Sukta 156

Mantra 1

भवा मित्रो न शेव्यो घृतासुतिर्विभूतद्युम्न एवया उ सप्रथाः । अधा ते विष्णो विदुषा चिदर्ध्यः स्तोमो यज्ञश्च राध्यो हविष्मता ॥

Become for us like Mitra, gracious and friendly—one whose offering is clarified richness, whose glory is wide-spread, who goes by the straight path and is vast in extension. Then for you, O Viṣṇu, even by the knower, the hymn and the sacrifice are to be rightly accomplished with the oblation.

Mantra 2

यः पूर्व्याय वेधसे नवीयसे सुमज्जानये विष्णवे ददाशति । यो जातमस्य महतो महि ब्रवत्सेदु श्रवोभिर्युज्यं चिदभ्यसत् ॥

He who gives to Viṣṇu—the ancient Seer and yet ever-new, the one who awakens the good understanding—he who speaks greatly of the greatness that is born of him, that man indeed wins by the powers of inspired hearing even what is hard to yoke.

Mantra 3

तमु स्तोतारः पूर्व्यं यथा विद ऋतस्य गर्भं जनुषा पिपर्तन । आस्य जानन्तो नाम चिद्विवक्तन महस्ते विष्णो सुमतिं भजामहे ॥

Him—the ancient one—may we know, O singers, as we know the womb of Ṛta which he fills by his very birth. Knowing even his name, declare it forth; O Viṣṇu of the Vast, we share in your good understanding.

Mantra 4

तमस्य राजा वरुणस्तमश्विना क्रतुं सचन्त मारुतस्य वेधसः । दाधार दक्षमुत्तममहर्विदं व्रजं च विष्णुः सखिवाँ अपोर्णुते ॥

Of him, Varuṇa the king takes his sovereign regard; the Aśvins join themselves to his effective will; the Marut-wise power upholds the supreme discernment that finds the Day. And Viṣṇu, the Friend, unveils also the luminous enclosure (vraja) for him.

Mantra 5

आ यो विवाय सचथाय दैव्य इन्द्राय विष्णुः सुकृते सुकृत्तरः । वेधा अजिन्वत्त्रिषधस्थ आर्यमृतस्य भागे यजमानमाभजत् ॥

He who has come to the divine companionship—Viṣṇu, more perfectly beneficent to the doer of good—has stirred the inspired Seer (within) for Indra. Established in the three seats, he apportioned the sacrificer to the share of Ṛta, to the noble (ārya) portion of the truth-order.