Sukta 48

Mantra 1

रात्रिः। अथो यानि च यस्मा ह यानि चान्तः परीणहि । तानि ते परि दद्मसि

Night. And whatsoever things, from whatever quarter, and whatsoever thou dost encompass within—those we commit unto thee round about.

Mantra 2

रात्रि मातरुषसे नः परि देहि । उषा नो अह्ने परि ददात्वहस्तुभ्यं विभावरि

O Night, mother, set thy guard about us—(thou) of Dawn. Let Dawn for the day set her guard about us, O radiant one, handing us onward.

Mantra 3

यत् किं चेदं पतयति यत् किं चेदं सरीसृपम्। यत् किं च पर्वतायासत्वं तस्मात् त्वं रात्रि पाहि नः

Whatsoever here flitteth on the wing, whatsoever here is creeping thing; whatsoever of the mountain’s brood—therefrom, O Night, do thou preserve us.

Mantra 4

सा पश्चात् पाहि सा पुरः सोत्तरादधरादुत। गोपाय नो विभावरि स्तोतारस्त इह स्मसि

From behind do thou protect, from before; from the north and from below likewise. Keep ward for us, O Vibhāvarī: thy praisers are we, here present.

Mantra 5

ये रात्रिमनुतिष्ठन्ति ये च भूतेषु जाग्रति । पशून् ये सर्वान् रक्षन्ति ते न आत्मसु जाग्रति ते नः पशुषु जाग्रति

They who attend upon the Night, and they who keep awake among beings; they who guard all cattle—let them keep watch over our persons, let them keep watch over our herds.

Mantra 6

वेद वै रात्रि ते नाम घृताची नाम वा असि । तां त्वां भरद्वाजो वेद सा नो वित्तेऽधि जाग्रति

Known, verily, O Night, is thy name: ‘Ghr̥tācī’ indeed thou art by name. Thee thus Bharadvāja knoweth: so keep thou watch over our substance.