Sukta 45

Mantra 1

एष स्य भानुरुदियर्ति युज्यते रथः परिज्मा दिवो अस्य सानवि । पृक्षासो अस्मिन्मिथुना अधि त्रयो दृतिस्तुरीयो मधुनो वि रप्शते ॥

This radiance rises; the all-circling chariot is yoked upon the ridge of heaven. Here the paired steeds are set; three skins and a fourth of honey are spread out in their fullness.

Mantra 2

उद्वां पृक्षासो मधुमन्त ईरते रथा अश्वास उषसो व्युष्टिषु । अपोर्णुवन्तस्तम आ परीवृतं स्वर्ण शुक्रं तन्वन्त आ रजः ॥

Upward move your honey-full steeds and chariots in the breakings of Dawn; they unwrap the darkness that has covered all around, and they stretch out the bright heaven-light across the mid-space.

Mantra 3

मध्वः पिबतं मधुपेभिरासभिरुत प्रियं मधुने युञ्जाथां रथम् । आ वर्तनिं मधुना जिन्वथस्पथो दृतिं वहेथे मधुमन्तमश्विना ॥

Drink of the honey with honey-drinking mouths, and yoke the chariot for the beloved honey. With honey you quicken the turning-track of the paths; you carry the honey-filled skin, O Aśvins.

Mantra 4

हंसासो ये वां मधुमन्तो अस्रिधो हिरण्यपर्णा उहुव उषर्बुधः । उदप्रुतो मन्दिनो मन्दिनिस्पृशो मध्वो न मक्षः सवनानि गच्छथः ॥

Like swans, honey-full and unerring, with golden wings, awakened with the dawn, leaping up from the waters—joyous, touching joy—like bees of honey you go to the Soma-pressings.

Mantra 5

स्वध्वरासो मधुमन्तो अग्नय उस्रा जरन्ते प्रति वस्तोरश्विना । यन्निक्तहस्तस्तरणिर्विचक्षणः सोमं सुषाव मधुमन्तमद्रिभिः ॥

O Aśvins, at the coming of the dawn the well-ordered fires, rich with the sweetness of delight, awake and glow towards the Day. For then the discerning and swift power, with hands made skilful for the work, presses out the honeyed Soma with the pressing-stones—distilling an inner nectar for the journey.

Mantra 6

आकेनिपासो अहभिर्दविध्वतः स्वर्ण शुक्रं तन्वन्त आ रजः । सूरश्चिदश्वान्युयुजान ईयते विश्वाँ अनु स्वधया चेतथस्पथः ॥

With sharp-pointed forces, day after day, you drive forward—spreading a radiant brightness like heaven through the mid-world. Even the Sun, yoking his steeds, moves on; and by your own inherent power you make all the paths of movement to become conscious and rightly guided.

Mantra 7

प्र वामवोचमश्विना धियंधा रथः स्वश्वो अजरो यो अस्ति । येन सद्यः परि रजांसि याथो हविष्मन्तं तरणिं भोजमच्छ ॥

To you, O Aśvins, I have spoken forth the thought that bears the light: you have a chariot with splendid steeds, ageless in its power. By it you traverse at once the spaces of the mid-world, coming straight to the swift bringer of the offering—he who enjoys and distributes the oblation in the right way.