Sukta 35

Mantra 1

उपेमसृक्षि वाजयुर्वचस्यां चनो दधीत नाद्यो गिरो मे । अपां नपादाशुहेमा कुवित्स सुपेशसस्करति जोषिषद्धि ॥

Near to him my word is released, seeking plenitude of force; may the divine one accept these voices of mine. O Child of the Waters, swift in his golden radiance—will he not fashion for us a perfect form of delight, consenting to our aspiration?

Mantra 2

इमं स्वस्मै हृद आ सुतष्टं मन्त्रं वोचेम कुविदस्य वेदत् । अपां नपादसुर्यस्य मह्ना विश्वान्यर्यो भुवना जजान ॥

This mantra, well-shaped from the heart, we speak for him—will he know it? The Child of the Waters, by the greatness of his lordly power, has brought to birth all the worlds as a noble master within them.

Mantra 3

समन्या यन्त्युप यन्त्यन्याः समानमूर्वं नद्यः पृणन्ति । तमू शुचिं शुचयो दीदिवांसमपां नपातं परि तस्थुरापः ॥

Some waters move together, others draw near; the rivers fill one common basin. Around him—the pure, the shining—stand the pure Waters, circling the Child of the Waters as if guarding the secret flame of consciousness.

Mantra 4

तमस्मेरा युवतयो युवानं मर्मृज्यमानाः परि यन्त्यापः । स शुक्रेभिः शिक्वभी रेवदस्मे दीदायानिध्मो घृतनिर्णिगप्सु ॥

Around him the smiling young Waters move, cleansing the young one. He shines for us with bright, skilful energies, rich in delight—an unfed flame, with ghee-like radiance, within the waters.

Mantra 5

अस्मै तिस्रो अव्यथ्याय नारीर्देवाय देवीर्दिधिषन्त्यन्नम् । कृता इवोप हि प्रसर्स्रे अप्सु स पीयूषं धयति पूर्वसूनाम् ॥

For him, the unassailable god, three divine women set the food in place. As if a work well done, he spreads forth in the waters; he drinks the pīyūṣa—the original nectar—of the first-born powers.

Mantra 6

अश्वस्यात्र जनिमास्य च स्वर्द्रुहो रिषः सम्पृचः पाहि सूरीन् । आमासु पूर्षु परो अप्रमृष्यं नारातयो वि नशन्नानृतानि ॥

Here is the birth of the Horse—of that fiery power; guard the illumined seers from the hurt and from the hostile perversion that would mingle with their light. In the raw and unripe fullnesses, remain beyond all defilement and unassailable; let the powers of misgiving perish, and let not the falsehoods prevail.

Mantra 7

स्व आ दमे सुदुघा यस्य धेनुः स्वधां पीपाय सुभ्वन्नमत्ति । सो अपां नपादूर्जयन्नप्स्वन्तर्वसुदेयाय विधते वि भाति ॥

In his own home the milch-cow of plenty yields richly; he increases the self-law and enjoys the good nourishment. That Son of the Waters, building the force of being within the waters, shines out for the giver of the rite, to bestow the true riches.

Mantra 8

यो अप्स्वा शुचिना दैव्येन ऋतावाजस्र उर्विया विभाति । वया इदन्या भुवनान्यस्य प्र जायन्ते वीरुधश्च प्रजाभिः ॥

He who in the waters shines out through the divine purity, ever moving with ṛta and plenitude of force: from him indeed are born the other worlds, and the birds of life, and the growing plants with their generations.

Mantra 9

अपां नपादा ह्यस्थादुपस्थं जिह्मानामूर्ध्वो विद्युतं वसानः । तस्य ज्येष्ठं महिमानं वहन्तीर्हिरण्यवर्णाः परि यन्ति यह्वीः ॥

The Child of the Waters has indeed taken his seat in the lap of the winding streams, upright, wearing lightning as his raiment. Bearing his supreme greatness, the mighty waters of golden hue move all around him.

Mantra 10

हिरण्यरूपः स हिरण्यसंदृगपां नपात्सेदु हिरण्यवर्णः । हिरण्ययात्परि योनेर्निषद्या हिरण्यदा ददत्यन्नमस्मै ॥

Golden in form, golden in vision—Apāṃ Napāt, yes, golden in hue. Seated around the golden womb, the givers of gold bestow nourishment to him.

Mantra 11

तदस्यानीकमुत चारु नामापीच्यं वर्धते नप्तुरपाम् । यमिन्धते युवतयः समित्था हिरण्यवर्णं घृतमन्नमस्य ॥

His face and his lovely secret name grow—the Child of the Waters. Him the young maidens kindle together; golden-hued is his ghee, his nourishment.

Mantra 12

अस्मै बहूनामवमाय सख्ये यज्ञैर्विधेम नमसा हविर्भिः । सं सानु मार्ज्मि दिधिषामि बिल्मैर्दधाम्यन्नैः परि वन्द ऋग्भिः ॥

To him—friend even of the many and the lowly—we would do sacrifice with yajñas, with reverence, with offerings. I cleanse the summit; I set the supports with firm props; I place nourishment, and I encompass him with hymns of praise.

Mantra 13

स ईं वृषाजनयत्तासु गर्भं स ईं शिशुर्धयति तं रिहन्ति । सो अपां नपादनभिम्लातवर्णोऽन्यस्येवेह तन्वा विवेष ॥

He, the mighty Bull, casts a germ of becoming into those Waters; he, the Child, drinks their milk, and they caress and nourish him. This is Apām Napāt, of unblemished radiance, who here enters and pervades with his own body as if he were of another world.

Mantra 14

अस्मिन्पदे परमे तस्थिवांसमध्वस्मभिर्विश्वहा दीदिवांसम् । आपो नप्त्रे घृतमन्नं वहन्तीः स्वयमत्कैः परि दीयन्ति यह्वीः ॥

In this highest station he stands, ever shining through the paths of our being. To the Son of the Waters the strong Waters themselves bring the clarified richness as food, and of their own impulse they move around him and give themselves, vast in their flowing power.

Mantra 15

अयांसमग्ने सुक्षितिं जनायायांसमु मघवद्भ्यः सुवृक्तिम् । विश्वं तद्भद्रं यदवन्ति देवा बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

O Agni, bring to the people a happy dwelling in the being; bring also to the generous ones a perfect utterance. All that is auspicious is what the gods protect; may we speak the Vast in the assembly, strong with heroic powers within.