Sukta 96

Mantra 1

प्र सेनानीः शूरो अग्रे रथानां गव्यन्नेति हर्षते अस्य सेना । भद्रान्कृण्वन्निन्द्रहवान्त्सखिभ्य आ सोमो वस्त्रा रभसानि दत्ते ॥

Forward moves Soma, the heroic leader at the head of the chariots, seeking the luminous herds (rays of knowledge); his inner host rejoices. Creating auspiciousness and calling Indra’s force, Soma gives to the comrades eager vestures—new coverings of light and power for the soul’s advance.

Mantra 3

स नो देव देवताते पवस्व महे सोम प्सरस इन्द्रपानः । कृण्वन्नपो वर्षयन्द्यामुतेमामुरोरा नो वरिवस्या पुनानः ॥

O god Soma, purify yourself for us into the divine status, for the great wideness, as Indra’s drink. Making the waters and raining the heaven—and this broad earth as well—when you are purified, open for us the spacious paths of being.

Mantra 4

अजीतयेऽहतये पवस्व स्वस्तये सर्वतातये बृहते । तदुशन्ति विश्व इमे सखायस्तदहं वश्मि पवमान सोम ॥

Purify yourself for invincibility and unassailability, for well-being, for the totality of our perfection, for the vast. All these comrades desire that; that very thing I will for, O Soma, as you purify and flow.

Mantra 5

सोमः पवते जनिता मतीनां जनिता दिवो जनिता पृथिव्याः । जनिताग्नेर्जनिता सूर्यस्य जनितेन्द्रस्य जनितोत विष्णोः ॥

Soma flows purified, the begetter of inspired thoughts; the begetter of heaven, the begetter of earth; the begetter of Agni, the begetter of Surya; the begetter of Indra, and even the begetter of Vishnu—because the delight-essence, when clarified, brings forth within us the very powers of light and right action.

Mantra 9

परि प्रियः कलशे देववात इन्द्राय सोमो रण्यो मदाय । सहस्रधारः शतवाज इन्दुर्वाजी न सप्तिः समना जिगाति ॥

The beloved Soma, driven by the gods’ breath, streams around into the vessel for Indra’s rapture. Thousand-streamed, hundred-powered, the bright drop hastens like a prize-winning steed, reaching the common goal—swiftly carrying the seeker toward plenitude of force.

Mantra 10

स पूर्व्यो वसुविज्जायमानो मृजानो अप्सु दुदुहानो अद्रौ । अभिशस्तिपा भुवनस्य राजा विदद्गातुं ब्रह्मणे पूयमानः ॥

He, the ancient one, knower-finder of the riches, is born again; cleansed in the waters, milked out upon the stone. Guardian against hostile word and assault, king of the world, as he is purified he finds the path for the Word—opening the way for the mantra to embody truth.

Mantra 11

त्वया हि नः पितरः सोम पूर्वे कर्माणि चक्रुः पवमान धीराः । वन्वन्नवातः परिधीँरपोर्णु वीरेभिरश्वैर्मघवा भवा नः ॥

By you, O Soma, our ancient fathers, the wise, accomplished the works. Winning, remove the enclosing barriers from us, O irresistible one; with heroes and with steeds, become for us the giver of largeness—so that the journey of the soul may proceed unhindered.

Mantra 12

यथापवथा मनवे वयोधा अमित्रहा वरिवोविद्धविष्मान् । एवा पवस्व द्रविणं दधान इन्द्रे सं तिष्ठ जनयायुधानि ॥

As you purified yourself for Manu, granting the plenitudes, slaying the hostile, knowing the wide room, rich in offering—so purify yourself now, holding the treasure. Stand gathered in Indra, and bring forth the weapons: the effective powers for the victory of knowledge.

Mantra 13

पवस्व सोम मधुमाँ ऋतावापो वसानो अधि सानो अव्ये । अव द्रोणानि घृतवान्ति सीद मदिन्तमो मत्सर इन्द्रपानः ॥

Purify yourself, O Soma, honey-rich and a keeper of the right; wearing the waters upon the woollen ridge. Sit down into the bowls filled with ghee—most intoxicating, most rapturous, Indra’s drink—so the delight may firmly inhabit the offered forms.

Mantra 14

वृष्टिं दिवः शतधारः पवस्व सहस्रसा वाजयुर्देववीतौ । सं सिन्धुभिः कलशे वावशानः समुस्रियाभिः प्रतिरन्न आयुः ॥

Purify yourself as the rain of heaven, hundred-streamed; winning a thousandfold plenitude of force in the gods’ finding. United with the rivers in the vessel, resounding, together with the shining lights, extend and secure our life—lengthening the soul’s term for the work of truth.

