Sukta 55

Mantra 1

उषसः पूर्वा अध यद्व्यूषुर्महद्वि जज्ञे अक्षरं पदे गोः । व्रता देवानामुप नु प्रभूषन्महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

When the former Dawns have opened out, then is born the great imperishable Word in the step of the Light. Adorning and manifesting the laws of the Gods, there stands revealed the one vast Asura-might of the divine Powers.

Mantra 2

मो षू णो अत्र जुहुरन्त देवा मा पूर्वे अग्ने पितरः पदज्ञाः । पुराण्योः सद्मनोः केतुरन्तर्महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Let not the Gods here cast us away; nor let the former Fathers, knowers of the path, reject us, O Agni. Within the two ancient dwellings the beacon is set—one vast asura-might of the Gods.

Mantra 3

वि मे पुरुत्रा पतयन्ति कामाः शम्यच्छा दीद्ये पूर्व्याणि । समिद्धे अग्नावृतमिद्वदेम महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

My desires fly out in many directions; toward the kindled flame I make the ancient lights blaze. In the kindled Agni let us speak the Truth itself—the one vast asura-might of the Gods.

Mantra 4

समानो राजा विभृतः पुरुत्रा शये शयासु प्रयुतो वनानु । अन्या वत्सं भरति क्षेति माता महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

One and the same King is borne in many ways; he lies in the resting-places, moving through the woods. Another bears the calf; the Mother dwells and nurtures—one vast asura-might of the Gods.

Mantra 5

आक्षित्पूर्वास्वपरा अनूरुत्सद्यो जातासु तरुणीष्वन्तः । अन्तर्वतीः सुवते अप्रवीता महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

The later is established within the earlier; the unresounding one is within the newly born young forms. The inwardly-bearing brings forth, though unannounced—one vast asura-might of the Gods.

Mantra 6

शयुः परस्तादध नु द्विमाताबन्धनश्चरति वत्स एकः । मित्रस्य ता वरुणस्य व्रतानि महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Lying beyond, then indeed the two-mothered One—unbound—moves as the single Calf. These are the laws of Mitra and of Varuṇa: one vast asura-might of the Gods.

Mantra 7

द्विमाता होता विदथेषु सम्राळन्वग्रं चरति क्षेति बुध्नः । प्र रण्यानि रण्यवाचो भरन्ते महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

The Seer-Will, twofold in its motherhood, stands as the invoking priest in our assemblies; as the sovereign it moves following the leading edge, and it dwells in the deep foundation. Forth they bring delightful treasures and words that carry delight: one is the vast lordship (asuratva) of the gods.

Mantra 8

शूरस्येव युध्यतो अन्तमस्य प्रतीचीनं ददृशे विश्वमायत् । अन्तर्मतिश्चरति निष्षिधं गोर्महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

As of a hero battling, the inmost turns back and beholds the whole that has come toward him. The inward thought moves to the hidden seat of the Ray (go): one is the vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 9

नि वेवेति पलितो दूत आस्वन्तर्महाँश्चरति रोचनेन । वपूंषि बिभ्रदभि नो वि चष्टे महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Down he hastens—the ancient messenger—within the currents; great, he moves by the luminous realm. Bearing many forms, he looks out upon us in discernment: one is the vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 10

विष्णुर्गोपाः परमं पाति पाथः प्रिया धामान्यमृता दधानः । अग्निष्टा विश्वा भुवनानि वेद महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Vishnu, the guardian, protects the supreme Path, establishing the beloved immortal seats. Agni knows all these worlds: one is the vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 11

नाना चक्राते यम्या वपूंषि तयोरन्यद्रोचते कृष्णमन्यत् । श्यावी च यदरुषी च स्वसारौ महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Two kindred sisters fashion diverse forms: of the two, one shines, the other is dark. The dusk-hued and the ruddy—sisters—declare one vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 12

माता च यत्र दुहिता च धेनू सबर्दुघे धापयेते समीची । ऋतस्य ते सदसीळे अन्तर्महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Where the Mother and the Daughter, two milch-cows, milk together in harmony, nourishing each other. In the inner seat of Ṛta I adore them: one is the vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 13

अन्यस्या वत्सं रिहती मिमाय कया भुवा नि दधे धेनुरूधः । ऋतस्य सा पयसापिन्वतेळा महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Licking the calf of another, she lows; by what becoming does the cow set down her udder? She swells by the milk of Ṛta—Ilā: one is the vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 14

पद्या वस्ते पुरुरूपा वपूंष्यूर्ध्वा तस्थौ त्र्यविं रेरिहाणा । ऋतस्य सद्म वि चरामि विद्वान्महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

By her steps she clothes herself in many forms; upright she stands, licking the threefold nourishment. Knowing, I move through the home of Ṛta: one is the vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 15

पदे इव निहिते दस्मे अन्तस्तयोरन्यद्गुह्यमाविरन्यत् । सध्रीचीना पथ्या सा विषूची महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

As if two footprints set down within the wondrous, of the two one is hidden, the other is manifest. One is the straight-going path, the other diverges: one is the vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 16

आ धेनवो धुनयन्तामशिश्वीः सबर्दुघाः शशया अप्रदुग्धाः । नव्यानव्या युवतयो भवन्तीर्महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

Let the cows shake themselves into motion—unexhausted, milking together, never yet fully milked out. Ever new, they become young again and again: one is the vast lordship of the gods.

Mantra 17

यदन्यासु वृषभो रोरवीति सो अन्यस्मिन्यूथे नि दधाति रेतः । स हि क्षपावान्त्स भगः स राजा महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

When the Bull-force roars among other herds, he sets his seed of power into another company. For he is the lord of the nights (the master of obscurity), he is Bhaga the giver of delight, he is the King: one great sovereignty of the gods, the single Asura-might.

Mantra 18

वीरस्य नु स्वश्व्यं जनासः प्र नु वोचाम विदुरस्य देवाः । षोळ्हा युक्ताः पञ्चपञ्चा वहन्ति महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

O people, now let us proclaim the hero’s good chariot-horsed power; the gods know it. Sixteen yoked, five and five, bear it onward—one great sovereignty of the gods, the single Asura-might.

Mantra 19

देवस्त्वष्टा सविता विश्वरूपः पुपोष प्रजाः पुरुधा जजान । इमा च विश्वा भुवनान्यस्य महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

The divine Fashioner, Savitṛ of all-forms, nourished the births; manifoldly he brought forth the peoples and these worlds. This is his: one great sovereignty of the gods, the single Asura-might.

Mantra 20

मही समैरच्चम्वा समीची उभे ते अस्य वसुना न्यृष्टे । शृण्वे वीरो विन्दमानो वसूनि महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

The Vast one moves in union with the two cups that meet together; both his treasures are set down within. The hero listens, finding the riches—one great sovereignty of the gods, the single Asura-might.

Mantra 21

इमां च नः पृथिवीं विश्वधाया उप क्षेति हितमित्रो न राजा । पुरःसदः शर्मसदो न वीरा महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

And this earth of ours, the all-supporting, he dwells near as a king with a beneficent friendship. Like heroes seated in the front, seated in the shelter, he establishes protection—one great sovereignty of the gods, the single Asura-might.

Mantra 22

निष्षिध्वरीस्त ओषधीरुतापो रयिं त इन्द्र पृथिवी बिभर्ति । सखायस्ते वामभाजः स्याम महद्देवानामसुरत्वमेकम् ॥

The swift-pressing powers are yours—plants and waters; and Earth bears for you the rayi, the plenitude. May we be your comrades, sharers in your beloved gifts—one great sovereignty of the gods, the single Asura-might.