Sukta 181

Mantra 1

कदु प्रेष्टाविषां रयीणामध्वर्यन्ता यदुन्निनीथो अपाम् । अयं वां यज्ञो अकृत प्रशस्तिं वसुधिती अवितारा जनानाम् ॥

When will you two, most beloved for our impulsions and plenitudes, lift us up as the sacrificers raise the waters? This sacrifice of ours has fashioned praise for you—O holders of riches, O protectors of the peoples.

Mantra 2

आ वामश्वासः शुचयः पयस्पा वातरंहसो दिव्यासो अत्याः । मनोजुवो वृषणो वीतपृष्ठा एह स्वराजो अश्विना वहन्तु ॥

Let your horses come—pure, drinking the nourishing essence, wind-swift, divine runners; mind-impelled, strong, with backs well-trained for the yoke. Let them bring you here, O Ashvins, self-ruling powers, into our field of offering.

Mantra 3

आ वां रथोऽवनिर्न प्रवत्वान्त्सृप्रवन्धुरः सुविताय गम्याः । वृष्णः स्थातारा मनसो जवीयानहम्पूर्वो यजतो धिष्ण्या यः ॥

May your chariot come—like a sure-moving support descending the slopes—well-yoked and carrying you towards the Good Passage. You two, strong upholders, swifter than mind, I who am first in the offering call upon you, O powers seated in the luminous seat, to take your stand within us.

Mantra 4

इहेह जाता समवावशीतामरेपसा तन्वा नामभिः स्वैः । जिष्णुर्वामन्यः सुमखस्य सूरिर्दिवो अन्यः सुभगः पुत्र ऊहे ॥

Here, here—born for this work—may you both be fully at home with your flawless being and your own true names. One of you is the conquering lord of a good sacrifice, the other a fortunate son of Heaven who brings the needed discernment.

Mantra 5

प्र वां निचेरुः ककुहो वशाँ अनु पिशङ्गरूपः सदनानि गम्याः । हरी अन्यस्य पीपयन्त वाजैर्मथ्रा रजांस्यश्विना वि घोषैः ॥

Forth you move, following your own will, taking the heights, radiant in form, reaching the seats of the worlds. The two tawny steeds of one of you are filled with plenitudes of force; you churn the spaces with your resonant sounds, O Aśvins, and make the paths open.

Mantra 6

प्र वां शरद्वान्वृषभो न निष्षाट् पूर्वीरिषश्चरति मध्व इष्णन् । एवैरन्यस्य पीपयन्त वाजैर्वेषन्तीरूर्ध्वा नद्यो न आगुः ॥

Forth your vigorous power springs like a bull released; it moves with the ancient impulses, pressing out the honeyed delight. With swift currents it fills one of you with plenitudes of force; like rivers rising upward, the energies come to us, aspiring and calling.

Mantra 7

असर्जि वां स्थविरा वेधसा गीर्बाळ्हे अश्विना त्रेधा क्षरन्ती । उपस्तुताववतं नाधमानं यामन्नयामञ्छृणुतं हवं मे ॥

A strong and shaping word has been released for you, O steadfast Aśvins, flowing in three streams. In the act of praise protect the one who labours; in the right journey and in the difficult journey, hear my call.

Mantra 8

उत स्या वां रुशतो वप्ससो गीस्त्रिबर्हिषि सदसि पिन्वते नॄन् । वृषा वां मेघो वृषणा पीपाय गोर्न सेके मनुषो दशस्यन् ॥

And that radiant hymn of yours, clothed in shining beauty, in the seat with the threefold barhis, enlarges the human powers. A strong cloud, O mighty ones, fills you with increase—like a watering that makes the cow fruitful—when the mortal serves you with skill.

Mantra 9

युवां पूषेवाश्विना पुरंधिरग्निमुषां न जरते हविष्मान् । हुवे यद्वां वरिवस्या गृणानो विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥

You two, like Pūṣan, are the power that brings fulfilment; and like Dawn you do not grow old for the one who holds the offering. When I call you with the will to widen the path, praising you, may we know the impelling quest and the victorious overcoming, and win the swift-giving bounty.