Sukta 127

Mantra 1

रात्री व्यख्यदायती पुरुत्रा देव्यक्षभिः । विश्वा अधि श्रियोऽधित ॥

Night has manifested, coming on from many sides with her divine lights; she has taken her seat above all splendors, gathering them into her vast and quiet power.

Mantra 2

ओर्वप्रा अमर्त्या निवतो देव्युद्वतः । ज्योतिषा बाधते तमः ॥

Wide and unfailing, immortal Goddess, she comes from the low and from the heights; with her light she presses back the darkness—so the being may find its true measure even in the night.

Mantra 3

निरु स्वसारमस्कृतोषसं देव्यायती । अपेदु हासते तमः ॥

Coming as a goddess, she has fashioned her sister Dawn into disappearance; and the darkness, driven away, withdraws—laughing off its claim—before the greater rhythm that Night establishes.

Mantra 4

सा नो अद्य यस्या वयं नि ते यामन्नविक्ष्महि । वृक्षे न वसतिं वयः ॥

May she—this Night—be ours today, in whose journey we settle down; may we enter her path as birds enter a tree, finding a resting-place of safety within her.

Mantra 5

नि ग्रामासो अविक्षत नि पद्वन्तो नि पक्षिणः । नि श्येनासश्चिदर्थिनः ॥

The settlements have come to rest; the walkers and the winged have settled; even the keen-flying hawks seeking their aim withdraw—so may all restless impulses in us be pacified into the Night’s order.

Mantra 6

यावया वृक्यं वृकं यवय स्तेनमूर्म्ये । अथा नः सुतरा भव ॥

Drive away the wolfish wolf, drive away the thief, O moving Night; then become for us an easy crossing, a safe passage through the vulnerable hours.

Mantra 7

उप मा पेपिशत्तमः कृष्णं व्यक्तमस्थित । उष ऋणेव यातय ॥

Darkness—black and clearly formed—has pressed close upon me and taken its stand; O Dawn, drive it away as one drives off a debt, clearing the being for the next advance of light.

Mantra 8

उप ते गा इवाकरं वृणीष्व दुहितर्दिवः । रात्रि स्तोमं न जिग्युषे ॥

Night, daughter of Heaven, accept this offering I have fashioned for thee, as one brings near the cows (the rays) to their goal; receive our hymn, not as one who has already won and needs nothing, but as the Power that still grants the victory of the seeker.