सूक्त ३८

अभि तष्टेव दीधया मनीषामत्यो न वाजी सुधुरो जिहानः। अभि प्रियाणि मर्मृशत्पराणि कवीँरिच्छामि संदृशे सुमेधाः॥

abhi taṣṭeva dīdhayā manīṣāmatyo na vājī sudhuro jihānaḥ | abhi priyāṇi marmṛśatparāṇi kavīricchāmi saṁdṛśe sumedhāḥ ||

HASTING like some strong courser good at drawing, a thought have I imagined like a workman. Pondering what is dearest and most noble, I long to see the sages full of wisdom.

इनोत पृच्छ जनिमा कवीनां मनोधृतः सुकृतस्तक्षत द्याम्। इमा उ ते प्रण्यो वर्धमाना मनोवाता अध नु धर्मणि ग्मन्॥

inota pṛccha janimā kavīnāṁ manodhṛtaḥ sukṛtastakṣata dyām | imā u te praṇyo vardhamānā manovātā adha nu dharmaṇi gman ||

Ask of the sages' mighty generations firm-minded and devout they framed the heaven. These are thy heart-sought strengthening directions, and they have come to be sky's upholders.

नि षीमिदत्र गुह्या दधाना उत क्षत्राय रोदसी समञ्जन्। सं मात्राभिर्ममिरे येमुरुर्वी अन्तर्मही समृते धायसे धुः॥

ni ṣīmidatra guhyā dadhānā uta kṣatrāya rodasī samañjan | saṁ mātrābhirmamire yemururvī antarmahī samṛte dhāyase dhuḥ ||

Assuming in this world mysterious natures, they decked the heaven and earth for high dominion, Measured with measures, fixed their broad expanses, set the great worlds apart held firm for safety.

आतिष्ठन्तं परि विश्वे अभूषञ्छ्रियो वसानश्चरति स्वरोचिः। महत्तद्वृष्णो असुरस्य नामा विश्वरूपो अमृतानि तस्थौ॥

ātiṣṭhantaṁ pari viśve abhūṣañchriyo vasānaścarati svarociḥ | mahattadvṛṣṇo asurasya nāmā viśvarūpo amṛtāni tasthau ||

Even as he mounted up they all adorned him: self-luminous he travels clothed in splendour. That is the Bull's, the Asura's mighty figure: he, omniform, hath reached the eternal waters.

असूत पूर्वो वृषभो ज्यायानिमा अस्य शुरुधः सन्ति पूर्वीः। दिवो नपाता विदथस्य धीभिः क्षत्रं राजाना प्रदिवो दधाथे॥

asūta pūrvo vṛṣabho jyāyānimā asya śurudhaḥ santi pūrvīḥ | divo napātā vidathasya dhībhiḥ kṣatraṁ rājānā pradivo dadhāthe ||

First the more ancient Bull engendered offspring; these are his many draughts that lent him vigour. From days of old ye Kings, two Sons of Heaven, by hymns of sacrifice have won dominion.

त्रीणि राजाना विदथे पुरूणि परि विश्वानि भूषथः सदांसि। अपश्यमत्र मनसा जगन्वान्व्रते गन्धर्वाँ अपि वायुकेशान्॥

trīṇi rājānā vidathe purūṇi pari viśvāni bhūṣathaḥ sadāṁsi | apaśyamatra manasā jaganvānvrate gandharvā api vāyukeśān ||

Three seats ye Sovrans, in the Holy synod, many, yea, all, ye honour with your presence. There saw I, going thither in the spirit, Gandharvas in their course with wind-blown tresses.

तदिन्न्वस्य वृषभस्य धेनोरा नामभिर्ममिरे सक्म्यं गोः। अन्यदन्यदसुर्यं वसाना नि मायिनो ममिरे रूपमस्मिन्॥

tadinnvasya vṛṣabhasya dhenorā nāmabhirmamire sakmyaṁ goḥ | anyadanyadasuryaṁ vasānā ni māyino mamire rūpamasmin ||

That same companionship of her, the Milch-cow, here with the strong Bull's divers forms they stablished. Enduing still some new celestial figure, the skilful workers shaped a form around him.

तदिन्न्वस्य सवितुर्नकिर्मे हिरण्ययीममतिं यामशिश्रेत्। आ सुष्टुती रोदसी विश्वमिन्वे अपीव योषा जनिमानि वव्रे॥

tadinnvasya saviturnakirme hiraṇyayīmamatiṁ yāmaśiśret | ā suṣṭutī rodasī viśvaminve apīva yoṣā janimāni vavre ||

Let no one here debar me from enjoying the golden light which Savitar diffuses. He covers both all-fostering worlds with praises even as a woman cherishes her children.

युवं प्रत्नस्य साधथो महो यद्दैवी स्वस्तिः परि णः स्यातम्। गोपाजिह्वस्य तस्थुषो विरूपा विश्वे पश्यन्ति मायिनः कृतानि॥

yuvaṁ pratnasya sādhatho maho yaddaivī svastiḥ pari ṇaḥ syātam | gopājihvasya tasthuṣo virūpā viśve paśyanti māyinaḥ kṛtāni ||

Fulfil, ye twain, his work, the Great, the Ancient: as heavenly blessing keep your guard around us. All the wise Gods behold his varied actions who stands erect, whose voice is like a herdsman's.

शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ। शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम्॥

śunaṁ huvema maghavānamindramasminbhare nṛtamaṁ vājasātau | śṛṇvantamugramūtaye samatsu ghnantaṁ vṛtrāṇi saṁjitaṁ dhanānām ||

Call we on Indra, Maghavan, auspicious, best Hero in the fight where spoil is gathered, The Strong, who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays the Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.