Sukta 16

Mantra 1

उदप्रुतो न वयो रक्षमाणा वावदतो अभ्रियस्येव घोषाः । गिरिभ्रजो नोर्मयो मदन्तो बृहस्पतिमभ्य१र्का अनावन्

Like birds uplifted, guarding us, our sounds ring out—like the cloud’s own roaring. Like mountain-flashes, our waves of hymn, exulting, have pressed on toward Bṛhaspati with chants of light.

Mantra 2

सं गोभिरङ्गिरसो नक्षमाणो भग इवेदर्यमणं निनाय । जने मित्रो न दम्पती अनक्ति बृहस्पते वाजयाशूंरिवाजौ

With cows in company the Angirases, attaining, have even as Bhaga brought Aryaman hither. In the folk Mitra, as a household-pair, bestrews with unction: O Bṛhaspati, (speed us) like prize-winning swift steeds in the contest.

Mantra 3

साध्वर्या अतिथिनीरिषिरा स्पार्हाः सुवर्णा अनवद्यरूपाः । बृहस्पतिः पर्वतेभ्यो वितूर्या निर्गा ऊपे यवमिव स्थिविभ्यः

Rightly-oblationed, guest-like, swift, and much-to-be-desired—golden, of faultless form—Bṛhaspati, cleaving them from the mountains, brought the cows forth and near, as barley (comes) from the sieves.

Mantra 4

आप्रुषायन् मधुन ऋतस्य योनिमवक्षिपन्नर्क उल्कामिव द्योः । बृहस्पतिरुद्धरन्नश्मनो गा भूम्या उद्नेव वि त्वचं बिभेद

Bedewing with sweetness, he set the womb of Order in its place; the chant, as a heaven-sent firebrand, was hurled down. Bṛhaspati, drawing the cows forth from the rock, clave the earth’s skin apart, as (one cleaves it) with water.

Mantra 5

अप ज्योतिषा तमो अन्तरिक्षादुद्नः शीपालमिव वात आजत्। बृहस्पतिरनुमृश्या वलस्याभ्रमिव वात आ चक्र आ गाः

With light he drave the darkness from mid-air, as wind (drives out) a waterskin from the water. Bṛhaspati, feeling out Vala, made the cows come hither, as wind (drives) a cloud.

Mantra 6

यदा वलस्य पीयतो जसुं भेद् बृहस्पतिरग्नितपोभिरर्कैः । दद्भिर्न जिह्वा परिविष्टमाददाविर्निधींरकृणोदुस्रियाणाम्

When Bṛhaspati, with fiery ardours and with hymns, brake the swelling Vala’s jaw, then, as a tongue with teeth takes what is wrapped about, he seized it forth, and made the treasures of the ruddy cows lie manifest.

Mantra 7

बृहस्पतिरमत हि त्यदासां नाम स्वरीणां सदने गुहा यत्। आण्डेव भित्वा शकुनस्य गर्भमुदुस्रियाः पर्वतस्य त्मनाजत्

For Bṛhaspati found out that— the name of those shining ones—where, in their seat, it lay hidden in the cave. Like eggs, having split the bird’s brood, he of his own might drave the ruddy cows forth from the mountain.

Mantra 8

अश्नापिनद्धं मधु पर्यपश्यन्मत्स्यं न दीन उदनि क्षियन्तम्। निष्टज्जभार चमसं न वृक्षाद् बृहस्पतिर्विरवेणा विकृत्य

He spied the honey, stone-fast bound, as one espies a feeble fish abiding in the water. From its fixed lair he bore it off, as from a tree one takes a cup: Bṛhaspati, with ringing cry, having cleft it asunder.

Mantra 9

सोषामविन्दत् स स्वः१ सो अग्निं सो अर्केण वि बबाधे तमांसि । बृहस्पतिर्गोवपुषो वलस्य निर्मज्जानं न पर्वणो जभार

He found the Dawns; he found the Sun; he found Agni; with his hymn he drave the darknesses apart. Bṛhaspati bore off the cow-formed wealth of Vala, that lay as it were submerged, as one takes off a limb at the joint.

Mantra 10

हिमेव पर्णा मुषिता वनानि बृहस्पतिनाकृपयद् वलो गाः । अनानुकृत्यमपुनश्चकार यात् सूर्यामासा मिथ उच्चरातः

As though the frost had reft the forests of their leaves, so Vala wronged the cows; but by Bṛhaspati they found relief. A deed unmatchable he wrought anew—when Sun and Moon rise up, each in his turn.

Mantra 11

अभि श्यावं न कृशनेभिरश्वं नक्षत्रेभिः पितरो द्यामपिंशन्। रात्र्यां तमो अदधुर्ज्योतिरहन् बृहस्पतिर्भिनदद्रिं विदद् गाः

As one decks a dark horse with glittering trappings, so with the stars the Fathers painted the sky. In night they set the darkness, and in day the light: Bṛhaspati clave the rock and found the cows.

Mantra 12

इदमकर्म नमो अभ्रियाय यः पूर्वीरन्वानोनवीति । बृहस्पतिः स हि गोभिः सो अश्वैः स वीरेभिः स नृभिर्नो वयो धात्

This have I wrought—obeisance to the Cloudy One, who urges onward the ancient courses. For Bṛhaspati—he with cows, he with horses, he with heroes, he with men—may he for us bestow vital strength and sustenance.