Adhyaya 29

Mantra 1

समि॑द्धो अ॒ञ्जन् कृद॑रं मती॒नां घृ॒तम॑ग्ने॒ मधु॑म॒त्पिन्व॑मानः । वा॒जी वह॑न् वा॒जिनं॑ जातवेदो दे॒वानां॑ वक्षि प्रि॒यमा स॒धस्थ॑म् ।

Kindled, anointing, the spur of our thoughts, O Agni, swelling with honeyed ghee; bearing the prize, prize-bearer, O Jātavedas, thou shalt convey the gods unto their dear common seat.

Mantra 2

घृ॒तेना॒ञ्जन्त्सं प॒थो दे॑व॒याना॑न् प्रजा॒नन् वा॒ज्यप्ये॑तु दे॒वान् । अनु॑ त्वा सप्ते प्र॒दिश॑: सचन्ताᳪ स्व॒धाम॒स्मै॒ यज॑मानाय धेहि ।

Anointing with ghee, knowing well the god-going paths, let the vigorous one go forth unto the gods. After thee let the seven regions follow; bestow thou svadhā upon this sacrificer.

Mantra 3

ईड्य॒श्चासि॒ वन्द्य॑श्च वाजिन्ना॒शुश्चासि॒ मेध्य॑श्च सप्ते । अ॒ग्निष्ट्वा॑ देवै॒र्वसु॑भिः स॒जोषा॑: प्री॒तं वह्निं॑ वहतु जा॒तवे॑दाः ।

Praiseworthy art thou and adorable, O prize-winner; swift art thou and meet for sacrifice, O sevenfold one. May Agni Jātavedas, in concord with the gods, with the Vasus, convey the gladdened bearer.

Mantra 4

स्ती॒र्णं ब॒र्हिः सु॒ष्टरी॑मा जुषा॒णोरु पृ॒थु प्रथ॑मानं पृथि॒व्याम् । दे॒वेभि॑र्यु॒क्तमदि॑तिः स॒जोषा॑: स्यो॒नं कृ॑ण्वा॒ना सु॑वि॒ते द॑धातु

The strewn Barhis, well-spread, rejoicing—broad, wide, foremost upon the earth—Aditi, in concord, joined with the Gods, making it a kindly resting-place, shall set it in the good course (of the sacrifice).

Mantra 5

ए॒ता उ॑ वः सु॒भगा॑ वि॒श्वरू॑पा॒ वि पक्षो॑भि॒: श्रय॑माणा॒ उदातै॑: । ऋ॒ष्वाः स॒तीः क॒वष॒: शुम्भ॑माना॒ द्वारो॑ दे॒वीः सु॑प्राय॒णा भ॑वन्तु

These, for you, auspicious, of all forms, leaning forth with uplifted wings—lofty as they are, fair-shining, well-adorned—may the divine Doors become of good approach (and onward passage).

Mantra 6

अ॒न्त॒रा मि॒त्रावरु॑णा॒ चर॑न्ती॒ मुखं॑ य॒ज्ञाना॑म॒भि सं॑विदा॒ने । उ॒षासा॑ वाᳪ सुहिर॒ण्ये सु॑शि॒ल्पे ऋ॒तस्य॒ योना॑वि॒ह सा॑दयामि

Moving between Mitra and Varuṇa, meeting in concord, the mouth of sacrifices—those two Dawns, fair-golden, of good workmanship—upon the seat of Order, here I cause (them) to sit.

Mantra 7

प्र॒थ॒मा वा॑ᳪ सर॒थिना॑ सु॒वर्णा॑ देवौ॒ पश्य॑न्तौ॒ भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ । अपि॑प्रयं॒ चोद॑ना वां॒ मिमा॑ना॒ होता॑रा॒ ज्योति॑: प्र॒दिशा॑ दि॒शन्ता॑

First (in place), you two, sharing one car, golden, the two Gods beholding all the worlds—your impulse, your onward drive, measuring out (the course): the two Hotṛs, dispensing light, assigning the quarters.

Mantra 8

आ॒दि॒त्यैर्नो॒ भार॑ती वष्टु य॒ज्ञᳪ सर॑स्वती स॒ह रु॒द्रैर्न॑ आवीत् । इडोप॑हूता॒ वसु॑भिः स॒जोषा॑ य॒ज्ञं नो॑ देवीर॒मृते॑षु धत्त

With the Ādityas may Bhāratī favour our sacrifice; with the Rudras may Sarasvatī bring us aid. Idā, invoked, in concord with the Vasus—O Goddesses, set our sacrifice among the immortals.

