Sukta 164

Mantra 1

अस्य वामस्य पलितस्य होतुस्तस्य भ्राता मध्यमो अस्त्यश्नः । तृतीयो भ्राता घृतपृष्ठो अस्यात्रापश्यं विश्पतिं सप्तपुत्रम् ॥

Of this beloved, ancient Hotar there is a middle brother who is the eater; a third brother has a back of ghee (luminous richness). Here I beheld the Lord of the dwelling, the master of the clan, with seven sons—powers born of the one vision.

Mantra 2

सप्त युञ्जन्ति रथमेकचक्रमेको अश्वो वहति सप्तनामा । त्रिनाभि चक्रमजरमनर्वं यत्रेमा विश्वा भुवनाधि तस्थुः ॥

Seven harness the one-wheeled chariot; one steed bears it, bearing seven names. The wheel has three naves, undecaying, unbroken; upon it all these worlds are set in ordered poise.

Mantra 3

इमं रथमधि ये सप्त तस्थुः सप्तचक्रं सप्त वहन्त्यश्वाः । सप्त स्वसारो अभि सं नवन्ते यत्र गवां निहिता सप्त नाम ॥

Upon this chariot stand seven; seven wheels it has, seven steeds bear it. Seven sisters bend together toward it, where the seven names of the Cows (rays of light/knowledge) are hidden and held.

Mantra 4

को ददर्श प्रथमं जायमानमस्थन्वन्तं यदनस्था बिभर्ति । भूम्या असुरसृगात्मा क्व स्वित्को विद्वांसमुप गात्प्रष्टुमेतत् ॥

Who has seen the first-born as he is born—having bones, yet borne by what is boneless? From the Earth, where indeed are breath and blood and the self? Who will go near a knower to ask this?

Mantra 5

पाकः पृच्छामि मनसाविजानन्देवानामेना निहिता पदानि । वत्से बष्कयेऽधि सप्त तन्तून्वि तत्निरे कवय ओतवा उ ॥

Unripe, I ask with the mind that does not yet know: these are the hidden tracks of the gods. Upon the calf, upon the womb of becoming, the seers have stretched out seven threads, weaving the fabric of the journey.

Mantra 6

अचिकित्वाञ्चिकितुषश्चिदत्र कवीन्पृच्छामि विद्मने न विद्वान् । वि यस्तस्तम्भ षळिमा रजांस्यजस्य रूपे किमपि स्विदेकम् ॥

Not understanding, I question even the understanders here—the seers—so that I may come to knowing, though I am not yet a knower. He who has propped apart these six regions—what single thing, perhaps, is that in the form of the Unborn?

Mantra 7

इह ब्रवीतु य ईमङ्ग वेदास्य वामस्य निहितं पदं वेः । शीर्ष्णः क्षीरं दुह्रते गावो अस्य वव्रिं वसाना उदकं पदापुः ॥

Let him speak here—who truly knows this hidden step of the beloved. From its head the cows milk out the milk; clothed in the covering, they have reached the water by the step.

Mantra 8

माता पितरमृत आ बभाज धीत्यग्रे मनसा सं हि जग्मे । सा बीभत्सुर्गर्भरसा निविद्धा नमस्वन्त इदुपवाकमीयुः ॥

The Mother has shared the Father without violating the Truth-Order; in the beginning the forming vision joined with the mind. She, awe-inspiring, rich with the rasa of the womb, firmly set—so the reverent came to her, to the near utterance of the Word.

Mantra 9

युक्ता मातासीद्धुरि दक्षिणाया अतिष्ठद्गर्भो वृजनीष्वन्तः । अमीमेद्वत्सो अनु गामपश्यद्विश्वरूप्यं त्रिषु योजनेषु ॥

The Mother-power was yoked upon the right-hand yoke-pole; within the inward enclosures the hidden Embryo stood up. The Calf lowed following the Cow and beheld the all-forming radiance set in the three wide strides of the journey.

Mantra 10

तिस्रो मातॄस्त्रीन्पितॄन्बिभ्रदेक ऊर्ध्वस्तस्थौ नेमव ग्लापयन्ति । मन्त्रयन्ते दिवो अमुष्य पृष्ठे विश्वविदं वाचमविश्वमिन्वाम् ॥

Bearing the three Mothers and the three Fathers, the One stands upright; they do not weary him nor press him down. Upon the back of that Heaven they commune, shaping the all-knowing Word that does not diminish the worlds.

