Sukta 86

Mantra 1

प्र त आशवः पवमान धीजवो मदा अर्षन्ति रघुजा इव त्मना । दिव्याः सुपर्णा मधुमन्त इन्दवो मदिन्तमासः परि कोशमासते ॥

Forward surge your swift currents, O purified Soma—impulses driven by inspired thought—rushing by their own soul-force like racers. The divine, fair-winged, honey-full drops, most intoxicating in delight, settle all around the vessel of containment.

Mantra 2

प्र ते मदासो मदिरास आशवोऽसृक्षत रथ्यासो यथा पृथक् । धेनुर्न वत्सं पयसाभि वज्रिणमिन्द्रमिन्दवो मधुमन्त ऊर्मयः ॥

Your swift ecstasies, O Soma—intoxicating currents—have been released like chariots fanning out on their ways. Like a cow to her calf with milk, the honey-full waves press toward Indra the wielder of the thunderbolt, to strengthen his victorious force in us.

Mantra 3

अत्यो न हियानो अभि वाजमर्ष स्वर्वित्कोशं दिवो अद्रिमातरम् । वृषा पवित्रे अधि सानो अव्यये सोमः पुनान इन्द्रियाय धायसे ॥

Like a steed driven forward, rush toward the plenitude of force; O finder of the Sun-world, enter the heavenly vessel born of the pressing-stone. A Bull, on the summit of the imperishable filter, Soma is purified for the holding of Indra-power in us.

Mantra 4

प्र त आश्विनीः पवमान धीजुवो दिव्या असृग्रन्पयसा धरीमणि । प्रान्तॠषयः स्थाविरीरसृक्षत ये त्वा मृजन्त्यृषिषाण वेधसः ॥

Forth have gone your Aśvinī powers, O purified Soma—divine impulsions driven by vision—bearing the milk of essence in the supportive seat. The sages within have released the firm streams, they who cleanse you, O sage-impeller, craftsmen of the sacred knowledge.

Mantra 5

विश्वा धामानि विश्वचक्ष ऋभ्वसः प्रभोस्ते सतः परि यन्ति केतवः । व्यानशिः पवसे सोम धर्मभिः पतिर्विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजसि ॥

All the seats of being, O all-seeing one, O mighty, are encompassed by your banners of light, by the radiances of your true existence. You flow, O Soma, distributing yourself by the laws of the Truth; as lord of all becoming you reign over the whole world.

Mantra 6

उभयतः पवमानस्य रश्मयो ध्रुवस्य सतः परि यन्ति केतवः । यदी पवित्रे अधि मृज्यते हरिः सत्ता नि योना कलशेषु सीदति ॥

On both sides the rays of the self-purifying Soma—steadfast in the Real—move around as luminous signs. When the tawny one is cleansed upon the filter, then, taking his true seat, he settles into the wombs, the cups that receive and hold the clarified delight.

Mantra 7

यज्ञस्य केतुः पवते स्वध्वरः सोमो देवानामुप याति निष्कृतम् । सहस्रधारः परि कोशमर्षति वृषा पवित्रमत्येति रोरुवत् ॥

The sign of the sacrifice flows, the Soma whose path is rightly ordered; he approaches the gods’ open space of manifestation. Thousand-streamed, he rushes around the sheath, the strong one; he passes beyond the filter with a resounding cry—an overflowing force of clarified delight.

Mantra 8

राजा समुद्रं नद्यो वि गाहतेऽपामूर्मिं सचते सिन्धुषु श्रितः । अध्यस्थात्सानु पवमानो अव्ययं नाभा पृथिव्या धरुणो महो दिवः ॥

As a king, he enters the ocean as rivers enter it; set in the streams, he companions the wave of the waters. The self-purifying one has mounted the imperishable summit: the navel of the earth, the mighty foundation of heaven—establishing the worlds upon a stable truth.

Mantra 9

दिवो न सानु स्तनयन्नचिक्रदद्द्यौश्च यस्य पृथिवी च धर्मभिः । इन्द्रस्य सख्यं पवते विवेविदत्सोमः पुनानः कलशेषु सीदति ॥

Like a heavenly summit thundering, he cries out; by his laws heaven and earth stand ordered. Discovering and winning Indra’s comradeship, he flows: Soma, being purified, settles into the cups—so the force of luminous victory may inhabit the prepared vessel.

