Sukta 163

Mantra 1

यदक्रन्दः प्रथमं जायमान उद्यन्त्समुद्रादुत वा पुरीषात् । श्येनस्य पक्षा हरिणस्य बाहू उपस्तुत्यं महि जातं ते अर्वन् ॥

When thou didst cry out at first, being born, rising up from the ocean-depth—or even from the rich earth-matter—thou wast as the wings of the eagle and as the arms of the deer: a greatness worthy of invocation, O Steed, was born in thee.

Mantra 2

यमेन दत्तं त्रित एनमायुनगिन्द्र एणं प्रथमो अध्यतिष्ठत् । गन्धर्वो अस्य रशनामगृभ्णात्सूरादश्वं वसवो निरतष्ट ॥

Given by Yama, Trita yoked this steed of the inner journey; Indra first mounted and took his stand upon it. The Gandharva seized its rein of aspiration, and from the Sun’s luminous source the Vasus shaped it forth—powers that build the ordered fullness of being.

Mantra 3

असि यमो अस्यादित्यो अर्वन्नसि त्रितो गुह्येन व्रतेन । असि सोमेन समया विपृक्त आहुस्ते त्रीणि दिवि बन्धनानि ॥

O steed of power, you are Yama—right law and restraint; you are Āditya—wide luminous truth; you are Trita by the secret discipline. You are joined with Soma in a consenting harmony; they say you have three bonds in heaven—triple holdfasts of the higher world that keep the force rightly poised.

Mantra 4

त्रीणि त आहुर्दिवि बन्धनानि त्रीण्यप्सु त्रीण्यन्तः समुद्रे । उतेव मे वरुणश्छन्त्स्यर्वन्यत्रा त आहुः परमं जनित्रम् ॥

They speak of three bonds for you in heaven, three in the waters, and three within the ocean-depths. May Varuṇa grant me the seeing that finds, O steed, that place where they declare your supreme birth—where the force first arises in the highest truth.

Mantra 5

इमा ते वाजिन्नवमार्जनानीमा शफानां सनितुर्निधाना । अत्रा ते भद्रा रशना अपश्यमृतस्य या अभिरक्षन्ति गोपाः ॥

These are your cleansings, O bearer of plenitude; these are the placements of your hooves that win the goal. Here I beheld your auspicious reins—guarded by the herdsmen of Ṛta—those powers that protect the right movement of the Truth within us.

Mantra 6

आत्मानं ते मनसारादजानामवो दिवा पतयन्तं पतंगम् । शिरो अपश्यं पथिभिः सुगेभिररेणुभिर्जेहमानं पतत्रि ॥

From afar with the mind I came to know your inmost self: a bird of swift flight moving down from heaven. I saw your head speeding on good paths, quivering with dustless energies—O winged one—racing toward the goal of clear seeing.

Mantra 7

अत्रा ते रूपमुत्तममपश्यं जिगीषमाणमिष आ पदे गोः । यदा ते मर्तो अनु भोगमानळादिद्ग्रसिष्ठ ओषधीरजीगः ॥

Here I saw your most supreme form, striving for victory, coming to the step of the Ray (Go) where the nourishment is. When the mortal follows after enjoyment without the truth of the path, then indeed, O most devouring one, he is driven to consume the herbs—feeding on lower growths instead of the light.

Mantra 8

अनु त्वा रथो अनु मर्यो अर्वन्ननु गावोऽनु भगः कनीनाम् । अनु व्रातासस्तव सख्यमीयुरनु देवा ममिरे वीर्यं ते ॥

After you moves the chariot, after you the youthful warrior; after you follow the Rays (gāvaḥ) and the share of delight for the young. After you the companies come into your friendship; after you the gods measure out your hero-power—your force becomes the standard for all who advance.

Mantra 9

हिरण्यशृङ्गोऽयो अस्य पादा मनोजवा अवर इन्द्र आसीत् । देवा इदस्य हविरद्यमायन्यो अर्वन्तं प्रथमो अध्यतिष्ठत् ॥

Golden-horned is he; iron are his feet; swift as mind is his forward drive—Indra is the lower support within him. The gods came to his offering that is fit to be eaten: for he who first mounted the steed becomes the first to receive and to lead the sacrifice of the force.

Mantra 10

ईर्मान्तासः सिलिकमध्यमासः सं शूरणासो दिव्यासो अत्याः । हंसा इव श्रेणिशो यतन्ते यदाक्षिषुर्दिव्यमज्ममश्वाः ॥

With strong ends and a firm mid-course, the divine chargers, snorting heroically, gather into one motion. Like swans in ordered lines they strive together, when the horses have reached the heavenly course—entering the high track of luminous movement.

Mantra 11

तव शरीरं पतयिष्ण्वर्वन्तव चित्तं वात इव ध्रजीमान् । तव शृङ्गाणि विष्ठिता पुरुत्रारण्येषु जर्भुराणा चरन्ति ॥

Your body is eager for flight, O steed; your mind moves like the wind, swift and driving. Your horns stand set in many places; in the forests they roam, restless—signs that the force, if not mastered, scatters its points of power through the tangled growth of the inner wilderness.

Mantra 12

उप प्रागाच्छसनं वाज्यर्वा देवद्रीचा मनसा दीध्यानः । अजः पुरो नीयते नाभिरस्यानु पश्चात्कवयो यन्ति रेभाः ॥

Forward he advances to the seat of the Word and its governance—the strong steed of plenitude—guided godward, kindled in the mind’s light. The Unborn is led in front as his inmost navel-center; behind, the seers and inspired chanters follow in the wake of that moving Power.

Mantra 13

उप प्रागात्परमं यत्सधस्थमर्वाँ अच्छा पितरं मातरं च । अद्या देवाञ्जुष्टतमो हि गम्या अथा शास्ते दाशुषे वार्याणि ॥

Forward he comes to the highest station, the home-base of accomplishment, the steed moving toward the Father and the Mother. Today he is the most welcome to the gods and truly to be attained; then he apportions to the giver the desirable riches—fullnesses of being.