Sukta 73

Mantra 1

स्रक्वे द्रप्सस्य धमतः समस्वरन्नृतस्य योना समरन्त नाभयः । त्रीन्त्स मूर्ध्नो असुरश्चक्र आरभे सत्यस्य नावः सुकृतमपीपरन् ॥

For the outpouring drop, the lips (of the pressing) sounded together; the navel-centres came together into the womb of Ṛta. He, the Asura, set three summit-points as a support; and the vessels of the Truth made the well-wrought (work) swell and grow within us.

Mantra 2

सम्यक्सम्यञ्चो महिषा अहेषत सिन्धोरूर्मावधि वेना अवीविपन् । मधोर्धाराभिर्जनयन्तो अर्कमित्प्रियामिन्द्रस्य तन्वमवीवृधन् ॥

Straight and straight-forward, the mighty ones surged; upon the wave of the ocean the desirers vibrated and made it quiver. With streams of honey they brought forth the hymn of illumination, and they increased the beloved body of Indra within the being.

Mantra 3

पवित्रवन्तः परि वाचमासते पितैषां प्रत्नो अभि रक्षति व्रतम् । महः समुद्रं वरुणस्तिरो दधे धीरा इच्छेकुर्धरुणेष्वारभम् ॥

Those who are filled with the power of purification sit around the inspired Word. The Ancient Father within them guards their law of right working. Varuṇa sets, as it were, a veil over the great ocean of the Vast; the illumined seekers yearn to take hold of the supporting foundations.

Mantra 4

सहस्रधारेऽव ते समस्वरन्दिवो नाके मधुजिह्वा असश्चतः । अस्य स्पशो न नि मिषन्ति भूर्णयः पदेपदे पाशिनः सन्ति सेतवः ॥

From you, the thousand-streamed, there rise together the honey-tongued currents, unceasing, in the summit of heaven. His watchers do not blink; at every step there are bond-holders, the builders of crossings—guardians of the passage.

Mantra 5

पितुर्मातुरध्या ये समस्वरन्नृचा शोचन्तः संदहन्तो अव्रतान् । इन्द्रद्विष्टामप धमन्ति मायया त्वचमसिक्नीं भूमनो दिवस्परि ॥

From the father and the mother they rise into one accord through the hymn; burning they consume the lawless movements. By the power of shaping vision they blow away the dark skin that is hated by Indra, from the wide expanse around heaven.

Mantra 6

प्रत्नान्मानादध्या ये समस्वरञ्छ्लोकयन्त्रासो रभसस्य मन्तवः । अपानक्षासो बधिरा अहासत ऋतस्य पन्थां न तरन्ति दुष्कृतः ॥

From the ancient measure they rise into one accord, these thoughts harnessed to the chant, impelled by a rushing force. But the evil-doers—without the axle, deaf—fall away; they cannot cross the path of ṛta.

Mantra 7

सहस्रधारे वितते पवित्र आ वाचं पुनन्ति कवयो मनीषिणः । रुद्रास एषामिषिरासो अद्रुहः स्पशः स्वञ्चः सुदृशो नृचक्षसः ॥

In the thousand-streamed, widely spread purifier, the seers and thinkers cleanse the Word. Their forces are Rudra-like—swift, without malice; their watchers are self-straight, clear-seeing, with the eye that discerns the human being.

Mantra 8

ऋतस्य गोपा न दभाय सुक्रतुस्त्री ष पवित्रा हृद्यन्तरा दधे । विद्वान्त्स विश्वा भुवनाभि पश्यत्यवाजुष्टान्विध्यति कर्ते अव्रतान् ॥

He is the herdsman-guardian of ṛta, not to be deceived, of perfect will; he sets the three purifiers within the heart. Knowing, he looks upon all the worlds; he strikes down the unwelcomed, the lawless who fashion disorder.

Mantra 9

ऋतस्य तन्तुर्विततः पवित्र आ जिह्वाया अग्रे वरुणस्य मायया । धीराश्चित्तत्समिनक्षन्त आशतात्रा कर्तमव पदात्यप्रभुः ॥

The thread of ṛta is stretched out as the purifier, set in front upon the tongue by Varuṇa’s formative power. Even the illumined must join themselves to that; they reach it. Here the maker of crookedness falls down, step by step, powerless.