Sukta 107

आविरभून्महि माघोनमेषां विश्वं जीवं तमसो निरमोचि। महि ज्योतिः पितृभिर्दत्तमागादुरुः पन्था दक्षिणाया अदर्शि॥

āvirabhūnmahi māghonameṣāṁ viśvaṁ jīvaṁ tamaso niramoci | mahi jyotiḥ pitṛbhirdattamāgāduruḥ panthā dakṣiṇāyā adarśi ||

THESE men's great bounty hath been manifested, and the whole world of life set free from darkness. Great light hath come, vouchsafed us by the Fathers: apparent is the spacious path of Guerdon.

उच्चा दिवि दक्षिणावन्तो अस्थुर्ये अश्वदाः सह ते सूर्येण। हिरण्यदा अमृतत्वं भजन्ते वासोदाः सोम प्र तिरन्त आयुः॥

uccā divi dakṣiṇāvanto asthurye aśvadāḥ saha te sūryeṇa | hiraṇyadā amṛtatvaṁ bhajante vāsodāḥ soma pra tiranta āyuḥ ||

High up in heaven abide the Guerdon-givers: they who give steeds dwell with the Sun for ever. They who give gold are blest with life eternal. they who give robes prolong their lives, O Soma.

दैवी पूर्तिर्दक्षिणा देवयज्या न कवारिभ्यो नहि ते पृणन्ति। अथा नरः प्रयतदक्षिणासोऽवद्यभिया बहवः पृणन्ति॥

daivī pūrtirdakṣiṇā devayajyā na kavāribhyo nahi te pṛṇanti | athā naraḥ prayatadakṣiṇāso'vadyabhiyā bahavaḥ pṛṇanti ||

Not from the niggards-for they give not fireely-comes Meed at sacrifice, Gods' satisfaction: Yea, many men with hands stretched out with Guerdon present their gifts because they dread dishonour.

शतधारं वायुमर्कं स्वर्विदं नृचक्षसस्ते अभि चक्षते हविः। ये पृणन्ति प्र च यच्छन्ति संगमे ते दक्षिणां दुहते सप्तमातरम्॥

śatadhāraṁ vāyumarkaṁ svarvidaṁ nṛcakṣasaste abhi cakṣate haviḥ | ye pṛṇanti pra ca yacchanti saṁgame te dakṣiṇāṁ duhate saptamātaram ||

These who observe mankind regard oblation as streamy Vayu and light-finding Arka. They satisfy and give their gifts in synod, and pour in streams the seven-mothered Guerdon.

दक्षिणावान्प्रथमो हूत एति दक्षिणावान्ग्रामणीरग्रमेति। तमेव मन्ये नृपतिं जनानां यः प्रथमो दक्षिणामाविवाय॥

dakṣiṇāvānprathamo hūta eti dakṣiṇāvāngrāmaṇīragrameti | tameva manye nṛpatiṁ janānāṁ yaḥ prathamo dakṣiṇāmāvivāya ||

He who brings Guerdon comes as first invited: chief of the hamlet comes the Guerdon-bearer. Him I account the ruler of the people who was the first to introduce the Guerdon.

तमेव ऋषिं तमु ब्रह्माणमाहुर्यज्ञन्यं सामगामुक्थशासम्। स शुक्रस्य तन्वो वेद तिस्रो यः प्रथमो दक्षिणया रराध॥

tameva ṛṣiṁ tamu brahmāṇamāhuryajñanyaṁ sāmagāmukthaśāsam | sa śukrasya tanvo veda tisro yaḥ prathamo dakṣiṇayā rarādha ||

They call him Rsi, Brahman, Sama-chanter, reciter of the laud, leader of worship. The brightly-shining God's three forms he knoweth who first bestowed the sacrificial Guerdon.

दक्षिणाश्वं दक्षिणा गां ददाति दक्षिणा चन्द्रमुत यद्धिरण्यम्। दक्षिणान्नं वनुते यो न आत्मा दक्षिणां वर्म कृणुते विजानन्॥

dakṣiṇāśvaṁ dakṣiṇā gāṁ dadāti dakṣiṇā candramuta yaddhiraṇyam | dakṣiṇānnaṁ vanute yo na ātmā dakṣiṇāṁ varma kṛṇute vijānan ||

Guerdon bestows the horse, bestows the bullock, Guerdon bestows, moreover, gold that Rsisters. Guerdon gives food which is our life and spirit. He who is wise takes Guerdon for his armour.

न भोजा मम्रुर्न न्यर्थमीयुर्न रिष्यन्ति न व्यथन्ते ह भोजाः। इदं यद्विश्वं भुवनं स्वश्चैतत्सर्वं दक्षिणैभ्यो ददाति॥

na bhojā mamrurna nyarthamīyurna riṣyanti na vyathante ha bhojāḥ | idaṁ yadviśvaṁ bhuvanaṁ svaścaitatsarvaṁ dakṣiṇaibhyo dadāti ||

The liberal die not, never are they ruined: the liberal suffer neither harm nor trouble. The light of heaven, the universe about us,-all this doth sacrificial Guerdon give them.

भोजा जिग्युः सुरभिं योनिमग्रे भोजा जिग्युर्वध्वं या सुवासाः। भोजा जिग्युरन्तःपेयं सुराया भोजा जिग्युर्ये अहूताः प्रयन्ति॥

bhojā jigyuḥ surabhiṁ yonimagre bhojā jigyurvadhvaṁ yā suvāsāḥ | bhojā jigyurantaḥpeyaṁ surāyā bhojā jigyurye ahūtāḥ prayanti ||

First have the liberal gained a fragrant dwelling, and got themselves a bride in fair apparel. The liberal have obtained their draught of liquor, and conquered those who, unprovoked, assailed them.

भोजायाश्वं सं मृजन्त्याशुं भोजायास्ते कन्या शुम्भमाना। भोजस्येदं पुष्करिणीव वेश्म परिष्कृतं देवमानेव चित्रम्॥

bhojāyāśvaṁ saṁ mṛjantyāśuṁ bhojāyāste kanyā śumbhamānā | bhojasyedaṁ puṣkariṇīva veśma pariṣkṛtaṁ devamāneva citram ||

They deck the fleet steed for the bounteous giver: the maid adorns herself and waits to meet him. His home is like a lake with lotus blossoms, like the Gods' palaces adorned and splendid.

भोजमश्वाः सुष्ठुवाहो वहन्ति सुवृद्रथो वर्तते दक्षिणायाः। भोजं देवासोऽवता भरेषु भोजः शत्रून्समनीकेषु जेता॥

bhojamaśvāḥ suṣṭhuvāho vahanti suvṛdratho vartate dakṣiṇāyāḥ | bhojaṁ devāso'vatā bhareṣu bhojaḥ śatrūnsamanīkeṣu jetā ||

Steeds good at draught convey the liberal giver, and lightly rolling moves the car of Guerdon. Assist, ye Gods, the liberal man in battles: the liberal giver conquers foes in combat.