यजुर्वेद

Chapter 1

Darshapurnamasa Yajna (New and Full Moon Sacrificial Liturgy)

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The Principle of Yajna: Selfless Action and Cosmic Interdependence (Ise Tvorje Tva)

The Yajurveda opens with the famous mantra 'Ise tvorje tva' (For energy and vitality, we dedicate our action). In Vedic karma-mimamsa, Yajna is the fundamental cosmic principle connecting human labor, agricultural sustainability, and cosmic nourishment (Anna-Brahma).

Recited during Darshapurnamasa ishti (New and Full Moon sacrifices). Accompanies the cutting of the palasha branch (Pavitra-karana), washing of grains, and churning of the butter.

Mantra 1

Devatā: Savitṛ · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

इ॒षे त्वो॒र्जे त्वा॑ वा॒यव॑ स्थ दे॒वो वः॑ सवि॒ता प्रार्प॑यतु॒ श्रेष्ठ॑तमाय॒ कर्म॑ण॒ऽआप्या॑यध्वमघ्न्या॒ऽइन्द्रा॑य भा॒गं प्र॒जाव॑तीरनमी॒वाऽअ॑य॒क्ष्मा मा व॑ स्ते॒नऽई॑शत॒ माघश॑ꣳसो ध्रु॒वाऽअ॒स्मिन् गोप॑तौ स्यात ब॒ह्वीर्यज॑मानस्य प॒शून् पा॑हि॥१॥

Iṣe tvorje tvā vāyava stha devo vaḥ savitā prārpayatu śreṣṭhatamāya karmaṇa āpyāyadhvamaghnyā indrāya bhāgamprajāvatīranamīvāayakṣmā mā va stenaīśata māghaśãso dhuravāasmingopatau syāta bahvīḥ yajamānasya paśūnpāhi.

THEE for food. Thee for vigour. Ye are breezes. To noblest work God Savitar impel you. Inviolable! swell his share for Indra. No thief, no evil-minded man shall master you rich in off-spring, free from pain and sickness. Be constant, numerous to this lord of cattle. Guard thou the cattle of the Sacrificer.

Opening of Darśapūrṇamāsa: addressing sacrificial materials with Savitṛ’s impulse toward the noblest rite.

THEE for food. Thee for vigour. Ye are breezes. To noblest work God Savitar impel you. Inviolable! swell his share for Indra. No thief, no evil-minded man shall master you rich in off-spring, free from pain and sickness. Be constant, numerous to this lord of cattle. Guard thou the cattle of the Sacrificer.

Mantra 2

Devatā: यज्ञो · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

वसोः॑ प॒वित्र॑मसि॒ द्यौर॑सि पृथि॒व्यसि मात॒रिश्व॑नो घ॒र्मोऽसि वि॒श्वधा॑ऽअसि। प॒र॒मेण॒ धाम्ना॒ दृꣳह॑स्व॒ मा ह्वा॒र्मा ते॑ य॒ज्ञप॑तिर्ह्वार्षीत्॥२॥

Vasoḥ pavitramasi dyaurasi pṛthivyasi mātariśvano gharmā si viśvadhāasi.

Strainer of Vasu art thou. Thou art heaven. Earth art thou. Thou art Mâtarisvan’s caldron. Thou art the All-container. Stand thou firmly, secure by Law Supreme, and do not totter. Nor be thy Lord of Sacrifice unsteady.

Identification of the pavitra (strainer) with heaven, earth, and cosmic firmness for the yajamāna.

Strainer of Vasu art thou. Thou art heaven. Earth art thou. Thou art Mâtarisvan’s caldron. Thou art the All-container. Stand thou firmly, secure by Law Supreme, and do not totter. Nor be thy Lord of Sacrifice unsteady.

Mantra 3

Devatā: Savitṛ · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

वसोः॑ प॒वित्र॑मसि श॒तधा॑रं॒ वसोः॑ प॒वित्र॑मसि स॒हस्र॑धारम्। दे॒वस्त्वा॑ सवि॒ता पु॑नातु॒ वसोः॑ प॒वित्रे॑ण श॒तधा॑रेण सु॒प्वा काम॑धुक्षः॥३॥

Vasoḥ pavitramasi śatadhāraṃ vasoḥ pavitramasi sahasradhāram.

Thou art the strainer, hundred-streamed, of Vasu. Thou art the strainer, thousand-streamed, of Vasu. May Savitar the God with Vasu’s strainer, thousand-streamed, rightly cleansing, purify thee.

Purification with the hundred- and thousand-streamed strainer of Vasu under Savitṛ.

Thou art the strainer, hundred-streamed, of Vasu. Thou art the strainer, thousand-streamed, of Vasu. May Savitar the God with Vasu’s strainer, thousand-streamed, rightly cleansing, purify thee.

Mantra 4

Devatā: विष्णुर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

सा वि॒श्वायुः॒ सा वि॒श्वक॑र्मा॒ सा वि॒श्वधा॑याः। इन्द्र॑स्य त्वा भा॒गꣳ सोमे॒नात॑नच्मि॒ विष्णो॑ ह॒व्यꣳर॑क्ष॥४॥

Sā viśvāyuḥ sā viśvakarmā sā viśvadhāyāḥ.

Which didst thou milk? This is the cow Visvâyu. This Visvakarman. This is Visvadhâyas. Thee, Indra’s share, with Soma do I curdle. Be thou protector of the oblation, Vishnu.

