srakve drapsasya dhamataḥ sam asvarann ṛtasya yonā sam aranta nābhayaḥ | trīn sa mūrdhno asuraś cakra ārabhe satyasya nāvaḥ sukṛtam apīparan ||
They from the spouting drop have sounded at the rim: naves speed together to the place of sacrifice. That Asura hath formed, to seize, three lofty heights. The ships of truth have borne the pious man across.
The strong Steers, gathering, have duly stirred themselves, and over the stream's wave the friends sent forth the song. Engendering the hymn, with flowing streams of meath, Indra's dear body have they caused to wax in strength.
With sanctifying gear they sit around the song: their ancient Father guards their holy work from harm. Varuna hath o'erspread the mighty sea of air. Sages had power to hold him in sustaining floods.
सहस्रधारे ऽव ते सम् अस्वरन् दिवो नाके मधुजिह्वा असश्चतः । अस्य स्पशो न नि मिषन्ति भूर्णयः पदे-पदे पाशिनः सन्ति सेतवः ॥
sahasradhāre 'va te sam asvaran divo nāke madhujihvā asaścataḥ | asya spaśo na ni miṣanti bhūrṇayaḥ pade-pade pāśinaḥ santi setavaḥ ||
Sweet-tongued, exhaustless, they have sent their voices down together, in heaven's vault that pours a thousand streams. His wildly-restless warders never close an eye: in every place are found the bonds that bind man last.
pitur mātur adhy ā ye samasvarann ṛcā śocantaḥ saṃdahanto avratān | indradviṣṭām apa dhamanti māyayā tvacam asiknīm bhūmano divas pari ||
O'er Sire and Mother they have roared in unison bright with the verse of praise, burning up riteless men, Blowing away with supernatural might from earth and from the heavens the swarthy skin which Indra hates.
प्रत्नान् मानाद् अध्य् आ ये समस्वरञ् छ्लोकयन्त्रासो रभसस्य मन्तवः । अपानक्षासो बधिरा अहासत ऋतस्य पन्थां न तरन्ति दुष्कृतः ॥
pratnān mānād adhy ā ye samasvarañ chlokayantrāso rabhasasya mantavaḥ | apānakṣāso badhirā ahāsata ṛtasya panthāṃ na taranti duṣkṛtaḥ ||
Those which, as guides of song and counsellors of speed, were manifested from their ancient dwelling place,- From these the eyeless and the deaf have turned aside: the wicked travel not the pathway of the Law.
What time the filter with a thousand streams is stretched, the thoughtful sages purify their song therein. Bright-coloured are their spies, vigorous, void of guile, excellent, fair to see, beholders of mankind.
Guardian of Law, most wise, he may not be deceived: three Purifiers hath he set within his heart. With wisdom he beholds all creatures that exist: he drives into the pit the hated riteless ones.
ऋतस्य तन्तुर् विततः पवित्र आ जिह्वाया अग्रे वरुणस्य मायया । धीराश् चित् तत् समिनक्षन्त आशतात्रा कर्तम् अव पदात्य् अप्रभुः ॥
ṛtasya tantur vitataḥ pavitra ā jihvāyā agre varuṇasya māyayā | dhīrāś cit tat saminakṣanta āśatātrā kartam ava padāty aprabhuḥ ||
The thread of sacrifice spun in the cleansing sieve, on Varuna's tongue-tip, by supernatural might,- This, by their striving, have the prudent ones attained: he who hath not this power shall sink into the pit.