Sukta 64

Mantra 1

वृष्णे शर्धाय सुमखाय वेधसे नोधः सुवृक्तिं प्र भरा मरुद्भ्यः । अपो न धीरो मनसा सुहस्त्यो गिरः समञ्जे विदथेष्वाभुवः ॥

O Nodhas, bring forward a well-wrought utterance to the Maruts—those puissant hosts, of good sacrifice, the wise builders. Like a steady one guiding the waters, with the mind and skilful hands I arrange the words into harmony for the gatherings of seeking.

Mantra 2

ते जज्ञिरे दिव ऋष्वास उक्षणो रुद्रस्य मर्या असुरा अरेपसः । पावकासः शुचयः सूर्या इव सत्वानो न द्रप्सिनो घोरवर्पसः ॥

They are born from Heaven—lofty, bull-like powers, the young heroes of Rudra, masters of the breath of force, without stain. Pure and bright like suns, they are beings of intense substance, like gleaming drops, formidable in their forms.

Mantra 3

युवानो रुद्रा अजरा अभोग्घनो ववक्षुरध्रिगावः पर्वता इव । दृळ्हा चिद्विश्वा भुवनानि पार्थिवा प्र च्यावयन्ति दिव्यानि मज्मना ॥

Young Rudras they are, unaging, unwearied in enjoyment of force; bearing their strength, steadfast as mountains. By their greatness they set even the firm earthly habitations in motion and shake the divine worlds into a new ordering.

Mantra 4

चित्रैरञ्जिभिर्वपुषे व्यञ्जते वक्षस्सु रुक्माँ अधि येतिरे शुभे । अंसेष्वेषां नि मिमृक्षुॠष्टयः साकं जज्ञिरे स्वधया दिवो नरः ॥

With bright ornaments they adorn their form; upon their breasts the golden splendors move for beauty. On their shoulders the spears are set firm; together, by their own inner power, those men of Heaven are born into one accord.

Mantra 5

ईशानकृतो धुनयो रिशादसो वातान्विद्युतस्तविषीभिरक्रत । दुहन्त्यूधर्दिव्यानि धूतयो भूमिं पिन्वन्ति पयसा परिज्रयः ॥

Mighty in their making, the roaring ones, devourers of resistance, have fashioned the winds and the lightnings by their strengths. The impelling powers milk the heavenly udders; they swell the earth with the streams of plenitude as they move around it.

Mantra 6

पिन्वन्त्यपो मरुतः सुदानवः पयो घृतवद्विदथेष्वाभुवः । अत्यं न मिहे वि नयन्ति वाजिनमुत्सं दुहन्ति स्तनयन्तमक्षितम् ॥

The Maruts, good givers, swell the waters; in the gatherings they become present with a milk rich like ghee. Like a swift steed in the mist they lead the force forward; they milk the thundering fountain, inexhaustible.

Mantra 7

महिषासो मायिनश्चित्रभानवो गिरयो न स्वतवसो रघुष्यदः । मृगा इव हस्तिनः खादथा वना यदारुणीषु तविषीरयुग्ध्वम् ॥

Bull-like in force, possessors of a shaping power, of varied lights, self-strong and swift in their rush like mountains—like wild beasts, like elephants, you feed on the forests, when in the ruddy regions you yoked your energies.

Mantra 8

सिंहा इव नानदति प्रचेतसः पिशा इव सुपिशो विश्ववेदसः । क्षपो जिन्वन्तः पृषतीभिॠष्टिभिः समित्सबाधः शवसाहिमन्यवः ॥

Like lions they roar, wide-aware in consciousness; like bright-hued beings, perfectly formed, knowing all. They drive the nights onward with their speckled lances; with one united pressure they smite the obstruction, violent in their force of will.

Mantra 9

रोदसी आ वदता गणश्रियो नृषाचः शूराः शवसाहिमन्यवः । आ वन्धुरेष्वमतिर्न दर्शता विद्युन्न तस्थौ मरुतो रथेषु वः ॥

‘Heaven and Earth!’—so speak forth, O glorious troop, companions of man, heroes, serpent-fierce in force. Upon your chariots the unmeasured power stands visible like lightning; O Maruts, it has taken its station in your car-frames.

Mantra 10

विश्ववेदसो रयिभिः समोकसः सम्मिश्लासस्तविषीभिर्विरप्शिनः । अस्तार इषुं दधिरे गभस्त्योरनन्तशुष्मा वृषखादयो नरः ॥

All-knowing, dwelling together in one home with plenitudes, mingled in unity, wide-working by their energies—these men set the arrow in their hands. Infinite in their impulsion, devourers of resistance, they stand as strong doers.

Mantra 11

हिरण्ययेभिः पविभिः पयोवृध उज्जिघ्नन्त आपथ्यो न पर्वतान् । मखा अयासः स्वसृतो ध्रुवच्युतो दुध्रकृतो मरुतो भ्राजदृष्टयः ॥

With golden-edged powers, increasers of the soul’s sap, the Maruts strike upward and cleave the obstructing masses as if they were pathless mountains. These joyous, tireless ones, self-driven and unshaken in their onset, fashion firm intensities; the Maruts, with flashing spears, make the vision blaze.

Mantra 12

घृषुं पावकं वनिनं विचर्षणिं रुद्रस्य सूनुं हवसा गृणीमसि । रजस्तुरं तवसं मारुतं गणमृजीषिणं वृषणं सश्चत श्रिये ॥

We affirm with the soul’s call the flaming-pure, the delight-bringing, the wide-seeing Son of Rudra. O powerful Marut-host, swift through the mid-worlds, straight-driving and bull-like in force—move with us toward the increase of inner splendour.

Mantra 13

प्र नू स मर्तः शवसा जनाँ अति तस्थौ व ऊती मरुतो यमावत । अर्वद्भिर्वाजं भरते धना नृभिरापृच्छ्यं क्रतुमा क्षेति पुष्यति ॥

Now that mortal indeed advances beyond the common run of men by strength—he whom you, O Maruts, uphold by your help. With swift steeds he bears the plenitude of force and the riches; with the energies of the soul he attains a will that can be consulted, and he dwells and increases.

Mantra 14

चर्कृत्यं मरुतः पृत्सु दुष्टरं द्युमन्तं शुष्मं मघवत्सु धत्तन । धनस्पृतमुक्थ्यं विश्वचर्षणिं तोकं पुष्येम तनयं शतं हिमाः ॥

O Maruts, set within the givers a luminous force that is hard to overcome in the battles; establish the shining intensity. May we foster the ‘treasure-winning’ and hymn-worthy power that upholds all peoples; may we nurture our inner lineage—child and seed—through a hundred winters.

Mantra 15

नू ष्ठिरं मरुतो वीरवन्तमृतीषाहं रयिमस्मासु धत्त । सहस्रिणं शतिनं शूशुवांसं प्रातर्मक्षू धियावसुर्जगम्यात् ॥

Now, O Maruts, place in us a firm wealth—full of heroic power and able to endure the pressures of the right path. A thousand-fold, a hundred-fold, growing by practice: may the wealth of inspired thought come swiftly to us from the early dawning.