HYMN CXVI. Aśvins: Rig Veda – Book 1 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator
नासत्याभ्यां बर्हिरिव पर वर्ञ्जे सतोमानियर्म्यभ्रियेव वातः |
यावर्भगाय विमदाय जायां सेनाजुवा नयूहतूरथेन ||
वीळुपत्मभिराशुहेमभिर्वा देवानां वा जूतिभिः शाशदाना |
तद रासभो नासत्या सहस्रमाजा यमस्य परधने जिगाय ||
तुग्रो ह भुज्युमश्विनोदमेघे रयिं न कश्चिन मम्र्वानवाहाः |
तमूहथुर्नौभिरात्मन्वतीभिरन्तरिक्षप्रुद्भिरपोदकाभिः ||
तिस्रः कषपस्त्रिरहातिव्रजद्भिर्नासत्या भुज्युमूहथुः पतंगैः |
समुद्रस्य धन्वन्नार्द्रस्य पारे तरिभी रथैः शतपद्भिः षळश्वैः ||
अनारम्भणे तदवीरयेथामनास्थाने अग्रभणे समुद्रे |
यदश्विना ऊहथुर्भुज्युमस्तं शतारित्रां नावमातस्थिवांसम ||
यमश्विना ददथुः शवेतमश्वमघाश्वाय शश्वदित्स्वस्ति |
तद वां दात्रं महि कीर्तेन्यं भूत पैद्वो वाजीसदमिद धव्यो अर्यः ||
युवं नरा सतुवते पज्रियाय कक्षीवते अरदतं पुरन्धिम |
कारोतराच्छफादश्वस्य वर्ष्णः शतं कुम्भानसिञ्चतं सुरायाः ||
हिमेनाग्निं घरंसमवारयेथां पितुमतीमूर्जमस्मा अधत्तम |
रबीसे अत्रिमश्विनावनीतमुन निन्यथुः सर्वगणं सवस्ति ||
परावतं नासत्यानुदेथामुच्चाबुध्नं चक्रथुर्जिह्मबारम |
कषरन्नापो न पायनाय राये सहस्राय तर्ष्यते गोतमस्य ||
जुजुरुषो नासत्योत वव्रिं परामुञ्चतं दरापिमिव चयवानात |
परातिरतं जहितस्यायुर्दस्रादित पतिमक्र्णुतं कनीनाम ||
तद वां नरा शंस्यं राध्यं चाभिष्टिमन नासत्या वरूथम |
यद विद्वांसा निधिमिवापगूळ्हमुद दर्शतादूपथुर्वन्दनाय ||
तद वां नरा सनये दंस उग्रमाविष कर्णोमि तन्यतुर्नव्र्ष्टिम |
दध्यं ह यन मध्वाथर्वणो वामश्वस्य शीर्ष्णा पर यदीमुवाच ||
अजोहवीन नासत्या करा वां महे यामन पुरुभुजा पुरन्धिः |
शरुतं तच्छासुरिव वध्रिमत्या हिरण्यहस्तमश्विनावदत्तम ||
आस्नो वर्कस्य वर्तिकामभीके युवं नरा नासत्यामुमुक्तम |
उतो कविं पुरुभुजा युवं ह कर्पमाणमक्र्णुतं विचक्षे ||
चरित्रं हि वेरिवाछेदि पर्णमाजा खेलस्य परितक्म्यायाम |
सद्यो जङघामायसीं विश्पलायै धने हिते सर्तवेप्रत्यधत्तम ||
शतं मेषान वर्क्ये चक्षदानं रज्राश्वं तं पितान्धंचकार |
तस्मा अक्षी नासत्या विचक्ष आधत्तं दस्रा भिषजावनर्वन ||
आ वां रथं दुहिता सूर्यस्य कार्ष्मेवातिष्ठदर्वताजयन्ती |
विश्वे देवा अन्वमन्यत हर्द्भिः समु शरिया नासत्या सचेथे ||
यदयातं दिवोदासाय वर्तिर्भरद्वाजायाश्विना हयन्ता |
रेवदुवाह सचनो रथो वां वर्षभश्च शिंशुमारश्च युक्ता ||
रयिं सुक्षत्रं सवपत्यमायुः सुवीर्यं नासत्या वहन्ता |
आ जह्नावीं समनसोप वाजैस्त्रिरह्नो भागं दधतीमयातम ||
परिविष्टं जाहुषं विश्वतः सीं सुगेभिर्नक्तमूहथू रजोभिः |