Mantra 10

ज्योतिर्यज्ञस्य पवते मधु प्रियं पिता देवानां जनिता विभूवसुः । दधाति रत्नं स्वधयोरपीच्यं मदिन्तमो मत्सर इन्द्रियो रसः ॥

The light of the sacrifice flows—honey-delight, beloved; father and begetter of the gods, rich in wide shining. He places the precious jewel hidden in the two self-laws: most intoxicating, the rapturous, Indra-strengthening essence of taste—delight that empowers the will to conquer darkness.

Mantra 11

अभिक्रन्दन्कलशं वाज्यर्षति पतिर्दिवः शतधारो विचक्षणः । हरिर्मित्रस्य सदनेषु सीदति मर्मृजानोऽविभिः सिन्धुभिर्वृषा ॥

Crying aloud, the impelling one streams to the cup—lord of heaven, hundred-streamed, wide-seeing. The tawny Soma settles in the seats of Mitra, being thoroughly cleansed by the sheep-wools and the rivers: a strong generative power made fit for harmony and right measure.

Mantra 12

अग्रे सिन्धूनां पवमानो अर्षत्यग्रे वाचो अग्रियो गोषु गच्छति । अग्रे वाजस्य भजते महाधनं स्वायुधः सोतृभिः पूयते वृषा ॥

Foremost among the streams the self-purifying one rushes; foremost in the word he moves as the leader among the rays of illumination. Foremost he wins the plenitude of force and the great treasure: self-armed, the strong one is purified by the pressers—so the soul may take precedence over obscurity in every movement.

Mantra 13

अयं मतवाञ्छकुनो यथा हितोऽव्ये ससार पवमान ऊर्मिणा । तव क्रत्वा रोदसी अन्तरा कवे शुचिर्धिया पवते सोम इन्द्र ते ॥

This inspired one, like a bird set free, has rushed through the wool with his wave. By your will, O seer, between the two worlds he flows—Soma, pure in thought—for you, O Indra: an ascent of clarified delight that moves in the mid-space of the being.

Mantra 14

द्रापिं वसानो यजतो दिविस्पृशमन्तरिक्षप्रा भुवनेष्वर्पितः । स्वर्जज्ञानो नभसाभ्यक्रमीत्प्रत्नमस्य पितरमा विवासति ॥

Clothed in his mantle, adorable, touching heaven, filling the mid-world, set within the worlds—born to the Light, he has stepped forth with the vastness. He goes to awaken the ancient Father: the hidden origin is recalled and made present by the ascending clarified power.

Mantra 15

सो अस्य विशे महि शर्म यच्छति यो अस्य धाम प्रथमं व्यानशे । पदं यदस्य परमे व्योमन्यतो विश्वा अभि सं याति संयतः ॥

He gives to this people a great peace and shelter—he who first attains his home. When his step is in the highest heaven, then from that height all things move toward him in a gathered harmony: the whole nature is yoked to the truth-center established above.

Mantra 16

प्रो अयासीदिन्दुरिन्द्रस्य निष्कृतं सखा सख्युर्न प्र मिनाति संगिरम् । मर्य इव युवतिभिः समर्षति सोमः कलशे शतयाम्ना पथा ॥

Forward has the drop (Indu) gone, to the place made ready for Indra; as a friend he does not break the compact of friendship. Like a young lover he rushes together with the maidens (the fostering waters), Soma streams into the bowl by the path of a hundred channels.

Mantra 17

प्र वो धियो मन्द्रयुवो विपन्युवः पनस्युवः संवसनेष्वक्रमुः । सोमं मनीषा अभ्यनूषत स्तुभोऽभि धेनवः पयसेमशिश्रयुः ॥

Forward go your thoughts, delight-young, seeking the wonder and the joy; they step into the shared vestures (the ordered forms). The inspired understandings chant toward Soma; the hymns and the milch-cows press to him with their milk—nourishment of luminous force.

Mantra 18

आ नः सोम संयतं पिप्युषीमिषमिन्दो पवस्व पवमानो अस्रिधम् । या नो दोहते त्रिरहन्नसश्चुषी क्षुमद्वाजवन्मधुमत्सुवीर्यम् ॥

Come to us, O Soma, with controlled abundance—an expanding impulsion of force. O Indu, purify yourself, O Pavamāna, without failure: she who milks for us thrice a day, unexhausted, yields a plenitude with strength, with the prize of force, with sweetness, with heroic power.

Mantra 19

वृषा मतीनां पवते विचक्षणः सोमो अह्नः प्रतरीतोषसो दिवः । क्राणा सिन्धूनां कलशाँ अवीवशदिन्द्रस्य हार्द्याविशन्मनीषिभिः ॥

A strong bull of the inspirations he purifies himself, wide-seeing Soma, traversing the day, the dawns, the heaven. Gathering the rivers, he drives them into the bowls; entering the heart of Indra, he comes with the seers’ illumined understandings.

