Sukta 38

Mantra 1

अभि तष्टेव दीधया मनीषामत्यो न वाजी सुधुरो जिहानः । अभि प्रियाणि मर्मृशत्पराणि कवीँरिच्छामि संदृशे सुमेधाः ॥

With a shaping vision, as a craftsman fashions, I set my thought in motion—like a swift, prize-winning steed well-yoked and eager to surge. Touching and awakening the dear and hidden breaths of life, I, of good intelligence, seek the seers for the inner seeing.

Mantra 2

इनोत पृच्छ जनिमा कवीनां मनोधृतः सुकृतस्तक्षत द्याम् । इमा उ ते प्रण्यो वर्धमाना मनोवाता अध नु धर्मणि ग्मन् ॥

Urge on and question the birth of the seers: the well-fashioned powers, held by the mind, have shaped the heaven of consciousness. These life-movements of yours grow, driven by the wind of mind; then indeed they go in the law, the right order.

Mantra 3

नि षीमिदत्र गुह्या दधाना उत क्षत्राय रोदसी समञ्जन् । सं मात्राभिर्ममिरे येमुरुर्वी अन्तर्मही समृते धायसे धुः ॥

Here indeed they place the secret things within; and for the power of rule they join the two worlds. With their measures they have built and bounded the wide and the vast; within the Greatness, in the perfectly joined order, they have set the foundations for nurturing.

Mantra 4

आतिष्ठन्तं परि विश्वे अभूषञ्छ्रियो वसानश्चरति स्वरोचिः । महत्तद्वृष्णो असुरस्य नामा विश्वरूपो अमृतानि तस्थौ ॥

All the powers adorn Him as He rises; clothed in splendors He moves, self-luminous. Great is that Name of the mighty Asura: the All-formed stands established in the immortalities.

Mantra 5

असूत पूर्वो वृषभो ज्यायानिमा अस्य शुरुधः सन्ति पूर्वीः । दिवो नपाता विदथस्य धीभिः क्षत्रं राजाना प्रदिवो दधाथे ॥

First was born the elder Bull of power; these many streams of his force are primeval. O two Kings, offspring of Heaven, by visions in the sacrifice you uphold the sovereign might that comes from the luminous heaven.

Mantra 6

त्रीणि राजाना विदथे पुरूणि परि विश्वानि भूषथः सदांसि । अपश्यमत्र मनसा जगन्वान्व्रते गन्धर्वाँ अपि वायुकेशान् ॥

O two Kings, in many assemblies you encompass and adorn all the seats of power. Here I saw with the traveling mind the Gandharvas within the law—those with hair like the wind, subtle guardians of the inspired order.

Mantra 7

तदिन्न्वस्य वृषभस्य धेनोरा नामभिर्ममिरे सक्म्यं गोः । अन्यदन्यदसुर्यं वसाना नि मायिनो ममिरे रूपमस्मिन् ॥

Thus indeed, for this mighty Bull, they measured by names the shared substance of the Cow—its luminous yield. Clothing themselves in ever-new lordly powers, the masters of māyā fixed diverse forms within this being.

Mantra 8

तदिन्न्वस्य सवितुर्नकिर्मे हिरण्ययीममतिं यामशिश्रेत् । आ सुष्टुती रोदसी विश्वमिन्वे अपीव योषा जनिमानि वव्रे ॥

This indeed of Savitṛ—none can thwart for me that golden inspiration which he has set in motion. The well-praise moves the two worlds and impels all; like a woman, it chooses and bears the births of things.

Mantra 9

युवं प्रत्नस्य साधथो महो यद्दैवी स्वस्तिः परि णः स्यातम् । गोपाजिह्वस्य तस्थुषो विरूपा विश्वे पश्यन्ति मायिनः कृतानि ॥

You two accomplish the ancient greatness so that the divine well-being may be around us. Of the steadfast one with the guarding tongue, the masters of formation behold all the varied forms that have been made.

Mantra 10

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

For our good we call Indra the bounteous, the most man-strong, in this bearing of the load, in the winning of plenitude. Hearing us, fierce for our help in the battles, he smites the obstructers and wins the riches—fullness of being.