विभिन्दुना नासत्या रथेन वि पर्वतानजरयू अयातम ||
एकस्या वस्तोरावतं रणाय वशमश्विना सनये सहस्रा |
निरहतं दुछुना इन्द्रवन्ता पर्थुश्रवसो वर्षणावरातीः ||
शरस्य चिदार्चत्कस्यावतादा नीचादुच्चा चक्रथुः पातवे वाः |
शयवे चिन नासत्या शचीभिर्जसुरये सतर्यं पिप्यथुर्गाम ||
अवस्यते सतुवते कर्ष्णियाय रजूयते नासत्या शचीभिः |
पशुं न नष्टमिव दर्शनाय विष्णाप्वं ददथुर्विश्वकाय ||
दश रात्रीरशिवेना नव दयूनवनद्धं शनथितमप्स्वन्तः |
विप्रुतं रेभमुदनि परव्र्क्तमुन निन्यथुः सोममिव सरुवेण ||
पर वां दंसांस्यश्विनाववोचमस्य पतिः सयां सुगवः सुवीरः |
उत पश्यन्नश्नुवन दीर्घमायुरस्तमिवेज्जरिमाणं जगम्याम ||
nāsatyābhyāṃ barhiriva pra vṛñje stomāniyarmyabhriyeva vātaḥ |
yāvarbhaghāya vimadāya jāyāṃ senājuvā nyūhatūrathena ||
vīḷupatmabhirāśuhemabhirvā devānāṃ vā jūtibhiḥ śāśadānā |
tad rāsabho nāsatyā sahasramājā yamasya pradhane jighāya ||
tughro ha bhujyumaśvinodameghe rayiṃ na kaścin mamṛvānavāhāḥ |
tamūhathurnaubhirātmanvatībhirantarikṣaprudbhirapodakābhiḥ ||
tisraḥ kṣapastrirahātivrajadbhirnāsatyā bhujyumūhathuḥ pataṃghaiḥ |
samudrasya dhanvannārdrasya pāre tribhī rathaiḥ śatapadbhiḥ ṣaḷaśvaiḥ ||
anārambhaṇe tadavīrayethāmanāsthāne aghrabhaṇe samudre |
yadaśvinā ūhathurbhujyumastaṃ śatāritrāṃ nāvamātasthivāṃsam ||
yamaśvinā dadathuḥ śvetamaśvamaghāśvāya śaśvaditsvasti |
tad vāṃ dātraṃ mahi kīrtenyaṃ bhūt paidvo vājīsadamid dhavyo aryaḥ ||
yuvaṃ narā stuvate pajriyāya kakṣīvate aradataṃ purandhim |
kārotarācchaphādaśvasya vṛṣṇaḥ śataṃ kumbhānasiñcataṃ surāyāḥ ||
himenāghniṃ ghraṃsamavārayethāṃ pitumatīmūrjamasmā adhattam |
ṛbīse atrimaśvināvanītamun ninyathuḥ sarvaghaṇaṃ svasti ||
parāvataṃ nāsatyānudethāmuccābudhnaṃ cakrathurjihmabāram |
kṣarannāpo na pāyanāya rāye sahasrāya tṛṣyate ghotamasya ||
jujuruṣo nāsatyota vavriṃ prāmuñcataṃ drāpimiva cyavānāt |
prātirataṃ jahitasyāyurdasrādit patimakṛṇutaṃ kanīnām ||
tad vāṃ narā śaṃsyaṃ rādhyaṃ cābhiṣṭiman nāsatyā varūtham |
yad vidvāṃsā nidhimivāpaghūḷhamud darśatādūpathurvandanāya ||
tad vāṃ narā sanaye daṃsa ughramāviṣ kṛṇomi tanyaturnavṛṣṭim |
dadhyaṃ ha yan madhvātharvaṇo vāmaśvasya śīrṣṇā pra yadīmuvāca ||
ajohavīn nāsatyā karā vāṃ mahe yāman purubhujā purandhiḥ |
śrutaṃ tacchāsuriva vadhrimatyā hiraṇyahastamaśvināvadattam ||
āsno vṛkasya vartikāmabhīke yuvaṃ narā nāsatyāmumuktam |