Mantra 9

त्वष्टा॑ वी॒रं दे॒वका॑मं जजान॒ त्वष्टु॒रर्वा॑ जायत आ॒शुरश्व॑ः । त्वष्टे॒दं विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं जजान ब॒होः क॒र्तार॑मि॒ह य॑क्षि होतः

Tvaṣṭṛ hath begotten the hero, the god-desiring; from Tvaṣṭṛ is born the courser, the swift steed. Tvaṣṭṛ hath begotten this whole world of being: worship thou here the maker with the arm, O Hotṛ.

Mantra 10

अश्वो॑ घृ॒तेन॒ त्मन्या॒ सम॑क्त॒ उप॑ दे॒वाँ२ ऋ॑तु॒शः पाथ॑ एतु । वन॒स्पति॑र्देवलो॒कं प्र॑जा॒नन्न॒ग्निना॑ ह॒व्या स्व॑दि॒तानि॑ वक्षत्

Let the horse, anointed with ghee by his own might, go unto the Gods along the path in due season. Let Vanaspati, knowing the world of the Gods, with Agni convey the oblations, made savoury, unto them.

Mantra 11

प्र॒जाप॑ते॒स्तप॑सा वावृधा॒नः स॒द्यो जा॒तो द॑धिषे य॒ज्ञम॑ग्ने । स्वाहा॑कृतेन ह॒विषा॑ पुरोगा या॒हि सा॒ध्या ह॒विर॑दन्तु दे॒वाः

Waxing strong by Prajāpati’s ardour, newly born forthwith, thou hast assumed the Sacrifice, O Agni. Go thou in front with oblation made with Svāhā: let the Sādhyas, let the Gods, eat of the offering.

Mantra 12

यदक्र॑न्दः प्रथ॒मं जाय॑मान उ॒द्यन्त्स॑मु॒द्रादु॒त वा॒ पुरी॑षात् । श्ये॒नस्य॑ प॒क्षा ह॑रि॒णस्य॑ बा॒हू उ॑प॒स्तुत्यं॒ महि॑ जा॒तं ते॑ अर्वन्

When first thou didst cry, being born, uprising from the ocean or even from the mire,—the falcon’s wings, the antelope’s arms—great is that which is born of thee, O Courser, worthy to be praised.

Mantra 13

य॒मेन॑ द॒त्तं त्रि॒त ए॑नमायुन॒गिन्द्र॑ एणं प्रथ॒मो अध्य॑तिष्ठत् । ग॒न्ध॒र्वो अ॑स्य रश॒नाम॑गृभ्णा॒त् सूरा॒दश्वं॑ वसवो॒ निर॑तष्ट

Given by Yama, Trita yoked him; Indra first bestrode him. The Gandharva seized his rein; from the Sun the Vasus fashioned forth the horse.

Mantra 14

असि॑ य॒मो अस्या॑दि॒त्यो अ॑र्व॒न्नसि॑ त्रि॒तो गुह्ये॑न व्र॒तेन॑ । असि॒ सोमे॑न स॒मया॒ विपृ॑क्त आ॒हुस्ते॒ त्रीणि॑ दि॒वि बन्ध॑नानि

Thou art Yama; thou art the Āditya; thou, O Steed, art Trita by the hidden ordinance. Thou art, with Soma, in the appointed season set apart: they say of thee, ‘three are thy bonds in heaven.’

Mantra 15

त्रीणि॑ त आहुर्दि॒वि बन्ध॑नानि॒ त्रीण्य॒प्सु त्रीण्य॒न्तः स॑मु॒द्रे । उ॒तेव॑ मे॒ वरु॑णश्छन्त्स्यर्व॒न् यत्रा॑ त आ॒हुः प॑र॒मं ज॒नित्र॑म्

Three, they say, are thy bonds in heaven; three in the waters; three within the ocean. And thou, O Steed, shalt even satisfy my Varuṇa there where they say is thy highest birthplace.

Mantra 16

इ॒मा ते॑ वाजिन्नव॒मार्ज॑नानी॒मा श॒फाना॑ᳪ सनि॒तुर्नि॒धाना॑ । अत्रा॑ ते भ॒द्रा र॑श॒ना अ॑पश्यमृ॒तस्य॒ या अ॑भि॒रक्ष॑न्ति गो॒पाः

These are thy nine purifyings, O Vājin; these the treasures laid up for the winning of thy hoofs. Here I beheld thy gracious reins—those guardians that protect the Order (ṛta).