Mantra 20

मनीषिभिः पवते पूर्व्यः कविर्नृभिर्यतः परि कोशाँ अचिक्रदत् । त्रितस्य नाम जनयन्मधु क्षरदिन्द्रस्य वायोः सख्याय कर्तवे ॥

With the illumined understandings he purifies himself, the ancient seer; supported by the human powers he ranges around the vessels. Bringing to birth the name of Trita, he drips sweetness—so as to establish the friendship of Indra and Vayu.

Mantra 21

अयं पुनान उषसो वि रोचयदयं सिन्धुभ्यो अभवदु लोककृत् । अयं त्रिः सप्त दुदुहान आशिरं सोमो हृदे पवते चारु मत्सरः ॥

This Soma, purifying, makes the dawns shine; this one becomes for the rivers a maker of the world-order. This one, milking the mixture (āśir) three times seven, Soma purifies in the heart—beautiful in ecstasy of delight.

Mantra 22

पवस्व सोम दिव्येषु धामसु सृजान इन्दो कलशे पवित्र आ । सीदन्निन्द्रस्य जठरे कनिक्रदन्नृभिर्यतः सूर्यमारोहयो दिवि ॥

Purify yourself, O Soma, in the divine abodes; being released, O Indu, enter the bowl, the strainer. Sitting in Indra’s belly, crying aloud, supported by the human powers, you have raised the Sun in heaven.

Mantra 23

अद्रिभिः सुतः पवसे पवित्र आँ इन्दविन्द्रस्य जठरेष्वाविशन् । त्वं नृचक्षा अभवो विचक्षण सोम गोत्रमङ्गिरोभ्योऽवृणोरप ॥

Pressed by the stones, you purify yourself, O Indu, entering the strainer; entering Indra’s bellies. You became the seer of men, wide-seeing Soma; you opened the concealed ‘cow-pen’ for the Angirases.

Mantra 24

त्वां सोम पवमानं स्वाध्योऽनु विप्रासो अमदन्नवस्यवः । त्वां सुपर्ण आभरद्दिवस्परीन्दो विश्वाभिर्मतिभिः परिष्कृतम् ॥

You, O Soma, purifying, the self-ruled, the seers follow and rejoice in, seeking your aid. You the fair-winged one has brought from beyond heaven, O Indu—made perfect by all the thoughts.

Mantra 25

अव्ये पुनानं परि वार ऊर्मिणा हरिं नवन्ते अभि सप्त धेनवः । अपामुपस्थे अध्यायवः कविमृतस्य योना महिषा अहेषत ॥

Purifying in the sheep’s wool, surrounded by the wave in the enclosing sieve, the seven milch-cows bow to the tawny one. In the lap of the waters the advancing powers have set the seer in place—the great ones have cried out toward the womb of the Truth (ṛta).

Mantra 26

इन्दुः पुनानो अति गाहते मृधो विश्वानि कृण्वन्त्सुपथानि यज्यवे । गाः कृण्वानो निर्णिजं हर्यतः कविरत्यो न क्रीळन्परि वारमर्षति ॥

Indu, the Soma-force, being purified, overpasses all resistances and for the sacrificer makes every path a path of ease. Creating the Rays of Light and the shining raiment, the luminous Seer, like a swift steed at play, flows around the enclosing sieve and presses onward.

Mantra 27

असश्चतः शतधारा अभिश्रियो हरिं नवन्तेऽव ता उदन्युवः । क्षिपो मृजन्ति परि गोभिरावृतं तृतीये पृष्ठे अधि रोचने दिवः ॥

Unceasing, in a hundred streams, the powers of splendour bow down upon the golden one; they descend, eager with the waters. The swift energies cleanse him, encircling with rays of light the covered flow, upon the third luminous back, in the shining realm of heaven.

Mantra 28

तवेमाः प्रजा दिव्यस्य रेतसस्त्वं विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजसि । अथेदं विश्वं पवमान ते वशे त्वमिन्दो प्रथमो धामधा असि ॥

These births are thine, born of the divine seed; thou rulest over all becoming. Therefore this entire world, O Pavamāna, is under thy mastery; O Indu, thou art the first establisher of the foundations of the planes.

