Sukta 88

Mantra 1

अयं सोम इन्द्र तुभ्यं सुन्वे तुभ्यं पवते त्वमस्य पाहि । त्वं ह यं चकृषे त्वं ववृष इन्दुं मदाय युज्याय सोमम् ॥

This Soma, O Indra, is pressed for thee; for thee it flows in purification—drink of it. For whom thou hast fashioned the way, whom thou hast made to grow, that drop of delight, that Soma, is for thy ecstasy and for thy yoking to the work.

Mantra 2

स ईं रथो न भुरिषाळयोजि महः पुरूणि सातये वसूनि । आदीं विश्वा नहुष्याणि जाता स्वर्षाता वन ऊर्ध्वा नवन्त ॥

He is yoked like a chariot of abundant strength, for the winning of many great riches of being. Then all the Nahusha-born powers that have come to birth, victorious in the light, bow upward in the forest of growth.

Mantra 3

वायुर्न यो नियुत्वाँ इष्टयामा नासत्येव हव आ शम्भविष्ठः । विश्ववारो द्रविणोदा इव त्मन्पूषेव धीजवनोऽसि सोम ॥

Like Vāyu with his yoked steeds, moving by the desired paths, like the Nāsatyas coming at the call, thou art most fostering of bliss. All-desirable, like a giver of treasure in thy own self, like Pūṣan a quickener of inspired thought, thou art, O Soma.

Mantra 4

इन्द्रो न यो महा कर्माणि चक्रिर्हन्ता वृत्राणामसि सोम पूर्भित् । पैद्वो न हि त्वमहिनाम्नां हन्ता विश्वस्यासि सोम दस्योः ॥

Like Indra who has done the great works, thou art the slayer of the obstructions, O Soma, the breaker of the strongholds. For thou indeed, like the son of Paidva, art a slayer of the serpent-named powers; thou art, O Soma, the destroyer of every Dasyu (darkness-force).

Mantra 5

अग्निर्न यो वन आ सृज्यमानो वृथा पाजांसि कृणुते नदीषु । जनो न युध्वा महत उपब्दिरियर्ति सोमः पवमान ऊर्मिम् ॥

Like Agni released into the forest, he makes his mights blaze along the rivers. Like a battling people with a great roar, Soma in purification drives forward the wave—an advancing surge of force.

Mantra 6

एते सोमा अति वाराण्यव्या दिव्या न कोशासो अभ्रवर्षाः । वृथा समुद्रं सिन्धवो न नीचीः सुतासो अभि कलशाँ असृग्रन् ॥

These Soma-streams pass beyond the woollen filters, like heavenly vessels pouring from the cloud. Mightily, like rivers rushing down to the ocean, the pressed ones have run into the jars—into the holding of consciousness.

Mantra 7

शुष्मी शर्धो न मारुतं पवस्वानभिशस्ता दिव्या यथा विट् । आपो न मक्षू सुमतिर्भवा नः सहस्राप्साः पृतनाषाण्न यज्ञः ॥

Strong in energy, purify thyself like a Marut-host, unassailed, heavenly as the clan that stands firm. Like waters swiftly, become for us a right and luminous goodwill; thousand-streamed, conquering in battles, like the sacrifice itself.

Mantra 8

राज्ञो नु ते वरुणस्य व्रतानि बृहद्गभीरं तव सोम धाम । शुचिष्ट्वमसि प्रियो न मित्रो दक्षाय्यो अर्यमेवासि सोम ॥

Now thine are the king Varuṇa’s laws of truth; vast and deep is thy home, O Soma. Pure art thou, dear like Mitra; fit for the work of discernment, like Aryaman art thou, O Soma.