Sukta 9

Mantra 1

अहश्च कृष्णमहरर्जुनं च वि वर्तेते रजसी वेद्याभिः । वैश्वानरो जायमानो न राजावातिरज्ज्योतिषाग्निस्तमांसि ॥

The dark day and the bright day move apart in their ordered courses. As Vaiśvānara is born like a king, Agni by his light overpasses the darknesses—establishing the rhythm where knowledge replaces obscurity in the human journey.

Mantra 2

नाहं तन्तुं न वि जानाम्योतुं न यं वयन्ति समरेऽतमानाः । कस्य स्वित्पुत्र इह वक्त्वानि परो वदात्यवरेण पित्रा ॥

I do not yet know the thread, nor clearly the weaving—nor that which the unwavering workers weave in the common struggle. Whose son here can speak these utterances, where the farther truth is voiced with the nearer father as its support?

Mantra 3

स इत्तन्तुं स वि जानात्योतुं स वक्त्वान्यृतुथा वदाति । य ईं चिकेतदमृतस्य गोपा अवश्चरन्परो अन्येन पश्यन् ॥

He indeed knows the thread; he discerns the weaving; he speaks the utterances in the right season and true manner—he who has awakened to it, the guardian of immortality, moving below yet seeing the farther by another (higher) vision.

Mantra 4

अयं होता प्रथमः पश्यतेममिदं ज्योतिरमृतं मर्त्येषु । अयं स जज्ञे ध्रुव आ निषत्तोऽमर्त्यस्तन्वा वर्धमानः ॥

This is the Hotṛ who first beholds—this immortal Light within mortals. This he is: born and firmly seated, deathless, increasing by his own body (presence) within us.

Mantra 5

ध्रुवं ज्योतिर्निहितं दृशये कं मनो जविष्ठं पतयत्स्वन्तः । विश्वे देवाः समनसः सकेता एकं क्रतुमभि वि यन्ति साधु ॥

A firm Light is set down for seeing; and the mind, swiftest, flies within its own inwardness toward it. All the gods, of one mind and one intention, move rightly toward the single will (kratu) that is one.

Mantra 6

वि मे कर्णा पतयतो वि चक्षुर्वीदं ज्योतिर्हृदय आहितं यत् । वि मे मनश्चरति दूरआधीः किं स्विद्वक्ष्यामि किमु नू मनिष्ये ॥

My ears fly open, my sight expands; for this Light has been set within the heart. My mind moves far-reaching in its thoughts—what indeed shall I utter, and what now shall I form within?

Mantra 7

विश्वे देवा अनमस्यन्भियानास्त्वामग्ने तमसि तस्थिवांसम् । वैश्वानरोऽवतूतये नोऽमर्त्योऽवतूतये नः ॥

All the gods, afraid, bowed to thee, O Agni, standing in the darkness. May Vaiśvānara, the deathless, protect us for our fostering and upward leading—protect us for our fostering.