Sukta 13

Mantra 1

आपः। यददः संप्रयतीरहावनदता हते। तस्मादा नद्यो३ नाम स्थ ता वो नामानि सिन्धवः

O Waters: when yonder, flowing on together, ye roared aloud day after day at the smiting—therefore are ye called ‘Rivers’: those are your names, O Sindhus.

Mantra 2

यत् प्रेषिता वरुणेनाच्छीभं समवल्गत । तदाप्नोदिन्द्रो वो यतीस्तस्मादापो अनु ष्ठन

When, urged forth by Varuṇa, ye sprang together toward the clear goal, then Indra won you—ye that press onward. Therefore, O Waters, follow on and take your station.

Mantra 3

अपकामं स्यन्दमाना अवीवरत वो हि कम्। इन्द्रो वः शक्तिभिर्देवीस्तस्माद् वार्नाम वो हितम्

Streaming forth, ye opened a way from what is unwanted—ye brought, indeed, delight. Indra, O goddesses, with his powers made you so: therefore is your Varuṇic nature set for your beneficent use.

Mantra 4

एको वो देवोऽप्यतिष्ठत् स्यन्दमाना यथावशम्। उदानिषुर्महीरिति तस्मादुदकमुच्यते

One god among you took his stand, while ye flowed on at will. ‘The mighty ones brought it up,’—thus; therefore it is called udaká, the Water.

Mantra 5

आपो भद्रा घृतमिदाप आसन्नग्नीषोमौ बिभ्रत्याप इत् ताः। तीव्रो रसो मधुपृचामरंगम आ मा प्राणेन सह वर्चसा गमेत्

Auspicious are the Waters: the Waters were, indeed, ghee; bearing Agni and Soma—those Waters indeed. Let their keen essence, honey-blent and harmless, come unto me together with breath and with splendour.

Mantra 6

आदित् पश्याम्युत वा शृणोम्या मा घोषो गच्छति वाङ् मासाम्। मन्ये भेजानो अमृतस्य तर्हि हिरण्यवर्णा अतृपं यदा वः

Now, indeed, I see; yea, I hear: to me comes sound—speech comes to me—from these. I deem that then I partake of immortality, O golden-hued ones, when I, erst unsated, have you.

Mantra 7

इदं व आपो हृदयमयं वत्स ऋतावरीः । इहेत्थमेत शक्वरीर्यत्रेदं वेशयामि वः

This, O Waters, is your heart; this is the calf, O ye that bear the Ṛta. Thus, hither—come, ye mighty ones—unto the place where I cause you to be housed.