Milk-curdling formula naming Viśvāyu, Viśvakarman, Viśvadhāyas; Viṣṇu as guardian of the offering.

Which didst thou milk? This is the cow Visvâyu. This Visvakarman. This is Visvadhâyas. Thee, Indra’s share, with Soma do I curdle. Be thou protector of the oblation, Vishnu.

Mantra 5

Devatā: अग्निर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

अग्ने॑ व्रतपते व्र॒तं च॑रिष्यामि॒ तच्छ॑केयं॒ तन्मे॑ राध्यताम्।इ॒दम॒हमनृ॑तात् स॒त्यमुपै॑मि॥५॥

Agne vratapate vrataṃ cariṣyāmi tacchakeyaṃ tanme rādhyatām.

I will observe the vow, Lord of Vows, Agni! May I have strength therefor. Success attend me. Now into truth from untruth do I enter.

Vrata-taking before Agni Vratapati: entering satya from anṛta.

I will observe the vow, Lord of Vows, Agni! May I have strength therefor. Success attend me. Now into truth from untruth do I enter.

Mantra 6

Devatā: प्रजापतिर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

कस्त्वा॑ युनक्ति॒ स त्वा॑ युनक्ति॒ कस्मै॑ त्वा युनक्ति॒ तस्मै॑ त्वा युनक्ति। कर्म॑णे वां॒ वेषा॑य वाम्॥६॥

Kastvā yunakti sa tvā yunakti kasmai tvā yunakti tasmai tvā yunakti.

Who is it that unites thee? He unites thee. For what doth he yoke thee? For that he yokes thee. You two for work, you two for its completion.

Yoking the ritual implements — who yokes, for what purpose, for the work and its completion.

Who is it that unites thee? He unites thee. For what doth he yoke thee? For that he yokes thee. You two for work, you two for its completion.

Mantra 7

Devatā: यज्ञो · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

प्रत्यु॑ष्ट॒ꣳरक्षः॒ प्रत्यु॑ष्टा॒ऽअरा॑तयो॒ निष्ट॑प्त॒ꣳरक्षो॒ निष्ट॑प्ता॒ऽअरा॑तयः। उ॒र्वन्तरि॑क्ष॒मन्वे॑मि॥७॥

Pratyuṣṭã rakṣaḥ pratyuṣṭā arātayaḥ.

Scorched are the fiends, scorched the malignant beings. Burnt out are fiends, burnt out malignant beings. Throughout the spacious middle air I travel.

Scorching rākṣasa and arāti; the adhvaryu’s passage through mid-space (antarikṣa).

Scorched are the fiends, scorched the malignant beings. Burnt out are fiends, burnt out malignant beings. Throughout the spacious middle air I travel.

Mantra 8

Devatā: अग्निर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

धूर॑सि॒ धूर्व॒ धूर्व॑न्तं॒ धूर्व॒ तं यो॒ऽस्मान् धूर्व॑ति॒ तं धू॑र्व॒ यं व॒यं धूर्वा॑मः। दे॒वाना॑मसि॒ वह्नि॑तम॒ꣳ सस्नि॑तमं॒ पप्रि॑तमं॒ जुष्ट॑तमं देव॒हूत॑मम्॥८॥

Dhūrasi dhūrva dhūrvantaṃ dhūrva tã yo smāndhūrvati taṃ dhūrva yã vayandhūrvāmaḥ.

Thou art the yoke. Injure thou him who injures. Harm him who harm us. Harm the man we injure. Thou art the Gods’ best carrier, bound most firmly, filled fullest, welcomest, Gods’ best invoker.

Yoke formula: protecting the sacrifice against harm; the cart as gods’ carrier.

Thou art the yoke. Injure thou him who injures. Harm him who harm us. Harm the man we injure. Thou art the Gods’ best carrier, bound most firmly, filled fullest, welcomest, Gods’ best invoker.

Mantra 9

Devatā: विष्णुर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

अह्रु॑तमसि हवि॒र्धानं॒ दृꣳह॑स्व॒ मा ह्वा॒र्मा ते॑ य॒ज्ञप॑तिर्ह्वार्षीत्। विष्णु॑स्त्वा क्रमतामु॒रु वाता॒याप॑हत॒ꣳरक्षो॒ यच्छ॑न्तां॒ पञ्च॑॥९॥

Ahrutamasi havirdhānaṃ dṛ̃hasva mā hvārmā yajñapatirhvārṣīt.

Thou art unbent, receiver of oblations. Stand firmly in thy place and do not totter. Nor be thy Lord of sacrifice unsteady. Let Vishnu mount thee. To the wind lie open. The demons are expelled. Let the five grasp it.

Havirdhāna cart: firmness, Viṣṇu mounting, wind-opening, expulsion of demons.

Thou art unbent, receiver of oblations. Stand firmly in thy place and do not totter. Nor be thy Lord of sacrifice unsteady. Let Vishnu mount thee. To the wind lie open. The demons are expelled. Let the five grasp it.

Mantra 10

Devatā: Savitṛ · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

दे॒वस्य॑ त्वा सवि॒तुः प्र॑स॒वेऽश्विनो॑र्बा॒हुभ्यां॑ पू॒ष्णो हस्ता॑भ्याम्। अ॒ग्नये॒ जुष्टं॑ गृह्णाम्य॒ग्नीषोमा॑भ्यां॒ जुष्टं॑ गृह्णामि॥१०॥

Devasya tvā savituḥ prasaveśvinorbāhubhyāṃ pūṣṇo hastābhyām.

