Sukta 31

Mantra 1

आ नो देवानामुप वेतु शंसो विश्वेभिस्तुरैरवसे यजत्रः । तेभिर्वयं सुषखायो भवेम तरन्तो विश्वा दुरिता स्याम ॥

May our hymn of affirmation come near to the Gods for help—worship-worthy, with all the swift ones. With them may we become good comrades, crossing beyond all hardships and crooked passages of the being.

Mantra 2

परि चिन्मर्तो द्रविणं ममन्यादृतस्य पथा नमसा विवासेत् । उत स्वेन क्रतुना सं वदेत श्रेयांसं दक्षं मनसा जगृभ्यात् ॥

Even a mortal may encompass the treasure if he serves by the path of Ṛta with reverence. Let him also speak in accord with his own awakened will; let him seize with the mind a more excellent power of skill and discernment.

Mantra 3

अधायि धीतिरससृग्रमंशास्तीर्थे न दस्ममुप यन्त्यूमाः । अभ्यानश्म सुवितस्य शूषं नवेदसो अमृतानामभूम ॥

The inspired thought has been set; the portions have streamed forth. As to a ford, the waves move toward the wondrous one. We have reached the force of the good passage; becoming knowers anew, we have entered the immortals’ wideness.

Mantra 4

नित्यश्चाकन्यात्स्वपतिर्दमूना यस्मा उ देवः सविता जजान । भगो वा गोभिरर्यमेमनज्यात्सो अस्मै चारुश्छदयदुत स्यात् ॥

May the constant lord of his own house, the dweller within, ever strive for the one whom Savitṛ the god has brought to birth. May Bhaga or Aryaman anoint him with the rays of Light; then for him there shall be a lovely covering and a secure well-being.

Mantra 5

इयं सा भूया उषसामिव क्षा यद्ध क्षुमन्तः शवसा समायन् । अस्य स्तुतिं जरितुर्भिक्षमाणा आ नः शग्मास उप यन्तु वाजाः ॥

May this (our word of offering) become that wide field of light like the Dawns, when the luminous ones, by their force, come together. Seeking the praise of the singer, let the strong and beneficent powers of plenitude draw near to us with their vāja—fullness of victorious energy.

Mantra 6

अस्येदेषा सुमतिः पप्रथानाभवत्पूर्व्या भूमना गौः । अस्य सनीळा असुरस्य योनौ समान आ भरणे बिभ्रमाणाः ॥

Indeed, this right-mindedness of his has spread out; the Cow—ancient in her vastness—has come into being. In the same bearing, established together in the womb of the Asura, they carry (the one work) in harmony.

Mantra 7

किं स्विद्वनं क उ स वृक्ष आस यतो द्यावापृथिवी निष्टतक्षुः । संतस्थाने अजरे इतऊती अहानि पूर्वीरुषसो जरन्त ॥

What was the wood, and what the tree from which they fashioned Heaven and Earth? In the established station, undecaying, supported by that Power, the many ancient Dawns keep renewing the days.

Mantra 8

नैतावदेना परो अन्यदस्त्युक्षा स द्यावापृथिवी बिभर्ति । त्वचं पवित्रं कृणुत स्वधावान्यदीं सूर्यं न हरितो वहन्ति ॥

Beyond this there is no other than That: the Bull, he upholds Heaven and Earth. He makes his covering a purifier, self-lawed in power, when the bright steeds bear the Sun (forward).

Mantra 9

स्तेगो न क्षामत्येति पृथ्वीं मिहं न वातो वि ह वाति भूम । मित्रो यत्र वरुणो अज्यमानोऽग्निर्वने न व्यसृष्ट शोकम् ॥

There the driving force passes beyond the earth; like wind it blows apart the mist in the vastness. There Mitra is, and Varuṇa being anointed; there Agni, as in a forest, has released his flame of ardour.

Mantra 10

स्तरीर्यत्सूत सद्यो अज्यमाना व्यथिरव्यथीः कृणुत स्वगोपा । पुत्रो यत्पूर्वः पित्रोर्जनिष्ट शम्यां गौर्जगार यद्ध पृच्छान् ॥

When the spreading one gave birth at once, being anointed, the shaken became unshaken, self-guarded. When the Son, the first, was born of the two Parents, the Cow lowed at the yoke-pole as if questioning—calling for the hidden truth to be brought out.

Mantra 11

उत कण्वं नृषदः पुत्रमाहुरुत श्यावो धनमादत्त वाजी । प्र कृष्णाय रुशदपिन्वतोधॠतमत्र नकिरस्मा अपीपेत् ॥

And they call Kaṇva the son of the Men-seated powers; and Śyāva the racer has taken the riches. For the dark (being) the shining one has filled the udder forth; here none has diminished for him the ṛta—its true increase is preserved.