Sukta 75

Mantra 1

जीमूतस्येव भवति प्रतीकं यद्वर्मी याति समदामुपस्थे । अनाविद्धया तन्वा जय त्वं स त्वा वर्मणो महिमा पिपर्तु ॥

Like the face of a cloud is the appearance when the armored one goes into the lap of battle. With a body not pierced, win thou; may the greatness of the armor fill thee and make thee whole.

Mantra 2

धन्वना गा धन्वनाजिं जयेम धन्वना तीव्राः समदो जयेम । धनुः शत्रोरपकामं कृणोति धन्वना सर्वाः प्रदिशो जयेम ॥

By the bow may we win the cows (rays of light), by the bow may we win the battle, by the bow may we win the fierce encounters. The bow makes the enemy’s will fall away; by the bow may we win all the directions (all fields of movement of consciousness).

Mantra 3

वक्ष्यन्तीवेदा गनीगन्ति कर्णं प्रियं सखायं परिषस्वजाना । योषेव शिङ्क्ते वितताधि धन्वञ्ज्या इयं समने पारयन्ती ॥

As if a woman longing, she comes again and again to the ear, embracing her dear companion; like a wife she adorns herself—this bowstring, stretched upon the bow, carrying one across in the encounter.

Mantra 4

ते आचरन्ती समनेव योषा मातेव पुत्रं बिभृतामुपस्थे । अप शत्रून्विध्यतां संविदाने आर्त्नी इमे विष्फुरन्ती अमित्रान् ॥

Moving in the encounter like a woman, and like a mother bearing her son in the lap—may these two bow-ends, acting in accord, strike away the enemies; these two arms/ends, quivering, shatter the hostile powers.

Mantra 5

बह्वीनां पिता बहुरस्य पुत्रश्चिश्चा कृणोति समनावगत्य । इषुधिः सङ्काः पृतनाश्च सर्वाः पृष्ठे निनद्धो जयति प्रसूतः ॥

Father of many, son of abundance—he fashions and arranges things, entering the encounter. With quiver, armor/attachments, and all battles bound upon his back, the warrior, sent forth, wins.

Mantra 6

रथे तिष्ठन्नयति वाजिनः पुरो यत्रयत्र कामयते सुषारथिः । अभीशूनां महिमानं पनायत मनः पश्चादनु यच्छन्ति रश्मयः ॥

Standing on the chariot, the good charioteer leads the steeds forward wherever he wills. Celebrate the greatness of the reins; the rays (lines of force) follow after and hold to the mind.

Mantra 7

तीव्रान्घोषान्कृण्वते वृषपाणयोऽश्वा रथेभिः सह वाजयन्तः । अवक्रामन्तः प्रपदैरमित्रान्क्षिणन्ति शत्रूँरनपव्ययन्तः ॥

The strong-handed Horses of the Force make sharp thunderous sounds; yoked with the chariots they bring the plenitude of power. With their forward-striding steps they press down the hostile movements and wear away the adversary forces, never turning aside from the march.

Mantra 8

रथवाहनं हविरस्य नाम यत्रायुधं निहितमस्य वर्म । तत्रा रथमुप शग्मं सदेम विश्वाहा वयं सुमनस्यमानाः ॥

‘Ratha-vāhana’ is the name of this offering-place where the weapon and its armor are set down. There may we draw near and take our seat by the victorious chariot, all the days, holding a clear and harmonious mind.

Mantra 9

स्वादुषंसदः पितरो वयोधाः कृच्छ्रेश्रितः शक्तीवन्तो गभीराः । चित्रसेना इषुबला अमृध्राः सतोवीरा उरवो व्रातसाहाः ॥

O Fathers, sweet in their session, upholding our vital increase—deep and mighty, those who take their stand in difficulty: of varied host, strong in the arrow-force, unbetraying; true-heroic, wide in being, conquerors of the encircling bands.