By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan, Thee dear to Agni, dear to Agni-Soma.

Taking with Savitṛ’s prasava, Aśvin arms, Pūṣan hands — dear to Agni and Agni-Soma.

By impulse of God Savitar I take thee with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan, Thee dear to Agni, dear to Agni-Soma.

Mantra 11

Devatā: अग्निर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

भू॒ताय॑ त्वा॒ नारा॑तये॒ स्वरभि॒विख्ये॑षं॒ दृꣳह॑न्तां॒ दुर्याः॑ पृथि॒व्यामु॒र्वन्तरि॑क्ष॒मन्वे॑मि। पृ॒थि॒व्यास्त्वा॒ नाभौ॑ सादया॒म्यदि॑त्याऽउ॒पस्थेऽग्ने॑ ह॒व्यꣳ र॑क्ष॥११॥

Bhūtāya tvā nārātaye.

Thee for abundance, not for evil spirit. May mine eye look upon the light of heaven. May those with doors stand on the earth securely. Throughout the spacious middle air I travel. Upon the navel of the earth I place thee, on Aditi’s lap. Protect the oblation, Agni!

Abundance, heavenly sight, door-posts on earth, placing on Aditi’s lap; Agni protects the offering.

Thee for abundance, not for evil spirit. May mine eye look upon the light of heaven. May those with doors stand on the earth securely. Throughout the spacious middle air I travel. Upon the navel of the earth I place thee, on Aditi’s lap. Protect the oblation, Agni!

Mantra 12

Devatā: Savitṛ · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

प॒वित्रे॑ स्थो वैष्ण॒व्यौ सवि॒तुर्वः॑ प्रस॒व उत्पु॑ना॒म्यच्छि॑द्रेण प॒वित्रे॑ण॒ सूर्य्य॑स्य रश्मिभिः॑। देवी॑रापोऽअग्रेगुवोऽअग्रेपु॒वोऽग्र॑ऽइ॒मम॒द्य य॒ज्ञं न॑य॒ताग्रे॑ य॒ज्ञप॑तिꣳ सु॒धातुं॑ य॒ज्ञप॑तिं देव॒युव॑म्॥१२॥

Pavitre stho vaiṣṇavyau saviturvaḥ prasavautpunāmyacchidreṇa pavitreṇa sūryasya raśmibhiḥ.

Ye two are strainers that belong to Vishnu. By Savitar’s impulse, with this flawless strainer I purify you with the rays of Sûrya. Bright Waters, flowing forward, foremost drinkers, lead forward now this sacrifice, lead forward the Sacrifice’s Lord, the God-devoted Lord of the Sacrifice, the liberal giver.

Vaiṣṇava strainers; purifying waters; leading the sacrifice and its lord forward.

Ye two are strainers that belong to Vishnu. By Savitar’s impulse, with this flawless strainer I purify you with the rays of Sûrya. Bright Waters, flowing forward, foremost drinkers, lead forward now this sacrifice, lead forward the Sacrifice’s Lord, the God-devoted Lord of the Sacrifice, the liberal giver.

Mantra 13

Devatā: इन्द्रो । अग्निः यज्ञो · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

यु॒ष्माऽइन्द्रो॑ऽवृणीत वृत्र॒तूर्य्ये॑ यू॒यमिन्द्र॑मवृणीध्वं वृत्र॒तूर्ये॒ प्रोक्षि॑ता स्थ। अ॒ग्नये॑ त्वा॒ जुष्टं॒ प्रोक्षा॑म्य॒ग्नीषोमा॑भ्यां त्वा॒ जुष्टं॒ प्रोक्षा॑मि। दैव्या॑य॒ कर्म॑णे शुन्धध्वं देवय॒ज्यायै॒ यद्वोऽशु॑द्धाः पराज॒घ्नुरि॒दं व॒स्तच्छु॑न्धामि॥१३॥

Yuṣmāindro vṛṇīta vṛtratūrye yūyamindramavṛṇīdhvã vṛtratūrye prokṣitā stha.

Indra elected you in fight with Vritra: in fight with Vritra you elected Indra. By over-sprinkling are ye consecrated. I sprinkle thee agreeable to Agni. I sprinkle thee welcome to Agni-Soma. Pure for the work divine be ye, and holy, pure for the sacrifice to Gods. Whatever of yours the impure have by their touch polluted, hereby I cleanse for you from all defilement.

Indra–Vṛtra election; consecration by sprinkling for Agni and Agni-Soma; cleansing pollution.

Indra elected you in fight with Vritra: in fight with Vritra you elected Indra. By over-sprinkling are ye consecrated. I sprinkle thee agreeable to Agni. I sprinkle thee welcome to Agni-Soma. Pure for the work divine be ye, and holy, pure for the sacrifice to Gods. Whatever of yours the impure have by their touch polluted, hereby I cleanse for you from all defilement.

Mantra 14

Devatā: यज्ञो · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

शर्मा॒स्यव॑धूत॒ꣳ रक्षोऽव॑धूता॒ऽअरा॑त॒योऽदि॑त्या॒स्त्वग॑सि॒ प्रति॒ त्वादि॑तिर्वेत्तु। अद्रि॑रसि वानस्प॒त्यो ग्रावा॑सि पृ॒थुबु॑ध्नः॒ प्रति॒ त्वादि॑त्या॒स्त्वग्वे॑त्तु॥१४॥

Śarmāsyavadhūtã rakṣovadhūtāarātayodityāstvagasi prati tvāditirvettu.

