Sukta 71

Mantra 1

आ दक्षिणा सृज्यते शुष्म्यासदं वेति द्रुहो रक्षसः पाति जागृविः । हरिरोपशं कृणुते नभस्पय उपस्तिरे चम्वोर्ब्रह्म निर्णिजे ॥

The Dakṣiṇā, the power of right discernment and effective offering, is released into movement; the mighty one comes to the seat of fulfilment. Awake and vigilant, it guards from the forces of distortion and the hostile darkness. The tawny Soma makes his luminous adornment; as a covering he spreads the milk of the wide firmament, and for the two cups he lays down the mantra-force (brahman) as a purifying robe.

Mantra 2

प्र कृष्टिहेव शूष एति रोरुवदसुर्यं वर्णं नि रिणीते अस्य तम् । जहाति वव्रिं पितुरेति निष्कृतमुपप्रुतं कृणुते निर्णिजं तना ॥

Forward he moves with impelling force, like one who wins the field for the peoples; with a resounding cry he strips away the asuric colour, the darkness that clings to him. He casts off the enclosing sheath and goes to the Father’s prepared home; he makes for himself, by his own being, the purifying luminous robe, crossing beyond the lower obstruction.

Mantra 3

अद्रिभिः सुतः पवते गभस्त्योर्वृषायते नभसा वेपते मती । स मोदते नसते साधते गिरा नेनिक्ते अप्सु यजते परीमणि ॥

Pressed by the stones, he streams in the grasping hands; he grows puissant, and with the vastness he makes the thought tremble into awakening. He rejoices, he draws near and accomplishes by the inspired word; washed in the waters, he offers worship in the encircling perfection.

Mantra 4

परि द्युक्षं सहसः पर्वतावृधं मध्वः सिञ्चन्ति हर्म्यस्य सक्षणिम् । आ यस्मिन्गावः सुहुताद ऊधनि मूर्धञ्छ्रीणन्त्यग्रियं वरीमभिः ॥

Around the shining one, grown by the mountain-force of might, they pour the honeyed delight into the home’s sustaining place. In him the cows—rays that drink the well-offered—mix on the head the foremost richness with their abundant measures.

Mantra 5

समी रथं न भुरिजोरहेषत दश स्वसारो अदितेरुपस्थ आ । जिगादुप ज्रयति गोरपीच्यं पदं यदस्य मतुथा अजीजनन् ॥

Together they urge him on like a chariot of abundant strength—the ten sisters in the lap of Aditi. He comes and presses forward to the hidden seat of the Ray; for the wise fashioners have brought to birth for him that secret step.

Mantra 6

श्येनो न योनिं सदनं धिया कृतं हिरण्ययमासदं देव एषति । ए रिणन्ति बर्हिषि प्रियं गिराश्वो न देवाँ अप्येति यज्ञियः ॥

Like a falcon he seeks his nest, the seat fashioned by vision—a golden resting-place the god desires. They set him moving on the sacred grass with the beloved word; like a swift horse he goes toward the gods, worthy of the offering.

Mantra 7

परा व्यक्तो अरुषो दिवः कविर्वृषा त्रिपृष्ठो अनविष्ट गा अभि । सहस्रणीतिर्यतिः परायती रेभो न पूर्वीरुषसो वि राजति ॥

Far he is made manifest—the tawny seer of heaven, the strong bull, triple-backed, seeking the rays. With a thousand guidances he journeys onward; like a singer he shines out through the many dawns that have gone before.

Mantra 8

त्वेषं रूपं कृणुते वर्णो अस्य स यत्राशयत्समृता सेधति स्रिधः । अप्सा याति स्वधया दैव्यं जनं सं सुष्टुती नसते सं गोअग्रया ॥

He makes for himself a keen and blazing form; his colour becomes intense. Where he has lain, made whole by the right joining, there he repels the breakers of harmony. He goes in the waters by his own inner law to the divine people; with perfect praise he draws near, and with the foremost rays he gathers into unity.

Mantra 9

उक्षेव यूथा परियन्नरावीदधि त्विषीरधित सूर्यस्य । दिव्यः सुपर्णोऽव चक्षत क्षां सोमः परि क्रतुना पश्यते जाः ॥

Like a bull moving with the herds he has sounded forth; he has set his splendours upon the Sun. A divine fair-winged power looks down upon the earth; Soma, with his conscious will, surveys the births and beings all around.