Mantra 17

आ॒त्मानं॑ ते॒ मन॑सा॒राद॑जानाम॒वो दि॒वा प॒तय॑न्तं पत॒ङ्गम् । शिरो॑ अपश्यं प॒थिभि॑: सु॒गेभि॑ररे॒णुभि॒र्जेह॑मानं पत॒त्रि

With my mind I knew thy very self from afar—the flying one that flieth by day in heaven. I beheld thy head, the winged one, speeding along good paths, dustless, swiftly moving.

Mantra 18

अत्रा॑ ते रू॒पमु॑त्त॒मम॑पश्यं॒ जिगी॑षमाणमि॒ष आ प॒दे गोः । य॒दा ते॒ मर्तो॒ अनु॒ भोग॒मान॒डादिद् ग्रसि॑ष्ठ॒ ओष॑धीरजीगः

Here I beheld thy highest form, striving to conquer, at the cow’s step for nourishment. When a mortal came to share in thy enjoyment, then indeed, most devouring, thou didst consume the plants.

Mantra 19

अनु॑ त्वा॒ रथो॒ अनु॒ मर्यो॑ अर्व॒न्ननु॒ गावोऽनु॒ भग॑ः क॒नीना॑म् । अनु॒ व्राता॑स॒स्तव॑ स॒ख्यमी॑यु॒रनु॑ दे॒वा म॑मिरे वी॒र्यं॒ ते

After thee goeth the car; after thee the gallant steed; after thee the kine; after thee Bhaga of the maidens. After thee the ordered bands have come to comradeship; after thee the Gods have measured out thy manly might.

Mantra 20

हिर॑ण्यशृ॒ङ्गोऽयो॑ अस्य॒ पादा॒ मनो॑जवा॒ अव॑र॒ इन्द्र॑ आसीत् । दे॒वा इद॑स्य हवि॒रद्य॑माय॒न् यो अर्व॑न्तं प्रथ॒मो अ॒ध्यति॑ष्ठत्

Golden-horned, with feet of iron, swift as thought—Indra, the younger, was he. The Gods came unto his offering, his first oblation—he who first bestrode the steed.

Mantra 21

ई॒र्मान्ता॑सः॒ सिलि॑कमध्यमासः॒ सᳪ शूर॑णासो दि॒व्यासो॒ अत्या॑ः । ह॒सा इ॑व श्रेणि॒शो य॑तन्ते॒ यदाक्षि॑षुर्दि॒व्यमज्म॒मश्वा॑ः

Impetuous, firm of middle, strong of muzzle, heavenly are the racers. Like geese in ordered ranks they strain, when the horses have reached the heavenly course.

Mantra 22

तव॒ शरी॑रं पतयि॒ष्ण्व॒र्व॒न्तव॑ चि॒त्तं वात॑ इव॒ ध्रजी॑मान् । तव॒ शृङ्गा॑णि॒ विष्ठि॑ता पुरु॒त्रार॑ण्येषु॒ जर्भु॑राणा चरन्ति

Thy body, O steed, is fain to fly; thy mind is like the wind, impetuous. Thy horns, set wide apart, roam restlessly in many a place, in the forests.

Mantra 23

उप॒ प्रागा॒च्छस॑नं वा॒ज्यर्वा॑ देव॒द्रीचा॒ मन॑सा॒ दीध्या॑नः । अ॒जः पु॒रो नी॑यते॒ नाभि॑र॒स्यानु॑ प॒श्चात्क॒वयो॑ यन्ति रे॒भाः

To the slaughtering-place hath the prize-winning steed advanced, god-ward directed, pondering in his mind. A goat is led in front; this one’s navel is his centre; behind him go the sages, the singers of praise.

Mantra 24

उप॒ प्रागा॑त्पर॒मं यत्स॒धस्थ॒मर्वाँ॒२ अच्छा॑ पि॒तरं॑ मा॒तरं॑ च । अ॒द्या दे॒वाञ्जुष्ट॑तमो॒ हि ग॒म्या अथा शा॑स्ते दा॒शुषे॒ वार्या॑णि

He hath advanced nigh unto that highest seat of session, hitherward, straight unto the Father and the Mother. To-day, being of all most welcome, he is verily to be approached among the gods; and then he ordaineth for the giver things choice and to be desired.

