Sukta 17

Mantra 1

कृषिः। ३ पथ्यापङ्क्तिः, ७ विराट् पुर उष्णिक्, ८ निचृत्। सीरा युञ्जन्ति कवयो युगा वि तन्वते पृथक्। धीरा देवेषु सुम्नयौ

The skilful yoke the ploughs; the yokes they stretch forth, each apart. The steadfast, seeking favor, set their work in the gods.

Mantra 2

युनक्त सीरा वि युगा तनोत कृते योनौ वपतेह बीजम्। विराजः श्नुष्टिः सभरा असन्नो नेदीय इत् सृण्यः पक्वमा यवन्

Let him yoke the ploughs; let him stretch the yokes abroad; in the prepared womb let him sow the seed here. Let Virāj’s increase, well-bearing, be ours; and may the sickles indeed come nearer with the ripened grain.

Mantra 3

लाङ्गलं पवीरवत् सुशीमं सोमसत्सरु । उदिद् वपतु गामविं प्रस्थावद् रथवाहनं पीबरीं च प्रफर्व्यऽम्

The plough, iron-pointed, well-compacted, Soma-speeded—let it indeed cast up, cow-winning; well-based, chariot-drawing; and make the soil swelling-rich and well-furrowed.

Mantra 4

इन्द्रः सीतां नि गृह्णातु तां पूषाभि रक्षतु । सा नः पयस्वती दुहामुत्तरामुत्तरां समाम्

Let Indra take firm hold of the Furrow; let Pūṣan guard her round about. May she, rich in milk-like sap, milk forth for us, year after year, an ever ampler yield.

Mantra 5

शुनं सुफाला वि तुदन्तु भूमिं शुनं कीनाशा अनु यन्तु वाहान्। शुनासीरा हविषा तोशमाना सुपिप्पला ओषधीः कर्तमस्मै

Auspiciously let the good ploughshares cleave and pierce the earth; auspiciously let the ploughmen follow on behind the teams. O Śunāsīrau, rejoicing in the oblation, make for this man plants richly fruited.

Mantra 6

शुनं वाहाः शुनं नरः शुनं कृषतु लाङ्गलम्। शुनं वरत्रा बध्यन्तां शुनमष्ट्रामुदिङ्गय

Auspicious be the teams, auspicious the men; auspiciously let the plough do its ploughing. Auspiciously let the traces be fastened; auspiciously ply thou the goad.

Mantra 7

शुनासीरेह स्म मे जुषेथाम्। यद् दिवि चक्रथुः पयस्तेनेमामुप सिञ्चतम्

O Śunāsīrau, take pleasure here in mine offering. With the milk-like nourishment which ye fashioned in heaven, with that sprinkle ye this (field) upon us.

Mantra 8

सीते वन्दामहे त्वार्वाची सुभगे भव । यथा नः सुमना असो यथा नः सुफला भुवः

O Sītā, we reverence thee: turn hitherward; be thou of happy portion. So mayest thou be kindly-minded toward us; so mayest thou become for us of goodly fruit.

Mantra 9

घृतेन सीता मधुना समक्ता विश्वैर्देवैरनुमता मरुद्भिः । सा नः सीते पयसाभ्याववृत्स्वोर्जस्वती घृतवत् पिन्वमाना

With ghee, O Sītā, with honey art thou anointed, approved by all the Gods, by the Maruts sanctioned. Turn thou to us, O Sītā, with milk encompass us—rich in sustaining strength, ghee-laden, swelling us with increase.