Sukta 61

Mantra 1

इदमित्था रौद्रं गूर्तवचा ब्रह्म क्रत्वा शच्यामन्तराजौ । क्राणा यदस्य पितरा मंहनेष्ठाः पर्षत्पक्थे अहन्ना सप्त होतॄन् ॥

This indeed is that fierce (Rudra-force) inspired Word: a mantra well-uttered, made effective by will and skill in the inner battle. When the two Fathers of this working, most intent on increase, set it in motion, it crosses beyond the hostile field and strikes down the seven offerers (the divided movements), so that the sacrifice may be re-founded in unity.

Mantra 2

स इद्दानाय दभ्याय वन्वञ्च्यवानः सूदैरमिमीत वेदिम् । तूर्वयाणो गूर्तवचस्तमः क्षोदो न रेत इतऊति सिञ्चत् ॥

He, pressing towards the giving and the unassailable, striving and moving on, measured out the altar by rich offerings. Driving forward, most perfectly right in speech, he pours the impulsion like seed, from this very help, to found a new birth of the work in the darkness.

Mantra 3

मनो न येषु हवनेषु तिग्मं विपः शच्या वनुथो द्रवन्ता । आ यः शर्याभिस्तुविनृम्णो अस्याश्रीणीतादिशं गभस्तौ ॥

In those callings where the sharp force runs like the mind itself, the inspired seers, by effective power, win and rush forward. He who, mighty in manhood, with his driving rays, has mixed and set the direction in his grasp—he founds the straight path of the offering.

Mantra 4

कृष्णा यद्गोष्वरुणीषु सीदद्दिवो नपाताश्विना हुवे वाम् । वीतं मे यज्ञमा गतं मे अन्नं ववन्वांसा नेषमस्मृतध्रू ॥

When the dark force settles upon the ruddy herds (the rays), O Aśvins, children of Heaven, I call you. Enjoy my sacrifice; come to my nourishment: you who win the plenitude, do not let my seeking of delight and increase fall into forgetfulness or wavering.

Mantra 5

प्रथिष्ट यस्य वीरकर्ममिष्णदनुष्ठितं नु नर्यो अपौहत् । पुनस्तदा वृहति यत्कनाया दुहितुरा अनुभृतमनर्वा ॥

Broad-based is his heroic work, set in motion and firmly carried out; the manly power drives away what obstructs. Yet again he brings it to growth—what had been borne along from the maiden, from the daughter—so the unfallen force restores the continuity of the creation.

Mantra 6

मध्या यत्कर्त्वमभवदभीके कामं कृण्वाने पितरि युवत्याम् । मनानग्रेतो जहतुर्वियन्ता सानौ निषिक्तं सुकृतस्य योनौ ॥

When in the midst, in the near and inward place, the act was done—desire shaping itself in the Father and the young one—then, intent in mind, they released the creative seed, parting; it was poured upon the summit into the womb of the well-made (the right formation).

Mantra 7

पिता यत्स्वां दुहितरमधिष्कन्क्ष्मया रेतः संजग्मानो नि षिञ्चत् । स्वाध्योऽजनयन्ब्रह्म देवा वास्तोष्पतिं व्रतपां निरतक्षन् ॥

When the Father approached his own Daughter and, joining with the earth, poured the seed, then from the right inner placing the gods brought forth the Mantra-Truth; and they fashioned Vāstoṣpati, the guardian of the vow, the lord of the inner dwelling.

Mantra 8

स ईं वृषा न फेनमस्यदाजौ स्मदा परैदप दभ्रचेताः । सरत्पदा न दक्षिणा परावृङ्न ता नु मे पृशन्यो जगृभ्रे ॥

He, like a bull, flung forth the foam in the battle; then the little-mindedness fell away and he moved beyond. The right-giving power slipped from the step and turned aside—yet those forces, now, do not seize me; I refuse the grasp of the dark-spotted disturbers.

Mantra 9

मक्षू न वह्निः प्रजाया उपब्दिरग्निं न नग्न उप सीददूधः । सनितेध्मं सनितोत वाजं स धर्ता जज्ञे सहसा यवीयुत् ॥

Swiftly, like a bearer, the call of the offspring draws near; like a naked flame it sits close to the udder (the hidden source). Winner of the fuel and winner too of plenitude of force, that upholder is born—young, by sheer might—sustaining the work from its secret nourishment.