Mantra 15

एष स्य सोमो मतिभिः पुनानोऽत्यो न वाजी तरतीदरातीः । पयो न दुग्धमदितेरिषिरमुर्विव गातुः सुयमो न वोळ्हा ॥

This Soma, purified by our awakened thoughts, crosses beyond the forces of want and hostility like a swift steed rich in strength. Like milk drawn forth, he yields the impetuous, nourishing flow of Aditi—wide as the open path—well-guided, a sure bearer that carries us onward.

Mantra 16

स्वायुधः सोतृभिः पूयमानोऽभ्यर्ष गुह्यं चारु नाम । अभि वाजं सप्तिरिव श्रवस्याभि वायुमभि गा देव सोम ॥

Armed with his own power, purified by the pressers, O Soma, flow forth toward the secret and beautiful Name. Rush toward the plenitude of force as a swift steed toward fame; rush toward Vāyu, rush toward the Rays (cows), O divine Soma.

Mantra 17

शिशुं जज्ञानं हर्यतं मृजन्ति शुम्भन्ति वह्निं मरुतो गणेन । कविर्गीर्भिः काव्येना कविः सन्त्सोमः पवित्रमत्येति रेभन् ॥

They cleanse the newborn child, the desirable one; the Maruts with their host adorn the flaming bearer. A seer by the inspired words, by the poetic vision—seer indeed—Soma, chanting, passes beyond the filter.

Mantra 18

ऋषिमना य ऋषिकृत्स्वर्षाः सहस्रणीथः पदवीः कवीनाम् । तृतीयं धाम महिषः सिषासन्त्सोमो विराजमनु राजति ष्टुप् ॥

He whose mind is that of the seer, who makes seerhood, self-streaming in the luminous world—leader of a thousand paths, the path-finder of the poets: desiring the third abode, the great Bull, Soma, chants and reigns following the Virāj (the wide-shining creative order).

Mantra 19

चमूषच्छ्येनः शकुनो विभृत्वा गोविन्दुर्द्रप्स आयुधानि बिभ्रत् । अपामूर्मिं सचमानः समुद्रं तुरीयं धाम महिषो विवक्ति ॥

Perched on the ladles, the falcon-bird, bearing his weapons—this drop that finds the Cow (the Ray)—moves with the wave of the waters toward the ocean; the great Bull discloses the fourth abode.

Mantra 20

मर्यो न शुभ्रस्तन्वं मृजानोऽत्यो न सृत्वा सनये धनानाम् । वृषेव यूथा परि कोशमर्षन्कनिक्रदच्चम्वोरा विवेश ॥

Like a radiant youth cleansing his own body, like a racer speeding to win the riches, he rushes around the vessel as a bull around the herds; neighing with joy, he enters the two bowls.

Mantra 21

पवस्वेन्दो पवमानो महोभिः कनिक्रदत्परि वाराण्यर्ष । क्रीळञ्चम्वोरा विश पूयमान इन्द्रं ते रसो मदिरो ममत्तु ॥

Flow, O Indu, flowing in thy vast mights; neighing with delight, rush around the woolen straining-fleeces. Sporting, enter the two bowls in thy purification; may thy intoxicating essence gladden Indra.

Mantra 22

प्रास्य धारा बृहतीरसृग्रन्नक्तो गोभिः कलशाँ आ विवेश । साम कृण्वन्त्सामन्यो विपश्चित्क्रन्दन्नेत्यभि सख्युर्न जामिम् ॥

Forth from him the great streams have run; anointed with the Rays he has entered the jars. Making the chant—master of harmony, the seer of discernment—crying aloud he goes toward his kin as toward a friend.

Mantra 23

अपघ्नन्नेषि पवमान शत्रून्प्रियां न जारो अभिगीत इन्दुः । सीदन्वनेषु शकुनो न पत्वा सोमः पुनानः कलशेषु सत्ता ॥

Smiting the enemies, thou goest, O Pavamāna; like a lover sung to by his beloved, the bright drop is acclaimed. Settling in the wooden vessels like a bird that has flown, Soma, purified, takes his seat in the jars.

Mantra 24

आ ते रुचः पवमानस्य सोम योषेव यन्ति सुदुघाः सुधाराः । हरिरानीतः पुरुवारो अप्स्वचिक्रदत्कलशे देवयूनाम् ॥

To thee, O Soma in purification, thy radiances come like well-milking women, rich in good streams. The tawny one, led forward, much desired, has resounded in the waters—in the jar of those who seek the gods.