Mantra 25

समि॑द्धो अ॒द्य मनु॑षो दुरो॒णे दे॒वो दे॒वान् य॑जसि जातवेदः । आ च॒ वह॑ मित्रमहश्चिकि॒त्वान्त्वं दू॒तः क॒विर॑सि॒ प्रचे॑ताः

Kindled to-day in the house of Man, O Jātavedas, a god thou sacrificest unto the gods. Bring hither also Mitra, thou that knowest the seasons of the day; thou art the messenger, the sage, of provident understanding.

Mantra 26

तनू॑नपात्प॒थ ऋ॒तस्य॒ याना॒न्मध्वा॑ सम॒ञ्जन्त्स्व॑दया सुजिह्व । मन्मा॑नि धी॒भिरु॒त य॒ज्ञमृ॒न्धन् दे॑व॒त्रा च॑ कृणुह्यध्व॒रं न॑:

O Tanūnapāt, along the paths of ṛta, anointing the ways with sweetness, O fair-tongued one, make them savoury. With our devout thoughts and with our insights prosper thou the sacrifice, and make our offering-service also go godward.

Mantra 27

नरा॒शᳪस॑स्य महि॒मान॑मेषा॒मुप॑ स्तोषाम यज॒तस्य॑ य॒ज्ञैः । ये सु॒क्रत॑व॒: शुच॑यो धिय॒न्धाः स्वद॑न्ति दे॒वा उ॒भया॑नि ह॒व्या

We will celebrate the greatness of Narāśaṃsa among these, by sacrifices of the adorable one. Those gods, of goodly power, pure, and rich in insight, do relish both kinds of oblations.

Mantra 28

आ॒जुह्वा॑न॒ ईड्यो॒ वन्द्य॒श्चा या॑ह्यग्ने॒ वसु॑भिः स॒जोषा॑: । त्वं दे॒वाना॑मसि यह्व॒ होता॒ स ए॑नान्यक्षीषि॒तो यजी॑यान्

Oblation-bearing, worthy of praise and reverence, come hither, O Agni, in concord with the Vasus. Thou art the mighty Hotṛ of the gods; do thou, most worthy of sacrifice, from hence offer unto these.

Mantra 29

प्रा॒चीनं॑ ब॒र्हिः प्र॒दिशा॑ पृथि॒व्या वस्तो॑र॒स्या वृ॑ज्यते॒ अग्रे॒ अह्ना॑म् । व्यु॑ प्रथते वित॒रं वरी॑यो दे॒वेभ्यो॒ अदि॑तये स्यो॒नम्

Eastward is the Barhis spread, in the fore-direction of the earth; this dwelling-place is swept clean at the head of days. It is widened out, made broader and more spacious, a kindly resting-place for the Gods, for Aditi.

Mantra 30

व्यच॑स्वतीरुर्वि॒या वि श्र॑यन्तां॒ पति॑भ्यो॒ न जन॑य॒: शुम्भ॑मानाः । देवी॑र्द्वारो बृहतीर्विश्वमिन्वा दे॒वेभ्यो॑ भवत सुप्राय॒णाः

Wide-spreading, in ample space, let them be set in order, adorning themselves like wives for their lords. Ye Divine Doors, great and all-impelling, become for the Gods of happy access.

Mantra 31

आ सु॒ष्वय॑न्ती यज॒ते उपा॑के उ॒षासा॒नक्ता॑ सदतां॒ नि योनौ॑ । दि॒व्ये योष॑णे बृह॒ती सु॑रु॒क्मे अधि॒ श्रिय॑ᳪ शुक्र॒पिशं॒ दधा॑ने

Approaching with fair-sounding presence, near unto the worshipper, let Dawn and Night sit down in their proper seat; the two divine maidens, great, with goodly golden sheen, bearing upon them splendour and bright adornment.

Mantra 32

दैव्या॒ होता॑रा प्रथ॒मा सु॒वाचा॒ मिमा॑ना य॒ज्ञं मनु॑षो॒ यज॑ध्यै । प्र॒चो॒दय॑न्ता वि॒दथे॑षु का॒रू प्रा॒चीनं॒ ज्योति॑: प्र॒दिशा॑ दि॒शन्ता॑

The two Divine Hotṛ-priests, first with gracious speech, measuring out the sacrifice for man to worship; impelling the singer in the assemblies, they point out the eastern light in the fore-direction.

