Sukta 53

Mantra 2

ऐतान्रथेषु तस्थुषः कः शुश्राव कथा ययुः । कस्मै सस्रुः सुदासे अन्वापय इळाभिर्वृष्टयः सह ॥

These who stand upon their chariots—who has heard of them, and how they moved? To whom did they run forth? Following Sudāsa, the waters with the nourishing powers, the rains together, stream out.

Mantra 3

ते म आहुर्य आययुरुप द्युभिर्विभिर्मदे । नरो मर्या अरेपस इमान्पश्यन्निति ष्टुहि ॥

They told me: ‘Those who have come near with their lights and manifold powers in the ecstasy—men, young heroes, stainless—behold them; thus praise.’

Mantra 4

ये अञ्जिषु ये वाशीषु स्वभानवः स्रक्षु रुक्मेषु खादिषु । श्राया रथेषु धन्वसु ॥

They who are in the swift energies, they who are in the cries, self-luminous—on garlands, on golden ornaments, on bright adornments—glorious upon their chariots, on their wide courses.

Mantra 5

युष्माकं स्मा रथाँ अनु मुदे दधे मरुतो जीरदानवः । वृष्टी द्यावो यतीरिव ॥

After your chariots, indeed, I set my delight, O Maruts, swift givers. Like travellers, the rains move through the heavens.

Mantra 6

आ यं नरः सुदानवो ददाशुषे दिवः कोशमचुच्यवुः । वि पर्जन्यं सृजन्ति रोदसी अनु धन्वना यन्ति वृष्टयः ॥

To the giver they come—these strong ones, good givers—bringing down the heavenly treasury. They release Parjanya; the two worlds open wide, and along the broad course the rains advance.

Mantra 7

ततृदानाः सिन्धवः क्षोदसा रजः प्र सस्रुर्धेनवो यथा । स्यन्ना अश्वा इवाध्वनो विमोचने वि यद्वर्तन्त एन्यः ॥

Breaking through, the rivers stream forth, churning the spaces, like milch-cows. Like sweating horses on the road, at the loosening they turn apart—those impetuous powers.

Mantra 8

आ यात मरुतो दिव आन्तरिक्षादमादुत । माव स्थात परावतः ॥

Come, O Maruts, from heaven, from the mid-world, and from what is near; do not stand away in the far distance.

Mantra 9

मा वो रसानितभा कुभा क्रुमुर्मा वः सिन्धुर्नि रीरमत् । मा वः परि ष्ठात्सरयुः पुरीषिण्यस्मे इत्सुम्नमस्तु वः ॥

Let not the streams—Rasā, Anitabhā, Kubhā, and Krumu—diminish your movement; let not the Sindhu turn you back; let not Sarayu, rich in plenitude, stand as a barrier around you. For us, indeed, may your gracious favour be.

Mantra 10

तं वः शर्धं रथानां त्वेषं गणं मारुतं नव्यसीनाम् । अनु प्र यन्ति वृष्टयः ॥

That impetuous troop of your chariots, that Marut host ever new in its workings—following it, the rain-pours move forward.

Mantra 11

शर्धंशर्धं व एषां व्रातंव्रातं गणंगणं सुशस्तिभिः । अनु क्रामेम धीतिभिः ॥

Each troop and each troop of them, each host and each host, each band and each band—may we follow with right-formed praises and illumined thoughts, step by step keeping pace with their advancing power.

Mantra 12

कस्मा अद्य सुजाताय रातहव्याय प्र ययुः । एना यामेन मरुतः ॥

To whom today have the Maruts gone forth—towards what well-born one, what bearer of rightly offered oblations—by this their going, by this path of advance?

Mantra 13

येन तोकाय तनयाय धान्यं बीजं वहध्वे अक्षितम् । अस्मभ्यं तद्धत्तन यद्व ईमहे राधो विश्वायु सौभगम् ॥

That inexhaustible seed of increase which you bear for child and offspring—grant us that: the rādhas we seek from you, the all-life felicity, the good fortune that widens the whole being.

Mantra 14

अतीयाम निदस्तिरः स्वस्तिभिर्हित्वावद्यमरातीः । वृष्ट्वी शं योराप उस्रि भेषजं स्याम मरुतः सह ॥

May we pass beyond hostile speech and blame by your protections, casting away the fault and the crooked hostility. Having rained the peace and the wide delight, O Waters, bring the healing: may we be with the Maruts in that harmony.

Mantra 15

सुदेवः समहासति सुवीरो नरो मरुतः स मर्त्यः । यं त्रायध्वे स्याम ते ॥

He becomes well-godded and wide in joy, he becomes rich in heroic force, O Maruts—this mortal whom you protect. May we be that one of yours.

Mantra 16

स्तुहि भोजान्त्स्तुवतो अस्य यामनि रणन्गावो न यवसे । यतः पूर्वाँ इव सखीँरनु ह्वय गिरा गृणीहि कामिनः ॥

Praise the bounteous ones in this advancing march of the singer, as cattle lowing for pasture. From where you are—call them like former friends; with your word, utter them forth, O desiring one, and bring the Marut powers near.