Sukta 166

Mantra 1

तन्नु वोचाम रभसाय जन्मने पूर्वं महित्वं वृषभस्य केतवे । ऐधेव यामन्मरुतस्तुविष्वणो युधेव शक्रास्तविषाणि कर्तन ॥

Now let us speak of the impetuous birth, the primal greatness of the Bull for the sake of the luminous sign. Like a kindled fire in its going, O Maruts of mighty sound, like warriors, O strong ones, you fashion acts of force.

Mantra 2

नित्यं न सूनुं मधु बिभ्रत उप क्रीळन्ति क्रीळा विदथेषु घृष्वयः । नक्षन्ति रुद्रा अवसा नमस्विनं न मर्धन्ति स्वतवसो हविष्कृतम् ॥

Ever as if bearing a beloved son, they carry the honeyed sweetness of delight; the impetuous Maruts sport in the assemblies of the seekers. The Rudras reach the adorer with their help; self-strong, they do not crush the one who has fashioned the offering—who has made his act a consecrated oblation.

Mantra 3

यस्मा ऊमासो अमृता अरासत रायस्पोषं च हविषा ददाशुषे । उक्षन्त्यस्मै मरुतो हिता इव पुरू रजांसि पयसा मयोभुवः ॥

To whom the immortal helpers have granted increase of plenitude and growth, because he has given with his oblation—to him the Maruts, well-disposed, pour out many regions of being as with milk, becoming powers of gladness and ease.

Mantra 4

आ ये रजांसि तविषीभिरव्यत प्र व एवासः स्वयतासो अध्रजन् । भयन्ते विश्वा भुवनानि हर्म्या चित्रो वो यामः प्रयतास्वृष्टिषु ॥

You whose might has woven itself through the wide spaces—forward indeed you rush, self-driven. All worlds grow afraid, even the firm-set abodes, when your many-hued march moves in the outstretched spears: when your disciplined onset goes forth.

Mantra 5

यत्त्वेषयामा नदयन्त पर्वतान्दिवो वा पृष्ठं नर्या अचुच्यवुः । विश्वो वो अज्मन्भयते वनस्पती रथीयन्तीव प्र जिहीत ओषधिः ॥

When, swift in your blazing course, you make the mountains roar, and you set in motion the back of heaven itself by your manly energies—then at your drive every tree is afraid, and the plants bend down as if under the rush of chariots.

Mantra 6

यूयं न उग्रा मरुतः सुचेतुनारिष्टग्रामाः सुमतिं पिपर्तन । यत्रा वो दिद्युद्रदति क्रिविर्दती रिणाति पश्वः सुधितेव बर्हणा ॥

You, O mighty Maruts, by your clear guiding intelligence, O hosts whose ranks are unbroken, fill us with the right thought. Where your lightning bites and gnaws with its sharp tooth, there it strips away the cattle of the darkness—like a well-fixed weapon that rends.

Mantra 7

प्र स्कम्भदेष्णा अनवभ्रराधसोऽलातृणासो विदथेषु सुष्टुताः । अर्चन्त्यर्कं मदिरस्य पीतये विदुर्वीरस्य प्रथमानि पौंस्या ॥

Pillars of support, unbroken in their giving, they are rightly praised in the assemblies. They chant the hymn for the drinking of the rapturous delight; they know the first heroic powers of the Warrior within.

Mantra 8

शतभुजिभिस्तमभिह्रुतेरघात्पूर्भी रक्षता मरुतो यमावत । जनं यमुग्रास्तवसो विरप्शिनः पाथना शंसात्तनयस्य पुष्टिषु ॥

With your hundred arms protect him from the onrush of harm, O Maruts—him whom you favour. The man whom you, strong and mighty, far-reaching in your working, lead along—guard him by the power of the praise, in the prosperings of his child and his growth.

Mantra 9

विश्वानि भद्रा मरुतो रथेषु वो मिथस्पृध्येव तविषाण्याहिता । अंसेष्वा वः प्रपथेषु खादयोऽक्षो वश्चक्रा समया वि वावृते ॥

All auspicious powers are set upon your chariots, O Maruts, as if in mutual rivalry of strength. Upon your shoulders on the forward paths are the biting edges; your axle and your wheels together roll on, perfectly timed.

Mantra 10

भूरीणि भद्रा नर्येषु बाहुषु वक्षस्सु रुक्मा रभसासो अञ्जयः । अंसेष्वेताः पविषु क्षुरा अधि वयो न पक्षान्व्यनु श्रियो धिरे ॥

Many are the auspicious splendours on your heroic arms; on your chests the golden adornments, O impetuous ones. Upon your shoulders are these sharp blades upon the rims—like birds spreading their wings, the glories are set out along you.

Mantra 11

महान्तो मह्ना विभ्वो विभूतयो दूरेदृशो ये दिव्या इव स्तृभिः । मन्द्राः सुजिह्वाः स्वरितार आसभिः सम्मिश्ला इन्द्रे मरुतः परिष्टुभः ॥

Great by greatness, all-pervading in their manifestations, far-seeing like the divine with their radiant forms—melodious, fair-tongued, sounding their own tones with their mouths, the Maruts are mingled with Indra, encompassed in the chant of praise.

Mantra 12

तद्वः सुजाता मरुतो महित्वनं दीर्घं वो दात्रमदितेरिव व्रतम् । इन्द्रश्चन त्यजसा वि ह्रुणाति तज्जनाय यस्मै सुकृते अराध्वम् ॥

That greatness is yours, O well-born Maruts; long-enduring is your gift, like Aditi’s steadfast law. Even Indra does not set it aside by force; therefore for the human who is a doer of the good, make it attainable—grant him your effective help.

Mantra 13

तद्वो जामित्वं मरुतः परे युगे पुरू यच्छंसममृतास आवत । अया धिया मनवे श्रुष्टिमाव्या साकं नरो दंसनैरा चिकित्रिरे ॥

This your kinship, O Maruts, was in the former age: many a time, O immortals, you fostered the inspired utterance. With this thought you brought to Manu the hearing and the wool-clad protection; together, O strong ones, by your powers of skill you made it manifest.

Mantra 14

येन दीर्घं मरुतः शूशवाम युष्माकेन परीणसा तुरासः । आ यत्ततनन्वृजने जनास एभिर्यज्ञेभिस्तदभीष्टिमश्याम् ॥

By that power, O Maruts, may we grow long in our becoming—by your fullness, O impetuous ones. When you extend yourselves into the battle-press of human life, then by these sacrifices may we attain that desired fulfilment.

Mantra 15

एष वः स्तोमो मरुत इयं गीर्मान्दार्यस्य मान्यस्य कारोः । एषा यासीष्ट तन्वे वयां विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥

This is your hymn, O Maruts; this is the song of the praiser, the honoured singer. By it come to our embodied being with your nourishment, so that we may know and master this field of struggle and win the giver who is strong and enduring in his gifts.