Sukta 85

Mantra 1

प्र ये शुम्भन्ते जनयो न सप्तयो यामन्रुद्रस्य सूनवः सुदंससः । रोदसी हि मरुतश्चक्रिरे वृधे मदन्ति वीरा विदथेषु घृष्वयः ॥

Forward move those who adorn themselves like radiant women, like swift coursers—Rudra’s sons of perfect energy. For growth they have fashioned the two worlds; the heroes exult in the assemblies, vehement in their luminous ardour.

Mantra 2

त उक्षितासो महिमानमाशत दिवि रुद्रासो अधि चक्रिरे सदः । अर्चन्तो अर्कं जनयन्त इन्द्रियमधि श्रियो दधिरे पृश्निमातरः ॥

Those vigorous ones attained their greatness; the Rudras set their seat in heaven. Chanting, they bring forth the flaming hymn and engender the power of mastery; upon them they put the splendours—children of Pr̥śni, the mighty Mother-force.

Mantra 3

गोमातरो यच्छुभयन्ते अञ्जिभिस्तनूषु शुभ्रा दधिरे विरुक्मतः । बाधन्ते विश्वमभिमातिनमप वर्त्मान्येषामनु रीयते घृतम् ॥

When the cow-mothered powers adorn their bodies with shining ornaments and put on bright gold, they drive away every assailing hostility. Along their paths there flows the clarified light-essence, as if sweetness of luminous mind were streaming behind them.

Mantra 4

वि ये भ्राजन्ते सुमखास ऋष्टिभिः प्रच्यावयन्तो अच्युता चिदोजसा । मनोजुवो यन्मरुतो रथेष्वा वृषव्रातासः पृषतीरयुग्ध्वम् ॥

They blaze forth, the fair-faced, with their spears, shaking even the unshakable by their force. O Maruts, when mind-swift, on your chariots, you yoked the dappled steeds, you came as a bull-host of irresistible will.

Mantra 5

प्र यद्रथेषु पृषतीरयुग्ध्वं वाजे अद्रिं मरुतो रंहयन्तः । उतारुषस्य वि ष्यन्ति धाराश्चर्मेवोदभिर्व्युन्दन्ति भूम ॥

When on your chariots you yoked the dappled steeds and in the plenitude of force drove the stone onward, O Maruts—then the streams of the ruddy light pour out; as with waters from a hide they drench and spread over the wide earth of our being.

Mantra 6

आ वो वहन्तु सप्तयो रघुष्यदो रघुपत्वानः प्र जिगात बाहुभिः । सीदता बर्हिरुरु वः सदस्कृतं मादयध्वं मरुतो मध्वो अन्धसः ॥

Let the seven swift steeds bring you here—quick to mount, swift to fly; come forward with your arms of power. Sit upon the wide sacred grass, upon the seat prepared for you; O Maruts, intoxicate yourselves with the honeyed essence, the delight that feeds the soul.

Mantra 7

तेऽवर्धन्त स्वतवसो महित्वना नाकं तस्थुरुरु चक्रिरे सदः । विष्णुर्यद्धावद्वृषणं मदच्युतं वयो न सीदन्नधि बर्हिषि प्रिये ॥

They, self-powered in their own force, grew vast by their greatness; they took their station in the heaven and made wide their seat of being. And when Vishnu set the impetuous Bull in motion—he who does not fall from the ecstasy—they settled, like vital energies, upon the beloved sacred grass (the field prepared for the offering within).

Mantra 8

शूरा इवेद्युयुधयो न जग्मयः श्रवस्यवो न पृतनासु येतिरे । भयन्ते विश्वा भुवना मरुद्भ्यो राजान इव त्वेषसंदृशो नरः ॥

Like heroes indeed, like fighters eager to advance, like seekers of glory moving in the battles, they go forth. All the worlds tremble before the Maruts, as before kings—men of fierce and blazing vision.

Mantra 9

त्वष्टा यद्वज्रं सुकृतं हिरण्ययं सहस्रभृष्टिं स्वपा अवर्तयत् । धत्त इन्द्रो नर्यपांसि कर्तवेऽहन्वृत्रं निरपामौब्जदर्णवम् ॥

When Tvashtri set in motion the thunder-force, well-fashioned, golden, with a thousand edges—his own skilful power—Indra took it up for the works that are truly human in their divinity; he struck Vritra and drove out the waters, he broke open the oceanic flood.

Mantra 10

ऊर्ध्वं नुनुद्रेऽवतं त ओजसा दादृहाणं चिद्बिभिदुर्वि पर्वतम् । धमन्तो वाणं मरुतः सुदानवो मदे सोमस्य रण्यानि चक्रिरे ॥

Upward they drove the downward-pressing force by their strength; they split even the firmly set mountain apart. Blowing their cry, the bountiful Maruts, in the ecstasy of Soma, fashioned joys and delights of battle—energies that exult in the right conflict.

Mantra 11

जिह्मं नुनुद्रेऽवतं तया दिशासिञ्चन्नुत्सं गोतमाय तृष्णजे । आ गच्छन्तीमवसा चित्रभानवः कामं विप्रस्य तर्पयन्त धामभिः ॥

They drove away the crookedness that presses downward; by that direction they poured out a spring for Gotama who thirsts. Coming with their help, the bright-flaming ones satisfy the seer’s longing by their powers of luminous dwelling (dhāmas).

Mantra 12

या वः शर्म शशमानाय सन्ति त्रिधातूनि दाशुषे यच्छताधि । अस्मभ्यं तानि मरुतो वि यन्त रयिं नो धत्त वृषणः सुवीरम् ॥

Those shelters of peace that are yours for the striving one—those triple foundations you grant to the giver—bring them here to us, O Maruts. Set in us the plenitude (rayi) rich in heroic power, O strong Bulls.