Sukta 94

Mantra 1

प्रैते वदन्तु प्र वयं वदाम ग्रावभ्यो वाचं वदता वदद्भ्यः । यदद्रयः पर्वताः साकमाशवः श्लोकं घोषं भरथेन्द्राय सोमिनः ॥

Let these speak forth, and we too will speak: speak a word to the pressing-stones, to the speaking ones. When the stones, the mountains, swift together, bring the chant and the resonant cry to Indra for the Soma-bearers.

Mantra 2

एते वदन्ति शतवत्सहस्रवदभि क्रन्दन्ति हरितेभिरासभिः । विष्ट्वी ग्रावाणः सुकृतः सुकृत्यया होतुश्चित्पूर्वे हविरद्यमाशत ॥

These speak in hundreds and in thousands; they cry out around with tawny mouths. The pressing-stones, well-made, by their right working, have attained even the ancient Hotar’s offering that is to be eaten.

Mantra 3

एते वदन्त्यविदन्नना मधु न्यूङ्खयन्ते अधि पक्व आमिषि । वृक्षस्य शाखामरुणस्य बप्सतस्ते सूभर्वा वृषभाः प्रेमराविषुः ॥

These speak; they have found the honey without a vehicle; they rock and press upon the ripened substance. Like a branch of the ruddy tree they strike; those strong-burdened bulls have roared forth in front.

Mantra 4

बृहद्वदन्ति मदिरेण मन्दिनेन्द्रं क्रोशन्तोऽविदन्नना मधु । संरभ्या धीराः स्वसृभिरनर्तिषुराघोषयन्तः पृथिवीमुपब्दिभिः ॥

They speak the vast; with the intoxicating rapture they cry to Indra, and they have found the honey directly. Seizing together, the steadfast ones danced with their sisters, making the Earth resound with their reverberations.

Mantra 5

सुपर्णा वाचमक्रतोप द्यव्याखरे कृष्णा इषिरा अनर्तिषुः । न्यङ्नि यन्त्युपरस्य निष्कृतं पुरू रेतो दधिरे सूर्यश्वितः ॥

The fair-winged ones fashioned the Word; upward in heaven’s hollow the dark swift ones danced. Downward they go to the carving-out of the upper region; they have set abundant seed, those bright with the Sun’s power.

Mantra 6

उग्रा इव प्रवहन्तः समायमुः साकं युक्ता वृषणो बिभ्रतो धुरः । यच्छ्वसन्तो जग्रसाना अराविषुः शृण्व एषां प्रोथथो अर्वतामिव ॥

Like fierce ones rushing forward they have drawn together; yoked in unison, the bulls bearing the yoke-poles. When, breathing hard, devouring, they roar out, one hears their thunder as of horses.

Mantra 7

दशावनिभ्यो दशकक्ष्येभ्यो दशयोक्त्रेभ्यो दशयोजनेभ्यः । दशाभीशुभ्यो अर्चताजरेभ्यो दश धुरो दश युक्ता वहद्भ्यः ॥

Sing to the ten straps, the ten girths, the ten yokes, the ten bindings; sing to the ten reins, the unaging ones; ten are the yoke-poles, ten the yoked bearers that carry.

Mantra 8

ते अद्रयो दशयन्त्रास आशवस्तेषामाधानं पर्येति हर्यतम् । त ऊ सुतस्य सोम्यस्यान्धसोंऽशोः पीयूषं प्रथमस्य भेजिरे ॥

Those pressing-stones, swift and set with their tenfold mechanism, move all around their golden, desirable placing. They take for themselves the first honeyed essence—the milk of delight—of the pressed Soma’s rapturous intoxication.

Mantra 9

ते सोमादो हरी इन्द्रस्य निंसतेंऽशुं दुहन्तो अध्यासते गवि । तेभिर्दुग्धं पपिवान्त्सोम्यं मध्विन्द्रो वर्धते प्रथते वृषायते ॥

Those Soma-eating bays of Indra draw near; milking the Soma-shoot they seat themselves upon the Cow (the luminous field). Drinking the milked honey of Soma, Indra grows—he widens, he becomes the Bull-force within.

Mantra 10

वृषा वो अंशुर्न किला रिषाथनेळावन्तः सदमित्स्थनाशिताः । रैवत्येव महसा चारवः स्थन यस्य ग्रावाणो अजुषध्वमध्वरम् ॥

The Soma-shoot for you is a Bull-force; you do not fail in the striking. Full of the offering-impulse, ever you are fed at the breast. Like the Raivatī (rich in light) in her greatness, be fair and radiant—O stones—whose delight has accepted the sacrifice.

Mantra 11

तृदिला अतृदिलासो अद्रयोऽश्रमणा अशृथिता अमृत्यवः । अनातुरा अजराः स्थामविष्णवः सुपीवसो अतृषिता अतृष्णजः ॥

O pressing-stones, you are firm and unbroken, tireless and unloosened, deathless in your working. You are without affliction, unaging; you stand in a strength that does not fail. Full of rich sap, you are unthirsting, born of the thirstless Delight.

Mantra 12

ध्रुवा एव वः पितरो युगेयुगे क्षेमकामासः सदसो न युञ्जते । अजुर्यासो हरिषाचो हरिद्रव आ द्यां रवेण पृथिवीमशुश्रवुः ॥

Steadfast indeed are your Fathers from age to age, desiring the secure peace; like masters of the session they yoke you to the work. Unaging, green-gold in their movement, streaming with the tawny light, you make heaven and earth resound with your cry.

Mantra 13

तदिद्वदन्त्यद्रयो विमोचने यामन्नञ्जस्पा इव घेदुपब्दिभिः । वपन्तो बीजमिव धान्याकृतः पृञ्चन्ति सोमं न मिनन्ति बप्सतः ॥

This indeed the stones proclaim at the moment of release, as if swift-pressers with their answering strokes. Like sowers casting seed, like makers of ripened grain, they sprinkle the Soma; they do not diminish it as they work and strive.

Mantra 14

सुते अध्वरे अधि वाचमक्रता क्रीळयो न मातरं तुदन्तः । वि षू मुञ्चा सुषुवुषो मनीषां वि वर्तन्तामद्रयश्चायमानाः ॥

In the pressed offering, in the unbroken sacrifice, you have set speech upon it—like children striking their mother in play. Release fully the thought that has pressed well; let the stones, gathering and seeking, turn and move in their ordered circuit.