Sukta 71

Mantra 1

बृहस्पते प्रथमं वाचो अग्रं यत्प्रैरत नामधेयं दधानाः । यदेषां श्रेष्ठं यदरिप्रमासीत्प्रेणा तदेषां निहितं गुहाविः ॥

O Bṛhaspati, when they first set in motion the forefront of Speech, establishing the Name—then what was their best, what was flawless, by the impulse of the soul: that was hidden in the cave and became manifest.

Mantra 2

सक्तुमिव तितउना पुनन्तो यत्र धीरा मनसा वाचमक्रत । अत्रा सखायः सख्यानि जानते भद्रैषां लक्ष्मीर्निहिताधि वाचि ॥

As men sift meal with a sieve, so they purify (their utterance): where the steadfast in vision, with the mind, shaped the Word. There the companions come to know the bonds of companionship; a gracious felicity of theirs lies hidden within the Word.

Mantra 3

यज्ञेन वाचः पदवीयमायन्तामन्वविन्दन्नृषिषु प्रविष्टाम् । तामाभृत्या व्यदधुः पुरुत्रा तां सप्त रेभा अभि सं नवन्ते ॥

By the yajña they went along the path of the Word; they found her, entered into the seers. Bringing her forward, they set her out in many directions; to that Word the seven inspired chanters bow together in assent.

Mantra 4

उत त्वः पश्यन्न ददर्श वाचमुत त्वः शृण्वन्न शृणोत्येनाम् । उतो त्वस्मै तन्वं वि सस्रे जायेव पत्य उशती सुवासाः ॥

And one, though seeing, does not behold the Word; and one, though hearing, does not truly hear her. But to another she unveils her body—like a wife, eager and well-adorned, to her husband.

Mantra 5

उत त्वं सख्ये स्थिरपीतमाहुर्नैनं हिन्वन्त्यपि वाजिनेषु । अधेन्वा चरति माययैष वाचं शुश्रुवाँ अफलामपुष्पाम् ॥

And you—firmly established in true companionship, they say—none can drive you on, even among the strong. But this one moves with illusion: he has heard the Word, yet it bears no fruit, no blossom.

Mantra 6

यस्तित्याज सचिविदं सखायं न तस्य वाच्यपि भागो अस्ति । यदीं शृणोत्यलकं शृणोति नहि प्रवेद सुकृतस्य पन्थाम् ॥

He who abandons the companion who knows the right working, for him there is no share even in the Word. Though he hears, he hears only what is empty; he does not truly know the path of the well-done work.

Mantra 7

अक्षण्वन्तः कर्णवन्तः सखायो मनोजवेष्वसमा बभूवुः । आदघ्नास उपकक्षास उ त्वे ह्रदा इव स्नात्वा उ त्वे ददृश्रे ॥

Companions with eyes, companions with ears became unequal in the swift movements of the mind. Some are only up to the knees, some up to the armpits; but others—like pools after bathing—shine forth in you, made clear.

Mantra 8

हृदा तष्टेषु मनसो जवेषु यद्ब्राह्मणाः संयजन्ते सखायः । अत्राह त्वं वि जहुर्वेद्याभिरोहब्रह्माणो वि चरन्त्यु त्वे ॥

When, in the mind’s swift movements shaped by the heart, the brahmins—companions—offer together, then here indeed you are left behind by those who know; the masters of carrying the sacred utterance move freely in you.

Mantra 9

इमे ये नार्वाङ्न परश्चरन्ति न ब्राह्मणासो न सुतेकरासः । त एते वाचमभिपद्य पापया सिरीस्तन्त्रं तन्वते अप्रजज्ञयः ॥

These who move neither forward nor beyond—neither true bearers of brahman nor makers of the pressed Soma—approach the Word with an evil way; unknowing, they stretch out a threadbare warp, a barren weaving.

Mantra 10

सर्वे नन्दन्ति यशसागतेन सभासाहेन सख्या सखायः । किल्बिषस्पृत्पितुषणिर्ह्येषामरं हितो भवति वाजिनाय ॥

All the companions rejoice in the friendship of one who arrives with glory, a conqueror in the assembly. For them he is a cleanser of fault, a giver of nourishment; he becomes fitly placed for plenitude of force.

Mantra 11

ऋचां त्वः पोषमास्ते पुपुष्वान्गायत्रं त्वो गायति शक्वरीषु । ब्रह्मा त्वो वदति जातविद्यां यज्ञस्य मात्रां वि मिमीत उ त्वः ॥

The nourisher of the ṛc-verses sits with you, increasing; the gāyatra sings you among the śakvarī measures. The brahmā-priest speaks to you the knowledge of births, and he sets out the measures of the yajña—dividing them rightly.