Mantra 29

त्वं समुद्रो असि विश्ववित्कवे तवेमाः पञ्च प्रदिशो विधर्मणि । त्वं द्यां च पृथिवीं चाति जभ्रिषे तव ज्योतींषि पवमान सूर्यः ॥

Thou art the ocean, O all-knowing Seer; thine are the five directions in the wide law. Thou hast borne beyond both heaven and earth; thy lights, O Pavamāna, are the Sun.

Mantra 30

त्वं पवित्रे रजसो विधर्मणि देवेभ्यः सोम पवमान पूयसे । त्वामुशिजः प्रथमा अगृभ्णत तुभ्येमा विश्वा भुवनानि येमिरे ॥

Thou art purified in the strainer, in the wide spaces of ordered law, for the gods, O Soma Pavamāna. The first seekers of the flame took thee; for thee all the worlds set themselves in their right harness.

Mantra 31

प्र रेभ एत्यति वारमव्ययं वृषा वनेष्वव चक्रदद्धरिः । सं धीतयो वावशाना अनूषत शिशुं रिहन्ति मतयः पनिप्नतम् ॥

Forward the inspired one goes, beyond the imperishable sieve; the Bull, the tawny force, cries out in the woods of being. The awakened thoughts chant together; the intentions lick and nurture the child, growing in secret intensity.

Mantra 32

स सूर्यस्य रश्मिभिः परि व्यत तन्तुं तन्वानस्त्रिवृतं यथा विदे । नयन्नृतस्य प्रशिषो नवीयसीः पतिर्जनीनामुप याति निष्कृतम् ॥

He weaves around with the Sun’s rays, stretching the thread in a triple fashion for right knowing. Leading the ever-new instructions of ṛta, the lord of the races comes near to the clear opening (the released passage).

Mantra 33

राजा सिन्धूनां पवते पतिर्दिव ऋतस्य याति पथिभिः कनिक्रदत् । सहस्रधारः परि षिच्यते हरिः पुनानो वाचं जनयन्नुपावसुः ॥

The king of the rivers streams forth, the lord of heaven; he goes by the paths of ṛta, crying out in power. Thousand-streamed, the tawny one is poured all around; being purified, he begets the Word, bringing near the riches of the inner dwelling.

Mantra 34

पवमान मह्यर्णो वि धावसि सूरो न चित्रो अव्ययानि पव्यया । गभस्तिपूतो नृभिरद्रिभिः सुतो महे वाजाय धन्याय धन्वसि ॥

O Pavamāna, thou runnest forth as a vast flood, like a radiant sun, through the imperishable passages of purification. Purified by the hands, pressed by men with the stones, thou strivest for the great Vāja—plenitude of force—and for the blessed fullness.

Mantra 35

इषमूर्जं पवमानाभ्यर्षसि श्येनो न वंसु कलशेषु सीदसि । इन्द्राय मद्वा मद्यो मदः सुतो दिवो विष्टम्भ उपमो विचक्षणः ॥

Bringing food of the soul and its energizing strength, O Pavamāna, thou flowest forth; like a falcon to its nest thou settleth in the bowls. Pressed out, thou art the ecstasy for Indra—intoxicating delight; thou art the support of heaven, supreme and wide-seeing.

Mantra 36

सप्त स्वसारो अभि मातरः शिशुं नवं जज्ञानं जेन्यं विपश्चितम् । अपां गन्धर्वं दिव्यं नृचक्षसं सोमं विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजसे ॥

The seven sisters, the Mothers, gather around and bring to birth the new Child—victorious, all-discerning. They reveal Soma, the divine Gandharva in the waters, the seer of men, to be the kingly power of the whole world of becoming.

Mantra 37

ईशान इमा भुवनानि वीयसे युजान इन्दो हरितः सुपर्ण्यः । तास्ते क्षरन्तु मधुमद्घृतं पयस्तव व्रते सोम तिष्ठन्तु कृष्टयः ॥

Lord of these worlds, you move forth in your plenitude, yoking the bright, strong-winged energies. Let them pour for you honeyed ghee and milk; and in your law of being, O Soma, may the peoples stand firm.

Mantra 38

त्वं नृचक्षा असि सोम विश्वतः पवमान वृषभ ता वि धावसि । स नः पवस्व वसुमद्धिरण्यवद्वयं स्याम भुवनेषु जीवसे ॥

You are the seer-power for humanity from every side, O Soma; as the purifying Bull you run through those realms. So purify yourself for us with plenitude and golden light, that we may be in the worlds for the true living.

