Sukta 5

Mantra 1

होताजनिष्ट चेतनः पिता पितृभ्य ऊतये । प्रयक्षञ्जेन्यं वसु शकेम वाजिनो यमम् ॥

The Hotṛ has been born—conscious, luminous—like a Father for the aid of the Fathers. Offering forward in sacrifice, may we be able to win the noble treasure, the yama of the vājins: the right restraint and ordering that carries the force to its goal.

Mantra 2

आ यस्मिन्त्सप्त रश्मयस्तता यज्ञस्य नेतरि । मनुष्वद्दैव्यमष्टमं पोता विश्वं तदिन्वति ॥

He in whom the seven rays are stretched—he, the leader of the sacrifice—impels all that eighth, divine power which works in us as in man: the Pota, the purifier who makes the whole offering move toward its truth.

Mantra 3

दधन्वे वा यदीमनु वोचद्ब्रह्माणि वेरु तत् । परि विश्वानि काव्या नेमिश्चक्रमिवाभवत् ॥

And when he—bearing and sustaining—utters the inspired words in their true sequence, then all the poet-secrets move around him: he becomes the nave, like the rim of a wheel, holding the whole motion of the work.

Mantra 4

साकं हि शुचिना शुचिः प्रशास्ता क्रतुनाजनि । विद्वाँ अस्य व्रता ध्रुवा वया इवानु रोहते ॥

For, pure with the pure, the wise guide is born by the power of the will. Knowing his firm laws, he rises after them like a bird upon its paths—ascending in sure stages of ordered flight.

Mantra 5

ता अस्य वर्णमायुवो नेष्टुः सचन्त धेनवः । कुवित्तिसृभ्य आ वरं स्वसारो या इदं ययुः ॥

The fostering cows cling to his radiance—the sisters of the Neshṭṛ, full of life. Will they come from the threefold to the chosen excellence, those sisters who have moved into this working?

Mantra 6

यदी मातुरुप स्वसा घृतं भरन्त्यस्थित । तासामध्वर्युरागतौ यवो वृष्टीव मोदते ॥

When the sister comes near the Mother bearing ghee, she takes her station; and at their coming the Adhvaryu rejoices like barley at the rain—so the offering-energy is made glad by the descent of the nourishing flow.

Mantra 7

स्वः स्वाय धायसे कृणुतामृत्विगृत्विजम् । स्तोमं यज्ञं चादरं वनेमा ररिमा वयम् ॥

Let the heaven-force fashion for its own support the right ṛtvij within the ṛtvik. Then may we win the hymn and the sacrifice and the fitting delight—may we become givers in the true exchange.

Mantra 8

यथा विद्वाँ अरं करद्विश्वेभ्यो यजतेभ्यः । अयमग्ने त्वे अपि यं यज्ञं चकृमा वयम् ॥

So that the knower may make all things fitting for the worshippers—this sacrifice which we have fashioned, O Agni, is also in thee: take it up within thyself and make it rightly accomplished.