Sukta 28

Mantra 1

आ गावो अग्मन्नुत भद्रमक्रन्त्सीदन्तु गोष्ठे रणयन्त्वस्मे । प्रजावतीः पुरुरूपा इह स्युरिन्द्राय पूर्वीरुषसो दुहानाः ॥

The cows have come, and they have made the good; let them settle in the luminous stall and bring delight to us. May they be here, rich in progeny and of many forms, like ancient Dawns milking for Indra—streams of light yielding their sweetness.

Mantra 2

इन्द्रो यज्वने पृणते च शिक्षत्युपेद्ददाति न स्वं मुषायति । भूयोभूयो रयिमिदस्य वर्धयन्नभिन्ने खिल्ये नि दधाति देवयुम् ॥

Indra trains the sacrificer who gives and fills; he comes near and grants—he does not steal what is one’s own. Again and again he increases this one’s rayi, and in the unbroken open field he establishes the god-seeking soul.

Mantra 3

न ता नशन्ति न दभाति तस्करो नासामामित्रो व्यथिरा दधर्षति । देवाँश्च याभिर्यजते ददाति च ज्योगित्ताभिः सचते गोपतिः सह ॥

These Rays (the Cows of Light) do not perish; no thief can deceive them. No hostile power, no shaking fear can overpower them. With those very powers by which the seeker offers to the Gods and also gives, with those the Lord of the Rays (the true Guardian within) abides and joins for ever.

Mantra 4

न ता अर्वा रेणुककाटो अश्नुते न संस्कृतत्रमुप यन्ति ता अभि । उरुगायमभयं तस्य ता अनु गावो मर्तस्य वि चरन्ति यज्वनः ॥

No swift assailant, no dust-raising pursuer reaches them; they do not go near the well-laid trap. They follow the wide-going, the fearless—under that protection the Rays move freely through the mortal who offers, ranging without obstruction.

Mantra 5

गावो भगो गाव इन्द्रो मे अच्छान्गावः सोमस्य प्रथमस्य भक्षः । इमा या गावः स जनास इन्द्र इच्छामीद्धृदा मनसा चिदिन्द्रम् ॥

The Rays are Bhaga, the delighting portion; the Rays are Indra coming to me. The Rays are the first food of Soma. These Rays that are—those are the people of Indra; and Indra I seek indeed with heart and with mind.

Mantra 6

यूयं गावो मेदयथा कृशं चिदश्रीरं चित्कृणुथा सुप्रतीकम् । भद्रं गृहं कृणुथ भद्रवाचो बृहद्वो वय उच्यते सभासु ॥

You, O Rays, make even the lean grow full; even the ill-formed you make fair in visage. You make the house a happy dwelling, you make the speech auspicious; great is the strength of life that is spoken of you in the assemblies.

Mantra 7

प्रजावतीः सूयवसं रिशन्तीः शुद्धा अपः सुप्रपाणे पिबन्तीः । मा वः स्तेन ईशत माघशंसः परि वो हेती रुद्रस्य वृज्याः ॥

O Rays, rich in progeny, grazing the good pasture, drinking the pure waters at the fair drinking-place—let no thief rule over you, let no evil-speaker prevail. Around you may the missile of Rudra be turned away.

Mantra 8

उपेदमुपपर्चनमासु गोषूप पृच्यताम् । उप ऋषभस्य रेतस्युपेन्द्र तव वीर्ये ॥

May this act of close-contact and fostering be joined to these Rays; may it be mingled with the seed of the Bull. Near, O Indra, is your hero-force—let it enter here and increase.