Mantra 10

मक्षू कनायाः सख्यं नवग्वा ऋतं वदन्त ऋतयुक्तिमग्मन् । द्विबर्हसो य उप गोपमागुरदक्षिणासो अच्युता दुदुक्षन् ॥

Swiftly the Navagvas entered into the maiden’s companionship, speaking the Truth; they came yoked to the right joining of Ṛta. Those of double might approached the Cowherd (guardian of the rays); but being without right-giving they milked out what should not fall—distorting the stable powers by a wrong exchange.

Mantra 11

मक्षू कनायाः सख्यं नवीयो राधो न रेत ऋतमित्तुरण्यन् । शुचि यत्ते रेक्ण आयजन्त सबर्दुघायाः पय उस्रियायाः ॥

Swiftly, from the maiden (the fresh-born inspiration), a newer comradeship is formed—an offering like a seed of delight—pressing forward toward the Truth (ṛta) alone. When, O Pure One, they have brought to thee thy treasure as an oblation, then from the ever-yielding Cow of plenitude the milk of the radiant lights flows forth.

Mantra 12

पश्वा यत्पश्चा वियुता बुधन्तेति ब्रवीति वक्तरी रराणः । वसोर्वसुत्वा कारवोऽनेहा विश्वं विवेष्टि द्रविणमुप क्षु ॥

When the separated powers awaken afterwards as herds finding their way, the rejoicing speaker declares it. Here the singers, through the wealth of the Wealth-giver, wrap themselves in the whole abundance and swiftly draw it near.

Mantra 13

तदिन्न्वस्य परिषद्वानो अग्मन्पुरू सदन्तो नार्षदं बिभित्सन् । वि शुष्णस्य संग्रथितमनर्वा विदत्पुरुप्रजातस्य गुहा यत् ॥

Then indeed they came, sitting around him in many assemblies, seeking to break open what is not to be violated by mortals. The unerring Force found the tightly-bound holding of Śuṣṇa—of the one who breeds many offsprings—when it lay hidden in the cavern.

Mantra 14

भर्गो ह नामोत यस्य देवाः स्वर्ण ये त्रिषधस्थे निषेदुः । अग्निर्ह नामोत जातवेदाः श्रुधी नो होतॠतस्य होताध्रुक् ॥

‘Bharga’ indeed is his name—he in whom the gods, like luminous powers, take their seat in the triple foundation. ‘Agni’ indeed is his name, Jātavedas: hear us, O Hotar of the Truth, the undeceiving priest of the offering.

Mantra 15

उत त्या मे रौद्रावर्चिमन्ता नासत्याविन्द्र गूर्तये यजध्यै । मनुष्वद्वृक्तबर्हिषे रराणा मन्दू हितप्रयसा विक्षु यज्यू ॥

And those two for me—fiery with Rudra’s brilliance, the Nāsatyas—O Indra, are to be worshipped for the uplifted goal. Rejoicing like men for the rite with the strewn sacred grass, eager and with offerings set in order, they are to be invoked among the clans.

Mantra 16

अयं स्तुतो राजा वन्दि वेधा अपश्च विप्रस्तरति स्वसेतुः । स कक्षीवन्तं रेजयत्सो अग्निं नेमिं न चक्रमर्वतो रघुद्रु ॥

This King, praised, the ordainer, I salute: the seer crosses the waters by his own bridge. He set Kakṣīvant in vibration; he set Agni in motion—like the felly of a wheel, like the swift course of the steed.

Mantra 17

स द्विबन्धुर्वैतरणो यष्टा सबर्धुं धेनुमस्वं दुहध्यै । सं यन्मित्रावरुणा वृञ्ज उक्थैर्ज्येष्ठेभिरर्यमणं वरूथैः ॥

He, the twofold-kin, the one who carries across, is the sacrificer—so that the strong-yielding Cow and the Steed may be milked. And when he unites with Mitra and Varuṇa by the hymns, with the elder powers he wins Aryaman by their protections.