Mantra 11

द्वादशारं नहि तज्जराय वर्वर्ति चक्रं परि द्यामृतस्य । आ पुत्रा अग्ने मिथुनासो अत्र सप्त शतानि विंशतिश्च तस्थुः ॥

The twelve-spoked wheel does not wear out with age; it rolls around the heaven of Ṛta. Here, O Agni, the paired children have taken their station—seven hundred and twenty in their ordered standing.

Mantra 12

पञ्चपादं पितरं द्वादशाकृतिं दिव आहुः परे अर्धे पुरीषिणम् । अथेमे अन्य उपरे विचक्षणं सप्तचक्रे षळर आहुरर्पितम् ॥

They call the Father of Heaven five-footed and twelve-formed, full in the farther half. Others speak of the one above as the clear-seeing, set firm in a seven-wheeled, six-spoked order.

Mantra 13

पञ्चारे चक्रे परिवर्तमाने तस्मिन्ना तस्थुर्भुवनानि विश्वा । तस्य नाक्षस्तप्यते भूरिभारः सनादेव न शीर्यते सनाभिः ॥

In the five-spoked wheel that turns, all the worlds have taken their station. Its axle does not burn though it bears a mighty load; from of old the nave does not break, being founded in the eternal.

Mantra 14

सनेमि चक्रमजरं वि वावृत उत्तानायां दश युक्ता वहन्ति । सूर्यस्य चक्षू रजसैत्यावृतं तस्मिन्नार्पिता भुवनानि विश्वा ॥

The wheel with enduring rim, unaging, rolls open; on the outstretched plane ten yoked powers bear it. The Sun’s eye moves covered by the luminous space; in that, all the worlds are set firm.

Mantra 15

साकंजानां सप्तथमाहुरेकजं षळिद्यमा ऋषयो देवजा इति । तेषामिष्टानि विहितानि धामशः स्थात्रे रेजन्ते विकृतानि रूपशः ॥

Of those born together they call the seventh the one-born; the six are the twins, say the seers born of the gods. Their chosen seats are arranged each in its own domain; they shine forth in the stable, taking forms in many variations.

Mantra 16

स्त्रियः सतीस्ताँ उ मे पुंस आहुः पश्यदक्षण्वान्न वि चेतदन्धः । कविर्यः पुत्रः स ईमा चिकेत यस्ता विजानात्स पितुष्पितासत् ॥

Though they are truly female powers, men call them masculine; the seeing one does not perceive—blindness misses the truth. But the poet, the son, has understood these; whoever knows them becomes the father of the father.

Mantra 17

अवः परेण पर एनावरेण पदा वत्सं बिभ्रती गौरुदस्थात् । सा कद्रीची कं स्विदर्धं परागात्क्व स्वित्सूते नहि यूथे अन्तः ॥

With the farther foot below, with the nearer foot above, the Cow rose up, bearing the Calf. Where has she gone, moving in a hidden way—what half has she passed beyond? Where does she give birth, for she is not within the herd?

Mantra 18

अवः परेण पितरं यो अस्यानुवेद पर एनावरेण । कवीयमानः क इह प्र वोचद्देवं मनः कुतो अधि प्रजातम् ॥

Who knows the Father from the farther below, and from the nearer above? Who, becoming a seer, can declare here: from where, upon what foundation, is the divine Mind born?

Mantra 19

ये अर्वाञ्चस्ताँ उ पराच आहुर्ये पराञ्चस्ताँ उ अर्वाच आहुः । इन्द्रश्च या चक्रथुः सोम तानि धुरा न युक्ता रजसो वहन्ति ॥

Those that are turned inward they call outward; those that are turned outward they call inward. But the formations that Indra and Soma have wrought—like yoked bearers—carry the movements of the luminous world (rajas) onward.

Mantra 20

द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया समानं वृक्षं परि षस्वजाते । तयोरन्यः पिप्पलं स्वाद्वत्त्यनश्नन्नन्यो अभि चाकशीति ॥

Two winged ones, yoked together, companions, embrace the one same Tree. Of the two, one tastes the sweet fig; the other, not eating, only watches in luminous awareness.

Mantra 21

यत्रा सुपर्णा अमृतस्य भागमनिमेषं विदथाभिस्वरन्ति । इनो विश्वस्य भुवनस्य गोपाः स मा धीरः पाकमत्रा विवेश ॥

Where the winged powers cry out in their assemblies to the share of immortality that does not blink—there the mighty guardian of the whole becoming enters; may that Seer enter even me here, though I am still unripe.

