Sukta 69

Mantra 1

प्रप्र वस्त्रिष्टुभमिषं मन्दद्वीरायेन्दवे । धिया वो मेधसातये पुरंध्या विवासति ॥

Again and again she brings forward for you the Trishtubh strength of inspiration, the nourishing impulsion for the Soma who rejoices in heroes; with thought she serves you for the winning of luminous intelligence, the Power of plenitude (Purandhī) offering her worship.

Mantra 2

नदं व ओदतीनां नदं योयुवतीनाम् । पतिं वो अघ्न्यानां धेनूनामिषुध्यसि ॥

You become the resonant flow for your swelling energies, the sounding stream for the ever-yoking powers; you are the lord of the unassailable cows—of the milking streams—so that the nourishing impulsion may be secured within us.

Mantra 3

ता अस्य सूददोहसः सोमं श्रीणन्ति पृश्नयः । जन्मन्देवानां विशस्त्रिष्वा रोचने दिवः ॥

These speckled milkers, abundant in their yield, blend and prepare Soma; they are the peoples of the gods at the birth—in the three luminous worlds of heaven’s shining, they establish the radiant offering.

Mantra 4

अभि प्र गोपतिं गिरेन्द्रमर्च यथा विदे । सूनुं सत्यस्य सत्पतिम् ॥

With the word, press forward in praise of Indra, the Lord of the Light-cows, so that we may know: the Son of Truth, the true Master of the right-being.

Mantra 5

आ हरयः ससृज्रिरेऽरुषीरधि बर्हिषि । यत्राभि संनवामहे ॥

Come—let the tawny powers be loosed and set upon the sacred seat, where we may join together in a common harmony of aspiration and offering.

Mantra 6

इन्द्राय गाव आशिरं दुदुह्रे वज्रिणे मधु । यत्सीमुपह्वरे विदत् ॥

For Indra the Rays of Light have milked out the rich mixture, honeyed delight for the wielder of the thunder-force, when he finds it in the near hollow—within the inward recess.

Mantra 7

उद्यद्ब्रध्नस्य विष्टपं गृहमिन्द्रश्च गन्वहि । मध्वः पीत्वा सचेवहि त्रिः सप्त सख्युः पदे ॥

When thou ascendest to the wide realm, the home of the Radiant One, go there—O Indra—and having drunk the honeyed delight, move in companionship with us in the thrice-seven steps of the friendship.

Mantra 8

अर्चत प्रार्चत प्रियमेधासो अर्चत । अर्चन्तु पुत्रका उत पुरं न धृष्ण्वर्चत ॥

Sing, sing forth—O lovers of the sacrifice—sing; let the sons too sing, singing boldly like a stronghold, so the chant becomes a fortified field for the Truth.

Mantra 9

अव स्वराति गर्गरो गोधा परि सनिष्वणत् । पिङ्गा परि चनिष्कददिन्द्राय ब्रह्मोद्यतम् ॥

Downward the chant resounds—like the rolling sound—encircling and vibrating; the tawny flame leaps around: for Indra the inspired Word is lifted up into manifestation.

Mantra 10

आ यत्पतन्त्येन्यः सुदुघा अनपस्फुरः । अपस्फुरं गृभायत सोममिन्द्राय पातवे ॥

When the swift, well-yielding ones come flying hither, without scattering, then seize the Soma that does not spill away, for Indra to drink—hold the delight steady for the descending force.

Mantra 11

अपादिन्द्रो अपादग्निर्विश्वे देवा अमत्सत । वरुण इदिह क्षयत्तमापो अभ्यनूषत वत्सं संशिश्वरीरिव ॥

Indra drank; Agni drank; all the gods grew glad. Varuṇa too dwelt here; and the Waters moved toward him with their murmuring, as mothers lowing around a calf—nourishing the indwelling order with their flowing consent.

Mantra 12

सुदेवो असि वरुण यस्य ते सप्त सिन्धवः । अनुक्षरन्ति काकुदं सूर्म्यं सुषिरामिव ॥

Thou art perfectly divine, O Varuṇa, whose seven rivers flow following thy ridge—thy wave-bearing height—like streams through a well-channeled passage: thus the ordered currents move in thee without breach.

Mantra 13

यो व्यतीँरफाणयत्सुयुक्ताँ उप दाशुषे । तक्वो नेता तदिद्वपुरुपमा यो अमुच्यत ॥

He who drove apart the opposed forces and brought the well-yoked powers near to the giver—he, the swift leader: that very form of his is the measure, he who is released into free action.

Mantra 14

अतीदु शक्र ओहत इन्द्रो विश्वा अति द्विषः । भिनत्कनीन ओदनं पच्यमानं परो गिरा ॥

Mightily the Strong One has struck forth; Indra has passed beyond all hatreds. He splits even the cooking pot of the ‘youth’ that is being prepared—by the farther-reaching Word: so the hostile formations are broken by a higher utterance.

Mantra 15

अर्भको न कुमारकोऽधि तिष्ठन्नवं रथम् । स पक्षन्महिषं मृगं पित्रे मात्रे विभुक्रतुम् ॥

Like a little child, like a young boy, he mounts the ever-new chariot of progress. He ripens and prepares the mighty force of the wild energy, offering it to the Father and the Mother—the One of wide, all-effective will.

Mantra 16

आ तू सुशिप्र दम्पते रथं तिष्ठा हिरण्ययम् । अध द्युक्षं सचेवहि सहस्रपादमरुषं स्वस्तिगामनेहसम् ॥

Come, O fair-lipped Lord of the home: mount the golden chariot. Then yoke the shining steed—thousand-footed in its powers, ruddy with force—carrying us on the path of well-being, unwearying in its movement.

Mantra 17

तं घेमित्था नमस्विन उप स्वराजमासते । अर्थं चिदस्य सुधितं यदेतव आवर्तयन्ति दावने ॥

To him, indeed—thus—those who bow in adoration draw near and sit with the self-ruling Lord. Even the well-set aim of his becomes clear, when they turn him toward the journey, toward the giving.

Mantra 18

अनु प्रत्नस्यौकसः प्रियमेधास एषाम् । पूर्वामनु प्रयतिं वृक्तबर्हिषो हितप्रयस आशत ॥

Following the ancient dwelling (the eternal station), these dear seekers of insight move. They attain the earlier, original advance—those who have trimmed the grass of the offering and set their energies in right order.