Sukta 76

Mantra 1

आ व ऋञ्जस ऊर्जां व्युष्टिष्विन्द्रं मरुतो रोदसी अनक्तन । उभे यथा नो अहनी सचाभुवा सदःसदो वरिवस्यात उद्भिदा ॥

Come, O you who prepare the force: in the dawnings anoint Indra, O Maruts, and the two worlds. May both our Days (the dual movements of light) become companions to us, and in every session grant us wide room by the breaking open: so may the soul receive space and power for the growth of the Truth.

Mantra 2

तदु श्रेष्ठं सवनं सुनोतनात्यो न हस्तयतो अद्रिः सोतरि । विदद्ध्यर्यो अभिभूति पौंस्यं महो राये चित्तरुते यदर्वतः ॥

Press out that best libation: like a steed in the hand, let the stone drive it forth, O presser. For the noble one finds the conquering manhood; he overpasses even great riches when the impulsion is rightly harnessed: so may our pressing release the highest force beyond mere possession.

Mantra 3

तदिद्ध्यस्य सवनं विवेरपो यथा पुरा मनवे गातुमश्रेत् । गोअर्णसि त्वाष्ट्रे अश्वनिर्णिजि प्रेमध्वरेष्वध्वराँ अशिश्रयुः ॥

For that pressing indeed opened out the Waters, as of old it made for Manu a path to go. In the cow-abundant (field of light), in the Tvaṣṭṛ-made, horse-brightened order, they set the sacrifices forward in the rites: so may our right offering open the inner waters and create the path for the human soul.

Mantra 4

अप हत रक्षसो भङ्गुरावत स्कभायत निॠतिं सेधतामतिम् । आ नो रयिं सर्ववीरं सुनोतन देवाव्यं भरत श्लोकमद्रयः ॥

Strike away the rākṣasa-forces, the breakers of our formation; prop them off, drive away Nirṛti, restrain the crookedness of mind. Press out for us the rayi that holds all hero-powers; bring a god-protected fame, O pressing-stones: so may our inner sacrifice repel darkness and establish a victorious fullness.

Mantra 5

दिवश्चिदा वोऽमवत्तरेभ्यो विभ्वना चिदाश्वपस्तरेभ्यः । वायोश्चिदा सोमरभस्तरेभ्योऽग्नेश्चिदर्च पितुकृत्तरेभ्यः ॥

Even beyond the heaven, to you who are more mighty; even beyond the all-pervading, to you who are more swift in work; even beyond Vayu, to you who are more grasping of Soma; even beyond Agni, sing to you who are more perfect in the right cutting-out: so may our aspiration rise by ever greater intensities of power and skill in the offering.

Mantra 6

भुरन्तु नो यशसः सोत्वन्धसो ग्रावाणो वाचा दिविता दिवित्मता । नरो यत्र दुहते काम्यं मध्वाघोषयन्तो अभितो मिथस्तुरः ॥

May the pressing-stones pour out for us the luminous glory; may they press the rapture (Soma) with the word, by the heavenly power and its heavenward force—there where the strong souls milk out the desired honeyed sweetness, sounding it forth on every side, striving together in mutual uplift.

Mantra 7

सुन्वन्ति सोमं रथिरासो अद्रयो निरस्य रसं गविषो दुहन्ति ते । दुहन्त्यूधरुपसेचनाय कं नरो हव्या न मर्जयन्त आसभिः ॥

The pressing-stones, swift in their movement, press the Soma; drawing out its essence, seeking the luminous herds, they milk it. They milk the udder for the pouring-out; the strong souls polish the offerings as if with their mouths—making the oblation fit for the gods within.

Mantra 8

एते नरः स्वपसो अभूतन य इन्द्राय सुनुथ सोममद्रयः । वामंवामं वो दिव्याय धाम्ने वसुवसु वः पार्थिवाय सुन्वते ॥

You have become these effective powers, O strong ones—pressing the Soma for Indra, O stones. Give each desirable good to the heavenly home, and each richness also to the earthly presser: let both planes be filled by the flow of delight.