Mantra 22

यस्मिन्वृक्षे मध्वदः सुपर्णा निविशन्ते सुवते चाधि विश्वे । तस्येदाहुः पिप्पलं स्वाद्वग्रे तन्नोन्नशद्यः पितरं न वेद ॥

In that Tree the honey-eating winged powers take their seat, and upon it all beings are set in motion. They say its fig is sweet at the crown; but he does not truly reach it who does not know the Father.

Mantra 23

यद्गायत्रे अधि गायत्रमाहितं त्रैष्टुभाद्वा त्रैष्टुभं निरतक्षत । यद्वा जगज्जगत्याहितं पदं य इत्तद्विदुस्ते अमृतत्वमानशुः ॥

When the Gāyatrī is set upon the Gāyatrī, or from the Triṣṭubh they fashion out the Triṣṭubh; or when the stride (pada) is set in the Jagat that moves—those who know That indeed attain immortality.

Mantra 24

गायत्रेण प्रति मिमीते अर्कमर्केण साम त्रैष्टुभेन वाकम् । वाकेन वाकं द्विपदा चतुष्पदाक्षरेण मिमते सप्त वाणीः ॥

By the Gāyatrī he measures out the hymn; by the hymn he measures the chant; by the Triṣṭubh he measures the uttered word. By speech he measures speech—two-footed and four-footed; and by the imperishable syllable they measure the seven powers of utterance.

Mantra 25

जगता सिन्धुं दिव्यस्तभायद्रथंतरे सूर्यं पर्यपश्यत् । गायत्रस्य समिधस्तिस्र आहुस्ततो मह्ना प्र रिरिचे महित्वा ॥

By the moving measure he upheld the heavenly river; in the Rathantara he beheld the Sun all around. They say the Gāyatrī has three kindlings; from that, by greatness, he overflowed into vastness.

Mantra 26

उप ह्वये सुदुघां धेनुमेतां सुहस्तो गोधुगुत दोहदेनाम् । श्रेष्ठं सवं सविता साविषन्नोऽभीद्धो घर्मस्तदु षु प्र वोचम् ॥

I call near this abundantly-yielding Cow; with good hands may we, as milkers of the Light, milk her. May Savitṛ impel for us the supreme pressing; the heat is kindled—this indeed I declare forth.

Mantra 27

हिङ्कृण्वती वसुपत्नी वसूनां वत्समिच्छन्ती मनसाभ्यागात् । दुहामश्विभ्यां पयो अघ्न्येयं सा वर्धतां महते सौभगाय ॥

Lowing, the Lady of riches, the mistress of treasures, came near in mind seeking her calf. This inviolate Cow yields milk for the Aśvins; may she increase toward the great felicity.

Mantra 28

गौरमीमेदनु वत्सं मिषन्तं मूर्धानं हिङ्ङकृणोन्मातवा उ । सृक्वाणं घर्ममभि वावशाना मिमाति मायुं पयते पयोभिः ॥

The Cow measured after her blinking calf; she made the ‘hiṅ’ at the head, as a mother indeed. Longing toward the kindled heat, she measures out her cry; she swells and flows with her milk-essences.

Mantra 29

अयं स शिङ्क्ते येन गौरभीवृता मिमाति मायुं ध्वसनावधि श्रिता । सा चित्तिभिर्नि हि चकार मर्त्यं विद्युद्भवन्ती प्रति वव्रिमौहत ॥

This is That power by which the Cow (the luminous ray of consciousness), when enclosed, measures out her cry of yearning, resting upon the two pressing-stones. She, becoming the Lightning-flash of insight, by her awakenings indeed fashions the mortal, and strikes back the covering that hems him in.

Mantra 30

अनच्छये तुरगातु जीवमेजद्ध्रुवं मध्य आ पस्त्यानाम् । जीवो मृतस्य चरति स्वधाभिरमर्त्यो मर्त्येना सयोनिः ॥

In the unmoving support there lies the swift-going Life, the moving one, firm in the midst of the dwellings. The living power moves within what is dead by its own self-law; the Immortal is yoked in one womb with the mortal.

Mantra 31

अपश्यं गोपामनिपद्यमानमा च परा च पथिभिश्चरन्तम् । स सध्रीचीः स विषूचीर्वसान आ वरीवर्ति भुवनेष्वन्तः ॥

I saw the Cowherd who never stumbles, moving to and fro along the paths. He wears together the straight-going and the divergent ways; within the worlds he turns and returns, making room for the journey of the soul.

