Sukta 31

Mantra 1

शासद्वह्निर्दुहितुर्नप्त्यं गाद्विद्वाँ ऋतस्य दीधितिं सपर्यन् । पिता यत्र दुहितुः सेकमृञ्जन्त्सं शग्म्येन मनसा दधन्वे ॥

The carrier-flame moved with command toward the daughter’s kinship, knowing the shining thought of Ṛta and serving it. Where the Father, colouring the daughter’s outpouring, they join together by a harmonious mind.

Mantra 2

न जामये तान्वो रिक्थमारैक्चकार गर्भं सनितुर्निधानम् । यदी मातरो जनयन्त वह्निमन्यः कर्ता सुकृतोरन्य ऋन्धन् ॥

He did not leave the body as an inheritance for the kinsman; he made the womb a hidden treasury of winning. When the Mothers bring forth the carrier-flame, one is the maker of the good work, another the kindler who increases it.

Mantra 3

अग्निर्जज्ञे जुह्वा रेजमानो महस्पुत्राँ अरुषस्य प्रयक्षे । महान्गर्भो मह्या जातमेषां मही प्रवृद्धर्यश्वस्य यज्ञैः ॥

Agni is born, blazing on the ladle, for the great offering—sons of the ruddy One. A mighty womb, greatly born for them; great is the growth by the sacrifices of the tawny-horsed power.

Mantra 4

अभि जैत्रीरसचन्त स्पृधानं महि ज्योतिस्तमसो निरजानन् । तं जानतीः प्रत्युदायन्नुषासः पतिर्गवामभवदेक इन्द्रः ॥

The conquering powers pressed upon the challenger; they brought out the great Light from the darkness. Knowing him, the Dawns rose to meet him; Indra alone became the Lord of the rays.

Mantra 5

वीळौ सतीरभि धीरा अतृन्दन्प्राचाहिन्वन्मनसा सप्त विप्राः । विश्वामविन्दन्पथ्यामृतस्य प्रजानन्नित्ता नमसा विवेश ॥

The steadfast doors the wise broke open, driving forward with the mind—seven seers. They found the universal path of Ṛta; knowing, he entered those with reverence.

Mantra 6

विदद्यदी सरमा रुग्णमद्रेर्महि पाथः पूर्व्यं सध्र्यक्कः । अग्रं नयत्सुपद्यक्षराणामच्छा रवं प्रथमा जानती गात् ॥

When Saramā found the broken opening of the rock, the great primeval path, moving straight—how indeed? She led to the forefront the firm-footed syllables; first, knowing, she went toward the cry.

Mantra 7

अगच्छदु विप्रतमः सखीयन्नसूदयत्सुकृते गर्भमद्रिः । ससान मर्यो युवभिर्मखस्यन्नथाभवदङ्गिराः सद्यो अर्चन् ॥

The most inspired one moved forward, seeking comradeship; the Stone brought to birth, for the well-doer, the hidden embryo (of light). The young hero prevailed with his youthful powers, pressing forward in the glad offering; then the Angirases at once broke into the chant of illumination.

Mantra 8

सतःसतः प्रतिमानं पुरोभूर्विश्वा वेद जनिमा हन्ति शुष्णम् । प्र णो दिवः पदवीर्गव्युरर्चन्त्सखा सखीँरमुञ्चन्निरवद्यात् ॥

He who becomes the measure for each state of being, the one who goes in front, knows all births and smites Śuṣṇa (the withering power). For us the seeker of the radiant herds has opened the paths of heaven by the shining chant; the Friend has released his companions from the fault that binds.

Mantra 9

नि गव्यता मनसा सेदुरर्कैः कृण्वानासो अमृतत्वाय गातुम् । इदं चिन्नु सदनं भूर्येषां येन मासाँ असिषासन्नृतेन ॥

With the mind intent on the luminous herds, they sat down with their hymns, fashioning a path towards immortality. Even this becomes for them a wide dwelling, by that (power) with which they mastered the months through Ṛta.

Mantra 10

सम्पश्यमाना अमदन्नभि स्वं पयः प्रत्नस्य रेतसो दुघानाः । वि रोदसी अतपद्घोष एषां जाते निष्ठामदधुर्गोषु वीरान् ॥

Seeing together, they grew intoxicated in their own delight, milking the milk of the ancient seed. Their cry blazed out through the two worlds; when it was born, they set the firm foundation—placing the heroic powers among the rays (cows) of light.

Mantra 11

स जातेभिर्वृत्रहा सेदु हव्यैरुदुस्रिया असृजदिन्द्रो अर्कैः । उरूच्यस्मै घृतवद्भरन्ती मधु स्वाद्म दुदुहे जेन्या गौः ॥

He, the Vṛtra-slayer, took his seat with the offerings of the born powers; Indra by the luminous hymns sent forth the shining cows. For him the wide-shining one, bringing the ghee-rich abundance, the noble Cow milked honeyed sweetness of delight.

