क्षीणं पञ्चदशाहं तु रश्मिनैकेन भास्करः
When waning, for fifteen days, the Sun with one ray diminishes him.
सुषुम्णाप्यायमानस्य शुक्ला वर्द्धन्ति वै कलाः
When nourished by Suṣumnā, his bright digits increase.
इत्येवं सूर्यवीर्येण चन्द्रश्चाप्यायितस्ततः
Thus, by the Sun’s power, the Moon is nourished in this way.
एवमाप्यायितः सोमः शुक्ल पक्षे दिनक्रमात्
In this way, Soma, nourished, waxes day by day in the bright fortnight.
अपां सारमयस्येन्दो रसमात्रात्मकस्य तु
The essence of the waters, which is the very substance of the Moon, is indeed composed entirely of sap.
संभृतं त्वर्द्धमासेन ह्यमृतं सूर्यतेजसा
Within half a month, this nectar is gathered together by the radiance of the Sun.
एकां रात्रिं सुरैः सर्वैः पितृभिः सर्षिभिः सह
For one night, all the gods, along with the ancestors and sages, partake of it.
प्रक्षीयन्ते पिदृदेवैः पीयमानाः कलाः क्रमात्
Gradually, as it is consumed by the gods and ancestors, the portions are diminished.
त्रयश्च त्रिसहस्राश्च देवाः सोमं पिबन्ति वै
Three and three thousand gods indeed drink the Soma.
क्षीयन्ति तस्माच्छुक्लाश्च कृष्णा आप्याययन्ति च
Therefore, the bright phases wane, and the dark phases are replenished.
पीत्वार्द्ध मासं गच्छन्ति चामावास्यां सुरोत्तमाः
After drinking for half a month, the best of the gods depart at the new moon.
ततः पञ्चदशेकाले किञ्चिच्छिष्टे कलात्मके
Then, at the time of the fifteenth day, when a little portion remains,
पिबन्ति द्विलवं कालं शिष्टास्तस्य कलास्तु याः
Those who remain drink for two more days the portions that are left.
तां स्वधां मासतृप्त्यै च पीत्वा गच्छन्ति ते ऽमृतम्
Having drunk that Svadhā for the satisfaction of the month, they go to the nectar.
कृष्णपक्षे सुरैस्तद्वत्पीयते वै सुधामयः
In the dark fortnight, in the same way, the gods drink the nectarous essence.
काव्यश्चैव तु ये प्रोक्ताः पितरः सर्व एव ते
And all those ancestors who are called Kavyas,
सौम्यास्तु ऋतुवो ज्ञेया मासा बर्हिषदः स्मृताः
The gentle seasons are to be known, and the months are remembered as Barhishads.
पितृभिः पीयमानस्य पञ्चदश्यां कला तु वै
On the fifteenth day, the portion that is drunk by the ancestors,
अमावास्यां तदा तस्य तत आपूर्यते परः
At the new moon, then, that portion is replenished again.
एवं सूर्यनिमित्तैष क्षयोवृद्धिर्निशाकरे
Thus, due to the Sun, there is waning and waxing of the Moon.
तेयतेजोमयः शुभ्रः सोमपुत्रस्य वै रथः
That chariot of the son of Soma is radiant, made of light, and shining white.
भार्गवस्य रथः श्रीमांस्तेजसा सूर्यसन्निभः
The splendid chariot of Bhārgava is resplendent, shining with brilliance like the Sun.
श्वेतः पिशङ्गः सारङ्गो नीलः पीतो विलोहितः
White, tawny, spotted, dark blue, yellow, and bright red.
दशभिस्तैर्महाभागैरकृशैर्वातरंहसैः
With these ten noble, strong, swift horses.
असंगैर्लोहितैरश्वैः सर्वगैरग्निसंभवैः
Unattached, red horses, all-pervading, born of fire.
ततश्चाङ्गिरसो विद्वान्देवाचार्यो बृहस्पतिः
Then the learned Brhaspati, the divine teacher, of the Angiras lineage,
अब्जैस्तु वाजिभिर्दिव्यैरष्टभिर्वातरंहसैः
With eight celestial, swift horses born from water.
ततः शनैश्चरो ऽप्यश्वैः सबलैर्व्योमसंभवैः
Then Shani also, with powerful horses born of the sky.
स्वर्भानोश्च तथैवाश्वाः कृष्णा ह्यष्टौ मनोजवाः
Likewise, Svarbhanu's eight horses are black and swift as thought.
आदित्यान्निःसृतो राहुः सोमं गच्छति पर्वसु
Rahu, emerging from the Adityas, approaches the Moon at the junctions.