Mantra 32

य ईं चकार न सो अस्य वेद य ईं ददर्श हिरुगिन्नु तस्मात् । स मातुर्योना परिवीतो अन्तर्बहुप्रजा निॠतिमा विवेश ॥

He who fashioned it does not know it; he who has seen it has turned away from it. Wrapped within the mother’s womb, rich in births, he enters into dissolution—so secret is the law of becoming.

Mantra 33

द्यौर्मे पिता जनिता नाभिरत्र बन्धुर्मे माता पृथिवी महीयम् । उत्तानयोश्चम्वोर्योनिरन्तरत्रा पिता दुहितुर्गर्भमाधात् ॥

Heaven is my Father, the begetter; here is the navel-centre. Earth, the vast, is my Mother, my kin. Between the two outstretched bowls is the womb; there the Father set the embryo in the Daughter—thus the worlds are knit by a secret generation.

Mantra 34

पृच्छामि त्वा परमन्तं पृथिव्याः पृच्छामि यत्र भुवनस्य नाभिः । पृच्छामि त्वा वृष्णो अश्वस्य रेतः पृच्छामि वाचः परमं व्योम ॥

I ask you of the farthest end of Earth; I ask where is the navel of the world. I ask you of the seed of the Stallion in his might; I ask of the supreme heaven of Speech.

Mantra 35

इयं वेदिः परो अन्तः पृथिव्या अयं यज्ञो भुवनस्य नाभिः । अयं सोमो वृष्णो अश्वस्य रेतो ब्रह्मायं वाचः परमं व्योम ॥

This altar is the farthest end of Earth; this sacrifice is the navel of the world. This Soma is the seed of the mighty Stallion; this Brahman is the supreme heaven of Speech.

Mantra 36

सप्तार्धगर्भा भुवनस्य रेतो विष्णोस्तिष्ठन्ति प्रदिशा विधर्मणि । ते धीतिभिर्मनसा ते विपश्चितः परिभुवः परि भवन्ति विश्वतः ॥

Seven, half-formed embryos, the seed of the world, stand in the directions in the wide law of Viṣṇu. By their thoughts and by the mind they are seers; mastering, they encompass from every side.

Mantra 37

न वि जानामि यदिवेदमस्मि निण्यः संनद्धो मनसा चरामि । यदा मागन्प्रथमजा ऋतस्यादिद्वाचो अश्नुवे भागमस्याः ॥

I do not clearly know what I am, as if I were; hidden, bound up, I move by the mind. When the first-born of the Truth came to me, then I attained a portion of this Speech.

Mantra 38

अपाङ्प्राङेति स्वधया गृभीतोऽमर्त्यो मर्त्येना सयोनिः । ता शश्वन्ता विषूचीना वियन्ता न्यन्यं चिक्युर्न नि चिक्युरन्यम् ॥

Backward and forward he goes, held by his own self-law—the Immortal sharing one womb with the mortal. Those two, eternal, moving apart in different directions: they have discerned one another, yet they do not discern the Other.

Mantra 39

ऋचो अक्षरे परमे व्योमन्यस्मिन्देवा अधि विश्वे निषेदुः । यस्तन्न वेद किमृचा करिष्यति य इत्तद्विदुस्त इमे समासते ॥

The Mantra (ṛc) is founded in the imperishable (akṣara), in the supreme wide Space (parame vyoman) where all the gods take their seat. One who does not know That—what can he accomplish by the hymn? But those who know That, they are gathered here in a true harmony of being.

Mantra 40

सूयवसाद्भगवती हि भूया अथो वयं भगवन्तः स्याम । अद्धि तृणमघ्न्ये विश्वदानीं पिब शुद्धमुदकमाचरन्ती ॥

O unharmable one (Aghnyā), become indeed full of fortunate plenitude through good pasture; and may we too become possessors of that fullness. Eat the grass in its truth, and drink the pure waters as you move in the right course.

Mantra 41

गौरीर्मिमाय सलिलानि तक्षत्येकपदी द्विपदी सा चतुष्पदी । अष्टापदी नवपदी बभूवुषी सहस्राक्षरा परमे व्योमन् ॥

The luminous One (Gaurī) measures out and shapes the flowing waters; one-footed, two-footed, she becomes four-footed; eight-footed, nine-footed she has become—the thousand-syllabled (sahasrākṣarā) in the supreme wide Space.