Mantra 39

गोवित्पवस्व वसुविद्धिरण्यविद्रेतोधा इन्दो भुवनेष्वर्पितः । त्वं सुवीरो असि सोम विश्ववित्तं त्वा विप्रा उप गिरेम आसते ॥

Purify yourself as finder of the Rays of light, finder of plenitude, finder of the golden illumination, O Indu—seed-bearer set within the worlds. You are the giver of heroic force, O Soma, the knower of all; to you the seers sit near with their chant.

Mantra 40

उन्मध्व ऊर्मिर्वनना अतिष्ठिपदपो वसानो महिषो वि गाहते । राजा पवित्ररथो वाजमारुहत्सहस्रभृष्टिर्जयति श्रवो बृहत् ॥

The wave of sweetness rises and sets the woods trembling; clothed in the waters the mighty one plunges through. The king on the chariot of purification mounts the plenitude of force; with a thousand-edged brilliance he conquers the vast fame of the heights.

Mantra 41

स भन्दना उदियर्ति प्रजावतीर्विश्वायुर्विश्वाः सुभरा अहर्दिवि । ब्रह्म प्रजावद्रयिमश्वपस्त्यं पीत इन्दविन्द्रमस्मभ्यं याचतात् ॥

He lifts up the rejoicings—rich in progeny, universal in life, well-bearing through day and night. When Indu is drunk, may he move Indra to grant us the word of power with progeny, and the plenitude that brings swift energies for the journey.

Mantra 42

सो अग्रे अह्नां हरिर्हर्यतो मदः प्र चेतसा चेतयते अनु द्युभिः । द्वा जना यातयन्नन्तरीयते नरा च शंसं दैव्यं च धर्तरि ॥

He, the bright one, at the front of the days—an ecstasy that drives the shining—awakens by the conscious mind and follows the lights. Between the two peoples he moves, guiding them: the human utterance and the divine hymn are held together in the bearer.

Mantra 43

अञ्जते व्यञ्जते समञ्जते क्रतुं रिहन्ति मधुनाभ्यञ्जते । सिन्धोरुच्छ्वासे पतयन्तमुक्षणं हिरण्यपावाः पशुमासु गृभ्णते ॥

They anoint, they spread the anointing, they anoint together; they lick his will with honey and bathe him in sweetness. In the river’s up-breath the flying Bull is seized—by the golden-purifiers—as the life-power taken into their hands.

Mantra 44

विपश्चिते पवमानाय गायत मही न धारात्यन्धो अर्षति । अहिर्न जूर्णामति सर्पति त्वचमत्यो न क्रीळन्नसरद्वृषा हरिः ॥

Sing to the all-discerning one as he purifies: like a great river the pressed essence streams. Like a serpent he glides beyond the worn-out skin; like a courser at play the bright Bull rushes onward.

Mantra 45

अग्रेगो राजाप्यस्तविष्यते विमानो अह्नां भुवनेष्वर्पितः । हरिर्घृतस्नुः सुदृशीको अर्णवो ज्योतीरथः पवते राय ओक्यः ॥

The king who goes at the front, the one of the waters, grows in might—measuring out the days, established in the worlds. The bright one, dripping with luminous richness, fair to behold, an ocean in his wideness, rides on a chariot of light as he purifies for the inward home of plenitude.

Mantra 46

असर्जि स्कम्भो दिव उद्यतो मदः परि त्रिधातुर्भुवनान्यर्षति । अंशुं रिहन्ति मतयः पनिप्नतं गिरा यदि निर्णिजमृग्मिणो ययुः ॥

Released is the upholding Pillar from the luminous heights: the ecstasy uplifted pours itself around the threefold-founded worlds. The thought-powers lick and refine the bright ray, delicately shaping it; when the singers go forth with the hymn, they clothe it in its shining vesture.

Mantra 47

प्र ते धारा अत्यण्वानि मेष्यः पुनानस्य संयतो यन्ति रंहयः । यद्गोभिरिन्दो चम्वोः समज्यस आ सुवानः सोम कलशेषु सीदसि ॥

Forward move thy streams; the swift fine currents rush when thou art purified and gathered to the true course. When, O Indu, thou blendest with the rays of Light in the two cups, then, pressed out, O Soma, thou takest thy seat in the vessels of fulfilment.

Mantra 48

पवस्व सोम क्रतुविन्न उक्थ्योऽव्यो वारे परि धाव मधु प्रियम् । जहि विश्वान्रक्षस इन्दो अत्रिणो बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Purify thyself, O Soma, knower of the will; worthy of the hymn, run around the woollen filter with thy dear sweetness. Slay all devouring darknesses, O Indu, the hostile powers; may we speak the Vast in the assembly, made strong with heroic inner energies.