Sukta 24

Mantra 1

कस्य नूनं कतमस्यामृतानां मनामहे चारु देवस्य नाम । को नो मह्या अदितये पुनर्दात्पितरं च दृशेयं मातरं च ॥

Of whom, of which one among the immortals, shall we now hold in mind the beautiful Name? Who will give us again to the vast Aditi, so that I may behold the Father and behold the Mother?

Mantra 2

अग्नेर्वयं प्रथमस्यामृतानां मनामहे चारु देवस्य नाम । स नो मह्या अदितये पुनर्दात्पितरं च दृशेयं मातरं च ॥

We hold in mind the beautiful Name of Agni, first among the immortals. May he give us back to the vast Aditi, that I may behold the Father and behold the Mother.

Mantra 3

अभि त्वा देव सवितरीशानं वार्याणाम् । सदावन्भागमीमहे ॥

Toward you, O god Savitar, lord of all desirable plenitudes, we move; O ever-giving one, we seek our rightful share of your bounty.

Mantra 4

यश्चिद्धि त इत्था भगः शशमानः पुरा निदः । अद्वेषो हस्तयोर्दधे ॥

Whoever indeed, O Bhaga, has so served and grown in you from of old, he carries in his hands a portion free from hostility and harm.

Mantra 5

भगभक्तस्य ते वयमुदशेम तवावसा । मूर्धानं राय आरभे ॥

We who partake of Bhaga’s gift—by your protection may we rise upward, and take hold of the summit of plenitude.

Mantra 6

नहि ते क्षत्रं न सहो न मन्युं वयश्चनामी पतयन्त आपुः । नेमा आपो अनिमिषं चरन्तीर्न ये वातस्य प्रमिनन्त्यभ्वम् ॥

Not your sovereignty, nor your might, nor your vehement force—nor even a winged creature can overtake. Nor these Waters moving unblinking can be checked, as they do not diminish the vastness of the Wind.

Mantra 7

अबुध्ने राजा वरुणो वनस्योर्ध्वं स्तूपं ददते पूतदक्षः । नीचीनाः स्थुरुपरि बुध्न एषामस्मे अन्तर्निहिताः केतवः स्युः ॥

Varuṇa the king, pure in discernment, sets the pillar of the world upright though its base is unseen. Its roots stand below, its crown is above; may its rays be set within us, hidden inwardly.

Mantra 8

उरुं हि राजा वरुणश्चकार सूर्याय पन्थामन्वेतवा उ । अपदे पादा प्रतिधातवेऽकरुतापवक्ता हृदयाविधश्चित् ॥

For the King Varuṇa has made a wide path for the Sun to move in its following. He has set firm footholds even where there is no footing; and he is the one who can turn back even the heart-piercing forces (that trouble the inner being).

Mantra 9

शतं ते राजन्भिषजः सहस्रमुर्वी गभीरा सुमतिष्टे अस्तु । बाधस्व दूरे निॠतिं पराचैः कृतं चिदेनः प्र मुमुग्ध्यस्मत् ॥

A hundred are your healings, O King, a thousand; may your vast and deep goodwill be ours. Drive far away Destruction (Nirṛti), outward and away; and even what fault we have fashioned, release it from us.

Mantra 10

अमी य ऋक्षा निहितास उच्चा नक्तं ददृश्रे कुह चिद्दिवेयुः । अदब्धानि वरुणस्य व्रतानि विचाकशच्चन्द्रमा नक्तमेति ॥

These stars that are set on high are seen by night—where indeed do they go by day? Unbetrayed are the laws of Varuṇa; the Moon moves through the night, making them manifest.

Mantra 11

तत्त्वा यामि ब्रह्मणा वन्दमानस्तदा शास्ते यजमानो हविर्भिः । अहेळमानो वरुणेह बोध्युरुशंस मा न आयुः प्र मोषीः ॥

Therefore I come to you with the power of the sacred word, adoring; therefore the sacrificer entreats you with the offerings. Without anger, O Varuṇa, awaken here; O wide-praised, do not take away our life-force and span of living.

Mantra 12

तदिन्नक्तं तद्दिवा मह्यमाहुस्तदयं केतो हृद आ वि चष्टे । शुनःशेपो यमह्वद्गृभीतः सो अस्मान्राजा वरुणो मुमोक्तु ॥

That they tell me by night, that by day; and this sign shines out from the heart within. Śunaḥśepa, whom they called while seized, may that King Varuṇa release us.

Mantra 13

शुनःशेपो ह्यह्वद्गृभीतस्त्रिष्वादित्यं द्रुपदेषु बद्धः । अवैनं राजा वरुणः ससृज्याद्विद्वाँ अदब्धो वि मुमोक्तु पाशान् ॥

For Śunaḥśepa called when he was seized, bound in three places, to the Āditya. May King Varuṇa let him go; knowing, unbetrayed, may he loosen the bonds.

Mantra 14

अव ते हेळो वरुण नमोभिरव यज्ञेभिरीमहे हविर्भिः । क्षयन्नस्मभ्यमसुर प्रचेता राजन्नेनांसि शिश्रथः कृतानि ॥

Let your wrath be put down, O Varuṇa, by our obeisances; let it be put down by our sacrifices, by our offerings. Dwelling for us, O Asura of clear seeing, O King, loosen the faults that we have made.

Mantra 15

उदुत्तमं वरुण पाशमस्मदवाधमं वि मध्यमं श्रथाय । अथा वयमादित्य व्रते तवानागसो अदितये स्याम ॥

Lift off from us the highest noose, O Varuṇa; loosen the lowest, and unfasten the middle. Then may we, O Āditya, be without stain in your law, and belong to Aditi—wide freedom.