Mantra 10

ब्राह्मणासः पितरः सोम्यासः शिवे नो द्यावापृथिवी अनेहसा । पूषा नः पातु दुरितादृतावृधो रक्षा माकिर्नो अघशंस ईशत ॥

May the Brahman-fathers, the Soma-filled Ancestors, be gracious to us; may Heaven-and-Earth bring us an untroubled wideness. May Pūṣan, increaser of ṛta, guard us from distress; protect—let none who speaks evil wield power over us.

Mantra 11

सुपर्णं वस्ते मृगो अस्या दन्तो गोभिः संनद्धा पतति प्रसूता । यत्रा नरः सं च वि च द्रवन्ति तत्रास्मभ्यमिषवः शर्म यंसन् ॥

A bird of fair wing she wears; her ‘tooth’ is the wild beast; bound with the cows (rays) she flies forth when released. Where the men run together and scatter, there may the arrows for us bring shelter—may the directed forces become a protection, not a harm.

Mantra 12

ऋजीते परि वृङ्धि नोऽश्मा भवतु नस्तनूः । सोमो अधि ब्रवीतु नोऽदितिः शर्म यच्छतु ॥

O Straightener, encompass us—let the Stone become our body. Let Soma speak within us; let Aditi grant us peace and shelter.

Mantra 13

आ जङ्घन्ति सान्वेषां जघनाँ उप जिघ्नते । अश्वाजनि प्रचेतसोऽश्वान्त्समत्सु चोदय ॥

They leap upon the ridges; they strike at the rear of them. O Horse-begetter, O clear-knowing Power, drive on the horses in the battles—impel the energies to the decisive advance.

Mantra 14

अहिरिव भोगैः पर्येति बाहुं ज्याया हेतिं परिबाधमानः । हस्तघ्नो विश्वा वयुनानि विद्वान्पुमान्पुमांसं परि पातु विश्वतः ॥

Like a serpent with its coils he circles the arm, warding off the stronger weapon. The Hand-slayer, knowing all the workings, the Manly Power—may he guard the man on every side.

Mantra 15

आलाक्ता या रुरुशीर्ष्ण्यथो यस्या अयो मुखम् । इदं पर्जन्यरेतस इष्वै देव्यै बृहन्नमः ॥

To the goddess Arrow—red-tinted, with a gleaming head, whose mouth is iron—this great obeisance: born of Parjanya’s seed, she is the swift implement of the raining Power within.

Mantra 16

अवसृष्टा परा पत शरव्ये ब्रह्मसंशिते । गच्छामित्रान्प्र पद्यस्व मामीषां कं चनोच्छिषः ॥

Released, fly forth far away, O Arrow, sharpened by the sacred Word. Go to the hostile ones, fall upon them—do not leave of them anyone at all; but spare me from your remainder.

Mantra 17

यत्र बाणाः सम्पतन्ति कुमारा विशिखा इव । तत्रा नो ब्रह्मणस्पतिरदितिः शर्म यच्छतु विश्वाहा शर्म यच्छतु ॥

Where the arrows converge and fall thick like uncrested youths rushing together, there may Brahmaṇaspati and Aditi grant us peace and shelter; may they grant that protection at all times, in every way.

Mantra 18

मर्माणि ते वर्मणा छादयामि सोमस्त्वा राजामृतेनानु वस्ताम् । उरोर्वरीयो वरुणस्ते कृणोतु जयन्तं त्वानु देवा मदन्तु ॥

I cover your vital points with the armor: may Soma the King clothe you with immortality; may Varuṇa make for you a wider and safer expanse; may the gods rejoice in you as one who goes forward to victory.

Mantra 19

यो नः स्वो अरणो यश्च निष्ट्यो जिघांसति । देवास्तं सर्वे धूर्वन्तु ब्रह्म वर्म ममान्तरम् ॥

Whoever is our own or a stranger, whoever seeks to strike us down—may all the gods crush him back; for within me is the armor of the brahman, the protective power of the true Word.