Sukta 96

Mantra 1

प्र ते महे विदथे शंसिषं हरी प्र ते वन्वे वनुषो हर्यतं मदम् । घृतं न यो हरिभिश्चारु सेचत आ त्वा विशन्तु हरिवर्पसं गिरः ॥

For you, for the great one, in the assembly of knowledge, I set forth the praise; for you I win the rapture that is desirable to the striving soul. As one pours a lovely stream of clarified sweetness with the tawny powers, so may my words enter you—O you of golden-luminous form.

Mantra 2

हरिं हि योनिमभि ये समस्वरन्हिन्वन्तो हरी दिव्यं यथा सदः । आ यं पृणन्ति हरिभिर्न धेनव इन्द्राय शूषं हरिवन्तमर्चत ॥

They sound together toward the tawny source, urging on the two Harī, as toward the divine seat. Him they fill with the tawny powers as cows fill with milk; sing to Indra, rich in shining force, the vehement energy that bears the golden might.

Mantra 3

सो अस्य वज्रो हरितो य आयसो हरिर्निकामो हरिरा गभस्त्योः । द्युम्नी सुशिप्रो हरिमन्युसायक इन्द्रे नि रूपा हरिता मिमिक्षिरे ॥

His thunderbolt is golden-tawny, forged of iron; tawny in intent, tawny in the grasp of his hands. In the shining might, the fair-lipped one shoots the arrow of tawny ardor; in Indra the tawny forms are mingled and established.

Mantra 4

दिवि न केतुरधि धायि हर्यतो विव्यचद्वज्रो हरितो न रंह्या । तुददहिं हरिशिप्रो य आयसः सहस्रशोका अभवद्धरिम्भरः ॥

In heaven a banner of light is set—desirable; the tawny thunderbolt spreads wide, swift in its surge. The fair-lipped one strikes the serpent-obstruction with the iron force; a bearer of the golden power he becomes, with a thousand flames of luminous energy.

Mantra 5

त्वंत्वमहर्यथा उपस्तुतः पूर्वेभिरिन्द्र हरिकेश यज्वभिः । त्वं हर्यसि तव विश्वमुक्थ्यमसामि राधो हरिजात हर्यतम् ॥

You, you are ever to be desired when praised by the ancient sacrificers, O Indra of tawny mane. You delight; all that is worthy of hymn is yours—an unexhausted plenitude, O golden-born, desirable in your power.

Mantra 6

ता वज्रिणं मन्दिनं स्तोम्यं मद इन्द्रं रथे वहतो हर्यता हरी । पुरूण्यस्मै सवनानि हर्यत इन्द्राय सोमा हरयो दधन्विरे ॥

Those two desirable tawny powers bear on the chariot Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, the gladdener, worthy of the hymn in ecstasy. Many are the pressings prepared for him; for Indra the Soma-draughts, golden with light, are set in motion.

Mantra 7

अरं कामाय हरयो दधन्विरे स्थिराय हिन्वन्हरयो हरी तुरा । अर्वद्भिर्यो हरिभिर्जोषमीयते सो अस्य कामं हरिवन्तमानशे ॥

The tawny powers (Indra’s steeds of luminous energy) harness themselves to fulfil the soul’s aspiration; urged toward a stable foundation, the two swift tawny ones surge forward. Whoever comes into the glad consenting companionship with these tawny forces—he wins for himself the desired delight, rich with the energies of the Hari.

Mantra 8

हरिश्मशारुर्हरिकेश आयसस्तुरस्पेये यो हरिपा अवर्धत । अर्वद्भिर्यो हरिभिर्वाजिनीवसुरति विश्वा दुरिता पारिषद्धरी ॥

He of tawny beard, tawny hair, firm as metal, a swift drinker—he who, the Haripā, has grown in might. He who, with steeds and with the tawny powers, rich in plenitudes of force, carries us beyond all distresses—may the two Haris bear us safely across.

Mantra 9

स्रुवेव यस्य हरिणी विपेततुः शिप्रे वाजाय हरिणी दविध्वतः । प्र यत्कृते चमसे मर्मृजद्धरी पीत्वा मदस्य हर्यतस्यान्धसः ॥

Like two ladles, his two tawny ones move apart; at the cheeks (the yoking-points), the two tawny powers quiver for the plenitude of force. When, in the prepared cup, the two Haris wipe it clean—then, having drunk the rapture of the delightful Soma-essence, they press forward in the intoxication of power.

Mantra 10

उत स्म सद्म हर्यतस्य पस्त्योरत्यो न वाजं हरिवाँ अचिक्रदत् । मही चिद्धि धिषणाहर्यदोजसा बृहद्वयो दधिषे हर्यतश्चिदा ॥

And indeed, in the home and dwelling of the Delightful One, the Harivat (Indra) cries out for the plenitude like a charger for the prize. For even the vast Intelligence is stirred by his desirable force; a wide and lofty vitality you establish—yes, even in the delightful being.

Mantra 11

आ रोदसी हर्यमाणो महित्वा नव्यंनव्यं हर्यसि मन्म नु प्रियम् । प्र पस्त्यमसुर हर्यतं गोराविष्कृधि हरये सूर्याय ॥

To the two worlds you rise, rejoicing in your greatness; ever anew you kindle the beloved thought. O Asura (lord of force), bring forth the delightful home; reveal the Cow— the ray of knowledge— for the tawny power, for the Sun of truth.

Mantra 12

आ त्वा हर्यन्तं प्रयुजो जनानां रथे वहन्तु हरिशिप्रमिन्द्र । पिबा यथा प्रतिभृतस्य मध्वो हर्यन्यज्ञं सधमादे दशोणिम् ॥

Let the yoked energies of men bring you on the chariot, O Indra of tawny jaws, you who delight in the advance. Drink as one drinks the offered honeyed sweetness; rejoicing, take the sacrifice in the common ecstasy, the rite made full in its tenfold course.

Mantra 13

अपाः पूर्वेषां हरिवः सुतानामथो इदं सवनं केवलं ते । ममद्धि सोमं मधुमन्तमिन्द्र सत्रा वृषञ्जठर आ वृषस्व ॥

Let go the earlier pressings, O Harivaḥ; now this pressing is yours alone. Drink deep the honeyed Soma, O Indra; continuously, O Bull of power, pour it into your belly—fill yourself with the force of delight.