न मृत्युरासीदमृतं न तर्हि न रात्र्या अह्न आसीत्प्रकेतः। आनीदवातं स्वधया तदेकं तस्माद्धान्यन्न परः किं चनास
There was no death then, nor immortality; no sign of night or day. That One breathed, windless, by its own impulse; apart from That, there was nothing else.
तम आसीत्तमसा गूळ्हमग्रेऽप्रकेतं सलिलं सर्वमा इदम्। तुच्छ्येनाभ्वपिहितं यदासीत्तपसस्तन्महिनाजायतैकम्
Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning; all this was water without distinguishing sign. That which was covered by the void and emptiness, by the power of heat, the One was born.
कामस्तदग्रे समवर्तताधि मनसो रेतः प्रथमं यदासीत्। सतो बन्धुमसति निरविन्दन् हृदि प्रतीष्या कवयो मनीषा
Desire arose in the beginning, the first seed of mind. Sages, searching in their hearts with wisdom, found the bond of the existent in the non-existent.
तिरश्चीनो विततो रश्मिरेषामधः स्विदासी३दुपरि स्विदासी३त्। रेतोधा आसन्महिमान आसन्त्स्वधा अवस्तात्प्रयतिः परस्तात्
Their line was stretched across: was there below, was there above? There were seed-bearers, there were powers; self-dependence below, impulse above.
को अद्धा वेद क इह प्र वोचत्कुत आजाता कुत इयं विसृष्टिः। अर्वाग्देवा अस्य विसर्जनेनाथा को वेद यत आबभूव
Who truly knows, who here can declare, from where it was born, from where this creation came? The gods came after the creation of this world—who then knows from where it arose?
इयं विसृष्टिर्यत आबभूव यदि वा दधे यदि वा न। यो अस्याध्यक्षः परमे व्योमन्त्सो अङ्ग वेद यदि वा न वेद
This creation—from where it arose, whether it was made or whether not—he who oversees it in the highest heaven, he surely knows, or perhaps he does not know.
यो यज्ञो विश्वतस्तन्तुभिस्तत एकशतं देवकर्मेभिरायतः । इमे वयन्ति पितरो य आययुः प्र वयाप वयेत्यासते तते
That sacrifice, woven on all sides with threads, extended by a hundred divine acts—these ancestors who came before weave it; they sit by it, saying, 'Let us go forth, let us go forth.'
पुमाँ एनं तनुत उत्कृणत्ति पुमान्वि तत्ने अधि नाके अस्मिन् । इमे मयूखा उप सेदुरू सदः सामानि चक्रुस्तसराण्योतवे
A man stretches it, a man cuts it, a man weaves it in this heaven. These rays have approached the seat; they made the chants, all the paths for the offering.
कासीत्प्रमा प्रतिमा किं निदानमाज्यं किमासीत्परिधिः क आसीत् । छन्दः किमासीत्प्रउगं किमुक्थं यद्देवा देवमयजन्त विश्वे
What was the measure? What the model? What was the foundation? What was the clarified butter? What was the enclosing stick? What was the meter? What the recitation? What the hymn, when all the gods sacrificed to the god?
अग्नेर्गायत्र्यभवत्सयुग्वोष्णिहया सविता सं बभूव । अनुष्टुभा सोम उक्थैर्महस्वान्बृहस्पतेर्बृहती वाचमावत्
From Agni came the Gayatri as the yoke; from Savitar, Ushnih arose. From Soma, Anushtubh with hymns, mighty; from Brihaspati, Brihati brought forth speech.
विराण्मित्रावरुणयोरभिश्रीरिन्द्रस्य त्रिष्टुबिह भागो अह्नः । विश्वान्देवाञ्जगत्या विवेश तेन चाकॢप्र ऋषयो मनुष्याः
The splendor of Mitra and Varuna was Viraj; the portion of the day belonged to Indra with Trishtubh. The Jagati entered all the gods; by that, the seers and men were made able.
चाकॢप्रे तेन ऋषयो मनुष्या यज्ञे जाते पितरो नः पुराणे । पश्यन्मन्ये मनसा चक्षसा तान्य इमं यज्ञमयजन्त पूर्वे
By that, the seers and men were made able, when the sacrifice was born, our ancient ancestors. Some saw those things with mind, with eye; those former ones performed this sacrifice.
सहस्तोमाः सहछन्दस आवृतः सहप्रमा ऋषयः सप्त दैव्याः । पूर्वेषां पन्थामनुदृश्य धीरा अन्वालेभिरे रथ्यो न रश्मीन्
With praise, with meter, they were enveloped; with measure, the seven divine seers. Following the path of the former ones, the wise grasped it as charioteers grasp the reins.
अप प्राच इन्द्र विश्वाँ अमित्रानपापाचो अभिभूते नुदस्व । अपोदीचो अप शूराधराच उरौ यथा तव शर्मन्मदेम
Drive away, Indra, all enemies from the east, from the west, from below, from above. Drive them far, so that in your wide protection we may rejoice.
कुविदङ्ग यवमन्तो यवं चिद्यथा दान्त्यनुपूर्वं वियूय । इहेहैषां कृणुहि भोजनानि ये बर्हिषो नमोवृक्तिं न जग्मुः
Perhaps, O Indra, those with barley, even barley itself, as they chew, let them be separated in order. Here, make food for those who have not come to the offering, who have not uttered praise.
