Sukta 148

Mantra 1

मथीद्यदीं विष्टो मातरिश्वा होतारं विश्वाप्सुं विश्वदेव्यम् । नि यं दधुर्मनुष्यासु विक्षु स्वर्ण चित्रं वपुषे विभावम् ॥

When Mātariśvan, having churned him out and established him, set the Hotar—all-skilled, belonging to all the gods—then the human clans placed him among their peoples, a radiant and variegated form, the wide-shining power of the luminous world.

Mantra 2

ददानमिन्न ददभन्त मन्माग्निर्वरूथं मम तस्य चाकन् । जुषन्त विश्वान्यस्य कर्मोपस्तुतिं भरमाणस्य कारोः ॥

Even while he gives, my thought does not fail him; Agni becomes a shelter for me—of him I take delight. May they accept all his works and the praise that accompanies them, of the singer who bears the offering forward.

Mantra 3

नित्ये चिन्नु यं सदने जगृभ्रे प्रशस्तिभिर्दधिरे यज्ञियासः । प्र सू नयन्त गृभयन्त इष्टावश्वासो न रथ्यो रारहाणाः ॥

Him indeed they have seized in the eternal seat and by praises have set him there—the worshippers of the sacrifice. They lead him forward and take hold of him in the desired rite, like chariot-horses straining in the rush.

Mantra 4

पुरूणि दस्मो नि रिणाति जम्भैराद्रोचते वन आ विभावा । आदस्य वातो अनु वाति शोचिरस्तुर्न शर्यामसनामनु द्यून् ॥

The wondrous one clears away many things with his jaws; he shines in the wood, the wide-radiant. After him the wind follows, blowing upon the flame; like a swift archer’s flight it runs on through the days, unceasing.

Mantra 5

न यं रिपवो न रिषण्यवो गर्भे सन्तं रेषणा रेषयन्ति । अन्धा अपश्या न दभन्नभिख्या नित्यास ईं प्रेतारो अरक्षन् ॥

No foes, no assailants can wound him while he is in the womb; the injurers do not injure him. Blind and unseeing, they do not prevail by their spying; the eternal guardians have protected him in his forward movement.