Sukta 168

Mantra 1

यज्ञायज्ञा वः समना तुतुर्वणिर्धियंधियं वो देवया उ दधिध्वे । आ वोऽर्वाचः सुविताय रोदस्योर्महे ववृत्यामवसे सुवृक्तिभिः ॥

From sacrifice to sacrifice you move in one accord, swiftly pressing forward; thought after thought you, godward powers, set in place. To you we turn hither with well-fashioned words for the right going in the two worlds, for the great help.

Mantra 2

वव्रासो न ये स्वजाः स्वतवस इषं स्वरभिजायन्त धूतयः । सहस्रियासो अपां नोर्मय आसा गावो वन्द्यासो नोक्षणः ॥

Like fenced enclosures, self-born and self-mighty, they are shaken into birth toward the luminous heaven with the energizing plenty. Thousandfold like the waves of waters is their coming; like cattle worthy of praise, like strong bulls, they advance.

Mantra 3

सोमासो न ये सुतास्तृप्तांशवो हृत्सु पीतासो दुवसो नासते । ऐषामंसेषु रम्भिणीव रारभे हस्तेषु खादिश्च कृतिश्च सं दधे ॥

Like Soma draughts pressed out, their streams satisfied, drunk in the heart, they take their seat in the giving. On their shoulders the rambhiṇī clings as it were; in their hands the power to break open and the power to fashion are set together.

Mantra 4

अव स्वयुक्ता दिव आ वृथा ययुरमर्त्याः कशया चोदत त्मना । अरेणवस्तुविजाता अचुच्यवुर्दृळ्हानि चिन्मरुतो भ्राजदृष्टयः ॥

Down from heaven, self-yoked, they have come swiftly, the immortals, urged by the lash of their own being. Stainless, mightily born, the Maruts with shining spears have shaken even the firm-established things.

Mantra 5

को वोऽन्तर्मरुत ऋष्टिविद्युतो रेजति त्मना हन्वेव जिह्वया । धन्वच्युत इषां न यामनि पुरुप्रैषा अहन्यो नैतशः ॥

Who is it within you, O Maruts of spear-lightning, that trembles by his own self like a jaw with its tongue? A bow-shot in the march of impulsion, sending forth many drives, like a day-bright steed he rushes.

Mantra 6

क्व स्विदस्य रजसो महस्परं क्वावरं मरुतो यस्मिन्नायय । यच्च्यावयथ विथुरेव संहितं व्यद्रिणा पतथ त्वेषमर्णवम् ॥

Where indeed is the farther shore of this vast mid-world, and where its nearer limit, O Maruts, in which you move? When you shake loose what is compacted, like something trembling, you fly forth with the stone-weapon across the blazing surge—breaking open the obstructing mass for the soul’s onward passage.

Mantra 7

सातिर्न वोऽमवती स्वर्वती त्वेषा विपाका मरुतः पिपिष्वती । भद्रा वो रातिः पृणतो न दक्षिणा पृथुज्रयी असुर्येव जञ्जती ॥

May your winning-force be for us full of might and full of the solar plenitude—keen, ripening the being, and increasing our substance. Auspicious be your gift, like the Dakṣiṇā that fills the giver: wide-striding, impelling like a lordly power, it drives us onward into a larger movement.

Mantra 8

प्रति ष्टोभन्ति सिन्धवः पविभ्यो यदभ्रियां वाचमुदीरयन्ति । अव स्मयन्त विद्युतः पृथिव्यां यदी घृतं मरुतः प्रुष्णुवन्ति ॥

The rivers answer back to your driving powers when you raise the cloud-born voice. The lightnings smile down upon the earth when, O Maruts, you sprinkle the ghee—your luminous essence—making the field of nature ready for the right increase.

Mantra 9

असूत पृश्निर्महते रणाय त्वेषमयासां मरुतामनीकम् । ते सप्सरासोऽजनयन्ताभ्वमादित्स्वधामिषिरां पर्यपश्यन् ॥

Pṛśni, the many-colored Mother, brought forth for the great battle the blazing, tireless front of the Maruts. Those swift-moving ones generated the vastness; then they beheld all around their own inherent power, impetuous and free—an inborn law of force at work in the being.

Mantra 10

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

This is your chant of affirmation, O Maruts; this is the inspired word of the praiser who is worthy of delight and honor. Come with your nourishment for our embodied being; may we know and possess this strengthening host—this impelling force that gives swiftly and makes the journey victorious.