नहि स्थूर्यृतुथा यातमस्ति नोत श्रवो विविदे संगमेषु । गव्यन्त इन्द्रं सख्याय विप्रा अश्वायन्तो वृषणं वाजयन्तः
There is no going by the seasons, nor is fame found at the gatherings. The wise, seeking cattle, for friendship seek Indra; seeking horses, they urge on the mighty one.
युवं सुराममश्विना नमुचावासुरे सचा । विपिपाना शुभस्पती इन्द्रं कर्मस्वावतम्
You two, Ashvins, drank the Soma with Namuci, the Asura. O lords of beauty, you made Indra strong in deeds.
पुत्रमिव पितरावश्विनोभेन्द्रावथुः काव्यैर्दंसनाभिः । यत्सुरामं व्यपिबः शचीभिः सरस्वती त्वा मघवन्नभिष्णक्
Like parents for a son, O Ashvins, you protected Indra with your wisdom and teeth, when you drank the Soma with your powers. Sarasvati, you, O generous one, are ever near.
इन्द्रः सुत्रामा स्ववाँ अवोभिः सुमृळीको भवतु विश्ववेदाः । बाधतां द्वेषो अभयं कृणोतु सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम
Indra, strong-threaded, self-powerful, with your aids, be gracious, all-knowing. May he drive away hatred, make us fearless; may we be lords of heroic strength.
तस्य वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियस्यापि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम । स सुत्रामा स्ववाँ इन्द्रो अस्मे आराच्चिद्द्वेषः सनुतर्युयोतु
May we, through the favor of the worthy one, find happiness and good-mindedness. May Indra, the master of the thread and of his own power, drive away hatred from us, even from afar.
ईजानमिद्द्यौर्गूर्तावसुरीजानं भूमिरभि प्रभूषणि । ईजानं देवावश्विनावभि सुम्नैरवर्धताम्
The worshipped one is praised, the mighty one is worshipped, the earth is adorned with abundance. May the divine Ashvins, with their blessings, cause the worshipped one to grow.
ता वां मित्रावरुणा धारयत्क्षिती सुषुम्नेषितत्वता यजामसि । युवोः क्राणाय सख्यैरभि ष्याम रक्षसः
May Mitra and Varuna uphold your realm with their benevolent guidance; we offer sacrifice to you. For your favor, may we be protected from harm through friendship.
अधा चिन्नु यद्दिधिषामहे वामभि प्रियं रेक्णः पत्यमानाः । दद्वाँ वा यत्पुष्यति रेक्णः सम्वारन्नकिरस्य मघानि
Then, indeed, when we desire your favor, seeking what is dear, may the praised one, as he rules, grant us what nourishes, and may none hinder his gifts.
असावन्यो असुर सूयत द्यौस्त्वं विश्वेषां वरुणासि राजा । मूर्धा रथस्य चाकन्नैतावतैनसान्तकध्रुक्
That other mighty one is born, the lord; you are the king of all, O Varuna. The head of the chariot is fixed, so far, as the remover of sin.
अस्मिन्स्वेतच्छकपूत एनो हिते मित्रे निगतान्हन्ति वीरान् । अवोर्वा यद्धात्तनूष्ववः प्रियासु यज्ञियास्वर्वा
In this pure, shining place, sin is destroyed; in the friend, the fallen are struck down. When you grant favor to the bodies, to the beloved, to the worthy, you are abundant.
युवोर्हि मातादितिर्विचेतसा द्यौर्न भूमिः पयसा पुपूतनि । अव प्रिया दिदिष्टन सूरो निनिक्त रश्मिभिः
For your mother, Aditi, is wise; heaven and earth are purified by her nourishment. Grant favor to the beloved, the sun sets forth with its rays.
युवं ह्यप्नराजावसीदतं तिष्ठद्रथं न धूर्षदं वनर्षदम् । ता नः कणूकयन्तीर्नृमेधस्तत्रे अंहसः सुमेधस्तत्रे अंहसः
You, O lords, are kings by birth; you sit upon the steadfast chariot, unconquered, victorious. May those who praise us, O wise ones, protect us from distress, O wise ones, protect us from distress.
प्रो ष्वस्मै पुरोरथमिन्द्राय शूषमर्चत । अभीके चिदु लोककृत्संगे समत्सु वृत्रहास्माकं बोधि चोदिता नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु
Raise up the shout for Indra, the leader in battle. Even in the midst of conflict, the slayer of Vritra, be our guide; let the bows of others break upon the battlefield.
त्वं सिन्धूँरवासृजोऽधराचो अहन्नहिम् । अशत्रुरिन्द्र जज्ञिषे विश्वं पुष्यसि वार्यं तं त्वा परि ष्वजामहे नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु
You, Indra, have released the rivers, struck down the low ones, and destroyed the frost. You are born without an enemy; you bestow all treasures. We embrace you; let the bows of others break upon the battlefield.
वि षु विश्वा अरातयोऽर्यो नशन्त नो धियः । अस्तासि शत्रवे वधं यो न इन्द्र जिघांसति या ते रातिर्ददिर्वसु नभन्तामन्यकेषां ज्याका अधि धन्वसु
Let all hostilities vanish, as enemies are destroyed; let our thoughts be preserved. Establish destruction for the enemy who seeks to harm us, Indra. May your gift, O giver of wealth, let the bows of others break upon the battlefield.