Sukta 69

Mantra 1

इषुर्न धन्वन्प्रति धीयते मतिर्वत्सो न मातुरुप सर्ज्यूधनि । उरुधारेव दुहे अग्र आयत्यस्य व्रतेष्वपि सोम इष्यते ॥

Like an arrow set against the bow, the thought is poised and directed; like a calf it hastens up to the mother’s swelling udder. In the forefront it yields its wide-flowing streams; even within his fixed laws and workings Soma presses forward to fulfil the rite within us.

Mantra 2

उपो मतिः पृच्यते सिच्यते मधु मन्द्राजनी चोदते अन्तरासनि । पवमानः संतनिः प्रघ्नतामिव मधुमान्द्रप्सः परि वारमर्षति ॥

The thought comes near and is mingled, it is steeped in honey; the delight-bearing birth impels it within the seat of the being. The purifying Soma, a continuous thread, like one who smites obstacles, the honey-rich drop flows around the enclosing net and passes onward.

Mantra 3

अव्ये वधूयुः पवते परि त्वचि श्रथ्नीते नप्तीरदितेॠतं यते । हरिरक्रान्यजतः संयतो मदो नृम्णा शिशानो महिषो न शोभते ॥

Upon the sheep’s fleece he flows, desiring the bride—he moves around the skin and loosens the daughters of Aditi; he goes by the path of ṛta. The tawny one strides, the adorable, self-governed ecstasy; sharpening by power of soul-force, he shines like a great bull.

Mantra 4

उक्षा मिमाति प्रति यन्ति धेनवो देवस्य देवीरुप यन्ति निष्कृतम् । अत्यक्रमीदर्जुनं वारमव्ययमत्कं न निक्तं परि सोमो अव्यत ॥

The bull measures it out; the cows move forward to meet him—divine energies of the god draw near to the clarified outlet. He has crossed beyond the bright, imperishable enclosure; Soma is woven around it like a garment dipped and dyed.

Mantra 5

अमृक्तेन रुशता वाससा हरिरमर्त्यो निर्णिजानः परि व्यत । दिवस्पृष्ठं बर्हणा निर्णिजे कृतोपस्तरणं चम्वोर्नभस्मयम् ॥

Clad in the stainless shining robe, the tawny immortal, cleansing himself, has wrapped himself around. He has made the heaven’s back a bright covering for his cleansing; he has fashioned a spreading underlay for the cups, a sky-like foundation.

Mantra 6

सूर्यस्येव रश्मयो द्रावयित्नवो मत्सरासः प्रसुपः साकमीरते । तन्तुं ततं परि सर्गास आशवो नेन्द्रादृते पवते धाम किं चन ॥

Like the rays of the Sun, swift-driving and eager, the rapturous currents move together. The fast streams run around the thread that is stretched; apart from Indra, he does not purify any realm at all.

Mantra 7

सिन्धोरिव प्रवणे निम्न आशवो वृषच्युता मदासो गातुमाशत । शं नो निवेशे द्विपदे चतुष्पदेऽस्मे वाजाः सोम तिष्ठन्तु कृष्टयः ॥

Like a river’s rush down the slope into the low ground, the swift ecstasies, poured by the Bull, have found their path. Peace to our dwelling, to two-foot and four-foot; in us, O Soma, may the plenitudes of force stand firm, and the peoples be established.

Mantra 8

आ नः पवस्व वसुमद्धिरण्यवदश्वावद्गोमद्यवमत्सुवीर्यम् । यूयं हि सोम पितरो मम स्थन दिवो मूर्धानः प्रस्थिता वयस्कृतः ॥

Purify for us, bringing riches—golden, horse-rich, cow-rich, grain-rich, and the heroic power of the soul. For you, O Soma, are our fathers and our foundation; you are set upon the head of heaven, establishing and increasing our life-force.

Mantra 9

एते सोमाः पवमानास इन्द्रं रथा इव प्र ययुः सातिमच्छ । सुताः पवित्रमति यन्त्यव्यं हित्वी वव्रिं हरितो वृष्टिमच्छ ॥

These Soma currents, purifying, go forth to Indra like chariots toward the winning. Pressed out, they pass beyond the woollen filter; leaving behind the covering, the tawny ones go toward the rain—toward the outpouring of the higher abundance.

Mantra 10

इन्दविन्द्राय बृहते पवस्व सुमृळीको अनवद्यो रिशादाः । भरा चन्द्राणि गृणते वसूनि देवैर्द्यावापृथिवी प्रावतं नः ॥

O Soma-drop, purify for Indra the Vast—benign, faultless, a destroyer of harm. Bring to the singer the shining riches; and you, Heaven and Earth with the gods, further and protect us.