Giver art thou of happiness. Rejected are fiends, rejected are malignant beings. Aditi’s akin art thou. May Aditi receive thee. A wooden stone art thou. Thou art a broad-based stone. May the skin of Aditi receive thee.

Śarma / Aditi’s skin; rejecting fiends; wooden pressing-stone reception.

Giver art thou of happiness. Rejected are fiends, rejected are malignant beings. Aditi’s akin art thou. May Aditi receive thee. A wooden stone art thou. Thou art a broad-based stone. May the skin of Aditi receive thee.

Mantra 15

Devatā: यज्ञो · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

अ॒ग्नेस्त॒नूर॑सि वा॒चो वि॒सर्ज॑नं दे॒ववी॑तये त्वा गृह्णामि बृ॒हद् ग्रा॑वासि वानस्प॒त्यः सऽइ॒दं दे॒वेभ्यो॑ ह॒विः श॑मीष्व सु॒शमि॑ शमीष्व। हवि॑ष्कृ॒देहि॒ हवि॑ष्कृ॒देहि॑॥१५॥

Agnestanūrasi vāco visarjanandevavītaye tvā gṛhṇāmi bṛhadgrāvāsi vānaspatyaḥ sa idandevebhyo haviḥ śamīṣva suśami śamīṣva haviṣkṛdehi haviṣkṛdehi.

Body of Agni art thou, the releaser of speech. I seize thee for the Gods’ enjoyment. A mighty stone art thou, formed out of timber. Make ready for the Deities this oblation: with careful preparation make it ready. Havishkrit, come! Havishkrit, come! Havishkrit, come!

Body of Agni, releaser of speech; timber grinding-stone; calling Haviskṛt.

Body of Agni art thou, the releaser of speech. I seize thee for the Gods’ enjoyment. A mighty stone art thou, formed out of timber. Make ready for the Deities this oblation: with careful preparation make it ready. Havishkrit, come! Havishkrit, come! Havishkrit, come!

Mantra 16

Devatā: Savitṛ · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

कु॒क्कु॒टोऽसि॒ मधु॑जिह्व॒ऽइष॒मूर्ज॒माव॑द॒ त्वया॑ व॒यꣳ स॑ङ्घा॒तꣳ स॑ङ्घातं जेष्म व॒र्षवृ॑द्धमसि॒ प्रति॑ त्वा व॒र्षवृ॑द्धं वेत्तु॒ परा॑पूत॒ꣳ रक्षः॒ परा॑पूता॒ अरा॑त॒योऽप॑हत॒ꣳ रक्षो॑ वा॒युर्वो॒ विवि॑नक्तु दे॒वो वः॑ सवि॒ता हिर॑ण्यपाणिः॒ प्रति॑गृभ्णा॒त्वच्छि॑द्रेण पा॒णिना॑॥१६॥

Kukkuṭo si madhujihvaiṣamūrjamāvada tvayā vayã saṅdhātãsaṅdhātañjeṣma varṣavṛddhamasi prati tvā varṣavṛddhaṃ vettu parāpūtã rakṣaḥ parāpūtāarātayo apahatã rakṣo vāyurvo vi vinaktu devo vaḥ savitā hiraṇyapāṇiḥ prati gṛbhṇātvacchidreṇa pāṇinā.

Thou art a cock whose tongue is sweet with honey. Call to us hither sap and manly vigour. May we with thee in every fight be victors. Rain-grown art thou. May the rain-grown receive thee. Cleared off are fiends, cleared off are evil beings. Expelled are fiends. May Vâyu separate you. May Savitar the God, the golden-handed, with flawless hand unto himself receive you.

Madhu-tongued kukkuṭa call for iṣ and ūrj; rain-grown grain; Vāyu and Savitṛ reception.

Thou art a cock whose tongue is sweet with honey. Call to us hither sap and manly vigour. May we with thee in every fight be victors. Rain-grown art thou. May the rain-grown receive thee. Cleared off are fiends, cleared off are evil beings. Expelled are fiends. May Vâyu separate you. May Savitar the God, the golden-handed, with flawless hand unto himself receive you.

Mantra 17

Devatā: अग्निर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

धृष्टि॑र॒स्यपा॑ऽग्नेऽअ॒ग्निमा॒मादं॑ जहि॒ निष्क्र॒व्याद॑ꣳ से॒धा दे॑व॒यजं॑ वह। ध्रु॒वम॑सि पृथि॒वीं दृ॑ꣳह ब्रह्म॒वनि॑ त्वा क्षत्र॒वनि॑ सजात॒वन्युप॑दधामि॒ भ्रातृ॑व्यस्य व॒धाय॑॥१७॥

Dhṛṣṭirasyapāgneagnimāmādañjahi niṣkravyādã sedhā ā devayajã vaha.

Bold art thou. Cast away the Corpse-consumer. Drive off the fire that eats raw flesh, O Agni. That which makes offerings to the Gods bring hither. Firm art thou. Make earth firm. For the foe’s slaughter I set thee on, devoted to the priesthood, devoted to the nobles and the kinsmen.

