Sukta 12

Mantra 1

द्यावा ह क्षामा प्रथमे ऋतेनाभिश्रावे भवतः सत्यवाचा । देवो यन्मर्तान्यजथाय कृण्वन्त्सीदद्धोता प्रत्यङ्स्वमसुं यन् ॥

Heaven and Earth, in the beginning, by the Truth became famed for their true speech. When the god, making mortals fit for sacrifice, sat down as the invoking priest, he turned inward, moving toward his own life-breath.

Mantra 2

देवो देवान्परिभूॠतेन वहा नो हव्यं प्रथमश्चिकित्वान् । धूमकेतुः समिधा भाऋजीको मन्द्रो होता नित्यो वाचा यजीयान् ॥

The god, surpassing the gods by the Truth, bring our offering—first, and knowing. With smoke for his banner, flaming by the kindling, the rapturous Hotṛ, eternal, more to be worshipped by the word, carries the sacrifice.

Mantra 3

स्वावृग्देवस्यामृतं यदी गोरतो जातासो धारयन्त उर्वी । विश्वे देवा अनु तत्ते यजुर्गुर्दुहे यदेनी दिव्यं घृतं वाः ॥

When the wide ones, born from the cow’s source, uphold the god’s immortality, then all the gods follow your sacred formula. They milk, as it were, the divine ghee from the two bright ones.

Mantra 4

अर्चामि वां वर्धायापो घृतस्नू द्यावाभूमी शृणुतं रोदसी मे । अहा यद्द्यावोऽसुनीतिमयन्मध्वा नो अत्र पितरा शिशीताम् ॥

I chant to you for your increase—O Waters that stream with the clarified light, O Heaven-and-Earth, hear my call, O two Worlds. When the luminous heavens bring the leading of the life-breath, then here may the two Fathers sharpen for us the sweetness—may they make our inner offering keen and effective.

Mantra 5

किं स्विन्नो राजा जगृहे कदस्याति व्रतं चकृमा को वि वेद । मित्रश्चिद्धि ष्मा जुहुराणो देवाञ्छ्लोको न यातामपि वाजो अस्ति ॥

What indeed has the King taken from us? What of his law have we overstepped? Who truly knows? Even Mitra, though offering and calling the gods, finds no clear-voiced passage for their coming—yet the plenitude of force (vāja) still exists.

Mantra 6

दुर्मन्त्वत्रामृतस्य नाम सलक्ष्मा यद्विषुरूपा भवाति । यमस्य यो मनवते सुमन्त्वग्ने तमृष्व पाह्यप्रयुच्छन् ॥

Here the name of the Deathless becomes hard to hold—its sign is one, yet it appears in many forms. O Agni, the strong one, guard without failing that good intention which belongs to Yama and is meant for the human being: protect the right-minded guidance that leads through the law of death toward immortality.

Mantra 7

यस्मिन्देवा विदथे मादयन्ते विवस्वतः सदने धारयन्ते । सूर्ये ज्योतिरदधुर्मास्यक्तून्परि द्योतनिं चरतो अजस्रा ॥

In that seat where the gods rejoice in the inspired assembly, they uphold the dwelling of Vivasvat. In the Sun they set the Light; through the months they arrange the nights, and the unfailing pair move around the shining path—establishing the rhythmic order of time for the soul’s growth.

Mantra 8

यस्मिन्देवा मन्मनि संचरन्त्यपीच्ये न वयमस्य विद्म । मित्रो नो अत्रादितिरनागान्त्सविता देवो वरुणाय वोचत् ॥

That secret mind-space in which the gods move together—we do not know it. Here may Mitra and Aditi make us without fault; may Savitṛ, the god, speak for us to Varuṇa—so the inner law is restored and the path opens again.

Mantra 9

श्रुधी नो अग्ने सदने सधस्थे युक्ष्वा रथममृतस्य द्रवित्नुम् । आ नो वह रोदसी देवपुत्रे माकिर्देवानामप भूरिह स्याः ॥

Hear us, O Agni, in the seat, in the firm foundation; yoke the chariot that carries the riches of immortality. Bring to us the two Worlds, O child of the gods; do not be absent from the gods—be here with us, present and active.