Sukta 71

Mantra 1

उप प्र जिन्वन्नुशतीरुशन्तं पतिं न नित्यं जनयः सनीळाः । स्वसारः श्यावीमरुषीमजुष्रञ्चित्रमुच्छन्तीमुषसं न गावः ॥

They press forward and awaken the Desired One with their desire, as women rouse the ever-present lord; sisters of one home delight in the dark and the ruddy—like cows they follow the many-colored Dawn as she rises.

Mantra 2

वीळु चिद्दृळ्हा पितरो न उक्थैरद्रिं रुजन्नङ्गिरसो रवेण । चक्रुर्दिवो बृहतो गातुमस्मे अहः स्वर्विविदुः केतुमुस्राः ॥

Even what was firmly shut, our fathers with the word broke open—the Angirases with the cry shattered the rock; they made for us a path into the vast heaven, they found the Day and the Sun’s luminous token, and the shining rays.

Mantra 3

दधन्नृतं धनयन्नस्य धीतिमादिदर्यो दिधिष्वो विभृत्राः । अतृष्यन्तीरपसो यन्त्यच्छा देवाञ्जन्म प्रयसा वर्धयन्तीः ॥

Setting the Truth in place and increasing his thought, the noble one, desiring to establish, bears the many supports; the tireless works move straight toward the gods, fostering the birth of the divine powers by their offering-impulse.

Mantra 4

मथीद्यदीं विभृतो मातरिश्वा गृहेगृहे श्येतो जेन्यो भूत् । आदीं राज्ञे न सहीयसे सचा सन्ना दूत्यं भृगवाणो विवाय ॥

When Mātariśvan, bearing him, churned him forth, the shining and conquering one was born in every house; then, as to a king mighty in strength, the Bhṛgu brought him, abiding with him, for the work of mediation.

Mantra 5

महे यत्पित्र ईं रसं दिवे करव त्सरत्पृशन्यश्चिकित्वान् । सृजदस्ता धृषता दिद्युमस्मै स्वायां देवो दुहितरि त्विषिं धात् ॥

When the Wise One made the savour (rasa)—the inner essence—for the Great Father and for the Heaven, then the knowing Pṛśanya moved forth. He, the archer, released with daring the flashing light for him; and the god placed the splendour in his own daughter—within her proper home.

Mantra 6

स्व आ यस्तुभ्यं दम आ विभाति नमो वा दाशादुशतो अनु द्यून् । वर्धो अग्ने वयो अस्य द्विबर्हा यासद्राया सरथं यं जुनासि ॥

He who in his own home shines out for you—offering obeisance or a gift—moves day after day with the flame of aspiration. O Agni, increase this man’s plenitude of life with your double support, so that by the wealth of being he may reach the chariot-path that you yoke and impel.

Mantra 7

अग्निं विश्वा अभि पृक्षः सचन्ते समुद्रं न स्रवतः सप्त यह्वीः । न जामिभिर्वि चिकिते वयो नो विदा देवेषु प्रमतिं चिकित्वान् ॥

All nourishments press and cling to Agni, as seven mighty streams flow to the ocean. Not by habitual kinships does he discern our life-force; the knowing one finds for us the right orientation of mind among the gods.

Mantra 8

आ यदिषे नृपतिं तेज आनट् छुचि रेतो निषिक्तं द्यौरभीके । अग्निः शर्धमनवद्यं युवानं स्वाध्यं जनयत्सूदयच्च ॥

When the lord of men reaches the force of impulsion, then Heaven, close at hand, pours in the bright seed. Agni brings to birth the faultless youthful host, self-mastering in its law of being, and he drives it onward to its fulfilment.

Mantra 9

मनो न योऽध्वनः सद्य एत्येकः सत्रा सूरो वस्व ईशे । राजाना मित्रावरुणा सुपाणी गोषु प्रियममृतं रक्षमाणा ॥

He who goes at once on the path like the mind—one, ever-present—he as the sun rules the riches. The two kings, Mitra and Varuṇa, with good hands, guard among the rays (cows) the beloved immortal treasure.

Mantra 10

मा नो अग्ने सख्या पित्र्याणि प्र मर्षिष्ठा अभि विदुष्कविः सन् । नभो न रूपं जरिमा मिनाति पुरा तस्या अभिशस्तेरधीहि ॥

O Agni, do not neglect our ancestral friendships; being the seer who knows, be wholly attentive to us. As age does not mar the form of the sky, so may no wasting diminish us; before that assault of hostile speech, stand over us and protect.