Sukta 28

Mantra 1

दीर्घायुः। नव प्राणान् नवभिः सं मिमीते दीर्घायुत्वाय शतशारदाय । हरिते त्रीणि रजते त्रीण्ययसि त्रीणि तपसाविष्ठितानि

Long-life: nine vital breaths he measures out together with nine (supports), for long-livedness, for a hundred autumns. Three are in the yellow-green (metal), three in silver, three in iron—three established by heat (consecrating power).

Mantra 2

अग्निः सूर्यश्चन्द्रमा भूमिरापो द्यौरन्तरिक्षं प्रदिशो दिशश्च । आर्तवा ऋतुभिः संविदाना अनेन मा त्रिवृता पारयन्तु

Agni, the Sun, the Moon, Earth, the Waters, Heaven, Mid-air, the fore-directions and the directions—seasonal powers, in accord with the seasons—by this (charm) with threefold (aid) let them carry me safely across.

Mantra 3

त्रयः पोषास्त्रिवृति श्रयन्तामनक्तु पूषा पयसा घृतेन । अन्नस्य भूमा पुरुषस्य भूमा भूमा पशूनां त इह श्रयन्ताम्

Let the three prosperities, in threefold compass, take their seat. Let Pūṣan anoint (this man) with milk and with ghee. Abundance of food, abundance of the man, abundance of cattle—let those abundances here attach themselves.

Mantra 4

इममादित्या वसुना समुक्षतेममग्ने वर्धय ववृधानः । इममिन्द्र सं सृज वीर्येऽणास्मिन् त्रिवृच्छ्रयतां पोषयिष्णु

This one the Ādityas bedew with wealth; this one, O Agni, increase, thou waxing. This one, O Indra, send forth wholly with vigor: in this let the threefold nourishing power take its seat.

Mantra 5

भूमिष्ट्वा पातु हरितेन विश्वभृदग्निः पिपर्त्वयसा सजोषाः । वीरुद्भिष्टे अर्जुनं संविदानं दक्षं दधातु सुमनस्यमानम्

May Earth protect thee with her greenness, she that beareth all; may Agni, in concord, sustain thee with iron. With plants may he bestow on thee brightness, right accord, and competence, well-mindedness.

Mantra 6

त्रेधा जातं जन्मनेदं हिरण्यमग्नेरेकं प्रियतमं बभूव सोमस्यैकं हिंसितस्य परापतत्। अपामेकं वेधसां रेत आहुस्तत् ते हिरण्यं त्रिवृदस्त्वायुषे

Threefold in birth is this gold: one share became Agni’s, most dear; one share of Soma, when smitten, flew away; one share, of the Waters, the wise have called ‘seed’. That gold of thine, threefold, let it be for life.

Mantra 7

त्र्यायुषं जमदग्नेः कश्यपस्य त्र्यायुषम्। त्रेधामृतस्य चक्षणं त्रीण्यायूंषि ते ऽकरम्

A threefold life—of Jamadagni, of Kaśyapa—a threefold life. Threefold the vision of immortality: three life-spans for thee have I made.

Mantra 8

त्रयः सुपर्णास्त्रिवृता यदायन्नेकाक्षरमभिसंभूय शक्राः । प्रत्यौहन् मृत्युममृतेन साकमन्तर्दधाना दुरितानि विश्वा

When the three fair-winged Mighty Ones, triply-encompassed, came and, uniting, laid hold upon the one-syllabled (spell), they smote back Death with Immortality for their fellow; bearing within them, they set all misfortunes in ward.

Mantra 9

दिवस्त्वा पातु हरितं मध्यात् त्वा पात्वर्जुनम्। भूम्या अयस्मयं पातु प्रागाद् देवपुरा अयम्

From heaven may the Green protect thee; from the mid-region may the Bright protect thee. From earth may the iron-wrought (guard) protect thee: forth hath advanced this Fort of the Gods.

Mantra 10

इमास्तिस्रो देवपुरास्तास्त्वा रक्षन्तु सर्वतः । तास्त्वं बिभ्रद् वर्चस्व्युत्तरो द्विषतां भव

These three Forts of the Gods—may they guard thee from every side. Bearing them, be thou radiant in splendor, and stand superior to them that hate thee.

Mantra 11

पुरं देवानाममृतं हिरण्यं य आबेधे प्रथमो देवो अग्रे । तस्मै नमो दश प्राचीः कृणोम्यनु मन्यतां त्रिवृदाबधे मे

The Fort of the Gods—deathless, golden—he who first of gods in the beginning brake through (and won it): to him I make obeisance, tenfold, toward the eastern (quarters). Let him, in accord, approve me in my threefold establishing of the fort.

Mantra 12

आ त्वा चृतत्वर्यमा पूषा बृहस्पतिः । अहर्जातस्य यन्नाम तेन त्वाति चृतामसि

Hither to thee, O swift-succor, (come) Yama, Pūṣan, and Bṛhaspati. By that Name which belongeth to the day-born, thereby do we speed thee safely over (all peril).

Mantra 13

ऋतुभिष्ट्वार्तवैरायुषे वर्चसे त्वा । संवत्सरस्य तेजसा तेन संहनु कृण्मसि

With the Seasons, with the season-born Powers, thee for life, for splendour— thee. With the Year’s keen energy, thereby we make thee compact and firmly knit.

Mantra 14

घृतादुल्लुप्तं मधुना समक्तं भूमिदृंहमच्युतं पारयिष्णु। भिन्दत् सपत्नानधरांश्च कृण्वदा मा रोह महते सौभगाय

Daubed with ghee, with honey well-anointed, earth-firm, unshaken, a bearer-through—splitting the rivals, and making them low: mount thou upon me for mighty good fortune.