Sukta 38

Mantra 1

कद्ध नूनं कधप्रियः पिता पुत्रं न हस्तयोः । दधिध्वे वृक्तबर्हिषः ॥

What now is your delight, O lovers of the ‘kádha’—as a father holds a son in his hands—so do you take up and bear our offering, you whose seat of sacrifice is prepared and cleared.

Mantra 2

क्व नूनं कद्वो अर्थं गन्ता दिवो न पृथिव्याः । क्व वो गावो न रण्यन्ति ॥

Where now, for what purpose, will you go—whether from heaven or from earth? Where are your luminous ‘cows’ that delight and resound: where is that herd of rays by which you gladden the seeker?

Mantra 3

क्व वः सुम्ना नव्यांसि मरुतः क्व सुविता । क्वो विश्वानि सौभगा ॥

Where are your newest graces, O Maruts—where your right leadings and happy goings? Where are all your prosperities, the many forms of good fortune you bring to the advancing soul?

Mantra 4

यद्यूयं पृश्निमातरो मर्तासः स्यातन । स्तोता वो अमृतः स्यात् ॥

If you, O sons of Pṛśni, were mortal as we are, then your singer would become immortal for you: by your touch the human voice crosses beyond death into the undying rhythm.

Mantra 5

मा वो मृगो न यवसे जरिता भूदजोष्यः । पथा यमस्य गादुप ॥

Let not your singer become like a wild creature straying for pasture—one who finds no delight in the true offering; let him not go near the path of Yama, the downward way of inner dissolution.

Mantra 6

मो षु णः परापरा निॠतिर्दुर्हणा वधीत् । पदीष्ट तृष्णया सह ॥

May ruin, moving to and fro, not strike us down—she who is hard to overcome; let her not tread on our steps together with thirst, the burning lack that dries the soul.

Mantra 7

सत्यं त्वेषा अमवन्तो धन्वञ्चिदा रुद्रियासः । मिहं कृण्वन्त्यवाताम् ॥

Truly, the blazing, might-filled Rudriyas—even over the dry waste—make the clouding rain; they bring down the covering waters that prepare a new fullness in the being.

Mantra 8

वाश्रेव विद्युन्मिमाति वत्सं न माता सिषक्ति । यदेषां वृष्टिरसर्जि ॥

Like a lowing, the lightning measures out its strokes; as a mother presses her calf close, so their power clings and gathers—when their rain is released, the life within is taken into a protecting embrace.

Mantra 9

दिवा चित्तमः कृण्वन्ति पर्जन्येनोदवाहेन । यत्पृथिवीं व्युन्दन्ति ॥

Even in the day they make a darkness, by the rain-bearing surge; when they flood and soak the earth, they overturn the fixed surfaces so that deeper layers of being may be opened to the waters.

Mantra 10

अध स्वनान्मरुतां विश्वमा सद्म पार्थिवम् । अरेजन्त प्र मानुषाः ॥

Then, from the thunder-cry of the Maruts, all the earthly dwelling is shaken; the human frames tremble outwardly, because a greater power has entered the house of the embodied world.

Mantra 11

मरुतो वीळुपाणिभिश्चित्रा रोधस्वतीरनु । यातेमखिद्रयामभिः ॥

O Maruts, with your firm-grasping hands follow after the many-colored, barrier-bearing powers; come with your unbroken courses, energies that do not fail in the journey of the soul.

Mantra 12

स्थिरा वः सन्तु नेमयो रथा अश्वास एषाम् । सुसंस्कृता अभीशवः ॥

May your fellies be firm, your chariots and horses steady; may your reins be well-fashioned—so the divine energies move without wobble, mastering the journey in us.

Mantra 13

अच्छा वदा तना गिरा जरायै ब्रह्मणस्पतिम् । अग्निं मित्रं न दर्शतम् ॥

Speak straight with the inmost voice: for the singer’s growth call Brahmaṇaspati—Agni, visible like a friend—so the power of inspired word may build the inner order.

Mantra 14

मिमीहि श्लोकमास्ये पर्जन्य इव ततनः । गाय गायत्रमुक्थ्यम् ॥

Measure out the inspired utterance in the mouth, as Parjanya spreads the rain; sing the gāyatra—fit for the solemn recitation—so the rhythm may become a vessel for the descending truth-force.

Mantra 15

वन्दस्व मारुतं गणं त्वेषं पनस्युमर्किणम् । अस्मे वृद्धा असन्निह ॥

Adore the Marut-host—impetuous, eager for the increase, rich in the flame of inspired chant. May they grow mighty here within us, for our becoming.