Sukta 39

Mantra 1

ग्रावाणेव तदिदर्थं जरेथे गृध्रेव वृक्षं निधिमन्तमच्छ । ब्रह्माणेव विदथ उक्थशासा दूतेव हव्या जन्या पुरुत्रा ॥

Like pressing-stones you two are set to the true purpose; like eager seekers you come to the tree laden with treasure. Like priests you move in the assemblies with hymn-command; like messengers you bear the offerings of men in many directions.

Mantra 2

प्रातर्यावाणा रथ्येव वीराजेव यमा वरमा सचेथे । मेने इव तन्वा शुम्भमाने दम्पतीव क्रतुविदा जनेषु ॥

You who come in the morning, joined like two chariot-fellows, like a radiant pair choosing the best: like two wise women adorning the body, like a married couple knowing the right discernment among men.

Mantra 3

शृङ्गेव नः प्रथमा गन्तमर्वाक्छफाविव जर्भुराणा तरोभिः । चक्रवाकेव प्रति वस्तोरुस्रार्वाञ्चा यातं रथ्येव शक्रा ॥

Come to us first, like two horns leading forward; like two hoofs moving swiftly with their leaps. Like the cakravāka-birds returning toward dawn’s dwelling, come hither; like two mighty ones on the chariot-path, O strong pair.

Mantra 4

नावेव नः पारयतं युगेव नभ्येव न उपधीव प्रधीव । श्वानेव नो अरिषण्या तनूनां खृगलेव विस्रसः पातमस्मान् ॥

As a boat, carry us across; as a yoke, hold us together; as a nave, keep us centered; as supports, sustain us. Like watchful dogs, guard our bodies; like a sure-footed creature, protect us from slipping and falling.

Mantra 5

वातेवाजुर्या नद्येव रीतिरक्षी इव चक्षुषा यातमर्वाक् । हस्ताविव तन्वे शम्भविष्ठा पादेव नो नयतं वस्यो अच्छ ॥

Come to us swiftly like the wind, like the current of a river; come with sight like two eyes. Like two hands be most auspicious to our body; like two feet lead us toward the better and the more luminous good.

Mantra 6

ओष्ठाविव मध्वास्ने वदन्ता स्तनाविव पिप्यतं जीवसे नः । नासेव नस्तन्वो रक्षितारा कर्णाविव सुश्रुता भूतमस्मे ॥

Like two lips speaking honey in the mouth, be for us words of sweetness; like two breasts, nourish us for life. Like two nostrils, be protectors of our embodied nature; like two ears, be for us good-hearers—receiving and granting true hearing.

Mantra 7

हस्तेव शक्तिमभि संददी नः क्षामेव नः समजतं रजांसि । इमा गिरो अश्विना युष्मयन्तीः क्ष्णोत्रेणेव स्वधितिं सं शिशीतम् ॥

As with a hand, place strength into us; as with firm ground, set our spaces in order. These utterances that yearn toward you, O Aśvins—sharpen them together like an axe with a whetstone.

Mantra 8

एतानि वामश्विना वर्धनानि ब्रह्म स्तोमं गृत्समदासो अक्रन् । तानि नरा जुजुषाणोप यातं बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

These are your increasings, O Ashvins—this inspired word and hymn that the Gṛtsamada seers have fashioned. Accept them, O two heroic powers, and come near; may we speak the Vast in the assembly, rich in strong and luminous offspring of the soul.