Sukta 120

Mantra 1

का राधद्धोत्राश्विना वां को वां जोष उभयोः । कथा विधात्यप्रचेताः ॥

What offering-force will win you, O Aśvins? What delight of ours will satisfy you both? How shall one who is not yet awake arrange the right disposition (of the inner rite) for you?

Mantra 2

विद्वांसाविद्दुरः पृच्छेदविद्वानित्थापरो अचेताः । नू चिन्नु मर्ते अक्रौ ॥

One who does not know asks about the door that the knowers know; thus the other, unperceiving, goes astray. Even now, in a mortal, the two (powers) are not grasped.

Mantra 3

ता विद्वांसा हवामहे वां ता नो विद्वांसा मन्म वोचेतमद्य । प्रार्चद्दयमानो युवाकुः ॥

Those two knowers we call to—may those two knowers speak to us the inspired word today. Let the youthful aspirant, seeking your compassion, chant forth.

Mantra 4

वि पृच्छामि पाक्या न देवान्वषट्कृतस्याद्भुतस्य दस्रा । पातं च सह्यसो युवं च रभ्यसो नः ॥

I ask you plainly, not as one questioning gods from ignorance: O wondrously skilled ones, in the cry of the consecrated call—be you both our protectors in what must be endured, and swift helpers in what must be seized.

Mantra 5

प्र या घोषे भृगवाणे न शोभे यया वाचा यजति पज्रियो वाम् । प्रैषयुर्न विद्वान् ॥

That utterance which shines forth in the cry like a Bhṛgu-fire—by that speech the Pajriya offers to you. Yet he is like one who urges forward without knowledge (unless you make the word luminous within him).

Mantra 6

श्रुतं गायत्रं तकवानस्याहं चिद्धि रिरेभाश्विना वाम् । आक्षी शुभस्पती दन् ॥

I have heard the Gāyatrī of Takavān; and indeed I, the singer, call you, O Aśvins. Come—grant the two luminous eyes, O lords of beauty.

Mantra 7

युवं ह्यास्तं महो रन्युवं वा यन्निरततंसतम् । ता नो वसू सुगोपा स्यातं पातं नो वृकादघायोः ॥

You two are indeed the delight of the Vast; you two are they who draw us out from constriction. Be for us, O generous ones, good guardians; protect us from the wolf and from the doer of harm.

Mantra 8

मा कस्मै धातमभ्यमित्रिणे नो माकुत्रा नो गृहेभ्यो धेनवो गुः । स्तनाभुजो अशिश्वीः ॥

Do not hand us over to anyone hostile; let not our nourishing powers go away from our home—those milk-givers, drawing from the breast, that never fail.

Mantra 9

दुहीयन्मित्रधितये युवाकु राये च नो मिमीतं वाजवत्यै । इषे च नो मिमीतं धेनुमत्यै ॥

Milking out for the sustaining harmony (Mitra’s foundation), O you two, measure out for us the plenitude of being; measure out for us also the seeking-force, rich in the cow of light.

Mantra 10

अश्विनोरसनं रथमनश्वं वाजिनीवतोः । तेनाहं भूरि चाकन ॥

The Aśvins’ chariot is effortless—yet full of victorious force. By that I have attained abundance and satisfaction.

Mantra 11

अयं समह मा तनूह्याते जनाँ अनु । सोमपेयं सुखो रथः ॥

This chariot, bearing me in my body, carries (me) following the peoples; it is a happy-going vehicle for the drinking of Soma.

Mantra 12

अध स्वप्नस्य निर्विदेऽभुञ्जतश्च रेवतः । उभा ता बस्रि नश्यतः ॥

Then, from the weariness of sleep, and from the enjoyment of mere riches, the two (hindrances) pass away—both, O Basri, are dissolved.