Sukta 25

Mantra 1

ता वां विश्वस्य गोपा देवा देवेषु यज्ञिया । ऋतावाना यजसे पूतदक्षसा ॥

You two, guardians of the whole, divine powers among the gods, worthy of the offering—upholding the Truth-Order you come to be worshipped, with faculties purified for the work.

Mantra 2

मित्रा तना न रथ्या वरुणो यश्च सुक्रतुः । सनात्सुजाता तनया धृतव्रता ॥

Mitra and Varuṇa, moving together like well-yoked charioteers—Varuṇa and he who is of luminous will; born from the ancient source, true offspring, holding firmly the law of their working.

Mantra 3

ता माता विश्ववेदसासुर्याय प्रमहसा । मही जजानादितिॠतावरी ॥

She, the vast Mother Aditi, bearer of the Truth, brings to birth for the luminous Lordship— for the all-knowing power and for the mighty greatness— the wide (infinite) consciousness within us.

Mantra 4

महान्ता मित्रावरुणा सम्राजा देवावसुरा । ऋतावानावृतमा घोषतो बृहत् ॥

Mitra and Varuṇa are vast—two kings together, divine and lordly—bearers of the Truth. They proclaim aloud the ṛta, the Vast, so that the soul may hear and take its law of right harmony.

Mantra 5

नपाता शवसो महः सूनू दक्षस्य सुक्रतू । सृप्रदानू इषो वास्त्वधि क्षितः ॥

O two descendants of mighty Force, true sons of the discerning Power (dakṣa), wise in right action—granting the swift-flowing energies—abide over the dwelling-place of our impulsions, establishing our habitation in the nourishing currents.

Mantra 6

सं या दानूनि येमथुर्दिव्याः पार्थिवीरिषः । नभस्वतीरा वां चरन्तु वृष्टयः ॥

May the streams you have yoked together—those heavenly and those earthly impulsions—move towards you; may the cloud-bearing rains of inspiration travel to you, so our being is refreshed and made ready for truth.

Mantra 7

अधि या बृहतो दिवोऽभि यूथेव पश्यतः । ऋतावाना सम्राजा नमसे हिता ॥

They who look down from the Vast heaven as a herd looks over its field—those two co-kings bearing the Truth—are set in their seat by our reverence; by surrender we establish their reign within.

Mantra 8

ऋतावाना नि षेदतुः साम्राज्याय सुक्रतू । धृतव्रता क्षत्रिया क्षत्रमाशतुः ॥

May the two bearers of Truth sit down within for a true joint sovereignty; wise in right action, firm in their vows, royal in power—may they attain and establish the kṣatra, the effective mastery, in us.

Mantra 9

अक्ष्णश्चिद्गातुवित्तरानुल्बणेन चक्षसा । नि चिन्मिषन्ता निचिरा नि चिक्यतुः ॥

Even by the eye they are the best finders of the path; with an unerring vision—though they blink not, though they delay not— they discern and mark out (for us) the right way.

Mantra 10

उत नो देव्यदितिरुरुष्यतां नासत्या । उरुष्यन्तु मरुतो वृद्धशवसः ॥

And may the goddess Aditi widen and protect us, O Nāsatyas; may the Maruts too protect us—strong in their grown force—so that our life moves in safety towards the Truth.

Mantra 11

ते नो नावमुरुष्यत दिवा नक्तं सुदानवः । अरिष्यन्तो नि पायुभिः सचेमहि ॥

You generous powers, protect our boat by day and by night; then, unharmed, with your guardianships around us, may we move together (with you) across the difficult passage of existence.

Mantra 12

अघ्नते विष्णवे वयमरिष्यन्तः सुदानवे । श्रुधि स्वयावन्त्सिन्धो पूर्वचित्तये ॥

To Viṣṇu who is unharming, to the generous giver, we—seeking to be unhurt—call. Hear us, O Sindhu, self-impelled one, for the awakening of the ancient consciousness (in us).