Driving corpse-consuming fire; firming earth; setting bricks for foe’s defeat and social orders.

Bold art thou. Cast away the Corpse-consumer. Drive off the fire that eats raw flesh, O Agni. That which makes offerings to the Gods bring hither. Firm art thou. Make earth firm. For the foe’s slaughter I set thee on, devoted to the priesthood, devoted to the nobles and the kinsmen.

Mantra 18

Devatā: अग्निर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

अग्ने॒ ब्रह्म॑ गृभ्णीष्व ध॒रुण॑मस्य॒न्तरि॑क्षं दृꣳह ब्रह्म॒वनि॑ त्वा क्षत्र॒वनि॑ सजात॒वन्युप॑दधामि॒ भ्रातृ॑व्यस्य व॒धाय॑। ध॒र्त्रम॑सि॒ दिवं॑ दृꣳह ब्रह्म॒वनि॑ त्वा क्षत्र॒वनि॑ सजात॒वन्युप॑दधामि॒ भ्रातृ॑व्यस्य व॒धाय॑। विश्वा॑भ्य॒स्त्वाशा॑भ्य॒ऽउप॑दधामि॒ चित॑ स्थोर्ध्व॒चितो॒ भृगू॑णा॒मङ्गि॑रसां॒ तप॑सा तप्यध्वम्॥१८॥

Agne brahma gṛbhṇīṣva dharuṇamasyantarikṣandṛ̃ha brahmavani tvā kṣatravani sajātavanyupa dadhāmi bhrātṛvyasya badhāya.

Agni, do thou accept our holy service. Keeper art thou: make firm the Air’s mid-region. For the foe’s death I set thee on, devoted to priesthood and nobility and kinsmen. Thou art a stay: uphold the sky securely. For the foe’s death, etc. I set thee on for sake of all the regions. Formers of layers are ye, and heap-formers, With Bhrigus’ and Angirases’ heat be heated.

Agni accepting brahman; firming mid-region and sky; layer-formers heated with Bhṛgu–Aṅgiras heat.

Agni, do thou accept our holy service. Keeper art thou: make firm the Air’s mid-region. For the foe’s death I set thee on, devoted to priesthood and nobility and kinsmen. Thou art a stay: uphold the sky securely. For the foe’s death, etc. I set thee on for sake of all the regions. Formers of layers are ye, and heap-formers, With Bhrigus’ and Angirases’ heat be heated.

Mantra 19

Devatā: अग्निर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

शर्मा॒स्यव॑धूत॒ꣳ रक्षोऽव॑धूता॒ऽअरा॑त॒योऽदि॑त्या॒स्त्वग॑सि॒ प्रति॒ त्वादि॑तिर्वेतु। धि॒षणा॑सि पर्व॒ती प्रति॒ त्वादि॑त्या॒स्त्वग्वे॑त्तु दि॒वः स्क॑म्भ॒नीर॑सि धि॒षणा॑सि पार्वते॒यी प्रति॑ त्वा पर्व॒ती वे॑त्तु ॥१९॥

Śarmāsyavadhūtã rakṣovadhūtāarātayodityāstvagasi prati tvāditirvettu.

Giver of happiness art thou. Rejected are fiends, rejected are malignant beings. Aditi’s skin art thou, May Aditi receive thee. Bowl, rock art thou. May Aditi’s skin receive thee. Thou art the sky’s supporting pillar. Bowl from the rock art thou. The rock receive thee.

Aditi’s skin and rocky bowl; sky-pillar; mountain-born dhiṣaṇā reception.

Giver of happiness art thou. Rejected are fiends, rejected are malignant beings. Aditi’s skin art thou, May Aditi receive thee. Bowl, rock art thou. May Aditi’s skin receive thee. Thou art the sky’s supporting pillar. Bowl from the rock art thou. The rock receive thee.

Mantra 20

Devatā: Savitṛ · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

धा॒न्यमसि धिनु॒हि दे॒वान् प्रा॒णाय॑ त्वोदा॒नाय॑ त्वा व्या॒नाय॑ त्वा। दी॒र्घामनु॒ प्रसि॑ति॒मायु॑षे धां दे॒वो वः॑ सवि॒ता हिर॑ण्यपाणिः॒ प्रति॑गृभ्णा॒त्वच्छि॑द्रेण पा॒णिना॒ चक्षु॑षे त्वा म॒हीनां॒ पयो॑ऽसि॥ २०॥

Dhānyamasi dhinuhi devān prāṇāya tvodānāya tvā vyānāya tvā.

Grain art thou. Please the Gods. Thee for in-breathing. For out-breath thee. Thee for diffusive breathing. May I impart to life a long extension. May Savitar the God, the golden-handed, with flawless hand unto himself receive you. Thee for the eye. Juice art thou of the Great Ones.

Grain for the gods; prāṇa, udāna, vyāna; long life; Savitṛ’s golden hand; eye and great ones’ milk.

Grain art thou. Please the Gods. Thee for in-breathing. For out-breath thee. Thee for diffusive breathing. May I impart to life a long extension. May Savitar the God, the golden-handed, with flawless hand unto himself receive you. Thee for the eye. Juice art thou of the Great Ones.

