Sukta 88

Mantra 1

आ विद्युन्मद्भिर्मरुतः स्वर्कै रथेभिर्यात ऋष्टिमद्भिरश्वपर्णैः । आ वर्षिष्ठया न इषा वयो न पप्तता सुमायाः ॥

Come, O Maruts, with your lightning-laden, sun-bright chariots, with spear-bearing, winged-horsed powers. Come with your most abundant impetus; like birds, fly to us—O you of beautiful workings—bringing increase of life-force.

Mantra 2

तेऽरुणेभिर्वरमा पिशङ्गैः शुभे कं यान्ति रथतूर्भिरश्वैः । रुक्मो न चित्रः स्वधितीवान्पव्या रथस्य जङ्घनन्त भूम ॥

They go to the fair goal with ruddy and tawny powers, with horses swift in the chariot’s rush. Like a bright ornament, splendid, and like one bearing the axe (power to cut), the fellies of the chariot strike the earth—pressing down what resists.

Mantra 3

श्रिये कं वो अधि तनूषु वाशीर्मेधा वना न कृणवन्त ऊर्ध्वा । युष्मभ्यं कं मरुतः सुजातास्तुविद्युम्नासो धनयन्ते अद्रिम् ॥

For splendour, upon your bodies the vibrant voice and the mind’s power make themselves rise, like woods growing upward. For you, O well-born Maruts, rich in vast luminous might, they win the stone—drawing out the hidden delight and force.

Mantra 4

अहानि गृध्राः पर्या व आगुरिमां धियं वार्कार्यां च देवीम् । ब्रह्म कृण्वन्तो गोतमासो अर्कैरूर्ध्वं नुनुद्र उत्सधिं पिबध्यै ॥

Day after day, eager as vultures, they have come all around to you—this thought, this divine shaping inspiration. The Gotamas, making the mantra-force with their hymns, have driven it upward, the wellspring-seat, for the drinking of the delight.

Mantra 5

एतत्त्यन्न योजनमचेति सस्वर्ह यन्मरुतो गोतमो वः । पश्यन्हिरण्यचक्रानयोदंष्ट्रान्विधावतो वराहून् ॥

This indeed is that unequalled yoking that has become manifest, O Maruts, when Gotama beheld you—gold-wheeled, iron-tusked boars rushing forth: the irresistible powers that tear up obstruction.

Mantra 6

एषा स्या वो मरुतोऽनुभर्त्री प्रति ष्टोभति वाघतो न वाणी । अस्तोभयद्वृथासामनु स्वधां गभस्त्योः ॥

This is your attendant and supporter, O Maruts—this voice that answers with its chant like a worshipper’s speech. It has sounded the melodies in free flow, following your own law of power, within your grasping hands—where the energies are held and guided.