Mantra 33

आ नो॑ य॒ज्ञं भार॑ती॒ तूय॑मे॒त्विडा॑ मनु॒ष्वदि॒ह चे॒तय॑न्ती । ति॒स्रो दे॒वीर्ब॒र्हिरेदᳪ स्यो॒नᳪ सर॑स्वती॒ स्वप॑सः सदन्तु

May Bhāratī swiftly come unto our sacrifice; may Iḍā, after the manner of Manu, here awaken (our rite). Let the three Goddesses—upon this kindly Barhis—Sarasvatī, of goodly work, sit down.

Mantra 34

य इ॒मे द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी जनि॑त्री रूपै॒रपि॑ᳪश॒द्भुव॑नानि॒ विश्वा॑ । तम॒द्य हो॑तरिषि॒तो यजी॑यान् दे॒वं त्वष्टा॑रमि॒ह य॑क्षि वि॒द्वान्

He who, these Heaven and Earth, the two begetters, hath with fair forms fashioned all the worlds,—him, this day, O Hotṛ, being duly impelled, the more adorable, even the god Tvaṣṭṛ, do thou here sacrifice, as one that knoweth.

Mantra 35

उ॒पाव॑सृज॒ त्मन्या॑ सम॒ञ्जन् दे॒वानां॒ पाथ॑ ऋतु॒था ह॒वीᳪषि॑ । वन॒स्पति॑: शमि॒ता दे॒वो अ॒ग्निः स्वद॑न्तु ह॒व्यं मधु॑ना घृ॒तेन॑

Send forth, of thine own accord, duly preparing, the oblations along the gods’ path, in seasonable order. May the Lord of the Forest, the appeasing god Agni, make the offering savoury with honey and with ghee.

Mantra 36

स॒द्यो जा॒तो व्य॑मिमीत य॒ज्ञम॒ग्निर्दे॒वाना॑मभवत् पुरो॒गाः । अ॒स्य होतु॑: प्र॒दिश्यृ॒तस्य॑ वा॒चि स्वाहा॑कृतᳪ ह॒विर॑दन्तु दे॒वाः

Newly born, forthwith he measured out the sacrifice; Agni became the gods’ forerunner. According to this Hotṛ’s assignment, in the speech of ṛta, may the gods eat the oblation made with Svāhā.

Mantra 37

के॒तुं कृ॒ण्वन्न॑के॒तवे॒ पेशो॑ मर्या अपे॒शसे॑ । समु॒षद्भि॑रजायथाः

Making a sign for him that hath no sign, a fair form for him that is without form, O youthful hero, thou wast born together with the dawns.

Mantra 38

जी॒मूत॑स्येव भवति॒ प्रती॑कं॒ यद्व॒र्मी याति॑ स॒मदा॑मु॒पस्थे॑ । अना॑विद्धया त॒न्वा॒ जय॒ त्वᳪ स त्वा॒ वर्म॑णो महि॒मा पि॑पर्तु

Like unto a cloud is his appearance, when the armoured one goeth into the lap of battles. With body unpierced win thou the victory; may the greatness of thine armour sustain thee.

Mantra 39

धन्व॑ना॒ गा धन्व॑ना॒ऽऽजिं ज॑येम॒ धन्व॑ना ती॒व्राः स॒मदो॑ जयेम । धनु॒: शत्रो॑रपका॒मं कृ॑णोति॒ धन्व॑ना॒ सर्वा॑: प्र॒दिशो॑ जयेम

With the bow may we win the kine; with the bow may we win the race; with the bow may we win the fierce encounters. The bow maketh the foe’s desire to fail; with the bow may we conquer all the quarters.

Mantra 40

व॒क्ष्यन्ती॒वेदा ग॑नीगन्ति॒ कर्णं॑ प्रि॒यᳪ सखा॑यं परिषस्वजा॒ना । योषे॑व शिङ्क्ते॒ वित॒ताधि॒ धन्व॒ञ्ज्या इ॒यᳪ सम॑ने पा॒रय॑न्ती

As though she spake, she draweth near unto the ear, embracing round her dear companion. Like a maiden she adorneth the stretched bow: this bowstring, in the encounter, beareth one through.

