Sukta 39

Mantra 1

यो वां परिज्मा सुवृदश्विना रथो दोषामुषासो हव्यो हविष्मता । शश्वत्तमासस्तमु वामिदं वयं पितुर्न नाम सुहवं हवामहे ॥

That all-moving chariot of yours, O Aśvins, with good turning, to be invoked by the offerer at night and at dawn—towards that enduring movement we call you here, as one calls by the father’s name, with a sure and happy invocation.

Mantra 2

चोदयतं सूनृताः पिन्वतं धिय उत्पुरंधीरीरयतं तदुश्मसि । यशसं भागं कृणुतं नो अश्विना सोमं न चारुं मघवत्सु नस्कृतम् ॥

Set in motion the powers of luminous truth, strengthen our thoughts; uplift and release the plenitudes of the inspired intelligence—this is what we desire. Fashion for us, O Aśvins, a share that brings glory, like a fair Soma pressed out among the givers of light and force.

Mantra 3

अमाजुरश्चिद्भवथो युवं भगोऽनाशोश्चिदवितारापमस्य चित् । अन्धस्य चिन्नासत्या कृशस्य चिद्युवामिदाहुर्भिषजा रुतस्य चित् ॥

Even for the one who has no strength you become a fortune; even for the one without substance you are saviours, even for the despised. Even for the blind, O Nāsatyas, even for the wasted and weak—yes, you are called physicians even of the wounded cry.

Mantra 4

युवं च्यवानं सनयं यथा रथं पुनर्युवानं चरथाय तक्षथुः । निष्टौग्र्यमूहथुरद्भ्यस्परि विश्वेत्ता वां सवनेषु प्रवाच्या ॥

You two refashioned Cyavāna, the aged, as one refashions a chariot, making him again young for the journey. You bore out Tugrya from the waters on every side—these deeds of yours are to be proclaimed at all the pressings.

Mantra 5

पुराणा वां वीर्या प्र ब्रवा जनेऽथो हासथुर्भिषजा मयोभुवा । ता वां नु नव्याववसे करामहेऽयं नासत्या श्रदरिर्यथा दधत् ॥

I proclaim to men your ancient heroic powers; thus indeed you have been healers who bring joy. Those same powers, ever new, we now shape into help—so that here the Nāsatyas may place faith in the offering-force that gives itself truly.

Mantra 6

इयं वामह्वे शृणुतं मे अश्विना पुत्रायेव पितरा मह्यं शिक्षतम् । अनापिरज्ञा असजात्यामतिः पुरा तस्या अभिशस्तेरव स्पृतम् ॥

This is my call to you—hear me, O Aśvins; teach and foster me as two fathers would a son. For ignorance without support, a wrong-belonging confusion, has long been upon me; from its hostile affliction, rescue me downward and out.

Mantra 7

युवं रथेन विमदाय शुन्ध्युवं न्यूहथुः पुरुमित्रस्य योषणाम् । युवं हवं वध्रिमत्या अगच्छतं युवं सुषुतिं चक्रथुः पुरंधये ॥

You brought in your chariot to Vimadā the purified maiden, the woman of Purumitra. You came to the call of Vadhryaśvā’s wife; you made a good birth for Purandhī—thus your aid enters even the tangled human fate.

Mantra 8

युवं विप्रस्य जरणामुपेयुषः पुनः कलेरकृणुतं युवद्वयः । युवं वन्दनमृश्यदादुदूपथुर्युवं सद्यो विश्पलामेतवे कृथः ॥

You restored youth again to the singer who had come to old age; you made him young once more. You lifted up Vandana from the wolf’s giving (from the devouring fate); you made Viśpalā at once able to go—thus you restore the power to move forward.

Mantra 9

युवं ह रेभं वृषणा गुहा हितमुदैरयतं ममृवांसमश्विना । युवमृबीसमुत तप्तमत्रय ओमन्वन्तं चक्रथुः सप्तवध्रये ॥

You, O mighty Aśvins, raised up Rebha who was hidden in the cave, as one already dead. You made Ṛbīsa—and also the scorched one—for Atri to be protected and whole; you restored the sevenfold-bound one to safety and right breath.

Mantra 10

युवं श्वेतं पेदवेऽश्विनाश्वं नवभिर्वाजैर्नवती च वाजिनम् । चर्कृत्यं ददथुर्द्रावयत्सखं भगं न नृभ्यो हव्यं मयोभुवम् ॥

You two, O Aśvins, gave to Pedu the white steed—victorious with nine powers and with ninety too, a carrier of plenitude. You bestowed the swift-moving helper, a companion that drives forward, like Bhaga’s share: an offering that becomes delight for human souls.

Mantra 11

न तं राजानावदिते कुतश्चन नांहो अश्नोति दुरितं नकिर्भयम् । यमश्विना सुहवा रुद्रवर्तनी पुरोरथं कृणुथः पत्न्या सह ॥

That one, O royal Aśvins, child of Aditi’s wideness, is not touched from any side by distress, by crooked misfortune, nor by any fear—whom you, easy to call, moving on Rudra’s path of force, make a front-leading chariot, together with the Lady (the soul-power).

Mantra 12

आ तेन यातं मनसो जवीयसा रथं यं वामृभवश्चक्रुरश्विना । यस्य योगे दुहिता जायते दिव उभे अहनी सुदिने विवस्वतः ॥

Come with that chariot swifter than mind, O Aśvins—the chariot the Rbhus fashioned for you. In its yoking the Daughter of Heaven is born: the two Days, bright with good-daylight, of Vivasvat’s shining.

Mantra 13

ता वर्तिर्यातं जयुषा वि पर्वतमपिन्वतं शयवे धेनुमश्विना । वृकस्य चिद्वर्तिकामन्तरास्याद्युवं शचीभिर्ग्रसिताममुञ्चतम् ॥

By that path of victory you came and split the mountain; you made the cow of abundance swell for Śayu, O Aśvins. Even from within the wolf’s mouth you, by your effective powers, released the quail that had been swallowed.

Mantra 14

एतं वां स्तोममश्विनावकर्मातक्षाम भृगवो न रथम् । न्यमृक्षाम योषणां न मर्ये नित्यं न सूनुं तनयं दधानाः ॥

This hymn to you, O Aśvins, we have fashioned—like the Bhṛgus a chariot. We have set it in order and made it bright, as a young woman adorns herself for her lover, as one holds ever a son, a cherished child within.