Sukta 108

Mantra 1

किमिच्छन्ती सरमा प्रेदमानड्दूरे ह्यध्वा जगुरिः पराचैः । कास्मेहितिः का परितक्म्यासीत्कथं रसाया अतरः पयांसि ॥

What seeking did Saramā come crying forth here? Far indeed is the path, hard to traverse from the beyond. What was your purpose for us, what was your circling pursuit? How did you cross the waters of Rasā?

Mantra 2

इन्द्रस्य दूतीरिषिता चरामि मह इच्छन्ती पणयो निधीन्वः । अतिष्कदो भियसा तन्न आवत्तथा रसाया अतरं पयांसि ॥

I move as Indra’s messenger, driven by his command, seeking the great treasure that you Paṇis have hidden. A leap beyond, through fear, carried me to it; thus I crossed the waters of Rasā.

Mantra 3

कीदृङ्ङिन्द्रः सरमे का दृशीका यस्येदं दूतीरसरः पराकात् । आ च गच्छान्मित्रमेना दधामाथा गवां गोपतिर्नो भवाति ॥

What kind of Indra is he, O Saramā, what is his vision, whose messenger you have come from far away? Come, let us make friendship with you by this; then he will become for us the herdsman and guardian of the cows of light.

Mantra 4

नाहं तं वेद दभ्यं दभत्स यस्येदं दूतीरसरं पराकात् । न तं गूहन्ति स्रवतो गभीरा हता इन्द्रेण पणयः शयध्वे ॥

I do not know that one who can be deceived—nor him who deceives—of whom this message has gone forth as a messenger from afar. The deep-flowing currents cannot hide him. Struck down by Indra, O Panis, you lie helpless.

Mantra 5

इमा गावः सरमे या ऐच्छः परि दिवो अन्तान्त्सुभगे पतन्ती । कस्त एना अव सृजादयुध्व्युतास्माकमायुधा सन्ति तिग्मा ॥

These are the Rays (the ‘cows’), O Saramā, that you sought, flying, O fortunate one, to the farthest limits of heaven. Who will now release them to you, you who bear no weapon—while our weapons are keen?

Mantra 6

असेन्या वः पणयो वचांस्यनिषव्यास्तन्वः सन्तु पापीः । अधृष्टो व एतवा अस्तु पन्था बृहस्पतिर्व उभया न मृळात् ॥

O Panis, your words are without a true army; let your bodies be incapable and your evil become manifest. Let the path you take be unassailable (for us, not for you): may Bṛhaspati not grant you refuge on either side.

Mantra 7

अयं निधिः सरमे अद्रिबुध्नो गोभिरश्वेभिर्वसुभिर्न्यृष्टः । रक्षन्ति तं पणयो ये सुगोपा रेकु पदमलकमा जगन्थ ॥

Here is the hidden treasure, O Saramā, set down in the rock-depth, packed with Rays, with energies, with riches. The Panis guard it, good herdsmen of their darkness. Yet you have come to the track, to the mark, to the very dwelling.

Mantra 8

एह गमन्नृषयः सोमशिता अयास्यो अङ्गिरसो नवग्वाः । त एतमूर्वं वि भजन्त गोनामथैतद्वचः पणयो वमन्नित् ॥

Hither came the seers, sharpened by Soma—Ayāsya, the Aṅgirases, the Navagvas. They divided open this enclosure of the Rays; then the Panis, in spite, spat out this word.

Mantra 9

एवा च त्वं सरम आजगन्थ प्रबाधिता सहसा दैव्येन । स्वसारं त्वा कृणवै मा पुनर्गा अप ते गवां सुभगे भजाम ॥

So indeed you have come, O Saramā, driven by the divine force. I will make you a sister—do not go back again. From you, O fortunate one, we will take our share of the Rays.

Mantra 10

नाहं वेद भ्रातृत्वं नो स्वसृत्वमिन्द्रो विदुरङ्गिरसश्च घोराः । गोकामा मे अच्छदयन्यदायमपात इत पणयो वरीयः ॥

I know nothing of brotherhood or sisterhood; Indra knows, and the dread Aṅgirases. These cow-desiring powers have tried to veil me; therefore, O Panis, go far away—depart to a wider distance.

Mantra 11

दूरमित पणयो वरीय उद्गावो यन्तु मिनतीॠतेन । बृहस्पतिर्या अविन्दन्निगूळ्हाः सोमो ग्रावाण ऋषयश्च विप्राः ॥

Far away indeed, O Panis—farther still! Let the Rays go forth, breaking through by the Truth. Those that Bṛhaspati found hidden—Soma, the pressing-stones, and the seers, the illumined thinkers, stand with that discovery.