Sukta 19

Mantra 1

नि वर्तध्वं मानु गातास्मान्त्सिषक्त रेवतीः । अग्नीषोमा पुनर्वसू अस्मे धारयतं रयिम् ॥

Turn back; do not go after us, O rich and luminous powers. O Agni and Soma, restorers of the lost, hold firm within us the rayi—fullness of being and spiritual wealth.

Mantra 2

पुनरेना नि वर्तय पुनरेना न्या कुरु । इन्द्र एणा नि यच्छत्वग्निरेना उपाजतु ॥

Turn these back again; set them down again in their right place. Let Indra restrain them back; let Agni bring them near again.

Mantra 3

पुनरेता नि वर्तन्तामस्मिन्पुष्यन्तु गोपतौ । इहैवाग्ने नि धारयेह तिष्ठतु या रयिः ॥

Let these return again; let them thrive here in this lordship of the Light/‘cows’. Here itself, O Agni, place them firmly; here let the rayi stand—this fullness that is ours.

Mantra 4

यन्नियानं न्ययनं संज्ञानं यत्परायणम् । आवर्तनं निवर्तनं यो गोपा अपि तं हुवे ॥

That which is the leading-in and the guiding-down, the reuniting recognition, and that which is the going-forth—both the turning and the returning: whatever guardian watches over these, him I call.

Mantra 5

य उदानड्व्ययनं य उदानट् परायणम् । आवर्तनं निवर्तनमपि गोपा नि वर्तताम् ॥

He who has risen up into the widening ways, he who has risen up into the far-going—of turning and returning: may that Guardian also return and be present.

Mantra 6

आ निवर्त नि वर्तय पुनर्न इन्द्र गा देहि । जीवाभिर्भुनजामहै ॥

Come back; turn them back. Give us again, O Indra, the rays/‘cows’. May we enjoy them with the living powers within us.

Mantra 7

परि वो विश्वतो दध ऊर्जा घृतेन पयसा । ये देवाः के च यज्ञियास्ते रय्या सं सृजन्तु नः ॥

Around you on every side I set nourishment—by ghṛta and by the milk of plenitude. Whatever gods are worthy of the offering, may they join together to create for us the rayi, the unified richness of being.

Mantra 8

आ निवर्तन वर्तय नि निवर्तन वर्तय । भूम्याश्चतस्रः प्रदिशस्ताभ्य एना नि वर्तय ॥

Turn back—O Power of Return—turn back; turn back, turn back. From the earth’s four directions, from all those quarters, turn back these wrong-movements (these sins) away from us.