Mantra 21

Devatā: यज्ञो सर्वस्य · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

दे॒वस्य॑ त्वा सवि॒तुः प्र॑स॒वेऽश्विनो॑र्बा॒हुभ्यां॑ पू॒ष्णो हस्ता॑भ्याम्। सं व॑पामि॒ समाप॒ऽओष॑धीभिः॒ समोष॑धयो॒ रसे॑न। सꣳ रे॒वती॒र्जग॑तीभिः पृच्यन्ता॒ सं मधु॑मती॒र्मधु॑मतीभिः पृच्यन्ताम्॥ २१॥

Devasya tvā savituḥ prasaveśvinorbāhubhyāṃ pūṣṇo hastābhyām.

By impulse of God Savitar I strew thee, with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan. With plants let waters, plants with sap be mingled. United be the rich ones with the moving. The sweet ones and the sweet be joined together.

Strewing by Savitṛ–Aśvin–Pūṣan; mingling plants, waters, and sweetness.

By impulse of God Savitar I strew thee, with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan. With plants let waters, plants with sap be mingled. United be the rich ones with the moving. The sweet ones and the sweet be joined together.

Mantra 22

Devatā: प्रथतामितिपर्य्यन्तस्य यज्ञो । अन्त्यस्याग्निवितारौ देवते · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

जन॑यत्यै त्वा॒ संयौ॑मी॒दम॒ग्नेरि॒दम॒ग्नीषोम॑योरि॒षे त्वा॑ घ॒र्मोऽसि वि॒श्वायु॑रु॒रुप्र॑थाऽउ॒रु प्र॑थस्वो॒रु ते॑ य॒ज्ञप॑तिः प्रथताम॒ग्निष्टे॒ त्वचं॒ मा हि॑ꣳसीद् दे॒वस्त्वा॑ सवि॒ता श्र॑पयतु॒ वर्षि॒ष्ठेऽधि॒ नाके॑॥ २२॥

Janayatyai tvā saṃyaumīdamagneridamagnīṣomayoriṣe tvā gharmāsi viśvāyururuprathāuru prathasvoru te yajñapatiḥ prathatāmagniṣṭe tvacammā hĩsīddevastvā savitā śrapayatu varṣiṣṭhedhi nāke.

For generation’s sake I join thee. This is Agni’s. This Agni-Soma’s. Thee for food. Thou art the caldron, life of all that liveth. Spread thyself widely forth, thou, widely spreading. So may thy Lord of sacrifice spread widely. Thy skin let Agni harm not. In highest heaven let the God Savitar hake thee.

Joining for generation; Agni / Agni-Soma shares; gharma caldron; Savitṛ baking in highest heaven.

For generation’s sake I join thee. This is Agni’s. This Agni-Soma’s. Thee for food. Thou art the caldron, life of all that liveth. Spread thyself widely forth, thou, widely spreading. So may thy Lord of sacrifice spread widely. Thy skin let Agni harm not. In highest heaven let the God Savitar hake thee.

Mantra 23

Devatā: अग्निर् · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

मा भे॒र्मा॒ संवि॑क्था॒ऽअत॑मेरुर्य॒ज्ञोऽत॑मेरु॒र्यज॑मानस्य प्र॒जा भू॑यात् त्रि॒ताय॑ त्वा द्वि॒ताय॑ त्वैक॒ताय॑ त्वा॥२३॥

Mā bhermā sãvikthātameruryajño tameruryajamānasya prajā bhūyāttritāya tvā dvitāya tvaikatāya tvā.

Fear not. Shrink not. Let not the sacrifice be languid, not languid he the Sacrificer’s offspring. For Trita thee. For Dvita thee. For Ekata thee.

Fear-not formula; offspring of yajamāna; offerings for Trita, Dvita, Ekata.

Fear not. Shrink not. Let not the sacrifice be languid, not languid he the Sacrificer’s offspring. For Trita thee. For Dvita thee. For Ekata thee.

Mantra 24

Devatā: द्योविद्युतौ देवते · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

दे॒वस्य॑ त्वा सवि॒तुः प्र॑स॒वेऽश्विनो॑र्बा॒हुभ्यां॑ पू॒ष्णो हस्ता॑भ्याम्। आद॑देऽध्वर॒कृतं॑ दे॒वेभ्य॒ऽइन्द्र॑स्य बा॒हुर॑सि॒ दक्षि॑णः स॒हस्र॑भृष्टिः श॒तते॑जा वा॒युर॑सि ति॒ग्मते॑जा द्विष॒तो व॒धः॥२४॥

Devasya tvā savituḥ prasaveśvinorbāhubhyāmpūṣṇo hastābhyām.

By impulse of God Savitar I take thee, with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan, thee who for Gods performest sacred service. Indra’s right arm art thou: sharp with a thousand spikes, a hundred edges. The keen-edged Wind art thou, the foeman’s slayer.

Taking the adhvara-instrument; Indra’s right arm; thousand-spiked, wind as foe-slayer.

By impulse of God Savitar I take thee, with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan, thee who for Gods performest sacred service. Indra’s right arm art thou: sharp with a thousand spikes, a hundred edges. The keen-edged Wind art thou, the foeman’s slayer.

