Sukta 18

Mantra 1

परं मृत्यो अनु परेहि पन्थां यस्ते स्व इतरो देवयानात् । चक्षुष्मते शृण्वते ते ब्रवीमि मा नः प्रजां रीरिषो मोत वीरान् ॥

Go far beyond, O Death, along that path which is your own, other than the godward way. To you who see and hear I speak: do not injure our becoming, do not touch our heroic energies.

Mantra 2

मृत्योः पदं योपयन्तो यदैत द्राघीय आयुः प्रतरं दधानाः । आप्यायमानाः प्रजया धनेन शुद्धाः पूता भवत यज्ञियासः ॥

When you have concealed the track of Death and have passed beyond it, then, taking up a longer life and a more forward (progressive) movement, grow in fullness by the soul’s increase—by progeny (creative continuance) and by wealth (inner plenitude). Become purified and clarified, more fit for the sacrifice.

Mantra 3

इमे जीवा वि मृतैराववृत्रन्नभूद्भद्रा देवहूतिर्नो अद्य । प्राञ्चो अगाम नृतये हसाय द्राघीय आयुः प्रतरं दधानाः ॥

These living ones have turned aside away from the dead; today our call to the gods has become auspicious. We go forward—to the dance and to the gladness—taking up a longer life and a more onward movement.

Mantra 4

इमं जीवेभ्यः परिधिं दधामि मैषां नु गादपरो अर्थमेतम् । शतं जीवन्तु शरदः पुरूचीरन्तर्मृत्युं दधतां पर्वतेन ॥

This boundary-circle I set for the living: let no other go beyond this limit into that further aim (of the dead). Let them live a hundred autumns, many and full; let them place Death within, shut in as by a mountain.

Mantra 5

यथाहान्यनुपूर्वं भवन्ति यथ ऋतव ऋतुभिर्यन्ति साधु । यथा न पूर्वमपरो जहात्येवा धातरायूंषि कल्पयैषाम् ॥

As the days come in right succession, as the seasons move rightly with the seasons, as the later does not abandon the earlier—so, O Fashioner, arrange for them their life-courses in ordered continuity.

Mantra 6

आ रोहतायुर्जरसं वृणाना अनुपूर्वं यतमाना यति ष्ठ । इह त्वष्टा सुजनिमा सजोषा दीर्घमायुः करति जीवसे वः ॥

Rise up, choosing life and its ripening age; striving in right succession, go onward and take your stand. Here may Tvaṣṭṛ, with the power of good begetting, in one accord, make for you a long life for living.

Mantra 7

इमा नारीरविधवाः सुपत्नीराञ्जनेन सर्पिषा सं विशन्तु । अनश्रवोऽनमीवाः सुरत्ना आ रोहन्तु जनयो योनिमग्रे ॥

Let these women, not widowed, good in their union, enter together—anointed with unguent and with clarified richness. Without ill report, without affliction, possessing true treasures, let the mothers ascend the womb first (the creative seat), returning to the forward stream of life.

Mantra 8

उदीर्ष्व नार्यभि जीवलोकं गतासुमेतमुप शेष एहि । हस्तग्राभस्य दिधिषोस्तवेदं पत्युर्जनित्वमभि सं बभूथ ॥

Rise up, O woman, toward the world of the living; come—leave behind this one whose breath has gone, who lies near you. This is for you: by the taking of the hand, by the will to establish, you have entered again into the state of wifehood in full measure.

Mantra 9

धनुर्हस्तादाददानो मृतस्यास्मे क्षत्राय वर्चसे बलाय । अत्रैव त्वमिह वयं सुवीरा विश्वाः स्पृधो अभिमातीर्जयेम ॥

Taking the bow from the hand of the dead, for our lordly power, for luminous force, for strength—remain here. Here may we, rich in heroic souls, conquer all hostilities and all assailing powers of division.

Mantra 10

उप सर्प मातरं भूमिमेतामुरुव्यचसं पृथिवीं सुशेवाम् । ऊर्णम्रदा युवतिर्दक्षिणावत एषा त्वा पातु निॠतेरुपस्थात् ॥

Creep near to this Mother Earth—wide-spreading, the broad one, gracious and kind. Soft as wool is the young maiden, rich in the right-giving power; may she guard you from the realm of dissolution, from the lap of Nirṛti.

Mantra 11

उच्छ्वञ्चस्व पृथिवि मा नि बाधथाः सूपायनास्मै भव सूपवञ्चना । माता पुत्रं यथा सिचाभ्येनं भूम ऊर्णुहि ॥

Lift yourself up, O Earth; do not press him down. Be easy of approach for him, be gentle in yielding. As a mother wraps her son with the edge of her garment, so, O Earth, enfold him.

Mantra 12

उच्छ्वञ्चमाना पृथिवी सु तिष्ठतु सहस्रं मित उप हि श्रयन्ताम् । ते गृहासो घृतश्चुतो भवन्तु विश्वाहास्मै शरणाः सन्त्वत्र ॥

Let the Earth, rising upward in her power, stand firm and well-established. Let a thousand measured supports draw near and lean to him. Let these dwellings become streams of ghee—nourishing and luminous; may they be for him shelters here at every hour.

Mantra 13

उत्ते स्तभ्नामि पृथिवीं त्वत्परीमं लोगं निदधन्मो अहं रिषम् । एतां स्थूणां पितरो धारयन्तु तेऽत्रा यमः सादना ते मिनोतु ॥

Upward I brace the Earth around you, setting this world-order in place—may I not be harmed. Let the Fathers hold this pillar steady; here may Yama build for you a seat, a settled dwelling.

Mantra 14

प्रतीचीने मामहनीष्वाः पर्णमिवा दधुः । प्रतीचीं जग्रभा वाचमश्वं रशनया यथा ॥

In the returning days they set me back again, as one lays down a leaf. I seized back the Word, as one takes hold of a horse with the rein.