Sukta 43

Mantra 1

कद्रुद्राय प्रचेतसे मीळ्हुष्टमाय तव्यसे । वोचेम शंतमं हृदे ॥

What word shall we speak to Rudra, the far-seeing, the most bountiful, the mightiest—so that it becomes peace itself within the heart?

Mantra 2

यथा नो अदितिः करत्पश्वे नृभ्यो यथा गवे । यथा तोकाय रुद्रियम् ॥

So may Aditi work for us—well-being for our life-forces and for our human energies, well-being for our luminous herds; so also for our offspring may there be Rudra’s healing grace.

Mantra 3

यथा नो मित्रो वरुणो यथा रुद्रश्चिकेतति । यथा विश्वे सजोषसः ॥

May it be for us as Mitra and Varuṇa perceive and uphold; may it be as Rudra makes the right awareness awake; may it be as all the Powers, in one accord, consent and work together within us.

Mantra 4

गाथपतिं मेधपतिं रुद्रं जलाषभेषजम् । तच्छंयोः सुम्नमीमहे ॥

We seek the grace that brings peace and well-being from Rudra, lord of the inspired chant and lord of the illumined understanding, the healer whose remedy is the refreshing flow of life.

Mantra 5

यः शुक्र इव सूर्यो हिरण्यमिव रोचते । श्रेष्ठो देवानां वसुः ॥

He who shines like the bright Sun, who gleams like gold—he is the best treasure among the gods: the luminous power that enriches the being with true substance.

Mantra 6

शं नः करत्यर्वते सुगं मेषाय मेष्ये । नृभ्यो नारिभ्यो गवे ॥

May he work peace for us—make the path easy for the steed of our energies, for the ram and the ewe, for men and for women, and for the Cow of Light within: safe passage and right movement for all parts of the being.

Mantra 7

अस्मे सोम श्रियमधि नि धेहि शतस्य नृणाम् । महि श्रवस्तुविनृम्णम् ॥

In us, O Soma, set and establish the radiance of fulfilment—an abundance for a hundred powers of man; establish a great fame, a vast and forceful might of the soul.

Mantra 8

मा नः सोमपरिबाधो मारातयो जुहुरन्त । आ न इन्दो वाजे भज ॥

Let no oppression seize us around, O Soma; let not the hostile forces drive us away. Come to us, O Indu, and share with us the plenitude of force and victorious fulfilment.

Mantra 9

यास्ते प्रजा अमृतस्य परस्मिन्धामन्नृतस्य । मूर्धा नाभा सोम वेन आभूषन्तीः सोम वेदः ॥

Those offspring-powers of yours, O Soma, that dwell in the highest home of immortality, in the station of ṛta—crowned above, rooted in the navel-centre—O Soma, O seer-will, you know them as they adorn and build the being.