स्वावृग्देवस्यामृतं यदी गोरतो जातासो धारयन्त उर्वी । विश्वे देवा अनु तत्ते यजुर्गुर्दुहे यदेनी दिव्यं घृतं वाः
The immortal of the god, self-moving, when the cows, born of truth, uphold the broad earth. All the gods follow your sacrifice; they milk the heavenly ghee when you, O bull, call it forth.
अर्चामि वां वर्धायापो घृतस्नू द्यावाभूमी शृणुतं रोदसी मे । अहा यद्द्यावोऽसुनीतिमयन्मध्वा नो अत्र पितरा शिशीताम्
I praise you both to increase, O waters anointed with ghee, heaven and earth, listen to me, O two worlds. When, O heavens, you made the path of life, let our fathers be refreshed here with honey.
किं स्विन्नो राजा जगृहे कदस्याति व्रतं चकृमा को वि वेद । मित्रश्चिद्धि ष्मा जुहुराणो देवाञ्छ्लोको न यातामपि वाजो अस्ति
What king has seized us, when will he come? What law have we made, who truly knows? Even Mitra, offering to the gods, the hymn does not reach; perhaps there is no strength.
दुर्मन्त्वत्रामृतस्य नाम सलक्ष्मा यद्विषुरूपा भवाति । यमस्य यो मनवते सुमन्त्वग्ने तमृष्व पाह्यप्रयुच्छन्
Here the name of the immortal is difficult, marked with signs, when it takes many forms. Whosoever thinks well of Yama, O Agni, protect him, O swift one, from misfortune.
यस्मिन्देवा विदथे मादयन्ते विवस्वतः सदने धारयन्ते । सूर्ये ज्योतिरदधुर्मास्यक्तून्परि द्योतनिं चरतो अजस्रा
In whom the gods rejoice in the assembly, in the house of Vivasvat they are sustained. In the sun they placed the light, distributing the portions, ever shining as they move.
यस्मिन्देवा मन्मनि संचरन्त्यपीच्ये न वयमस्य विद्म । मित्रो नो अत्रादितिरनागान्सविता देवो वरुणाय वोचत्
In whom the gods move in thought, but we do not know his lower nature. Here Mitra, Aryaman, and the sinless Savitar, the god, spoke to Varuna.
श्रुधी नो अग्ने सदने सधस्थे युक्ष्वा रथममृतस्य द्रवित्नुम् । आ नो वह रोदसी देवपुत्रे माकिर्देवानामप भूरिह स्याः
Hear us, Agni, in your dwelling and assembly; yoke the swift chariot of immortality. Bring to us the two worlds, children of the gods; let us not be far from the gods here.
युजे वां ब्रह्म पूर्व्यं नमोभिर्वि श्लोक एतु पथ्येव सूरेः । शृण्वन्तु विश्वे अमृतस्य पुत्रा आ ये धामानि दिव्यानि तस्थुः
I join your ancient hymn with praises; let the song go forth like a path for the sun. Let all the sons of immortality hear, all who have stood in the divine abodes.
यमे इव यतमाने यदैतं प्र वां भरन्मानुषा देवयन्तः । आ सीदतं स्वमु लोकं विदाने स्वासस्थे भवतमिन्दवे नः
As Yama strove, when he went forth, so the worshippers, desiring the gods, have brought you. Sit down in your own world, knowing it; be at ease, like those who come to Indra.
पञ्च पदानि रुपो अन्वरोहं चतुष्पदीमन्वेमि व्रतेन । अक्षरेण प्रति मिम एतामृतस्य नाभावधि सं पुनामि
I follow the five steps of the form, I seek the four-footed by the vow. With the imperishable syllable I measure out these, up to the navel of immortality, I purify them together.
देवेभ्यः कमवृणीत मृत्युं प्रजायै कममृतं नावृणीत । बृहस्पतिं यज्ञमकृण्वत ऋषिं प्रियां यमस्तन्वं प्रारिरेचीत्
For whom did he choose death from the gods, for whom did he not choose immortality for offspring? They made Brhaspati the priest of sacrifice, Yama desired his beloved form.
सप्त क्षरन्ति शिशवे मरुत्वते पित्रे पुत्रासो अप्यवीवतन्नृतम् । उभे इदस्योभयस्य राजत उभे यतेते उभयस्य पुष्यतः
Seven streams flow for the child of the Maruts; the sons have protected the father, the true one. Both, indeed, rule over both; both strive for both, both prosper in both.
परेयिवांसं प्रवतो महीरनु बहुभ्यः पन्थामनुपस्पशानम् । वैवस्वतं संगमनं जनानां यमं राजानं हविषा दुवस्य
He who has departed along the great slopes, along the path that is well-trodden by many, to the meeting place of the people with Vaivasvata, to King Yama—honor him with offering.
यमो नो गातुं प्रथमो विवेद नैषा गव्यूतिरपभर्तवा उ । यत्रा नः पूर्वे पितरः परेयुरेना जज्ञानाः पथ्या अनु स्वाः
Yama was the first to discover for us the way; this pasture is not to be taken away; there our ancestors have gone before, each according to their proper path, born of righteousness.
मातली कव्यैर्यमो अङ्गिरोभिर्बृहस्पतिर्ऋक्वभिर्वावृधानः । याँश्च देवा वावृधुर्ये च देवान्स्वाहान्ये स्वधयान्ये मदन्ति
Mātalī with the wise, Yama with the Angiras, Bṛhaspati with the singers, have grown strong; those gods who have prospered, and those who delight in oblations and offerings.
