Sukta 9

Mantra 1

आ नूनमश्विना युवं वत्सस्य गन्तमवसे । प्रास्मै यच्छतमवृकं पृथु च्छर्दिर्युयुतं या अरातयः ॥

Come now, O Ashvins, you two, for the help of Vatsa. Grant to him a wide shelter that no wolf can break; drive away the forces of hostility that assail.

Mantra 2

यदन्तरिक्षे यद्दिवि यत्पञ्च मानुषाँ अनु । नृम्णं तद्धत्तमश्विना ॥

Whatever the heroic strength is in the mid-world, whatever in heaven, whatever follows the five peoples—grant that power to us, O Ashvins.

Mantra 3

ये वां दंसांस्यश्विना विप्रासः परिमामृशुः । एवेत्काण्वस्य बोधतम् ॥

Those inspired seers who have touched and encompassed your wonder-works, O Ashvins—by that very knowledge, awaken to the call of the Kāṇva.

Mantra 4

अयं वां घर्मो अश्विना स्तोमेन परि षिच्यते । अयं सोमो मधुमान्वाजिनीवसू येन वृत्रं चिकेतथः ॥

This is your warm offering, O Ashvins, poured around with the hymn. This is the Soma, honeyed, O lords of plenitudes—by which you become conscious of the Coverer and break his hold.

Mantra 5

यदप्सु यद्वनस्पतौ यदोषधीषु पुरुदंससा कृतम् । तेन माविष्टमश्विना ॥

Whatever you two, rich in skillful works, have wrought in the waters, in the lord of plants, and in the healing herbs—by that power of your making, protect me, O Ashvins.

Mantra 6

यन्नासत्या भुरण्यथो यद्वा देव भिषज्यथः । अयं वां वत्सो मतिभिर्न विन्धते हविष्मन्तं हि गच्छथः ॥

O Nāsatyas, whether you speed on your way or whether, O divine ones, you heal and set right, this child of your offering does not find you by his thought-movements; for you go to the one who is rich in the oblation (the flame of surrender).

Mantra 7

आ नूनमश्विनोॠषिः स्तोमं चिकेत वामया । आ सोमं मधुमत्तमं घर्मं सिञ्चादथर्वणि ॥

Now let the seer of the Aśvins awaken the hymn for you with a glad force; and let him pour out the Soma, most honeyed, the warm libation, in the Atharvan manner (with the right fire-knowledge).

Mantra 8

आ नूनं रघुवर्तनिं रथं तिष्ठाथो अश्विना । आ वां स्तोमा इमे मम नभो न चुच्यवीरत ॥

Now mount your chariot of swift turning, O Aśvins; to you my hymns rise up and do not fall away, like the sky’s high expanse holding firm.

Mantra 9

यदद्य वां नासत्योक्थैराचुच्युवीमहि । यद्वा वाणीभिरश्विनेवेत्काण्वस्य बोधतम् ॥

If today, O Nāsatyas, we have stirred you by hymns of uplift, or if by our inspired utterances, O Aśvins—then awaken to the call of the Kāṇva.

Mantra 10

यद्वां कक्षीवाँ उत यद्व्यश्व ऋषिर्यद्वां दीर्घतमा जुहाव । पृथी यद्वां वैन्यः सादनेष्वेवेदतो अश्विना चेतयेथाम् ॥

Since Kakṣīvān called you, and since the seer Vyàśva called you, since Dīrghatamas invoked you, and since Pṛthī Vainya (too) in the seats of dwelling—therefore, O Aśvins, become attentive (to us) even now.

Mantra 11

यातं छर्दिष्पा उत नः परस्पा भूतं जगत्पा उत नस्तनूपा । वर्तिस्तोकाय तनयाय यातम् ॥

Come, you guardians of our shelter; be protectors for us from beyond (from hostile forces), be guardians of the moving world, and guardians of our embodied being; come bringing the path of safety for our child and our offspring.

Mantra 12

यदिन्द्रेण सरथं याथो अश्विना यद्वा वायुना भवथः समोकसा । यदादित्येभिॠभुभिः सजोषसा यद्वा विष्णोर्विक्रमणेषु तिष्ठथः ॥

Whether with Indra you journey on one chariot, O Aśvins, or whether with Vāyu you dwell in the same home; whether with the Ādityas and the R̥bhus you are in one delight of companionship, or whether you stand in the wide strides of Viṣṇu—remember and act here for our becoming.

Mantra 13

यदद्याश्विनावहं हुवेय वाजसातये । यत्पृत्सु तुर्वणे सहस्तच्छ्रेष्ठमश्विनोरवः ॥

If today I call the Aśvins for the winning of plenitude of force (vāja), then in the battles, for overcoming, that might is the most excellent help of the Aśvins.

Mantra 14

आ नूनं यातमश्विनेमा हव्यानि वां हिता । इमे सोमासो अधि तुर्वशे यदाविमे कण्वेषु वामथ ॥

Come now, O Aśvins; these offerings for you are set in place. These Somas are laid out for Turvaśa, and these are (also) among the Kāṇvas for you—therefore come.

Mantra 15

यन्नासत्या पराके अर्वाके अस्ति भेषजम् । तेन नूनं विमदाय प्रचेतसा छर्दिर्वत्साय यच्छतम् ॥

O Nāsatyas, whatever healing is there from far away or from near at hand—by that, now, O clear-knowing ones, grant to Vimadā a sheltering peace, grant it to the child (the growing soul-force).

Mantra 16

अभुत्स्यु प्र देव्या साकं वाचाहमश्विनोः । व्यावर्देव्या मतिं वि रातिं मर्त्येभ्यः ॥

I have come forth, together with the divine Word, for the Ashvins; the Goddess has opened out the thought and the giving—she has spread her luminous gift to mortals.

Mantra 18

यदुषो यासि भानुना सं सूर्येण रोचसे । आ हायमश्विनो रथो वर्तिर्याति नृपाय्यम् ॥

When, O Dawn, you travel with your beam and shine in union with the Sun, then indeed this chariot of the Ashvins moves on its turning course toward the protecting lordship.

Mantra 19

यदापीतासो अंशवो गावो न दुह्र ऊधभिः । यद्वा वाणीरनूषत प्र देवयन्तो अश्विना ॥

When the rays, fully filled, give forth like cows with their udders; and when the voices have sounded in response, pressing forward toward the gods—then, O Ashvins, (come with your help).

Mantra 20

प्र द्युम्नाय प्र शवसे प्र नृषाह्याय शर्मणे । प्र दक्षाय प्रचेतसा ॥

Forward to the luminous power, forward to the might, forward to the conquering strength that brings peace; forward to the discerning skill, to the wide-awake intelligence.

Mantra 21

यन्नूनं धीभिरश्विना पितुर्योना निषीदथः । यद्वा सुम्नेभिरुक्थ्या ॥

Now when, O Ashvins, by the illumined thoughts you take your seat in the Father’s womb; or when by your gladnesses, O you worthy of the hymn, (you come near)—then establish yourselves within us.