Sukta 24

Mantra 1

सेमामविड्ढि प्रभृतिं य ईशिषेऽया विधेम नवया महा गिरा । यथा नो मीढ्वान्त्स्तवते सखा तव बृहस्पते सीषधः सोत नो मतिम् ॥

Know this our offering-source, you who rule; with this new and great word we would serve you—so that the bountiful friend of yours may praise you for us. O Bṛhaspati, set it in motion and press out for us the inspired thought.

Mantra 2

यो नन्त्वान्यनमन्न्योजसोतादर्दर्मन्युना शम्बराणि वि । प्राच्यावयदच्युता ब्रह्मणस्पतिरा चाविशद्वसुमन्तं वि पर्वतम् ॥

He who, by his force, bowed down the resisting obstacles, and by his soul’s ardent might shattered the strongholds of Śambara; Brahmaṇaspati made even the unshakable yield, and entered and opened out the treasure-bearing mountain.

Mantra 3

तद्देवानां देवतमाय कर्त्वमश्रथ्नन्दृळ्हाव्रदन्त वीळिता । उद्गा आजदभिनद्ब्रह्मणा वलमगूहत्तमो व्यचक्षयत्स्वः ॥

This was the deed for the most divine among the gods: they loosened what was hard-bound and broke the firm resistances; the Cows rose upward; by the Word he cleft Vala, he drove away the darkness and made the Sun-world manifest.

Mantra 4

अश्मास्यमवतं ब्रह्मणस्पतिर्मधुधारमभि यमोजसातृणत् । तमेव विश्वे पपिरे स्वर्दृशो बहु साकं सिसिचुरुत्समुद्रिणम् ॥

Brahmaṇaspati filled with force the rock-mouthed well, the honey-flowing spring; and all who behold the Sun drank of it, and together they poured it out abundantly as an upwelling fountain.

Mantra 5

सना ता का चिद्भुवना भवीत्वा माद्भिः शरद्भिर्दुरो वरन्त वः । अयतन्ता चरतो अन्यदन्यदिद्या चकार वयुना ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥

From of old, becoming the worlds in their being, the doors were held shut against you through the seasons; moving in varied ways, each in its own course, Brahmaṇaspati made the right discernments and ordered the workings.

Mantra 6

अभिनक्षन्तो अभि ये तमानशुर्निधिं पणीनां परमं गुहा हितम् । ते विद्वांसः प्रतिचक्ष्यानृता पुनर्यत उ आयन्तदुदीयुराविशम् ॥

They who pressed on and reached that highest treasure of the Paṇis hidden in the cave—those knowers, having looked back upon the falsehood, returned from where they came and rose upward into the open wideness.

Mantra 7

ऋतावानः प्रतिचक्ष्यानृता पुनरात आ तस्थुः कवयो महस्पथः । ते बाहुभ्यां धमितमग्निमश्मनि नकिः षो अस्त्यरणो जहुर्हि तम् ॥

The possessors of Ṛta, looking back upon the untruth, stood again upon the vast path; they kindled by their arms the driven Fire in the stone—none is there to hinder, for they have truly cast it forth.

Mantra 8

ऋतज्येन क्षिप्रेण ब्रह्मणस्पतिर्यत्र वष्टि प्र तदश्नोति धन्वना । तस्य साध्वीरिषवो याभिरस्यति नृचक्षसो दृशये कर्णयोनयः ॥

With the bowstring of Ṛta, swift, Brahmaṇaspati attains whatever he wills and drives forth; his straight arrows with which he shoots are for the seeing of men—born of the ear, they make the vision manifest.

Mantra 9

स संनयः स विनयः पुरोहितः स सुष्टुतः स युधि ब्रह्मणस्पतिः । चाक्ष्मो यद्वाजं भरते मती धनादित्सूर्यस्तपति तप्यतुर्वृथा ॥

He is the leader and the wise guide, the one set in front; he is perfectly hymned, he is Brahmaṇaspati in the battle. When he brings the vāja—the plenitude of force—by the inspired thought, then even the Sun’s burning is in vain against that gain.

Mantra 10

विभु प्रभु प्रथमं मेहनावतो बृहस्पतेः सुविदत्राणि राध्या । इमा सातानि वेन्यस्य वाजिनो येन जना उभये भुञ्जते विशः ॥

Vast and sovereign are the first attainments to be won of Bṛhaspati, rich in generative power: these conquests of the desirable bringer of plenitude are to be accomplished, by which the peoples enjoy both the inner and the outer good.

Mantra 11

योऽवरे वृजने विश्वथा विभुर्महामु रण्वः शवसा ववक्षिथ । स देवो देवान्प्रति पप्रथे पृथु विश्वेदु ता परिभूर्ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥

He who, even in the lower field, is everywhere vast, the delightful one who has grown great by force—he, the god, has spread wide against the gods themselves; over all these worlds Brahmaṇaspati stands encompassing and surpassing.

Mantra 12

विश्वं सत्यं मघवाना युवोरिदापश्चन प्र मिनन्ति व्रतं वाम् । अच्छेन्द्राब्रह्मणस्पती हविर्नोऽन्नं युजेव वाजिना जिगातम् ॥

O two bountiful Powers (Indra and Brahmaṇaspati), your law of working is wholly Truth; even the Waters cannot diminish your ordained action. Come to us—O Indra-Brahmaṇaspati—bringing our offering and the sustaining food, as two strong steeds yoked to the car of plenitude.

Mantra 13

उताशिष्ठा अनु शृण्वन्ति वह्नयः सभेयो विप्रो भरते मती धना । वीळुद्वेषा अनु वश ऋणमाददिः स ह वाजी समिथे ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥

And the most powerful bearers of the flame hearken to him; the inspired one, fit for the assembly, brings forth thoughts that are riches. Following his will, he takes away the debt from the hostile hold; that victorious one is Brahmaṇaspati in the battle-meeting.

Mantra 14

ब्रह्मणस्पतेरभवद्यथावशं सत्यो मन्युर्महि कर्मा करिष्यतः । यो गा उदाजत्स दिवे वि चाभजन्महीव रीतिः शवसासरत्पृथक् ॥

From Brahmaṇaspati there arose, according to his mastery, a true wrath—ready to accomplish a mighty work. He who drove upward the Rays (the cows), he distributed them for the heaven; like a vast flood-channel his force ran forth, separating the paths from confusion.

Mantra 15

ब्रह्मणस्पते सुयमस्य विश्वहा रायः स्याम रथ्यो वयस्वतः । वीरेषु वीराँ उप पृङ्धि नस्त्वं यदीशानो ब्रह्मणा वेषि मे हवम् ॥

O Brahmaṇaspati, make this our course well-governed at all times; may we be full of the riches that carry us forward, rich in life-power. Among heroes, heap hero-strength upon us, for you are the lord who comes by the Word to my call.

Mantra 16

ब्रह्मणस्पते त्वमस्य यन्ता सूक्तस्य बोधि तनयं च जिन्व । विश्वं तद्भद्रं यदवन्ति देवा बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

O Brahmaṇaspati, you are the guide of this well-spoken hymn—be awake to it, and foster also our offspring (the soul’s continuance). All that is auspicious is what the gods protect; may we speak the Vast in the sacred session, made rich in heroic energies.