uto kaviṃ purubhujā yuvaṃ ha kṛpamāṇamakṛṇutaṃ vicakṣe ||
caritraṃ hi verivāchedi parṇamājā khelasya paritakmyāyām |
sadyo jaṅghāmāyasīṃ viśpalāyai dhane hite sartavepratyadhattam ||
śataṃ meṣān vṛkye cakṣadānaṃ ṛjrāśvaṃ taṃ pitāndhaṃcakāra |
tasmā akṣī nāsatyā vicakṣa ādhattaṃ dasrā bhiṣajāvanarvan ||
ā vāṃ rathaṃ duhitā sūryasya kārṣmevātiṣṭhadarvatājayantī |
viśve devā anvamanyata hṛdbhiḥ samu śriyā nāsatyā sacethe ||
yadayātaṃ divodāsāya vartirbharadvājāyāśvinā hayantā |
revaduvāha sacano ratho vāṃ vṛṣabhaśca śiṃśumāraśca yuktā ||
rayiṃ sukṣatraṃ svapatyamāyuḥ suvīryaṃ nāsatyā vahantā |
ā jahnāvīṃ samanasopa vājaistrirahno bhāghaṃ dadhatīmayātam ||
pariviṣṭaṃ jāhuṣaṃ viśvataḥ sīṃ sughebhirnaktamūhathū rajobhiḥ |
vibhindunā nāsatyā rathena vi parvatānajarayū ayātam ||
ekasyā vastorāvataṃ raṇāya vaśamaśvinā sanaye sahasrā |
nirahataṃ duchunā indravantā pṛthuśravaso vṛṣaṇāvarātīḥ ||
śarasya cidārcatkasyāvatādā nīcāduccā cakrathuḥ pātave vāḥ |
śayave cin nāsatyā śacībhirjasuraye staryaṃ pipyathurghām ||
avasyate stuvate kṛṣṇiyāya ṛjūyate nāsatyā śacībhiḥ |
paśuṃ na naṣṭamiva darśanāya viṣṇāpvaṃ dadathurviśvakāya ||
daśa rātrīraśivenā nava dyūnavanaddhaṃ śnathitamapsvantaḥ |
viprutaṃ rebhamudani pravṛktamun ninyathuḥ somamiva sruveṇa ||
pra vāṃ daṃsāṃsyaśvināvavocamasya patiḥ syāṃ sughavaḥ suvīraḥ |
uta paśyannaśnuvan dīrghamāyurastamivejjarimāṇaṃ jaghamyām ||
English Translation
Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
1. I TRIM like grass my song for the Nāsatyas and send their lauds forth as the wind drives rain-clouds,
Who, in a chariot rapid as an arrow, brought to the youthful Vimada a consort.
2 Borne on by rapid steeds of mighty pinion, or proudly trusting in the Gods’ incitements.
That stallion ass of yours won, O Nāsatyas, that thousand in the race, in Yama’s contest.
3 Yea, Aśvins, as a dead man leaves his riches, Tugra left Bhujyu in the cloud of waters.
Ye brought him back in animated vessels, traversing air, unwetted by the billows.
4 Bhujyu ye bore with winged things, Nāsatyas, which for three nights, three days full swiftly travelled,
To the sea’s farther shore, the strand of ocean, in three cars, hundred-footed, with six horses.
