Sukta 44

Mantra 1

तं प्रत्नथा पूर्वथा विश्वथेमथा ज्येष्ठतातिं बर्हिषदं स्वर्विदम् । प्रतीचीनं वृजनं दोहसे गिराशुं जयन्तमनु यासु वर्धसे ॥

Him we call in the ancient way, in the first way, in every way and now—him, the most elder greatness, seated on the sacred grass, the finder of the Sun-worlds. Turning towards us, the wide-striding one, we milk him with the word: swift, victorious—along those paths in which you increase.

Mantra 2

श्रिये सुदृशीरुपरस्य याः स्वर्विरोचमानः ककुभामचोदते । सुगोपा असि न दभाय सुक्रतो परो मायाभिॠत आस नाम ते ॥

For the splendour you set in motion the fair-seeing heights of the upper realm, shining out in the svar-world. You are a good guardian—hard to assail, O power of luminous will; beyond the deceits, founded in the Truth, your very name abides.

Mantra 3

अत्यं हविः सचते सच्च धातु चारिष्टगातुः स होता सहोभरिः । प्रसर्स्राणो अनु बर्हिर्वृषा शिशुर्मध्ये युवाजरो विस्रुहा हितः ॥

The steed of the offering joins the true foundation; moving by uninjured paths, he is the Hotar, the bearer of force. Rushing along the sacred grass, the Bull—child in the midst, ever-young and ageless—he is set there, streaming out in many currents.

Mantra 4

प्र व एते सुयुजो यामन्निष्टये नीचीरमुष्मै यम्य ऋतावृधः । सुयन्तुभिः सर्वशासैरभीशुभिः क्रिविर्नामानि प्रवणे मुषायति ॥

Forward go these well-yoked powers on the journey for the desired fulfilment, bending downward for that one, increasing by the Truth. With guiding reins, with all disciplines, with the controlling rays—Krivi in the slope steals away the names (the fixed labels).

Mantra 5

संजर्भुराणस्तरुभिः सुतेगृभं वयाकिनं चित्तगर्भासु सुस्वरुः । धारवाकेष्वृजुगाथ शोभसे वर्धस्व पत्नीरभि जीवो अध्वरे ॥

Gathering strength with sustaining powers, you seize the well-pressed offering; awake, with bright sound in the wombs of thought. In the streams of utterance, O straight-song, you shine; grow, living one, towards the powers (patnīs) within the sacrifice.

Mantra 6

यादृगेव ददृशे तादृगुच्यते सं छायया दधिरे सिध्रयाप्स्वा । महीमस्मभ्यमुरुषामुरु ज्रयो बृहत्सुवीरमनपच्युतं सहः ॥

As he is seen, so is he spoken of: they have held him together by the shadow in the waters. For us, make vast the Greatness—wide in protection, wide in swift force—lofty, rich in heroes, un-falling, the power.

Mantra 7

वेत्यग्रुर्जनिवान्वा अति स्पृधः समर्यता मनसा सूर्यः कविः । घ्रंसं रक्षन्तं परि विश्वतो गयमस्माकं शर्म वनवत्स्वावसुः ॥

He advances, the eager one, newly born, surpassing the rivalries; by the mind’s harmony the Sun, the seer-poet. Guarding the burning heat all around, he wins for us a home of peace; by his own riches of power, may he make our shelter grow.

Mantra 8

ज्यायांसमस्य यतुनस्य केतुन ऋषिस्वरं चरति यासु नाम ते । यादृश्मिन्धायि तमपस्यया विदद्य उ स्वयं वहते सो अरं करत् ॥

Greater than this sorcerous force is his sign: he moves with the seer’s tone among those powers that bear your name. He who by effective work discovers that in which it is set—he who himself carries it—he indeed makes it sufficient and right.

Mantra 9

समुद्रमासामव तस्थे अग्रिमा न रिष्यति सवनं यस्मिन्नायता । अत्रा न हार्दि क्रवणस्य रेजते यत्रा मतिर्विद्यते पूतबन्धनी ॥

The foremost has stood down upon their ocean-depth; the pressing in which they are gathered is not harmed. Here the heart does not tremble with the eater’s fear, where the thought is found—purified, bound in right restraint.

Mantra 10

स हि क्षत्रस्य मनसस्य चित्तिभिरेवावदस्य यजतस्य सध्रेः । अवत्सारस्य स्पृणवाम रण्वभिः शविष्ठं वाजं विदुषा चिदर्ध्यम् ॥

For he is indeed the companion-force of the consecrated Power and of the Mind, through luminous perceptions; of the rightly-speaking one. With delighting energies we would fill and satisfy that impelling stream, and win the most mighty plenitude of force—worthy even for the knower.

Mantra 11

श्येन आसामदितिः कक्ष्यो मदो विश्ववारस्य यजतस्य मायिनः । समन्यमन्यमर्थयन्त्येतवे विदुर्विषाणं परिपानमन्ति ते ॥

The swift-flying force is theirs; Infinity is their girdle; their ecstasy belongs to the all-desirable, the adorable, the master of luminous formations. They spur one another to the journey; they know the wide-horned, the encompassing drink—near to them.

Mantra 12

सदापृणो यजतो वि द्विषो वधीद्बाहुवृक्तः श्रुतवित्तर्यो वः सचा । उभा स वरा प्रत्येति भाति च यदीं गणं भजते सुप्रयावभिः ॥

Ever-fulfilling, the adorable slays the hostile movements; with arms outstretched he is the knower of what is heard, the rescuer who moves with you. He comes to both boons and he shines, when he shares himself with the host of powers by their beautiful goings.

Mantra 13

सुतम्भरो यजमानस्य सत्पतिर्विश्वासामूधः स धियामुदञ्चनः । भरद्धेनू रसवच्छिश्रिये पयोऽनुब्रुवाणो अध्येति न स्वपन् ॥

Bearer of the pressed delight, lord of the true for the sacrificer, the udder of all plenitudes—he lifts the thoughts upward. The milch-cow brings the sap; the milk has taken its seat: proclaiming along, he moves above, not sleeping.

Mantra 14

यो जागार तमृचः कामयन्ते यो जागार तमु सामानि यन्ति । यो जागार तमयं सोम आह तवाहमस्मि सख्ये न्योकाः ॥

He who has awakened—him the Rik-words desire; he who has awakened—toward him the Sāman-chants move. He who has awakened—of him this Soma speaks: ‘I am yours in friendship, dwelling with you.’

Mantra 15

अग्निर्जागार तमृचः कामयन्तेऽग्निर्जागार तमु सामानि यन्ति । अग्निर्जागार तमयं सोम आह तवाहमस्मि सख्ये न्योकाः ॥

Agni has awakened—him the Rik-words desire; Agni has awakened—toward him the Sāman-chants move. Agni has awakened—of him this Soma speaks: ‘I am yours in friendship, dwelling with you.’