner of a thousand, unconquered in onset, slayer of the serpent-force, full of śravas, a strong deliverer: a concentrated power for the victorious journey.

Mantra 10

एतानि वां श्रवस्या सुदानू ब्रह्माङ्गूषं सदनं रोदस्योः । यद्वां पज्रासो अश्विना हवन्ते यातमिषा च विदुषे च वाजम् ॥

These are your deeds of inspired renown, O bounteous ones—this brahman-utterance, this seat between the two worlds. When the Pajras call you, O Ashvins, come with the power of increase and with vāja for the one who knows.

Mantra 11

सूनोर्मानेनाश्विना गृणाना वाजं विप्राय भुरणा रदन्ता । अगस्त्ये ब्रह्मणा वावृधाना सं विश्पलां नासत्यारिणीतम् ॥

Singing with the measure of the Son, O Ashvins, granting vāja to the inspired seer, increasing by Agastya’s brahman—you, O Nāsatyas, set in order and restored Viśpalā: you make whole what is maimed in the journey.

Mantra 12

कुह यान्ता सुष्टुतिं काव्यस्य दिवो नपाता वृषणा शयुत्रा । हिरण्यस्येव कलशं निखातमुदूपथुर्दशमे अश्विनाहन् ॥

Where have you gone, O Ashvins, to the well-shaped praise of the seer’s vision, O sons of Heaven, strong ones, swift in your movement? You brought up, as one lifts a buried golden vessel, the hidden delight from below—O Ashvins, in the tenth day you raised it into the open.

Mantra 13

युवं च्यवानमश्विना जरन्तं पुनर्युवानं चक्रथुः शचीभिः । युवो रथं दुहिता सूर्यस्य सह श्रिया नासत्यावृणीत ॥

You, O Ashvins, by your effective powers made Cyavāna—grown old—young again. And the Daughter of the Sun chose your chariot together with splendour, O Nāsatyas, for the journey of union.

Mantra 14

युवं तुग्राय पूर्व्येभिरेवैः पुनर्मन्यावभवतं युवाना । युवं भुज्युमर्णसो निः समुद्राद्विभिरूहथुॠज्रेभिरश्वैः ॥

You two became again youthful in spirit for Tūgra by your ancient impulses of force; and you bore Bhujyu out from the flooding waters, from the sea, with your bright-stepping horses and their many means.

Mantra 15

अजोहवीदश्विना तौग्र्यो वां प्रोळ्हः समुद्रमव्यथिर्जगन्वान् । निष्टमूहथुः सुयुजा रथेन मनोजवसा वृषणा स्वस्ति ॥

Taugrya called you, O Ashvins, when he was carried far into the sea, moving without support. You bore him out—by your well-yoked chariot, swift as mind—O strong ones, into safety and well-being.

Mantra 16

अजोहवीदश्विना वर्तिका वामास्नो यत्सीममुञ्चतं वृकस्य । वि जयुषा ययथुः सान्वद्रेर्जातं विष्वाचो अहतं विषेण ॥

Vartikā called you, O Ashvins, when you freed her from the wolf’s mouth. Then you went forth with victorious strength; and the all-devouring born upon the mountain-slope you struck down with your poison—your healer’s counter-force.

Mantra 17

शतं मेषान्वृक्ये मामहानं तमः प्रणीतमशिवेन पित्रा । आक्षी ऋज्राश्वे अश्विनावधत्तं ज्योतिरन्धाय चक्रथुर्विचक्षे ॥

When Rijrāśva, giving a hundred rams to the she-wolf, was led into darkness by an unkind father, you, O Ashvins, set eyes in him; you made light for the blind, so that he might see with discernment.

Mantra 18

शुनमन्धाय भरमह्वयत्सा वृकीरश्विना वृषणा नरेति । जारः कनीन इव चक्षदान ऋज्राश्वः शतमेकं च मेषान् ॥

A burden for the blind was called ‘fortune’; thus the she-wolf cried, ‘O Ashvins, strong heroes!’ Rijrāśva, giving sight like a young lover to a maiden, offered a hundred and one rams.

Mantra 19

मही वामूतिरश्विना मयोभूरुत स्रामं धिष्ण्या सं रिणीथः । अथा युवामिदह्वयत्पुरंधिरागच्छतं सीं वृषणाववोभिः ॥

Great is your help, O Ashvins, bringing delight; and you set right even the failing and weariness, O wise ones. Therefore Purandhi indeed called you—come to her, O strong ones, with your aids and protections.

Mantra 20

अधेनुं दस्रा स्तर्यं विषक्तामपिन्वतं शयवे अश्विना गाम् । युवं शचीभिर्विमदाय जायां न्यूहथुः पुरुमित्रस्य योषाम् ॥

You, O wondrous Ashvins, made the non-milking cow—held back—flow with milk for Śayava. And by your effective powers you brought for Vimadā a bride, the maiden of Purumitra—joining the needed complement to the seeker.

Mantra 21

यवं वृकेणाश्विना वपन्तेषं दुहन्ता मनुषाय दस्रा । अभि दस्युं बकुरेणा धमन्तोरु ज्योतिश्चक्रथुरार्याय ॥

Sowing the barley with the plough, and milking forth the nourishing plenitude for man, O wondrous Ashvins—blowing upon the Dasyu with the bakura, you made a wide light for the Arya: a spacious clarity for the soul’s law.

Mantra 22

आथर्वणायाश्विना दधीचेऽश्व्यं शिरः प्रत्यैरयतम् । स वां मधु प्र वोचदृतायन्त्वाष्ट्रं यद्दस्रावपिकक्ष्यं वाम् ॥

O Ashvins, to the Atharvan you raised up again the horse-head of Dadhīci. He then uttered to you the honeyed secret of Truth, the Tvaṣṭṛ-born (mystic knowledge) that was hidden in your inner recess, O wondrous ones.

Mantra 23

सदा कवी सुमतिमा चके वां विश्वा धियो अश्विना प्रावतं मे । अस्मे रयिं नासत्या बृहन्तमपत्यसाचं श्रुत्यं रराथाम् ॥

Ever, O seer-powers, I turn toward your gracious intelligence; O Ashvins, foster all my awakenings of thought. For us, O Nāsatyas, establish a vast fullness of being—one that carries the soul’s continuance and becomes a thing heard and remembered.

Mantra 24

हिरण्यहस्तमश्विना रराणा पुत्रं नरा वध्रिमत्या अदत्तम् । त्रिधा ह श्यावमश्विना विकस्तमुज्जीवस ऐरयतं सुदानू ॥

O Ashvins, rejoicing, you gave to Vadhri-matī a son like a golden-handed one—O heroes. And the darkened Śyāva, broken and diminished, you raised up again for life, O generous givers.

Mantra 25

एतानि वामश्विना वीर्याणि प्र पूर्व्याण्यायवोऽवोचन् । ब्रह्म कृण्वन्तो वृषणा युवभ्यां सुवीरासो विदथमा वदेम ॥

These your hero-powers, O Ashvins—the ancient deeds—have the seekers proclaimed. Creating the mantra-force, O strong ones, for you two, may we, rich in inner heroes, speak in the assembly of awakening.