Sukta 68

Mantra 1

उदप्रुतो न वयो रक्षमाणा वावदतो अभ्रियस्येव घोषाः । गिरिभ्रजो नोर्मयो मदन्तो बृहस्पतिमभ्यर्का अनावन् ॥

Like birds rising from the waters, guarding their own life-breath, the cries sound out like those of the cloud. Like waves flashing on the mountain-slope, exulting, the hymns have surged toward Brihaspati.

Mantra 2

सं गोभिराङ्गिरसो नक्षमाणो भग इवेदर्यमणं निनाय । जने मित्रो न दम्पती अनक्ति बृहस्पते वाजयाशूँरिवाजौ ॥

With the rays of light the Angiras moves to the goal; like Bhaga he leads Aryaman onward. Like Mitra among men he anoints the two lords of the house; O Brihaspati, drive us to plenitude, like swift ones in the battle.

Mantra 3

साध्वर्या अतिथिनीरिषिरा स्पार्हाः सुवर्णा अनवद्यरूपाः । बृहस्पतिः पर्वतेभ्यो वितूर्या निर्गा ऊपे यवमिव स्थिविभ्यः ॥

The noble ones, guests of the journey, swift and desirable, golden, of faultless form—Brihaspati, cleaving the mountains, brought the cows out, as grain is winnowed free from the husks.

Mantra 4

आप्रुषायन्मधुन ऋतस्य योनिमवक्षिपन्नर्क उल्कामिव द्योः । बृहस्पतिरुद्धरन्नश्मनो गा भूम्या उद्नेव वि त्वचं बिभेद ॥

He drenched the womb of Rita with honeyed sweetness; the hymn was cast down like a meteor from heaven. Brihaspati, lifting the cows out from the stone, split the skin of the earth as one breaks open a waterskin.

Mantra 5

अप ज्योतिषा तमो अन्तरिक्षादुद्नः शीपालमिव वात आजत् । बृहस्पतिरनुमृश्या वलस्याभ्रमिव वात आ चक्र आ गाः ॥

With light he drove away the darkness from the mid-world, as wind drives off a waterskin. Brihaspati, feeling out the cave of Vala, like wind shaping the cloud, fashioned the coming of the cows—he brought the rays forward.

Mantra 6

यदा वलस्य पीयतो जसुं भेद्बृहस्पतिरग्नितपोभिरर्कैः । दद्भिर्न जिह्वा परिविष्टमाददाविर्निधीँरकृणोदुस्रियाणाम् ॥

When Brihaspati, with hymns that are tapas of fire, broke the greedy enclosure of Vala, then like a tongue taking the food set all around, he seized it; and he made manifest the hidden treasures of the shining ones.

Mantra 7

बृहस्पतिरमत हि त्यदासां नाम स्वरीणां सदने गुहा यत् । आण्डेव भित्त्वा शकुनस्य गर्भमुदुस्रियाः पर्वतस्य त्मनाजत् ॥

Bṛhaspati came to know that secret Name of the radiant powers, hidden in their inner seat within the cave. Breaking it open like an egg—the womb of the bird—he brought forth, by the mountain’s own force, the shining herds of Light.

Mantra 8

अश्नापिनद्धं मधु पर्यपश्यन्मत्स्यं न दीन उदनि क्षियन्तम् । निष्टज्जभार चमसं न वृक्षाद्बृहस्पतिर्विरवेणा विकृत्य ॥

He beheld the honey sealed within the stone, like a fish dwindling in scant waters. Then Bṛhaspati tore it out—like a cup from a tree—by a far-resounding cry that breaks the form.

Mantra 9

सोषामविन्दत्स स्वः सो अग्निं सो अर्केण वि बबाधे तमांसि । बृहस्पतिर्गोवपुषो वलस्य निर्मज्जानं न पर्वणो जभार ॥

He found the Dawn; he found the luminous Heaven; he found the Fire. With the hymn of illumination he shattered the darknesses. Bṛhaspati drew out from Vala—whose body is made of ‘cows’—as one draws marrow from a joint.

Mantra 10

हिमेव पर्णा मुषिता वनानि बृहस्पतिनाकृपयद्वलो गाः । अनानुकृत्यमपुनश्चकार यात्सूर्यामासा मिथ उच्चरातः ॥

As leaves are stripped by winter, so Vala was made to yield the luminous herds by Bṛhaspati. He did what cannot be imitated, making anew the right movement by which Sun and Moon go forth in their alternating ascent.

Mantra 11

अभि श्यावं न कृशनेभिरश्वं नक्षत्रेभिः पितरो द्यामपिंशन् । रात्र्यां तमो अदधुर्ज्योतिरहन्बृहस्पतिर्भिनदद्रिं विदद्गाः ॥

The Fathers marked the heaven with the stars, as if a dark horse were traced with bright streaks. In the Night they set the darkness, and they smote forth the Light. Bṛhaspati split the rock and found the rays of Knowledge.

Mantra 12

इदमकर्म नमो अभ्रियाय यः पूर्वीरन्वानोनवीति । बृहस्पतिः स हि गोभिः सो अश्वैः स वीरेभिः स नृभिर्नो वयो धात् ॥

This work have we done—obeisance to the mighty one—who follows after the ancient paths and makes them ever new. May Bṛhaspati, rich in rays, in powers of force, in heroes and in men, establish for us the plenitude of being.