इमं यम प्रस्तरमा हि सीदाङ्गिरोभिः पितृभिः संविदानः । आ त्वा मन्त्राः कविशस्ता वहन्त्वेना राजन्हविषा मादयस्व
O Yama, sit upon this sacred seat with the Angiras and the ancestors assembled; let the chants of the wise carry you here; rejoice, O King, in this offering.
अङ्गिरोभिरा गहि यज्ञियेभिर्यम वैरूपैरिह मादयस्व । विवस्वन्तं हुवे यः पिता तेऽस्मिन्यज्ञे बर्हिष्या निषद्य
Come with the Angiras, O Yama, with those worthy of sacrifice; delight here with the radiant ones. I call upon Vivasvat, your father, who sits upon the sacrificial grass at this rite.
अङ्गिरसो नः पितरो नवग्वा अथर्वाणो भृगवः सोम्यासः । तेषां वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियानामपि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम
The Angiras, our ancestors, the Navagvas, the Atharvans, the Bhṛgus, those who are full of Soma—may we be in the good favor of these worthy ones, may we be in blessed harmony.
प्रेहि प्रेहि पथिभिः पूर्व्येभिर्यत्रा नः पूर्वे पितरः परेयुः । उभा राजाना स्वधया मदन्ता यमं पश्यासि वरुणं च देवम्
Go forth, go forth by the ancient paths, where our ancestors have gone before; both kings, rejoicing in offerings, you will see—Yama and Varuṇa, the divine.
सं गच्छस्व पितृभिः सं यमेनेष्टापूर्तेन परमे व्योमन् । हित्वायावद्यं पुनरस्तमेहि सं गच्छस्व तन्वा सुवर्चाः
Go together with the ancestors, go with Yama, with your fulfilled sacrifices and good deeds, to the highest heaven; leaving behind all faults, return again to the home; go together with your radiant form.
अपेत वीत वि च सर्पतातोऽस्मा एतं पितरो लोकमक्रन् । अहोभिरद्भिरक्तुभिर्व्यक्तं यमो ददात्यवसानमस्मै
Depart, disperse, move away from here; our ancestors have made this world for him; by days, by waters, by nights, clearly Yama grants him a resting place.
अति द्रव सारमेयौ श्वानौ चतुरक्षौ शबलौ साधुना पथा । अथा पितॄन्सुविदत्राँ उपेहि यमेन ये सधमादं मदन्ति
Run past the two Sārameya dogs, four-eyed, spotted, along the good path; then approach the ancestors, full of good gifts, who rejoice together with Yama.
यौ ते श्वानौ यम रक्षितारौ चतुरक्षौ पथिरक्षी नृचक्षसौ । ताभ्यामेनं परि देहि राजन्स्वस्ति चास्मा अनमीवं च धेहि
Those two dogs of yours, O Yama, guardians, four-eyed, watchers of the path, seeing men—O King, let them surround him; grant him safety and freedom from disease.
उरूणसावसुतृपा उदुम्बलौ यमस्य दूतौ चरतो जनाँ अनु । तावस्मभ्यं दृशये सूर्याय पुनर्दातामसुमद्येह भद्रम्
Wide-nosed, eager for drink, the Udumbala trees, messengers of Yama, wander among the people; may they grant us sight of the sun again, may they give us good fortune in this world of the living.
यमाय सोमं सुनुत यमाय जुहुता हविः । यमं ह यज्ञो गच्छत्यग्निदूतो अरंकृतः
Press Soma for Yama, offer the oblation to Yama; the sacrifice goes to Yama, with Agni as messenger, properly arranged.
यमाय घृतवद्धविर्जुहोत प्र च तिष्ठत । स नो देवेष्वा यमद्दीर्घमायुः प्र जीवसे
Offer the clarified butter oblation to Yama, and stand forth; may Yama grant us long life among the gods, for living well.
यमाय मधुमत्तमं राज्ञे हव्यं जुहोतन । इदं नम ऋषिभ्यः पूर्वजेभ्यः पूर्वेभ्यः पथिकृद्भ्यः
Offer to Yama, the king, the sweetest offering; this homage is for the sages, the ancestors, those who made the paths before us.
त्रिकद्रुकेभिः पतति षळुर्वीरेकमिद्बृहत् । त्रिष्टुब्गायत्री छन्दांसि सर्वा ता यम आहिता
With the Trikadrukas it flies, six broad ones, this great one; the Triṣṭubh and Gāyatrī meters, all these are established for Yama.
उदीरतामवर उत्परास उन्मध्यमाः पितरः सोम्यासः । असुं य ईयुरवृका ऋतज्ञास्ते नोऽवन्तु पितरो हवेषु
Let the ancestors rise up, those below, those above, those in the middle, who are full of Soma; those who have departed, free from harm, knowing truth—may the ancestors protect us in our offerings.
इदं पितृभ्यो नमो अस्त्वद्य ये पूर्वासो य उपरास ईयुः । ये पार्थिवे रजस्या निषत्ता ये वा नूनं सुवृजनासु विक्षु
This homage is for the ancestors today, those who went before, those who have departed; those who sit in the earthly region, and those who now dwell among the well-born in the villages.