Sukta 185

Mantra 1

कतरा पूर्वा कतरापरायोः कथा जाते कवयः को वि वेद । विश्वं त्मना बिभृतो यद्ध नाम वि वर्तेते अहनी चक्रियेव ॥

Which of the two is first and which is later—how were they born, and who among the seers truly knows? Bearing the whole by their own self-power, Day and Night turn apart like a wheel set in motion.

Mantra 2

भूरिं द्वे अचरन्ती चरन्तं पद्वन्तं गर्भमपदी दधाते । नित्यं न सूनुं पित्रोरुपस्थे द्यावा रक्षतं पृथिवी नो अभ्वात् ॥

Two vast ones, unmoving, yet they establish the moving embryo that has feet—while itself is footless. Like parents holding their constant son upon their lap, O Heaven and Earth, protect us from the vast assault.

Mantra 3

अनेहो दात्रमदितेरनर्वं हुवे स्वर्वदवधं नमस्वत् । तद्रोदसी जनयतं जरित्रे द्यावा रक्षतं पृथिवी नो अभ्वात् ॥

I call the unhurried, unbroken gift of Aditi—luminous, unassailable, full of reverence. That, O Heaven and Earth, bring forth for the singer; O Heaven and Earth, protect us from the overwhelming vastness.

Mantra 4

अतप्यमाने अवसावन्ती अनु ष्याम रोदसी देवपुत्रे । उभे देवानामुभयेभिरह्नां द्यावा रक्षतं पृथिवी नो अभ्वात् ॥

O Heaven and Earth, divine daughters, glowing with inner ardour and rich in your fostering power, may we move in your following. You who belong to the gods and embrace both kinds of days, protect us—O Dyāvā and Pṛthivī—from the vast and hostile Inconscience.

Mantra 5

संगच्छमाने युवती समन्ते स्वसारा जामी पित्रोरुपस्थे । अभिजिघ्रन्ती भुवनस्य नाभिं द्यावा रक्षतं पृथिवी नो अभ्वात् ॥

O Heaven and Earth, young sisters moving together in one accord, kin within the Father’s lap, breathing toward the navel of the world—guard us from the vast hostile Power that would break the harmony of our becoming.

Mantra 6

उर्वी सद्मनी बृहती ऋतेन हुवे देवानामवसा जनित्री । दधाते ये अमृतं सुप्रतीके द्यावा रक्षतं पृथिवी नो अभ्वात् ॥

Wide in your seats and vast in your greatness, O Mother of birth, by the Truth-order I call you with the gods’ fostering power. You who uphold the deathless in forms of beautiful radiance—protect us, Heaven and Earth, from the overwhelming adverse.

Mantra 7

उर्वी पृथ्वी बहुले दूरेअन्ते उप ब्रुवे नमसा यज्ञे अस्मिन् । दधाते ये सुभगे सुप्रतूर्ती द्यावा रक्षतं पृथिवी नो अभ्वात् ॥

Wide and firm, abundant and far-reaching, I address you with reverence in this inner sacrifice. You who establish the good fortune and the beautiful passage—protect us, Heaven and Earth, from the vast adverse.

Mantra 8

देवान्वा यच्चकृमा कच्चिदागः सखायं वा सदमिज्जास्पतिं वा । इयं धीर्भूया अवयानमेषां द्यावा रक्षतं पृथिवी नो अभ्वात् ॥

If we have committed any fault against the gods, or against a friend, or against the lord of the clan, may this our thought become their way of appeasement and release. Protect us, Heaven and Earth, from the vast adverse.

Mantra 9

उभा शंसा नर्या मामविष्टामुभे मामूती अवसा सचेताम् । भूरि चिदर्यः सुदास्तरायेषा मदन्त इषयेम देवाः ॥

May both praises, human and heroic, guard me; may both your helps, with fostering force, be conscious of me. Even abundant gifts for the noble giver—may we, rejoicing in the inner plenitude, impel the gods to their action within us.

Mantra 10

ऋतं दिवे तदवोचं पृथिव्या अभिश्रावाय प्रथमं सुमेधाः । पातामवद्याद्दुरितादभीके पिता माता च रक्षतामवोभिः ॥

The Truth-order to Heaven, that I have spoken; to Earth for the first hearing, O clear-minded ones. May the Father and Mother guard us with their fostering powers, near at hand, from blame and from the difficult passage of wrong and suffering.

Mantra 11

इदं द्यावापृथिवी सत्यमस्तु पितर्मातर्यदिहोपब्रुवे वाम् । भूतं देवानामवमे अवोभिर्विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥

O Heaven-and-Earth, Father and Mother, may this be true that here I speak to you. Become for us the nearest of the gods with your fostering powers, so that we may know the impulsion and the victorious path, and the giver whose gifts endure.