Mantra 25

Devatā: Savitṛ · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

पृथि॑वि देवयज॒न्योष॑ध्यास्ते॒ मूलं॒ मा हि॑ꣳसिषं व्र॒जं ग॑च्छ गो॒ष्ठानं वर्ष॑तु ते॒ द्यौर्ब॑धा॒न दे॑व सवितः पर॒मस्यां॑ पृथि॒व्या श॒तेन॒ पाशै॒र्योऽस्मान्द्वेष्टि॒ यं च॑ व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मस्तमतो॒ मा मौ॑क्॥२५॥

Pṛthivi devayajanyoṣadhyāste mūlammā hĩsiṣãvrajaṅgaccha goṣṭhānãvarṣatu te dyaurbadhāna deva savitaḥ paramasyāmpṛthivyā̃ śatena pāśairyā smāndveṣṭi yañca vayandviṣmastamato mā mauk.

O Earth, whereon men serve the Gods with worship, let me not do thy plant’s root any damage. Go to the pen, the cowstall. Heaven rain for thee. On this earth’s farthest end, God Savitar, bind him, with hundred fetters bind the man who hates us and whom we hate. Thence do not thou release him.

Apology to Earth and plant roots; pen/cowstall; binding the hater with Savitṛ’s hundred fetters.

O Earth, whereon men serve the Gods with worship, let me not do thy plant’s root any damage. Go to the pen, the cowstall. Heaven rain for thee. On this earth’s farthest end, God Savitar, bind him, with hundred fetters bind the man who hates us and whom we hate. Thence do not thou release him.

Mantra 26

Devatā: Savitṛ · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

अपा॒ररुं॑ पृथि॒व्यै दे॑व॒यज॑नाद्वध्यासं व्र॒जं ग॑च्छ गो॒ष्ठानं॒ वर्ष॑तु ते॒ द्यौर्ब॑धा॒न दे॑व सवितः पर॒मस्यां॑ पृथि॒व्या श॒तेन॒ पाशै॒र्योऽस्मान्द्वेष्टि॒ यं च॑ व॒यं द्विष्मस्तमतो॒ मा मौ॑क्। अर॑रो॒ दिवं॒ मा प॑प्तो द्र॒प्सस्ते॒ द्यां मा स्क॑न् व्र॒जं ग॑च्छ गो॒ष्ठानं॒ वर्ष॑तु ते॒ द्यौर्ब॑धा॒न दे॑व सवितः पर॒मस्यां॑ पृथि॒व्या श॒तेन॒ पाशै॒र्योऽस्मान्द्वेष्टि॒ यं च॑ व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मस्तमतो॒ मा मौ॑क्॥२६॥

Apārarumpṛthivyai devayajanādbadhyāsãvrajaṅgaccha goṣṭhānãvarṣatu te dyaurbadhāna deva savitaḥ paramasyāmpṛthivyā̃ śatena pāśairyā smāndveṣṭi yañca vayandviṣmastamato mā mauk.

May I drive Araru away from Earth, the seat of men’s oblations to the Gods. Go to the pen . . . . . . . release him (as in verse 25). O Araru, thou shalt not soar to heaven. Let not thy drop mount upward to the sky. Go to the pen . . . . . . . release him (as in verse 25).

Driving Araru from the divine earth-seat; same pen and fetter refrain as verse 25.

May I drive Araru away from Earth, the seat of men’s oblations to the Gods. Go to the pen . . . . . . . release him (as in verse 25). O Araru, thou shalt not soar to heaven. Let not thy drop mount upward to the sky. Go to the pen . . . . . . . release him (as in verse 25).

Mantra 27

Devatā: यज्ञो · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

गा॒य॒त्रेण त्वा॒ छन्द॑सा॒ परि॑गृह्णामि॒ त्रैष्टु॑भेन त्वा॒ छन्द॑सा॒ परि॑गृह्णामि॒ जाग॑तेन त्वा॒ छन्द॑सा॒ परि॑गृह्णामि॒। सु॒क्ष्मा चासि॑ शि॒वा चा॑सि स्यो॒ना चासि॑ सु॒षदा॑ चा॒स्यू॑र्ज॑स्वती॒ चासि॒ पय॑स्वती च॥२७॥

Gāyatreṇa tvā chandasā parigṛhṇāmi traiṣṭubhena tvā chandasā parigṛhṇāmi jagatena tvā chandasā pari gṛhṇāmi.

I with the metre Gâyatrî enclose thee. I lay the Trishtup metre round about thee. With Jagatî metre I confine and gird thee. Sprung from good soil art thou, and bliss-bestowing. Pleasant art thou, and a fair seat to rest on. Thou hast both strengthening food and drink in plenty.

Enclosing with Gāyatrī, Triṣṭubh, Jagatī; pleasant seat rich in food and drink.

I with the metre Gâyatrî enclose thee. I lay the Trishtup metre round about thee. With Jagatî metre I confine and gird thee. Sprung from good soil art thou, and bliss-bestowing. Pleasant art thou, and a fair seat to rest on. Thou hast both strengthening food and drink in plenty.

Mantra 28

Devatā: यज्ञो · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

पु॒रा क्रू॒रस्य॑ वि॒सृपो॑ विरप्शिन्नुदा॒दाय॑ पृथि॒वीं जी॒वदा॑नुम्। यामैर॑यँश्च॒न्द्रम॑सि स्व॒धाभि॒स्तामु॒ धीरा॑सोऽअनु॒दिश्य॑ यजन्ते। प्रो॒क्ष॒णीरा सा॑दय द्विष॒तो व॒धोऽसि॥२८॥

Purā krūrasya visṛpo virapśinn udādāya pṛthivīṃ jīvadānum. Yām airayaṃś candramasi svadhābhis tām u dhīrāso 'nudīśya yajante. Prokṣaṇīr ā sādaya dviṣato vadho 'si.