Mantra 12

पित्रे चिच्चक्रुः सदनं समस्मै महि त्विषीमत्सुकृतो वि हि ख्यन् । विष्कभ्नन्तः स्कम्भनेना जनित्री आसीना ऊर्ध्वं रभसं वि मिन्वन् ॥

Even for the Father they made a seat, and for him they set it together; the doers of the good work disclosed the great and luminous (world). Propping it with the Support, they sat in the generative power and drove upward the impetuous force, widening it.

Mantra 13

मही यदि धिषणा शिश्नथे धात्सद्योवृधं विभ्वं रोदस्योः । गिरो यस्मिन्ननवद्याः समीचीर्विश्वा इन्द्राय तविषीरनुत्ताः ॥

When the vast dhīṣaṇā (inspired understanding) is kindled and sets (its work), it at once enlarges the all-pervading power between the two worlds. In him are the faultless, harmonious words—every irresistible force offered to Indra, unsurpassed.

Mantra 14

मह्या ते सख्यं वश्मि शक्तीरा वृत्रघ्ने नियुतो यन्ति पूर्वीः । महि स्तोत्रमव आगन्म सूरेरस्माकं सु मघवन्बोधि गोपाः ॥

For the great (work) I choose thy friendship; O slayer of Vṛtra, thy many yoked powers come from of old. We have come with a mighty hymn for the Sun-born (illumined) help: O bountiful one, awaken as our protector of the rays (cows).

Mantra 15

महि क्षेत्रं पुरु श्चन्द्रं विविद्वानादित्सखिभ्यश्चरथं समैरत् । इन्द्रो नृभिरजनद्दीद्यानः साकं सूर्यमुषसं गातुमग्निम् ॥

Knowing the vast field and the many shining lights, he then set the course together for his comrades. Indra, blazing, generated with the human powers the Sun and the Dawn, the path, and Agni—the divine will that leads.

Mantra 16

अपश्चिदेष विभ्वो दमूनाः प्र सध्रीचीरसृजद्विश्वश्चन्द्राः । मध्वः पुनानाः कविभिः पवित्रैर्द्युभिर्हिन्वन्त्यक्तुभिर्धनुत्रीः ॥

Even the waters this all-pervading lord of the house sent forth in a straight, united flow, making them universally shining. Purifying the sweetness, driven by the seers with their strainers, they urge on the streams by days and nights, bearing their protection.

Mantra 17

अनु कृष्णे वसुधिती जिहाते उभे सूर्यस्य मंहना यजत्रे । परि यत्ते महिमानं वृजध्यै सखाय इन्द्र काम्या ऋजिप्याः ॥

Following after, the two dark-holding foundations loosen and part—both are worthy of worship, by the generous power of the Sun. And to make room all around for your vast greatness, O Indra, your straight-moving comrades, seekers of the desirable, press on and clear the way.

Mantra 18

पतिर्भव वृत्रहन्त्सूनृतानां गिरां विश्वायुर्वृषभो वयोधाः । आ नो गहि सख्येभिः शिवेभिर्महान्महीभिरूतिभिः सरण्यन् ॥

Become the lord, O Vṛtra-slayer, of the true-inspired utterances, of the words that widen life; the bull who upholds our powers of growth. Come to us with friendships that are auspicious—with your vast and mighty helps, O lovable guide.

Mantra 19

तमङ्गिरस्वन्नमसा सपर्यन्नव्यं कृणोमि सन्यसे पुराजाम् । द्रुहो वि याहि बहुला अदेवीः स्वश्च नो मघवन्त्सातये धाः ॥

To him, Angiras-like, with obeisance and service, I fashion a new offering for the ancient-born. Drive far away the many hostile powers that are not divine; and, O bounteous one, set in us the luminous ease and the victory for attainment.

Mantra 20

मिहः पावकाः प्रतता अभूवन्त्स्वस्ति नः पिपृहि पारमासाम् । इन्द्र त्वं रथिरः पाहि नो रिषो मक्षूमक्षू कृणुहि गोजितो नः ॥

The purifying rains have spread themselves; carry us safely to the farther shore of these movements. O Indra, strong in the chariot-force, guard us from harm; swiftly, again and again, make us winners of the rays of Light.

Mantra 21

अदेदिष्ट वृत्रहा गोपतिर्गा अन्तः कृष्णाँ अरुषैर्धामभिर्गात् । प्र सूनृता दिशमान ऋतेन दुरश्च विश्वा अवृणोदप स्वाः ॥

The slayer of obstruction, lord of the luminous herds, has set the cows moving within the darkness by his ruddy seats of power. He puts forth the true inspirations, measuring out the directions by the law of Truth; he has opened wide all the doors that were his own.

Mantra 22

शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥

For our good we call the bounteous Indra in this battle, the most man-worthy in the winning of plenitude. Listening, fierce for our help amid the clashes, he strikes down the obstructions, the conqueror who gathers the riches of the being.