Sukta 98

Mantra 1

बृहस्पते प्रति मे देवतामिहि मित्रो वा यद्वरुणो वासि पूषा । आदित्यैर्वा यद्वसुभिर्मरुत्वान्त्स पर्जन्यं शंतनवे वृषाय ॥

O Brihaspati, come facing my invocation and take up the divine power here: whether you become Mitra, or Varuṇa, or Pūṣan; whether with the Ādityas, or with the Vasus, or as one who bears the Maruts—then awaken Parjanya, the force of fruitful rain, to pour for Śaṃtanū’s increase and for the soul’s virile growth.

Mantra 2

आ देवो दूतो अजिरश्चिकित्वान्त्वद्देवापे अभि मामगच्छत् । प्रतीचीनः प्रति मामा ववृत्स्व दधामि ते द्युमतीं वाचमासन् ॥

Let the divine messenger, swift and discerning, come to me from you, O Devāpi. Turn back toward me, facing me; I establish for you a luminous speech that seats itself within—so the inner rite may be rightly guided.

Mantra 3

अस्मे धेहि द्युमतीं वाचमासन्बृहस्पते अनमीवामिषिराम् । यया वृष्टिं शंतनवे वनाव दिवो द्रप्सो मधुमाँ आ विवेश ॥

In us, O Brihaspati, place the luminous speech, firmly seated, free from hurt and swift in its impulsion—by which we may win the rain of increase for peaceful extension; and the honeyed drop of heaven may enter into our being.

Mantra 4

आ नो द्रप्सा मधुमन्तो विशन्त्विन्द्र देह्यधिरथं सहस्रम् । नि षीद होत्रमृतुथा यजस्व देवान्देवापे हविषा सपर्य ॥

May honeyed drops enter into us; O Indra, grant the thousandfold chariot of force. Sit down in the priestly seat; sacrifice in the right seasons and rhythms; worship the gods with the offering, O Devāpi—so the powers may be perfectly served and the descent secured.

Mantra 5

आर्ष्टिषेणो होत्रमृषिर्निषीदन्देवापिर्देवसुमतिं चिकित्वान् । स उत्तरस्मादधरं समुद्रमपो दिव्या असृजद्वर्ष्या अभि ॥

Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, the seer, sat down in the hotṛ-seat—Devāpi, knowing the godward right-mindedness. From the upper sea to the lower sea he released the heavenly waters, the rain-waters, to stream forth—opening the blocked currents between heights and depths of the being.

Mantra 6

अस्मिन्त्समुद्रे अध्युत्तरस्मिन्नापो देवेभिर्निवृता अतिष्ठन् । ता अद्रवन्नार्ष्टिषेणेन सृष्टा देवापिना प्रेषिता मृक्षिणीषु ॥

In that upper sea the waters stood held back by the gods; then they ran forth—released by Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, impelled by Devāpi—moving into the channels and cleansings, to wash and renew the field of life and mind.

Mantra 7

यद्देवापिः शंतनवे पुरोहितो होत्राय वृतः कृपयन्नदीधेत् । देवश्रुतं वृष्टिवनिं रराणो बृहस्पतिर्वाचमस्मा अयच्छत् ॥

When Devāpi, chosen as the priest for Śaṃtanū, kindled the fire of the rite with compassionate intent, rejoicing in the god-heard word that wins the rain, Brihaspati granted him the speech—so the needed descent could be called and made effective.

Mantra 8

यं त्वा देवापिः शुशुचानो अग्न आर्ष्टिषेणो मनुष्यः समीधे । विश्वेभिर्देवैरनुमद्यमानः प्र पर्जन्यमीरया वृष्टिमन्तम् ॥

O Agni, whom Devāpi, the human Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, kindles in a blaze—approved and gladdened by all the gods—do you set Parjanya in motion, the bearer of rain; awaken the descending abundance that fulfills the earth of the being.

Mantra 9

त्वां पूर्व ऋषयो गीर्भिरायन्त्वामध्वरेषु पुरुहूत विश्वे । सहस्राण्यधिरथान्यस्मे आ नो यज्ञं रोहिदश्वोप याहि ॥

The seers of old came to you with their hymns; all invoked you in the sacrifices, O much-called. Bring to us the thousandfold chariots of movement; come to our yajña, O you whose steeds are ruddy—arrive with the swift force that bears the light into the work.

Mantra 10

एतान्यग्ने नवतिर्नव त्वे आहुतान्यधिरथा सहस्रा । तेभिर्वर्धस्व तन्वः शूर पूर्वीर्दिवो नो वृष्टिमिषितो रिरीहि ॥

These—ninety-nine thousand chariot-offerings—are poured into you, O Agni. By them grow in your bodies of power, O hero, many and ancient; then, sent forth by your impulsion, bring us the rain from heaven—release the fullness that has been held back.

Mantra 11

एतान्यग्ने नवतिं सहस्रा सं प्र यच्छ वृष्ण इन्द्राय भागम् । विद्वान्पथ ऋतुशो देवयानानप्यौलानं दिवि देवेषु धेहि ॥

These, O Agni, ninety-thousand energies—gather and hand them forward as a rightful share to Indra, the puissant Force. Knowing the paths that move by the seasons, the godward ways, set also our offering in Heaven among the Gods—established in the luminous world.

Mantra 12

अग्ने बाधस्व वि मृधो वि दुर्गहापामीवामप रक्षांसि सेध । अस्मात्समुद्राद्बृहतो दिवो नोऽपां भूमानमुप नः सृजेह ॥

O Agni, smite and drive away the hostile pressures; drive away the hard-to-pass afflictions; thrust back the devouring Powers of darkness. From this vast ocean, from the wide Heaven, release for us here the plenitude of the Waters—let it come near to us.