Mantra 18

तद्बन्धुः सूरिर्दिवि ते धियंधा नाभानेदिष्ठो रपति प्र वेनन् । सा नो नाभिः परमास्य वा घाहं तत्पश्चा कतिथश्चिदास ॥

That is the bond: the illumined seer in heaven sets thy thought in place; Nabhānediṣṭha speaks forth, seeking and desiring. That is our highest navel (center) of this being; and I too was afterwards in some manner a part of that.

Mantra 19

इयं मे नाभिरिह मे सधस्थमिमे मे देवा अयमस्मि सर्वः । द्विजा अह प्रथमजा ऋतस्येदं धेनुरदुहज्जायमाना ॥

This is my navel; here is my seat. These are my gods; I am this whole. Twice-born am I, a first-born of the Truth: this Cow, being born, has milked out (for me) the nourishment of illumination.

Mantra 20

अधासु मन्द्रो अरतिर्विभावाव स्यति द्विवर्तनिर्वनेषाट् । ऊर्ध्वा यच्छ्रेणिर्न शिशुर्दन्मक्षू स्थिरं शेवृधं सूत माता ॥

Then the glad, shining mover casts himself down, turning in two ways, a conqueror in the wood. When the line rises upward—like a child’s tooth—then swiftly the Mother brings forth the stable, the growth of well-being.

Mantra 21

अधा गाव उपमातिं कनाया अनु श्वान्तस्य कस्य चित्परेयुः । श्रुधि त्वं सुद्रविणो नस्त्वं याळाश्वघ्नस्य वावृधे सूनृताभिः ॥

Then the luminous Rays (the Cows) followed the guiding measure of the maiden-power and moved beyond the panting hound of any seeker. Hear us, O giver of rich plenitude; you, who by words of true and right utterance increase the slayer of the hostile horse-force within.

Mantra 22

अध त्वमिन्द्र विद्ध्यस्मान्महो राये नृपते वज्रबाहुः । रक्षा च नो मघोनः पाहि सूरीननेहसस्ते हरिवो अभिष्टौ ॥

Then, O Indra, know us and take us into thy regard for the great plenitude; O lord of men with the thunder-arm. Guard us, O bounteous one; protect our illumined leaders, and in thy untroubled help, O thou of the tawny steeds, be our close support.

Mantra 23

अध यद्राजाना गविष्टौ सरत्सरण्युः कारवे जरण्युः । विप्रः प्रेष्ठः स ह्येषां बभूव परा च वक्षदुत पर्षदेनान् ॥

Then, when the two kings in the quest of Light set the swift-moving power in motion for the singer who seeks the right praise, the seer most beloved became indeed their leader; he carried them beyond and he brought them across.

Mantra 24

अधा न्वस्य जेन्यस्य पुष्टौ वृथा रेभन्त ईमहे तदू नु । सरण्युरस्य सूनुरश्वो विप्रश्चासि श्रवसश्च सातौ ॥

Then indeed for the increase of this victorious one we strive, not vainly, for that now. For thou art his swift-moving son, the Horse—an inspired seer too—and in the winning of fame thou art the power that attains.

Mantra 25

युवोर्यदि सख्यायास्मे शर्धाय स्तोमं जुजुषे नमस्वान् । विश्वत्र यस्मिन्ना गिरः समीचीः पूर्वीव गातुर्दाशत्सूनृतायै ॥

If, for your friendship, the company here accepts with homage the hymn of praise—then in him, from every side, the rightly-joining words come together; as in the ancient way, the path gives itself to the true and luminous speech.

Mantra 26

स गृणानो अद्भिर्देववानिति सुबन्धुर्नमसा सूक्तैः । वर्धदुक्थैर्वचोभिरा हि नूनं व्यध्वैति पयस उस्रियायाः ॥

He, praising with the waters, ‘possessed of the gods’, a true kin of the Truth, with homage and well-shaped hymns—he grows by the recitations and the word-forces; for now the path opens out, and the streams of the shining Cow’s milk move forth.

Mantra 27

त ऊ षु णो महो यजत्रा भूत देवास ऊतये सजोषाः । ये वाजाँ अनयता वियन्तो ये स्था निचेतारो अमूराः ॥

May you, O gods worthy of worship, become for us a great help in one accord—those who lead the plenitudes of force onward, who move wide, who stand as the discerning ones, unbewildered.