Sukta 99

Mantra 1

कं नश्चित्रमिषण्यसि चिकित्वान्पृथुग्मानं वाश्रं वावृधध्यै । कत्तस्य दातु शवसो व्युष्टौ तक्षद्वज्रं वृत्रतुरमपिन्वत् ॥

What radiant marvel do you impel for us, O Knower, to increase the wide-going, the mighty? What giver of force, at the breaking of the dawn, shaped the thunderbolt and drove it on to crush the Coverer?

Mantra 2

स हि द्युता विद्युता वेति साम पृथुं योनिमसुरत्वा ससाद । स सनीळेभिः प्रसहानो अस्य भ्रातुर्न ऋते सप्तथस्य मायाः ॥

For he moves with shining and with flashing, he comes with the chant; by his lordly power he has taken his seat in the wide womb. With his comrades of one nest he prevails; not without the magic workings of the seventh-born brother.

Mantra 3

स वाजं यातापदुष्पदा यन्त्स्वर्षाता परि षदत्सनिष्यन् । अनर्वा यच्छतदुरस्य वेदो घ्नञ्छिश्नदेवाँ अभि वर्पसा भूत् ॥

He goes to the Vāja, traversing the difficult steps; winning the Sun-world he takes his seat, seeking the gain. When the unfaltering Knower of the hundred-doored stronghold struck down the false-gods, he became manifest in overpowering form.

Mantra 4

स यह्व्योऽवनीर्गोष्वर्वा जुहोति प्रधन्यासु सस्रिः । अपादो यत्र युज्यासोऽरथा द्रोण्यश्वास ईरते घृतं वाः ॥

He, the impetuous one, pours the moving streams among the Cows; in the battles he runs forth. Where there are footless chariots fit for yoking, with horses in the trough, there the ghee-rich currents are set in motion.

Mantra 5

स रुद्रेभिरशस्तवार ऋभ्वा हित्वी गयमारेअवद्य आगात् । वम्रस्य मन्ये मिथुना विवव्री अन्नमभीत्यारोदयन्मुषायन् ॥

He came with the Rudras, choosing what is not to be blamed, the skillful one, leaving behind Gaya. I think he opened apart the pair in the ant-hill; approaching the food, he made it cry out, taking it away.

Mantra 6

स इद्दासं तुवीरवं पतिर्दन्षळक्षं त्रिशीर्षाणं दमन्यत् । अस्य त्रितो न्वोजसा वृधानो विपा वराहमयोअग्रया हन् ॥

He indeed subdued the Dāsa, the loud-roaring one, the lord of the six-eyed, the three-headed. Then Trita, growing by strength, struck down the boar with the iron-pointed weapon.

Mantra 7

स द्रुह्वणे मनुष ऊर्ध्वसान आ साविषदर्शसानाय शरुम् । स नृतमो नहुषोऽस्मत्सुजातः पुरोऽभिनदर्हन्दस्युहत्ये ॥

He, rising upward, launched the arrow for the treacherous man, for the assailing one. He, the most manly—Nahuṣa, well-born from us—broke open the strongholds, worthy in the slaying of the Dasyus.

Mantra 8

सो अभ्रियो न यवस उदन्यन्क्षयाय गातुं विदन्नो अस्मे । उप यत्सीददिन्दुं शरीरैः श्येनोऽयोपाष्टिर्हन्ति दस्यून् ॥

Like a rain-cloud thirsting for pasture, he finds for us the path to a dwelling. When he settles near the Soma with his embodied powers, then like a falcon with iron talons he strikes down the Dasyus.

Mantra 9

स व्राधतः शवसानेभिरस्य कुत्साय शुष्णं कृपणे परादात् । अयं कविमनयच्छस्यमानमत्कं यो अस्य सनितोत नृणाम् ॥

He, increasing in force with these surging powers, cast down Śuṣṇa for Kutsa into destitution. This Lord led the seer onward as he was being acclaimed—Atka—he who is the winner for him, and also for men.

Mantra 10

अयं दशस्यन्नर्येभिरस्य दस्मो देवेभिर्वरुणो न मायी । अयं कनीन ऋतुपा अवेद्यमिमीताररुं यश्चतुष्पात् ॥

This one, winning service from the manly powers, is the wondrous one among the gods, like Varuṇa—master of effective workings. This youthful guardian of the seasons has perceived; he has measured out the firm support that stands on four feet.

Mantra 11

अस्य स्तोमेभिरौशिज ऋजिश्वा व्रजं दरयद्वृषभेण पिप्रोः । सुत्वा यद्यजतो दीदयद्गीः पुर इयानो अभि वर्पसा भूत् ॥

By these hymns of his, Auśija Ṛjiśvan broke open the enclosure with the Bull’s force, for Pipru. When the adorable one had pressed (the Soma), he made the inspired speech shine; going in front against the strongholds, he became luminous in form.

Mantra 12

एवा महो असुर वक्षथाय वम्रकः पड्भिरुप सर्पदिन्द्रम् । स इयानः करति स्वस्तिमस्मा इषमूर्जं सुक्षितिं विश्वमाभाः ॥

Thus, O mighty Asura, for thy bearing and increase, the ant crawls up to Indra with its feet. He, advancing, makes for him well-being—impulse and plenitude of energy, good dwelling, and brings all radiances.