Before the cruel foe’s secret departure, Mighty One, raising high earth, life-bestower, which to the Moon they lifted by oblations, that earth the sages still point out and worship. Deposit in its place the sprinkling-water, Thou art the slayer of the man who hates us.

Ancient raising of life-giving earth toward the Moon; sages’ worship; sprinkling water; foe-slayer.

Before the cruel foe’s secret departure, Mighty One, raising high earth, life-bestower, which to the Moon they lifted by oblations, that earth the sages still point out and worship. Deposit in its place the sprinkling-water, Thou art the slayer of the man who hates us.

Mantra 29

Devatā: यज्ञो सर्वस्य · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

प्रत्यु॑ष्ट॒ꣳ रक्षः॒ प्रत्यु॑ष्टा॒ऽअरा॑तयो॒ निष्ट॑प्त॒ꣳ रक्षो॒ निष्ट॑प्ता॒ऽअरा॑तयः। अनि॑शितोऽसि सपत्न॒क्षिद्वा॒जिनं॑ त्वा वाजे॒ध्यायै॒ सम्मा॑र्ज्मि। प्रत्यु॑ष्ट॒ꣳ रक्षः॒ प्रत्यु॑ष्टा॒ऽअरा॑तयो॒ निष्ट॑प्त॒ꣳ रक्षो॒ निष्ट॑प्ता॒ऽअरा॑तयः। अनि॑शितासि सपत्न॒क्षिद्वा॒जिनीं॑ त्वा वाजे॒ध्यायै॒ सम्मा॑र्ज्मि॥२९॥

Pratyuṣṭã rakṣaḥ pratyuṣṭāarātayo niṣṭaptã rakṣo niṣṭaptāarātayaḥ.

Scorched are the demons, scorched the evil beings. Burnt out are fiends, burnt out malignant creatures. Unsharpened, thou art slayer of the foemen. Thee, rich in food, I cleanse for the food’s kindling. Scorched . . . . . creatures (as above). Thee rich in food, I cleanse for the food’s kindling.

Scorching demons; unsharpened foe-slayer; cleansing the food-rich implement for kindling.

Scorched are the demons, scorched the evil beings. Burnt out are fiends, burnt out malignant creatures. Unsharpened, thou art slayer of the foemen. Thee, rich in food, I cleanse for the food’s kindling. Scorched . . . . . creatures (as above). Thee rich in food, I cleanse for the food’s kindling.

Mantra 30

Devatā: यज्ञो · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

अदि॑त्यै॒ रास्ना॑सि॒ विष्णो॑र्वे॒ष्पोस्यू॒र्ज्जे त्वाऽद॑ब्धेन॒ त्वा॒ चक्षु॒षाव॑पश्यामि। अ॒ग्नेर्जि॒ह्वासि॑ सु॒हूर्दे॒वेभ्यो॒ धाम्ने॑ धाम्ने मे भव॒ यजु॑षे यजुषे॥३०॥

Adityai rāsnāsi viṣṇorveṣposyūrje tvādabdhena tvā cakṣuṣāvapaśyāmi.

A zone for Aditi art thou. Pervader of Vishnu art thou. For great strength I take thee. I look upon thee with an eye uninjured. Thou art the tongue of Agni. Good invoker of Gods be thou at every holy station, at every sacrificial text I utter.

Aditi’s zone; Viṣṇu’s pervading force; uninjured eye; tongue of Agni at every yajus.

A zone for Aditi art thou. Pervader of Vishnu art thou. For great strength I take thee. I look upon thee with an eye uninjured. Thou art the tongue of Agni. Good invoker of Gods be thou at every holy station, at every sacrificial text I utter.

Mantra 31

Devatā: यज्ञो सर्वस्य · Ṛṣi: Parameshthi Prajapati

स॒वि॒तुस्त्वा॑ प्रस॒वऽउत्पु॑ना॒म्यच्छि॑द्रेण प॒वित्रेण॒ सूर्य्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभिः॑। स॒वि॒तुर्वः॑ प्र॒स॒वऽउत्पु॑ना॒म्यच्छि॑द्रेण प॒वित्रे॑ण॒ सूर्य्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभिः॑। तेजो॑ऽसि शु॒क्रम॑स्य॒मृत॑मसि॒ धाम॒ नामा॑सि प्रि॒यं दे॒वाना॒मना॑धृष्टं देव॒यज॑नमसि॥३१॥

Savitustvā prasavautpunāmyacchidreṇa pavitreṇa sūryasya raśmibhiḥ.

By Savitar’s impulsion do I cleanse thee, with flawless strainer, with the rays of Sûrya. By Savitar’s impulsion do I cleanse you, with flawless strainer, with the rays of Sûrya. Light art thou; thou art splendid; thou art Amrit. Thou, truly, art the Gods’ beloved station, inviolable means of holy worship.

Cleansing by Savitṛ with Sūrya’s rays; light, śukra, amṛta — gods’ beloved inviolable station.

By Savitar’s impulsion do I cleanse thee, with flawless strainer, with the rays of Sûrya. By Savitar’s impulsion do I cleanse you, with flawless strainer, with the rays of Sûrya. Light art thou; thou art splendid; thou art Amrit. Thou, truly, art the Gods’ beloved station, inviolable means of holy worship.