Sukta 119

Mantra 1

आ वां रथं पुरुमायं मनोजुवं जीराश्वं यज्ञियं जीवसे हुवे । सहस्रकेतुं वनिनं शतद्वसुं श्रुष्टीवानं वरिवोधामभि प्रयः ॥

I call for your chariot, O you two—full of many powers, driven by the mind, with swift horses, fit for sacrifice—so that we may truly live. Thousand-bannered, winning, rich in manifold plenitudes, hearkening, widening the paths—come toward our offering.

Mantra 2

ऊर्ध्वा धीतिः प्रत्यस्य प्रयामन्यधायि शस्मन्त्समयन्त आ दिशः । स्वदामि घर्मं प्रति यन्त्यूतय आ वामूर्जानी रथमश्विनारुहत् ॥

The thought rises upward and is set in front upon this path of advance; the directions gather together toward the praise. I make the warm offering sweet; the helps move toward it. And Energy herself mounts your chariot, O Aśvins.

Mantra 3

सं यन्मिथः पस्पृधानासो अग्मत शुभे मखा अमिता जायवो रणे । युवोरह प्रवणे चेकिते रथो यदश्विना वहथः सूरिमा वरम् ॥

When the contenders come together, striving with one another, in the fair contest—unmeasured energies seeking victory in the battle—then indeed your chariot becomes manifest on the slope, O Aśvins, when you carry the hero toward the choice boon.

Mantra 4

युवं भुज्युं भुरमाणं विभिर्गतं स्वयुक्तिभिर्निवहन्ता पितृभ्य आ । यासिष्टं वर्तिर्वृषणा विजेन्यं दिवोदासाय महि चेति वामवः ॥

You two carried Bhujyu—tossed and wandering, gone amid the waves—bringing him with your self-yoked powers back toward the Fathers. You two have journeyed on a victorious course, O strong ones; for Divodāsa your great help becomes clearly manifest.

Mantra 5

युवोरश्विना वपुषे युवायुजं रथं वाणी येमतुरस्य शर्ध्यम् । आ वां पतित्वं सख्याय जग्मुषी योषावृणीत जेन्या युवां पती ॥

For your radiant form, O Aśvins, Vānī has harnessed the chariot yoked with youth, belonging to your host. A maiden, coming for companionship, chose your lordship—choosing you two as her lords.

Mantra 6

युवं रेभं परिषूतेरुरुष्यथो हिमेन घर्मं परितप्तमत्रये । युवं शयोरवसं पिप्यथुर्गवि प्र दीर्घेण वन्दनस्तार्यायुषा ॥

You two (Aśvins) protect Rebha from the enclosing pressure; and for Atri you temper with coolness the heat that had been over-kindled. You two make swell and increase the saving help of Śayu; and you cause Vandana to pass beyond (his limitation) into a long life in the luminous field (of the Cow).

Mantra 7

युवं वन्दनं निॠतं जरण्यया रथं न दस्रा करणा समिन्वथः । क्षेत्रादा विप्रं जनथो विपन्यया प्र वामत्र विधते दंसना भुवत् ॥

You two set Vandana free from the realm of dissolution, as craftsmen refit a chariot for movement; you bring forth the seer from the field by a wondrous power. May your acts of skill be manifest here for the worshipper who labours to set the rite within him.

Mantra 8

अगच्छतं कृपमाणं परावति पितुः स्वस्य त्यजसा निबाधितम् । स्वर्वतीरित ऊतीर्युवोरह चित्रा अभीके अभवन्नभिष्टयः ॥

You two went to the one who cried for help in the far distance, pressed down by the overpowering force of his own father. And indeed your help, full of the Light-world, became near and wonderfully effective—true fulfillments at close hand.

Mantra 9

उत स्या वां मधुमन्मक्षिकारपन्मदे सोमस्यौशिजो हुवन्यति । युवं दधीचो मन आ विवासथोऽथा शिरः प्रति वामश्व्यं वदत् ॥

And that honey-bearing bee of yours comes humming in the ecstasy of Soma; the son of Uśij calls you. You two drew the mind of Dadhīci into a bright welcome; then the horse-head spoke back to you (revealing the secret).

Mantra 10

युवं पेदवे पुरुवारमश्विना स्पृधां श्वेतं तरुतारं दुवस्यथः । शर्यैरभिद्युं पृतनासु दुष्टरं चर्कृत्यमिन्द्रमिव चर्षणीसहम् ॥

You two, O Aśvins, give honour to Pedu with the many-giving one—Śveta, the surpassing overcomer of rivalries; blazing with his weapons, hard to cross in battles, a doer of strong works, like Indra bearing the human multitudes. (Innerly: you arm the seeker with a white-luminous force that conquers inner conflict.)