Sukta 118

Mantra 1

आ वां रथो अश्विना श्येनपत्वा सुमृळीकः स्ववाँ यात्वर्वाङ् । यो मर्त्यस्य मनसो जवीयान्त्रिवन्धुरो वृषणा वातरंहाः ॥

May your chariot come to us, O Ashvins, with the flight of the falcon—benign, self-luminous. Swifter than the human mind, three-supported, O mighty ones, impelled by the rushing of the wind, let it arrive here.

Mantra 2

त्रिवन्धुरेण त्रिवृता रथेन त्रिचक्रेण सुवृता यातमर्वाक् । पिन्वतं गा जिन्वतमर्वतो नो वर्धयतमश्विना वीरमस्मे ॥

With your three-supported, triple-ordered chariot, with its three wheels and perfect turning, come to us. Make our rays of knowledge swell, quicken our moving energies, and increase for us the inner hero-force, O Ashvins.

Mantra 3

प्रवद्यामना सुवृता रथेन दस्राविमं शृणुतं श्लोकमद्रेः । किमङ्ग वां प्रत्यवर्तिं गमिष्ठाहुर्विप्रासो अश्विना पुराजाः ॥

Moving on the forward path with your well-turning chariot, O wondrous ones, hear this uttered word from the stone-like firmness (of concentrated being). Why, say the ancient seers, are you the swiftest to return in response, O Ashvins?

Mantra 4

आ वां श्येनासो अश्विना वहन्तु रथे युक्तास आशवः पतंगाः । ये अप्तुरो दिव्यासो न गृध्रा अभि प्रयो नासत्या वहन्ति ॥

May the falcons carry you, O Ashvins—swift winged ones yoked to the chariot—like radiant birds of heaven. Tireless in their reaching, like eagles, they bear toward you the offering-impulse, O Nāsatyas.

Mantra 5

आ वां रथं युवतिस्तिष्ठदत्र जुष्ट्वी नरा दुहिता सूर्यस्य । परि वामश्वा वपुषः पतंगा वयो वहन्त्वरुषा अभीके ॥

Here the young maiden, the Daughter of the Sun, takes her stand upon your chariot, O heroes, choosing you. Around you may the bright, winged horses—ruddy in near presence—carry the life-breath and the movement of being.

Mantra 6

उद्वन्दनमैरतं दंसनाभिरुद्रेभं दस्रा वृषणा शचीभिः । निष्टौग्र्यं पारयथः समुद्रात्पुनश्च्यवानं चक्रथुर्युवानम् ॥

You raised up Vandanā by your powers of skill; you lifted up Rebha, O wondrous strong ones, by your efficacious energies. You brought Taugri safely out from the ocean-depth, and you made Cyavāna young again.

Mantra 7

युवमत्रयेऽवनीताय तप्तमूर्जमोमानमश्विनावधत्तम् । युवं कण्वायापिरिप्ताय चक्षुः प्रत्यधत्तं सुष्टुतिं जुजुषाणा ॥

You two, O Aśvins, established for Atri—who had been cast down—the heated strength and the sustaining plenitude. And you two set back the sight for Kaṇva, uninjured and intact, accepting well-formed praise.

Mantra 8

युवं धेनुं शयवे नाधितायापिन्वतमश्विना पूर्व्याय । अमुञ्चतं वर्तिकामंहसो निः प्रति जङ्घां विश्पलाया अधत्तम् ॥

You two, O Aśvins, made the milking cow swell with her flow for Śayu, the distressed, in the ancient way. You released Vartikā from anguish, and you set back the leg for Viśpalā—restoring her power of movement.

Mantra 9

युवं श्वेतं पेदव इन्द्रजूतमहिहनमश्विनादत्तमश्वम् । जोहूत्रमर्यो अभिभूतिमुग्रं सहस्रसां वृषणं वीड्वङ्गम् ॥

You two, O Aśvins, gave to Pedu the white horse—impelled by Indra, a slayer of the serpent-forces. A strong overmastering power, fierce, winning a thousand, virile, with firm limbs—fit to carry the call of the journey.

Mantra 10

ता वां नरा स्ववसे सुजाता हवामहे अश्विना नाधमानाः । आ न उप वसुमता रथेन गिरो जुषाणा सुविताय यातम् ॥

You two, O strong ones, well-born for your own power, we call—pressed by need. Come near to us on the wealth-bearing chariot, taking delight in our words, for the happy going and right progress.

Mantra 11

आ श्येनस्य जवसा नूतनेनास्मे यातं नासत्या सजोषाः । हवे हि वामश्विना रातहव्यः शश्वत्तमाया उषसो व्युष्टौ ॥

Come to us, O Nāsatyas, together in one accord, with the new swiftness of the falcon. For the giver of the offering calls you, O Aśvins, at the ever-renewed breaking forth of Dawn.