Sukta 87

Mantra 1

प्र तु द्रव परि कोशं नि षीद नृभिः पुनानो अभि वाजमर्ष । अश्वं न त्वा वाजिनं मर्जयन्तोऽच्छा बर्ही रशनाभिर्नयन्ति ॥

Run forth; circle the vessel and sit down: purified by the human powers, flow towards plenitude of force. As they groom a swift horse, so they cleanse thee, the energised one, and lead thee to the sacred seat with guiding reins.

Mantra 2

स्वायुधः पवते देव इन्दुरशस्तिहा वृजनं रक्षमाणः । पिता देवानां जनिता सुदक्षो विष्टम्भो दिवो धरुणः पृथिव्याः ॥

Armed with his own power the divine drop flows, slaying the unpraiseworthy and guarding the ordered field. Father of the gods, begetter with perfect skill, he is the firm support of heaven and the sustaining foundation of earth.

Mantra 3

ऋषिर्विप्रः पुरएता जनानामृभुर्धीर उशना काव्येन । स चिद्विवेद निहितं यदासामपीच्यं गुह्यं नाम गोनाम् ॥

A seer, a luminous thinker, leader before the peoples—fashioner, steadfast, desiring by the poet’s art—he discovered even that which was hidden: the secret inward name of the Rays of Light.

Mantra 4

एष स्य ते मधुमाँ इन्द्र सोमो वृषा वृष्णे परि पवित्रे अक्षाः । सहस्रसाः शतसा भूरिदावा शश्वत्तमं बर्हिरा वाज्यस्थात् ॥

This is thy honeyed Soma, O Indra; a bull for the Bull, he has flowed around the filter. Winner of a thousand, winner of a hundred, giver of abundance, the ever-lasting energised one has taken his stand upon the sacred seat.

Mantra 5

एते सोमा अभि गव्या सहस्रा महे वाजायामृताय श्रवांसि । पवित्रेभिः पवमाना असृग्रञ्छ्रवस्यवो न पृतनाजो अत्याः ॥

These Somas press forward to the thousandfold rays, to the great plenitude of force, to immortality and to the powers of inspired hearing. Purifying themselves through the filters, they have streamed out—seeking luminous fame like battle-chargers, swift steeds.

Mantra 6

परि हि ष्मा पुरुहूतो जनानां विश्वासरद्भोजना पूयमानः । अथा भर श्येनभृत प्रयांसि रयिं तुञ्जानो अभि वाजमर्ष ॥

For indeed, much-invoked among the peoples, purified, thou movest around all foods of delight. Then bring, O eagle-borne, thy forward-gifts; thrusting forth the spiritual plenitude (rayi), flow towards the victorious force (vāja).

Mantra 7

एष सुवानः परि सोमः पवित्रे सर्गो न सृष्टो अदधावदर्वा । तिग्मे शिशानो महिषो न शृङ्गे गा गव्यन्नभि शूरो न सत्वा ॥

This Soma, pressed out, moves around the filter like a released surge, rushing onward. Sharpening himself on the keen edges like a buffalo on its horns, he seeks the rays of Light—heroic, a strong being pressing forward.

Mantra 8

एषा ययौ परमादन्तरद्रेः कूचित्सतीरूर्वे गा विवेद । दिवो न विद्युत्स्तनयन्त्यभ्रैः सोमस्य ते पवत इन्द्र धारा ॥

This stream of Soma has gone in from the highest, into the heart of the stone; becoming the seeker, it discovers the Cows (rays of illumination) in the wide cavern. Like the lightning of heaven that thunders amid the clouds, O Indra, thy Soma-current flows in purification.

Mantra 9

उत स्म राशिं परि यासि गोनामिन्द्रेण सोम सरथं पुनानः । पूर्वीरिषो बृहतीर्जीरदानो शिक्षा शचीवस्तव ता उपष्टुत् ॥

And indeed thou movest around the heap of the radiant Cows (stores of light), O Soma, purifying, riding in one chariot with Indra. Giver of rich nourishment-force in its ancient plenitudes, O mighty one, make us learn to praise those thy powers rightly.