Sukta 45

Mantra 1

विदा दिवो विष्यन्नद्रिमुक्थैरायत्या उषसो अर्चिनो गुः । अपावृत व्रजिनीरुत्स्वर्गाद्वि दुरो मानुषीर्देव आवः ॥

Knowing the heaven, breaking open the stone by the hymns, the flaming Dawns came, advancing. They opened out the pen and rose upward to the luminous world; the god opened wide the human doors.

Mantra 2

वि सूर्यो अमतिं न श्रियं सादोर्वाद्गवां माता जानती गात् । धन्वर्णसो नद्यः खादोअर्णाः स्थूणेव सुमिता दृंहत द्यौः ॥

The Sun spreads out the splendour as one dispels bewilderment; from the dwelling the knowing Mother of the cows moves forth. Like rivers with wide waters, like channels with rushing streams, the Heaven is made firm, as a pillar well set.

Mantra 3

अस्मा उक्थाय पर्वतस्य गर्भो महीनां जनुषे पूर्व्याय । वि पर्वतो जिहीत साधत द्यौराविवासन्तो दसयन्त भूम ॥

For this hymn of affirmation, the hidden womb of the mountain—ancient in birth among the great ones—opens out. The mountain gapes wide; Heaven is set to its right accomplishment; adoring, they make the vast foundation yield.

Mantra 4

सूक्तेभिर्वो वचोभिर्देवजुष्टैरिन्द्रा न्वग्नी अवसे हुवध्यै । उक्थेभिर्हि ष्मा कवयः सुयज्ञा आविवासन्तो मरुतो यजन्ति ॥

With well-spoken words, god-accepted, we call now Indra and Agni for help and for the bringing of their force. For with hymns of affirmation the seers, good in sacrifice, adore and worship the Maruts.

Mantra 5

एतो न्वद्य सुध्यो भवाम प्र दुच्छुना मिनवामा वरीयः । आरे द्वेषांसि सनुतर्दधामायाम प्राञ्चो यजमानमच्छ ॥

So then, today let us become of a clear and right discernment; let us drive out the evil misfortune and widen the greater way. Far away we set the hatreds, casting them off; let us move forward, turning towards the sacrificer (the soul that offers), and arrive to him.

Mantra 6

एता धियं कृणवामा सखायोऽप या माताँ ऋणुत व्रजं गोः । यया मनुर्विशिशिप्रं जिगाय यया वणिग्वङ्कुरापा पुरीषम् ॥

Let us, comrades, fashion this inspired understanding—by which the Mother opens the pen of the Light. By it Manu wins the clear-seeing force; by it the seeker-merchant Vaṅku attains the rich plenitude.

Mantra 7

अनूनोदत्र हस्तयतो अद्रिरार्चन्येन दश मासो नवग्वाः । ऋतं यती सरमा गा अविन्दद्विश्वानि सत्याङ्गिराश्चकार ॥

Here the pressing-stone was set in motion by the hands; by that the Navagvas sang through the ten months. Moving in the Truth, Saramā found the Rays (the Cows); the Aṅgirases made all things true and accomplished.

Mantra 8

विश्वे अस्या व्युषि माहिनायाः सं यद्गोभिरङ्गिरसो नवन्त । उत्स आसां परमे सधस्थ ऋतस्य पथा सरमा विदद्गाः ॥

All these (powers) of her vast shining-out, when the Aṅgirases press and work with the Rays, come into union. Their fountain is in the supreme seat; by the path of Ṛta Saramā discovers the Rays.

Mantra 9

आ सूर्यो यातु सप्ताश्वः क्षेत्रं यदस्योर्विया दीर्घयाथे । रघुः श्येनः पतयदन्धो अच्छा युवा कविर्दीदयद्गोषु गच्छन् ॥

Let Sūrya come, the seven-horsed, to the field that is his wide realm and long course. The swift falcon flies to the Soma-rapture; the young seer shines as he goes among the Rays (cows).

Mantra 10

आ सूर्यो अरुहच्छुक्रमर्णोऽयुक्त यद्धरितो वीतपृष्ठाः । उद्ना न नावमनयन्त धीरा आशृण्वतीरापो अर्वागतिष्ठन् ॥

Sūrya has mounted the bright flood; when he yoked the tawny steeds with shining backs. As wise ones bring a boat by water, so the listening Waters stood near, moving hither—supporting the passage of the seeker.

Mantra 11

धियं वो अप्सु दधिषे स्वर्षां ययातरन्दश मासो नवग्वाः । अया धिया स्याम देवगोपा अया धिया तुतुर्यामात्यंहः ॥

This inspired vision I place for you in the Waters, a light-winning dhī by which the Navagvas crossed through the ten months. By this dhī may we be guarded by the Gods; by this dhī may we pass beyond all distress and crookedness.