Sukta 13

Mantra 1

युजे वां ब्रह्म पूर्व्यं नमोभिर्वि श्लोक एतु पथ्येव सूरेः । शृण्वन्तु विश्वे अमृतस्य पुत्रा आ ये धामानि दिव्यानि तस्थुः ॥

I yoke for you two the ancient Word with acts of reverence; let the clear chant go forth like the guiding path of the inspired seer. Let all the children of immortality hear—those who stand in the luminous abodes—so the higher powers may consent to the soul’s upward journey.

Mantra 2

यमे इव यतमाने यदैतं प्र वां भरन्मानुषा देवयन्तः । आ सीदतं स्वमु लोकं विदाने स्वासस्थे भवतमिन्दवे नः ॥

As if in Yama’s domain, when the aspiring human beings bring this forward for you two, sit down in your own known world. Become firmly seated in your right seat for our Soma—so the delight may be received in its true home within us.

Mantra 3

पञ्च पदानि रुपो अन्वरोहं चतुष्पदीमन्वेमि व्रतेन । अक्षरेण प्रति मिम एतामृतस्य नाभावधि सं पुनामि ॥

I climb after the Form through its five steps; I follow the four-footed measure by the law of right working. By the imperishable syllable I measure it back; upon the navel of ṛta I purify and gather it—so speech and being are aligned to the truth-center.

Mantra 4

देवेभ्यः कमवृणीत मृत्युं प्रजायै कममृतं नावृणीत । बृहस्पतिं यज्ञमकृण्वत ऋषिं प्रियां यमस्तन्वं प्रारिरेचीत् ॥

Whom did he choose for death among the gods, and whom for the progeny did he not choose for immortality? They made Bṛhaspati the sacrifice, the beloved seer; Yama extended his body forth—establishing the mortal frame as the field where the sacred work can be accomplished and surpassed.

Mantra 5

सप्त क्षरन्ति शिशवे मरुत्वते पित्रे पुत्रासो अप्यवीवतन्नृतम् । उभे इदस्योभयस्य राजत उभे यतेते उभयस्य पुष्यतः ॥

Seven streams of force flow for the child of becoming, for the Father endowed with the Maruts; the sons too have made the Truth (ṛta) move forward and take effect. Both sides of his dual nature shine; both strive, and both are fostered into fullness.