Mantra 41

ते आ॒चर॑न्ती॒ सम॑नेव॒ योषा॑ मा॒तेव॑ पु॒त्रं बि॑भृतामु॒पस्थे॑ । अप॒ शत्रू॑न् विध्यताᳪ संविदा॒ने आर्त्नी॑ इ॒मे वि॑ष्फु॒रन्ती॑ अ॒मित्रा॑न्

Moving together, like a maiden in the encounter, like a mother bearing her son in her lap—let the two bow-ends, acting in concord, pierce away the foes, quivering against the enemies.

Mantra 42

ब॒ह्वी॒नां पि॒ता ब॒हुर॑स्य पु॒त्रश्चि॒श्चा कृ॑णोति॒ सम॑नाव॒गत्य॑ । इ॒षु॒धिः सङ्का॒ पृत॑नाश्च॒ सर्वा॑: पृ॒ष्ठे निन॑द्धो जयति॒ प्रसू॑तः

Father of many, and many his offspring, he maketh ready (his work) when he hath reached the encounter. The quiver, the fastening, and all the battles—bound upon the back—he, when impelled, winneth.

Mantra 43

रथे॒ तिष्ठ॑न् नयति वा॒जिन॑: पु॒रो यत्र॑-यत्र का॒मय॑ते सुषार॒थिः । अ॒भीशू॑नां महि॒मानं॑ पनायत॒ मन॑: प॒श्चादनु॑ यच्छन्ति र॒श्मय॑:

Standing on the car, the good charioteer leadeth the steeds onward whithersoever he desireth. Proclaim ye the greatness of the reins: the mind goeth after; the reins follow in its track.

Mantra 44

ती॒व्रान् घोषा॑न् कृण्वते॒ वृष॑पाण॒योऽश्वा॒ रथे॑भिः स॒ह वा॒जय॑न्तः । अ॒व॒क्राम॑न्त॒: प्रप॑दैर॒मित्रा॑न् क्षि॒णन्ति॒ शत्रूँ॒१ रन॑पव्ययन्तः

Keen cries they raise, those strong-handed steeds, together with the chariots, pressing on for the prize. Stepping down with forward strides, they waste the foes away; they crush the enemies, never turning aside in retreat.

Mantra 45

र॒थ॒वाह॑णᳪ ह॒विर॑स्य॒ नाम॒ यत्रायु॑धं॒ निहि॑तमस्य॒ वर्म॑ । तत्रा॒ रथ॒मुप॑ श॒ग्मᳪ स॑देम वि॒श्वाहा॑ व॒यᳪ सु॑मन॒स्यमा॑नाः

‘Chariot-bearer’ is the name of the oblation, whereon his weapon is laid, his armour set in place. There, beside the chariot, in auspicious ease may we sit, all our days, being of gracious mind.

Mantra 46

स्वा॒दु॒ष॒ᳪसद॑: पि॒तरो॑ वयो॒धाः कृ॑च्छ्रे॒श्रित॒: शक्ती॑वन्तो गभी॒राः । चि॒त्रसे॑ना॒ इषु॑बला॒ अमृ॑ध्राः स॒तोवी॑रा उ॒रवो॑ व्रातसा॒हाः

Sweet of seat are the Fathers, bestowers of vital strength; in hardship abiding, mighty and profound. Of wondrous hosts, strong in missiles, unfailing; with true heroes, wide-ranging, conquerors of the troop.

Mantra 47

ब्राह्म॑णास॒: पित॑र॒: सोम्या॑सः शि॒वे नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॑ने॒हसा॑ । पू॒षा न॑: पातु दुरि॒तादृ॑तावृधो॒ रक्षा॒ माकि॑र्नो अ॒घश॑ᳪस ईशत

The Fathers, priestly, Soma-blest—may Heaven and Earth be gracious unto us, untroubling. May Pūṣan, increaser of Order, guard us from evil; protect us, that no evil-speaker may have dominion over us.

Mantra 48

सु॒प॒र्णं व॑स्ते मृ॒गो अ॑स्या॒ दन्तो॒ गोभि॒: सन्न॑द्धा पतति॒ प्रसू॑ता । यत्रा॒ नर॒: सं च॒ वि च॒ द्रव॑न्ति॒ तत्रा॒स्मभ्य॒मिष॑व॒: शर्म॑ यᳪसन्

A fair-winged form she weareth; her tooth is as a wild beast’s; with kine she is harnessed, and, urged forth, she flieth. Where men run together and run apart, there may the missiles grant us shelter and protection.