Mantra 42

तस्याः समुद्रा अधि वि क्षरन्ति तेन जीवन्ति प्रदिशश्चतस्रः । ततः क्षरत्यक्षरं तद्विश्वमुप जीवति ॥

From her the oceans pour and stream outward; by that flow the four directions live. From that same source the imperishable pours forth, and by That the whole world lives in dependence.

Mantra 43

शकमयं धूममारादपश्यं विषूवता पर एनावरेण । उक्षाणं पृश्निमपचन्त वीरास्तानि धर्माणि प्रथमान्यासन् ॥

I saw from afar the smoke that bears the strength; by the turning pivot, above and below. The heroes cooked the dappled bull; those were the first foundations of the Law (dharma) set in place.

Mantra 44

त्रयः केशिन ऋतुथा वि चक्षते संवत्सरे वपत एक एषाम् । विश्वमेको अभि चष्टे शचीभिर्ध्राजिरेकस्य ददृशे न रूपम् ॥

Three long-haired powers behold in due seasons; in the year one of them shears. One alone, by his masteries (śacī), surveys the whole; the blazing rush (dhrāji) of the One is seen, but not his form.

Mantra 45

चत्वारि वाक्परिमिता पदानि तानि विदुर्ब्राह्मणा ये मनीषिणः । गुहा त्रीणि निहिता नेङ्गयन्ति तुरीयं वाचो मनुष्या वदन्ति ॥

Speech has four measured levels; the discerning brahmans know them. Three are hidden in the secret cave and do not stir; the fourth level of speech is what human beings speak.

Mantra 46

इन्द्रं मित्रं वरुणमग्निमाहुरथो दिव्यः स सुपर्णो गरुत्मान् । एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्त्यग्निं यमं मातरिश्वानमाहुः ॥

They call Him Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni; and He is the divine Bird, the strong-winged Garutmān. Reality is One; the illumined speak of it in many ways—they name it Agni, Yama, Mātariśvan.

Mantra 47

कृष्णं नियानं हरयः सुपर्णा अपो वसाना दिवमुत्पतन्ति । त आववृत्रन्त्सदनादृतस्यादिद्घृतेन पृथिवी व्युद्यते ॥

The tawny fair-winged powers, clothed with the waters, fly up to heaven from the dark descent. They have turned back from the seat of ṛta; and then the Earth is made to shine out, anointed with the clarified light (ghṛta).

Mantra 48

द्वादश प्रधयश्चक्रमेकं त्रीणि नभ्यानि क उ तच्चिकेत । तस्मिन्त्साकं त्रिशता न शङ्कवोऽर्पिताः षष्टिर्न चलाचलासः ॥

Twelve are the spokes of the single Wheel; three are its hubs—who has truly understood this? Upon it together are fixed three hundred (and) sixty as on pegs, unmoving though moving.

Mantra 49

यस्ते स्तनः शशयो यो मयोभूर्येन विश्वा पुष्यसि वार्याणि । यो रत्नधा वसुविद्यः सुदत्रः सरस्वति तमिह धातवे कः ॥

O Sarasvatī, who is the breast that pours nourishment, who becomes bliss, by whom you foster all desirable riches; who holds the radiant treasures, who finds the true wealth, who gives in a goodly way—who here can set That within us, to be established and possessed?

Mantra 50

यज्ञेन यज्ञमयजन्त देवास्तानि धर्माणि प्रथमान्यासन् । ते ह नाकं महिमानः सचन्त यत्र पूर्वे साध्याः सन्ति देवाः ॥

By sacrifice the gods sacrificed the Sacrifice; those were the first foundations of the Law. By that greatness they reached the highest heaven, where the ancient Sādhyas, the accomplished divine powers, abide.

Mantra 51

समानमेतदुदकमुच्चैत्यव चाहभिः । भूमिं पर्जन्या जिन्वन्ति दिवं जिन्वन्त्यग्नयः ॥

This is the same Water that rises and also descends with the days: the Rain-powers quicken the earth, and the Fires quicken the heaven—so the one circulation nourishes both worlds within us.

Mantra 52

दिव्यं सुपर्णं वायसं बृहन्तमपां गर्भं दर्शतमोषधीनाम् । अभीपतो वृष्टिभिस्तर्पयन्तं सरस्वन्तमवसे जोहवीमि ॥

I call for help upon Sarasvant, the heavenly fair-winged one, the vast bird; the embryo of the waters, visible in the herbs—ever watching, he satisfies them by the rains: may that luminous power aid our growth into truth.