Sukta 83

Mantra 1

अच्छा वद तवसं गीर्भिराभिः स्तुहि पर्जन्यं नमसा विवास । कनिक्रदद्वृषभो जीरदानू रेतो दधात्योषधीषु गर्भम् ॥

Speak forth to the mighty one with these inspired words; praise Parjanya with reverence and call him near. Roaring, the bull of swift-giving force, he places the seed of life in the herbs—the hidden germ of growth in the earth-nature.

Mantra 2

वि वृक्षान्हन्त्युत हन्ति रक्षसो विश्वं बिभाय भुवनं महावधात् । उतानागा ईषते वृष्ण्यावतो यत्पर्जन्यः स्तनयन्हन्ति दुष्कृतः ॥

He smites the trees and he smites the powers of darkness; the whole world of becoming trembles before his great weapon. Even the guiltless are shaken when Parjanya, thundering, strikes down the doers of distortion.

Mantra 3

रथीव कशयाश्वाँ अभिक्षिपन्नाविर्दूतान्कृणुते वर्ष्याँ अह । दूरात्सिंहस्य स्तनथा उदीरते यत्पर्जन्यः कृणुते वर्ष्यं नभः ॥

Like a charioteer lashing his steeds, he drives them forth; openly he makes his messengers of rain. From afar the roarings rise like a lion’s, when Parjanya fashions the rain-laden cloud.

Mantra 4

प्र वाता वान्ति पतयन्ति विद्युत उदोषधीर्जिहते पिन्वते स्वः । इरा विश्वस्मै भुवनाय जायते यत्पर्जन्यः पृथिवीं रेतसावति ॥

Forward the life-breaths (winds) begin to move; the luminous forces (lightnings) leap and race. The herbs rise and awaken; the heaven is made to swell with its abundance. A nourishing power is born for all existence, when Parjanya pours his creative seed upon the Earth.

Mantra 5

यस्य व्रते पृथिवी नन्नमीति यस्य व्रते शफवज्जर्भुरीति । यस्य व्रत ओषधीर्विश्वरूपाः स नः पर्जन्य महि शर्म यच्छ ॥

By whose law the Earth bows and yields; by whose law the hard-hoofed powers press forward in their driving; by whose law the herbs take on all their forms—may that Parjanya grant us the vast peace and shelter.

Mantra 6

दिवो नो वृष्टिं मरुतो ररीध्वं प्र पिन्वत वृष्णो अश्वस्य धाराः । अर्वाङेतेन स्तनयित्नुनेह्यपो निषिञ्चन्नसुरः पिता नः ॥

O Maruts, make ready for us the rain from the heaven; set flowing the streams of the stallion of force. Come hither with this thunder; pouring down the waters, O Asura, become our fatherly protector.

Mantra 7

अभि क्रन्द स्तनय गर्भमा धा उदन्वता परि दीया रथेन । दृतिं सु कर्ष विषितं न्यञ्चं समा भवन्तूद्वतो निपादाः ॥

Cry aloud, thunder, and place the embryo of the work within us; wheel around on your water-bearing chariot. Draw well the opened leather-bag turned downward—let the heights and the lowlands become level and filled.

Mantra 8

महान्तं कोशमुदचा नि षिञ्च स्यन्दन्तां कुल्या विषिताः पुरस्तात् । घृतेन द्यावापृथिवी व्युन्धि सुप्रपाणं भवत्वघ्न्याभ्यः ॥

Pour down from the great vessel; let the opened channels flow forth in front. With the clarified richness anoint Heaven and Earth; let there be a perfect drink for the un-slain powers (the cows), the radiant energies of increase.

Mantra 9

यत्पर्जन्य कनिक्रदत्स्तनयन्हंसि दुष्कृतः । प्रतीदं विश्वं मोदते यत्किं च पृथिव्यामधि ॥

When you, Parjanya, cry again and again, thundering, you smite the ill-made and the wrong; in response all this world rejoices—whatever is upon the Earth.

Mantra 10

अवर्षीर्वर्षमुदु षू गृभायाकर्धन्वान्यत्येतवा उ । अजीजन ओषधीर्भोजनाय कमुत प्रजाभ्योऽविदो मनीषाम् ॥

You have rained; you have lifted up the rain to be firmly held, so that the dry places may be crossed beyond. You have brought forth the herbs for our nourishment; and what inspiration of understanding have you found for the generations?