Mantra 13

तद्वार्यं वृणीमहे वरिष्ठं गोपयत्यम् । मित्रो यत्पान्ति वरुणो यदर्यमा ॥

We choose that supreme and most excellent guarded wideness—this inner free-space of the being—which Mitra protects as harmony, which Varuṇa protects as vast law, and which Aryaman protects as the noble right ordering of our journey.

Mantra 14

उत नः सिन्धुरपां तन्मरुतस्तदश्विना । इन्द्रो विष्णुर्मीढ्वांसः सजोषसः ॥

And may for us the River of the Waters grant that same wideness; may the Maruts grant it, and the Ashvins; may Indra and Vishnu—strong helpers in one accord—grant it, moving together in a single delight of the work.

Mantra 15

ते हि ष्मा वनुषो नरोऽभिमातिं कयस्य चित् । तिग्मं न क्षोदः प्रतिघ्नन्ति भूर्णयः ॥

For these are indeed the impelling heroes: they strike down any hostile assault whatsoever—like a sharp-pointed driving force shattering resistance—those whirlwinds of power that turn upon the obstruction and break it.

Mantra 16

अयमेक इत्था पुरूरु चष्टे वि विश्पतिः । तस्य व्रतान्यनु वश्चरामसि ॥

This One—thus—beholds in many and wide ways, the Lord of the people; and we move in your company following his laws of truth, shaping our life to that right governance.

Mantra 17

अनु पूर्वाण्योक्या साम्राज्यस्य सश्चिम । मित्रस्य व्रता वरुणस्य दीर्घश्रुत् ॥

Following the ancient foundations and the homesteads of the true sovereignty, we hold fast to the laws of Mitra and to the far-heard, enduring ordinance of Varuṇa—so the reign of truth may be established in us.

Mantra 18

परि यो रश्मिना दिवोऽन्तान्ममे पृथिव्याः । उभे आ पप्रौ रोदसी महित्वा ॥

He who with his ray has measured out the ends of heaven and the reaches of earth—he has filled both the worlds, the two firmaments, by the greatness of his being; so may that vast measure awaken in us.

Mantra 19

उदु ष्य शरणे दिवो ज्योतिरयंस्त सूर्यः । अग्निर्न शुक्रः समिधान आहुतः ॥

Upward, in the sheltering height of heaven, the Sun has set the light in motion; like a bright Agni kindled by the offering, he blazes—awakening the seeing flame within our human night.

Mantra 20

वचो दीर्घप्रसद्मनीशे वाजस्य गोमतः । ईशे हि पित्वोऽविषस्य दावने ॥

The word within me rules in the wide, far-based foundation; it has mastery over the plenitude of force rich in rays of knowledge. For it indeed has mastery to give the nourishing delight that is not poison—an increase that harms not but strengthens the soul.

Mantra 21

तत्सूर्यं रोदसी उभे दोषा वस्तोरुप ब्रुवे । भोजेष्वस्माँ अभ्युच्चरा सदा ॥

That Sun I invoke beside both worlds—by night and by dawn: ‘Move ever upward over us toward the enjoyments; lift us into the wideness where the soul can partake of the true felicities.’

Mantra 22

ऋज्रमुक्षण्यायने रजतं हरयाणे । रथं युक्तमसनाम सुषामणि ॥

We have won the straight, strong-moving, silver-shining chariot drawn by the tawny powers—well-harnessed in its right chants: may this ordered vehicle of force carry our being swiftly on the true road.

Mantra 23

ता मे अश्व्यानां हरीणां नितोशना । उतो नु कृत्व्यानां नृवाहसा ॥

These, for me, are the keen goads of the swift bays—impulses that drive the life-forces forward; and now as well, the man-bearing powers that carry the will into its effective workings.

Mantra 24

स्मदभीशू कशावन्ता विप्रा नविष्ठया मती । महो वाजिनावर्वन्ता सचासनम् ॥

With reins drawn tight and the whip of discipline, O seers, by the newest and most forward-moving thought: may the great, prize-bearing steeds arrive in companionship with our seated offering-consciousness.