Sukta 8

Mantra 1

प्र केतुना बृहता यात्यग्निरा रोदसी वृषभो रोरवीति । दिवश्चिदन्ताँ उपमाँ उदानळपामुपस्थे महिषो ववर्ध ॥

With a vast banner of light Agni goes forth; as a bull he bellows to the two worlds. He has reached even the ends of heaven, rising beyond the measures; in the lap of the Waters the mighty one has grown.

Mantra 2

मुमोद गर्भो वृषभः ककुद्मानस्रेमा वत्सः शिमीवाँ अरावीत् । स देवतात्युद्यतानि कृण्वन्त्स्वेषु क्षयेषु प्रथमो जिगाति ॥

The embryo rejoiced—the bull with the high crest; the unwearying calf, strong in impulse, cried aloud. He, making the upsurging movements toward the divine host, goes first into his own dwellings: Agni leads the way for the gods within us.

Mantra 3

आ यो मूर्धानं पित्रोररब्ध न्यध्वरे दधिरे सूरो अर्णः । अस्य पत्मन्नरुषीरश्वबुध्ना ऋतस्य योनौ तन्वो जुषन्त ॥

He who has taken the head-summit of the two Parents and set it in the sacrifice—he, the Sun-bright flood. In his onward course the ruddy energies, horse-based, take delight in the womb of Ṛta, in their own embodied forms.

Mantra 4

उषौषो हि वसो अग्रमेषि त्वं यमयोरभवो विभावा । ऋताय सप्त दधिषे पदानि जनयन्मित्रं तन्वे स्वायै ॥

Dawn after dawn, O Vasu, thou goest in front; thou becamest the wide-shining one of the Twin powers. For Ṛta thou hast set the seven steps, bringing to birth Mitra for thine own embodied being.

Mantra 5

भुवश्चक्षुर्मह ऋतस्य गोपा भुवो वरुणो यदृताय वेषि । भुवो अपां नपाज्जातवेदो भुवो दूतो यस्य हव्यं जुजोषः ॥

Thou becomest the Eye of the vast world, the guardian of the Truth; thou becomest Varuṇa when thou encompassest and clotheth thyself in the law of Ṛta. Thou becomest the Child of the Waters, O Jātavedas; thou becomest the messenger who gladly accepts the offering that is his.

Mantra 6

भुवो यज्ञस्य रजसश्च नेता यत्रा नियुद्भिः सचसे शिवाभिः । दिवि मूर्धानं दधिषे स्वर्षां जिह्वामग्ने चकृषे हव्यवाहम् ॥

Thou becomest the leader of the sacrifice and of the mid-worlds, where with thy auspicious yoking-powers thou joinest thyself. In heaven thou settest thy head; the tongue that wins the luminous worlds—this, O Agni, thou hast fashioned as the carrier of the offering.

Mantra 7

अस्य त्रितः क्रतुना वव्रे अन्तरिच्छन्धीतिं पितुरेवैः परस्य । सचस्यमानः पित्रोरुपस्थे जामि ब्रुवाण आयुधानि वेति ॥

Of this work Trita, by his will, chose the inner way, seeking the thought of the supreme Father by his goings. Moving in companionship in the lap of the Father, speaking as one of kin, he advances with the weapons (powers) of the ancestral spirit.

Mantra 8

स पित्र्याण्यायुधानि विद्वानिन्द्रेषित आप्त्यो अभ्ययुध्यत् । त्रिशीर्षाणं सप्तरश्मिं जघन्वान्त्वाष्ट्रस्य चिन्निः ससृजे त्रितो गाः ॥

He, knowing the ancestral powers as weapons, the Āptya urged by Indra, fought forth. Having slain the three-headed, seven-rayed (obstructor), Trita released—yes, even from Tvaṣṭṛ’s (formation)—the cows, the rays of light and knowledge.

Mantra 9

भूरीदिन्द्र उदिनक्षन्तमोजोऽवाभिनत्सत्पतिर्मन्यमानम् । त्वाष्ट्रस्य चिद्विश्वरूपस्य गोनामाचक्राणस्त्रीणि शीर्षा परा वर्क् ॥

Indra, rich in force, struck down the swelling might of the arrogant lord who deemed himself. Even of Tvaṣṭṛ’s Viśvarūpa, while he was fashioning the cows (the rays), he hewed away the three heads and cast them afar.