5 Ye wrought that hero exploit in the ocean which giveth no support, or hold or station,
What time ye carried Bhujyu to his dwelling, borne in a ship with hundred oars, O Aśvins.
6 The white horse which of old ye gave Aghāśva, Aśvins, a gift to be his wealth for ever,—
Still to be praised is that your glorious present, still to be famed is the brave horse of Pedu.
7 O Heroes, ye gave wisdom to Kakṣīvān who sprang from Pajra’s line, who sang your praises.
Ye poured forth from the hoof of your strong charger a hundred jars of wine as from a strainer.
8 Ye warded off with cold the fire’s fierce burning; food very rich in nourishment ye furnished.
Atri, cast downward in the cavern, Aśvins ye brought, with all his people, forth to comfort.
9 Ye lifted up the well, O ye Nāsatyas, and set the base on high to open downward.
Streams flowed for folk of Gotama who thirsted, like rain to bring forth thousandfold abundance.
10 Ye from the old Cyavāna, O Nāsatyas, stripped, as ’twere mail, the skin upon
his body,
Lengthened his life when all had left him helpless, Dasras! and made him lord of youthful maidens.
11 Worthy of praise and worth the winning, Heroes, is that your favouring succour O Nāsatyas,
What time ye, knowing well his case, delivered Vandana from the pit like hidden treasure.
12 That mighty deed of yours, for gain, O Heroes, as thunder heraldeth the rain, I publish,
When, by the horse’s head, Atharvan’s offspring Dadhyac made known to you the Soma’s sweetness.
13 In the great rite the wise dame called, Nāsatyas, you, Lords of many treasures, to assist her.
Ye heard the weakling’s wife, as ’twere an order, and gave to her a son Hiraṇyahasta.
14 Ye from the wolf’s jaws, as ye stood together, set free the quail, O Heroes, O Nāsatyas.
Ye, Lords of many treasures, gave the poet his perfect vision as he mourned his trouble.
15 When in the time of night, in Khela’s battle, a leg was severed like a wild bird’s pinion,
Straight ye gave Viśpalā a leg of iron that she might move what time the conflict opened.
16 His father robbed Ṛjrāśva of his eyesight who for the she-wolf slew a hundred wethers.
Ye gave him eyes, Nāsatyas, Wonder-Workers, Physicians, that he saw with sight uninjured.
17 The Daughter of the Sun your car ascended, first reaching as it were the goal with coursers.
All Deities within their hearts assented, and ye, Nāsatyas, are close linked with glory.
18 When to his house ye came, to Divodāsa, hasting to Bharadvāja, O ye Aśvins,
The car that came with you brought splendid riches: a porpoise and a bull were yoked together.
19 Ye, bringing wealth with rule, and life with offspring, life rich in noble heroes; O Nāsatyas,
Accordant came with strength to Jahnu’s children who offered you thrice every day your portion.
20 Ye bore away at night by easy pathways Jāhuṣa compassed round on every quarter,
And, with your car that cleaves the toe asunder, Nāsatyas never decaying! rent the mountains.
21 One morn ye strengthened Vaśa for the battle, to gather spoils that might be told in thousands.
With Indra joined ye drove away misfortunes, yea foes of Pṛthuśravas, O ye mighty.
22 From the deep well ye raised on high the water, so that Ṛcatka’s son, Sara, should drink it;
And with your might, to help the weary Śayu, ye made the barren cow yield milk, Nāsatyas.
23 To Viśvaka, Nāsatyas! son of Kṛṣṇa, the righteous man who sought your aid and praised you,
Ye with your powers restored, like some lost creature, his son Viṣṇāpū for his eyes to look on.
24 Aśvins, ye raised, like Soma in a ladle Rebha, who for ten days and ten nights, fettered.
Had lain in cruel bonds, immersed and wounded, suffering sore affliction, in the waters.
25 1 have declared your wondrous deeds, O Aśvins: may this be mine, and many kine and heroes.
May I, enjoying lengthened life, still seeing, enter old age as ’twere the house I live in.