Mantra 49

ऋजी॑ते॒ परि॑ वृङ्धि॒ नोऽश्मा॑ भवतु नस्त॒नूः । सोमो॒ अधि॑ ब्रवीतु॒ नोऽदि॑ति॒: शर्म॑ यच्छतु

O Straight-going One, encompass and strengthen us; let a stone-wall be our body’s safeguard. Let Soma speak on our behalf; let Aditi vouchsafe unto us shelter.

Mantra 50

आ ज॑ङ्घन्ति॒ सान्वे॑षां ज॒घनाँ॒२ उप॑ जिघ्नते । अश्वा॑जनि॒ प्रचे॑त॒सोऽश्वा॑न्त्स॒मत्सु॑ चोदय

They stride along the mountain-slopes; they smite the foeman’s rear. O Horse-begetter, thou wise one, urge on the horses in the battles.

Mantra 51

अहि॑रिव भोगै॒: पर्ये॑ति बा॒हुं ज्याया॑ हे॒तिं प॑रि॒बाध॑मानः । ह॒स्त॒घ्नो विश्वा॑ व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वान् पुमा॒न् पुमा॑ᳪसं॒ परि॑ पातु वि॒श्वत॑:

Like a serpent with his coils he compasseth the arm, repelling the stronger weapon. The hand-smiting one, knowing all devices, let the Man protect the man from every side.

Mantra 52

वन॑स्पते वी॒ड्व॒ङ्गो॒ हि भू॒या अ॒स्मत्स॑खा प्र॒तर॑णः सु॒वीर॑: । गोभि॒: सन्न॑द्धो असि वी॒डय॑स्वास्था॒ता ते॑ जयतु॒ जेत्वा॑नि

O Lord of the forest, be thou strong-limbed indeed—our friend, our overcomer, rich in heroes. Girt with kine, display thy strength: may he that mounteth thee win victories and winnings.

Mantra 53

दि॒वः पृ॑थि॒व्याः पर्योज॒ उद्भृ॑तं॒ वन॒स्पति॑भ्य॒: पर्याभृ॑त॒ᳪ सह॑: । अ॒पामो॒ज्मानं॒ परि॒ गोभि॒रावृ॑त॒मिन्द्र॑स्य॒ वज्र॑ᳪ ह॒विषा॒ रथं॑ यज

The encompassing might of heaven and earth, brought forth; the force brought round from the forest-lords; the waters’ vigour, wrapped about with kine—sacrifice with oblation Indra’s thunderbolt, the chariot.

Mantra 54

इन्द्र॑स्य॒ वज्रो॑ म॒रुता॒मनी॑कं मि॒त्रस्य॒ गर्भो॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ नाभि॑ः । सेमां नो॑ ह॒व्यदा॑तिं जुषा॒णो देव॑ रथ॒ प्रति॑ ह॒व्या गृ॑भाय

Indra’s thunderbolt, the Maruts’ battle-front, Mitra’s embryo, Varuṇa’s navel,—may he, graciously accepting this our oblation-gift, O divine Chariot, seize the offerings in due response.

Mantra 55

उप॑ श्वासय पृथि॒वीमु॒त द्यां पु॑रु॒त्रा ते॑ मनुतां॒ विष्ठि॑तं॒ जग॑त् । स दु॑न्दुभे स॒जूरिन्द्रे॑ण दे॒वैर्दू॒राद्दवी॑यो॒ अप॑ सेध॒ शत्रू॑न्

Make Earth and Heaven resound; far and wide let the established moving world take heed of thee. O Drum, in concord with Indra and the Gods, drive thou the foes away—far off, yet farther.

Mantra 56

आ क्र॑न्दय॒ बल॒मोजो॑ न॒ आधा॒ निष्ट॑निहि दुरि॒ता बाध॑मानः । अप॑ प्रोथ दुन्दुभे दु॒च्छुना॑ इ॒त इन्द्र॑स्य मु॒ष्टिर॑सि वी॒डय॑स्व

Roar forth; set strength and vigour in us; thunder, repelling evils. O Drum, scatter hence malign intent: thou art Indra’s clenched fist—make thyself mighty.

Mantra 57

आमूर॑ज प्र॒त्याव॑र्तये॒माः के॑तु॒मद्दु॑न्दु॒भिर्वा॑वदीति । समश्व॑पर्णा॒श्चर॑न्ति नो॒ नरो॒ऽस्माक॑मिन्द्र र॒थिनो॑ जयन्तु

O Mūraja, turn these back; the bannered drum resoundeth. Our men move forth together, horse-bannered: O Indra, may our charioteers be victorious.

