Sukta 22

Mantra 1

ओ त्यमह्व आ रथमद्या दंसिष्ठमूतये । यमश्विना सुहवा रुद्रवर्तनी आ सूर्यायै तस्थथुः ॥

O—this chariot I call today, most potent in its workings, for our help: that chariot on which you two Aśvins, easy to invoke, moving on Rudra’s paths of force, stood ready for Sūryā—so come with it to our aid.

Mantra 2

पूर्वायुषं सुहवं पुरुस्पृहं भुज्युं वाजेषु पूर्व्यम् । सचनावन्तं सुमतिभिः सोभरे विद्वेषसमनेहसम् ॥

The ancient life-giver, easy to invoke, much desired; Bhujyu, foremost in the plenitudes of force—him, companionable, we support with right-mindedness, O Sobharis, the remover of division, the unwearying.

Mantra 3

इह त्या पुरुभूतमा देवा नमोभिरश्विना । अर्वाचीना स्ववसे करामहे गन्तारा दाशुषो गृहम् ॥

Here we make you two, most manifold in becoming, O divine Aśvins, by our acts of reverence, turned hither for your own joy of power: come, you two goers, to the house of the giver.

Mantra 4

युवो रथस्य परि चक्रमीयत ईर्मान्यद्वामिषण्यति । अस्माँ अच्छा सुमतिर्वां शुभस्पती आ धेनुरिव धावतु ॥

Round your chariot-wheel it moves; another power of yours urges it on. Toward us may your right-minded grace, O lords of splendour, run like a cow to her calf—swift, nourishing, and sure.

Mantra 5

रथो यो वां त्रिवन्धुरो हिरण्याभीशुरश्विना । परि द्यावापृथिवी भूषति श्रुतस्तेन नासत्या गतम् ॥

That chariot of yours, three-seated, with golden reins, O Aśvins, moves in beauty around Heaven and Earth. Heard is it—so with that, O Nāsatyas, come to us.

Mantra 6

दशस्यन्ता मनवे पूर्व्यं दिवि यवं वृकेण कर्षथः । ता वामद्य सुमतिभिः शुभस्पती अश्विना प्र स्तुवीमहि ॥

Honouring Manu, you two drew forth the ancient barley in heaven with the plough. Therefore today, with right-mindedness, O lords of splendour, O Aśvins, we set you forth in praise—so that the primal nourishment may be born in us.

Mantra 7

उप नो वाजिनीवसू यातमृतस्य पथिभिः । येभिस्तृक्षिं वृषणा त्रासदस्यवं महे क्षत्राय जिन्वथः ॥

Come near us, O two lords of plenitude and victorious force, travelling by the paths of Ṛta (the right and truth-order). By those selfsame powers with which, O mighty ones, you quicken in Tr̥kṣi Trāsadasyu the great kṣatra—so too increase in us that sovereign strength of the soul.

Mantra 8

अयं वामद्रिभिः सुतः सोमो नरा वृषण्वसू । आ यातं सोमपीतये पिबतं दाशुषो गृहे ॥

This Soma is pressed for you by the pressing-stones, O two heroes rich in strong delight. Come here for the drinking of Soma; drink in the house of the giver—within the offering-consciousness that has opened itself to you.

Mantra 9

आ हि रुहतमश्विना रथे कोशे हिरण्यये वृषण्वसू । युञ्जाथां पीवरीरिषः ॥

Ascend indeed, O Aśvins, your chariot with its golden seat, O you rich in potent good. Yoke for yourselves the full, abundant impulsions of nourishment—powers that widen the being and sustain the journey.

Mantra 10

याभिः पक्थमवथो याभिरध्रिगुं याभिर्बभ्रुं विजोषसम् । ताभिर्नो मक्षू तूयमश्विना गतं भिषज्यतं यदातुरम् ॥

With those powers by which you helped Paktha, by which you helped Adhrigu, by which you helped Babhrū who was deprived of joy—by those same forces come swiftly to us, O Aśvins, and heal whatever in us is afflicted and out of harmony.

Mantra 11

यदध्रिगावो अध्रिगू इदा चिदह्नो अश्विना हवामहे । वयं गीर्भिर्विपन्यवः ॥

Even if we are but Adhrigāvas, even Adhrigūs, still at this very time of day we call the Aśvins; for we are seekers of the illumining word, offering our hymns as instruments of awakening.

Mantra 12

ताभिरा यातं वृषणोप मे हवं विश्वप्सुं विश्ववार्यम् । इषा मंहिष्ठा पुरुभूतमा नरा याभिः क्रिविं वावृधुस्ताभिरा गतम् ॥

With those powers come, O mighty ones, to my call—universal in action, universal in the desirable boons. By nourishment you are most bountiful, most manifold in becoming, O heroes; with the forces by which you increased Krivi, with those come here to us.

Mantra 13

ताविदा चिदहानां तावश्विना वन्दमान उप ब्रुवे । ता उ नमोभिरीमहे ॥

Those two—yes, even now in these days—those two Aśvins I address with adoration. Those two we seek to win by acts of reverence: the humble alignment that opens the way for their help.

Mantra 14

ताविद्दोषा ता उषसि शुभस्पती ता यामन्रुद्रवर्तनी । मा नो मर्ताय रिपवे वाजिनीवसू परो रुद्रावति ख्यतम् ॥

Those two in the night, those two at the dawn—lords of luminous beauty—those two moving on their fierce, impelling tracks. O you rich in victorious force, do not betray us to the mortal enemy; pass beyond and outstrip the wrathful obstructers, and make a clear distance from all hostility.

Mantra 15

आ सुग्म्याय सुग्म्यं प्राता रथेनाश्विना वा सक्षणी । हुवे पितेव सोभरी ॥

At the morning, for a happy going and a happy arriving, I call you, O Aśvins, with your chariot—O you who are able. Sobharī calls you as a son calls the father: for guidance that makes the path smooth within.

Mantra 17

आ नो अश्वावदश्विना वर्तिर्यासिष्टं मधुपातमा नरा । गोमद्दस्रा हिरण्यवत् ॥

Come to us, O Aśvins, along a course rich in the power of the steed—come, O best drinkers of the sweetness, O heroes. Bring the luminous plenty: rich in rays of knowledge (go-mat) and rich in golden fullness (hiraṇya-vat), O wondrous ones.