Mantra 58

आ॒ग्ने॒यः कृ॒ष्णग्री॑वः सारस्व॒ती मे॒षी ब॒भ्रुः सौ॒म्यः पौ॒ष्णः श्या॒मः शि॑तिपृ॒ष्ठो बा॑र्हस्प॒त्यः शि॒ल्पो वै॑श्वदे॒व ऐ॒न्द्रो॒ऽरु॒णो मा॑रु॒तः क॒ल्माष॑ ऐन्द्रा॒ग्नः स॑ᳪहि॒तोऽधोरा॑मः सावि॒त्रो वा॑रु॒णः कृ॒ष्ण एक॑शितिपा॒त्पेत्व॑ः

Agni’s is the black-necked; Sarasvatī’s the ewe; Soma’s the brown; Pūṣan’s the dark; Bṛhaspati’s the white-backed; the All-gods’ the well-formed; Indra’s the ruddy; the Maruts’ the dappled; Indra-and-Agni’s the compact; Savitṛ’s the dark-below; Varuṇa’s the black; (and) the speckled, with one white foot.

Mantra 59

अ॒ग्नयेऽनी॑कवते॒ रोहि॑ताञ्जिरन॒ड्वान॒धोरा॑मौ सावि॒त्रौ पौ॒ष्णौ र॑ज॒तना॑भी वैश्वदे॒वौ पि॒शङ्गौ॑ तूप॒रौ मा॑रु॒तः क॒ल्माष॑ आग्ने॒यः कृ॒ष्णोऽजः सा॑रस्व॒ती मे॒षी वा॑रु॒णः पेत्व॑:

For Agni, the Front-faced, (is) the ruddy-limbed bull; the two Adhorāmas for Savitṛ; the two Pūṣan-victims, silver-naved; the two All-gods’ victims, tawny, tufted; for the Maruts, the piebald; Agni’s (victim), the black he-goat; Sarasvatī’s, the ewe; Varuṇa’s, the Petva.

Mantra 60

अ॒ग्नये॑ गाय॒त्राय॑ त्रि॒वृते॒ राथ॑न्तराया॒ष्टाक॑पाल॒ इन्द्रा॑य त्रैष्टु॑भाय पञ्चद॒शाय॒ बार्ह॑ता॒यैका॑दशकपालो॒ विश्वे॑भ्यो दे॒वेभ्यो॒ जाग॑तेभ्यः सप्तद॒शेभ्यो॑ वैरू॒पेभ्यो॒ द्वाद॑शकपालो मि॒त्रावरु॑णाभ्या॒मानु॑ष्टुभाभ्यामेकवि॒ᳪशाभ्यां॑ वैरा॒जाभ्यां॑ पय॒स्या बृह॒स्पत॑ये॒ पाङ्क्ता॑य त्रिण॒वाय॑ शाक्व॒राय॑ च॒रुः स॑वि॒त्र औष्णि॑हाय त्रयस्त्रि॒ᳪशाय॑ रैव॒ताय॒ द्वाद॑शकपालः प्राजाप॒त्यश्च॒रुरदि॑त्यै॒ विष्णु॑पत्न्यै च॒रुर॒ग्नये॑ वैश्वान॒राय॒ द्वाद॑शकपा॒लोऽनु॑मत्या अ॒ष्टाक॑पालः

For Agni, as Gāyatra, with the Trivṛt (stoma), with the Rāthantara (sāman), a cake on eight potsherds. For Indra, as Trāiṣṭubha, with the Pañcadaśa, with the Bārhata, a cake on eleven potsherds. For the All-gods, as Jāgata, with the Saptadaśa, with the Vairūpa, a cake on twelve potsherds. For Mitra and Varuṇa, as Anuṣṭubh, with the Ekaviṃśa, with the Vairāja, a milk-mixed caru. For Bṛhaspati, as Pāṅkta, with the Triṇava, with the Śākvara, a caru. For Savitṛ, as Uṣṇih, with the Trayastriṃśa, with the Raivata, a cake on twelve potsherds. A Prājāpatya caru; for Aditi and for Viṣṇu’s Consort, a caru. For Agni Vaiśvānara, a cake on twelve potsherds; for Anumati, a cake on eight potsherds.