GOPAVANA ATREYA

SUKTA 74

1. All kinds of beings replenish the guest domiciled in your house in whom are the many pleasant things; I laud him with my thoughts with the word of bliss.

2. He to whom men bringing the offering pour the stream of the libation and by their words that give expression to him proclaim as the friend, —

3. the wonderful,¹ the knower of all things born, who in the formation of the godheads sends up the offerings uplifted in heaven, —

4. we have come to the Fire, strongest to slay the Coverers, eldest and ever new in whose force of flame Shrutarvana, son of Riksha, grows to vastness.

5. The immortal, the knower of all things born who is seen² across the darkness, one to be prayed to, one to whom are offered the clarities.

¹ Or, the great doer, ² Or, who sees

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6. The Fire whom men here oppressed pray with their offerings casting their libations with the ladles at work.¹

7. Thine, O Fire, is the new thought founded in us, O rapturous and well-born guest, strong of will, wise and powerful for action.

8. May that thought, O Fire, become pleasant and full of peace and gladness; grow by it, well-affirmed by our lauds.

9. May it be luminous with many lights, and uphold in its inspiration a vast inspired knowledge in the piercing of the Coverers.

10. He is the Horse of power and the Cow of light, it is he who fills our chariots, he is brilliant and like Indra the lord of beings; you shall cross through his inspiration, O men! and find each wonderful.

11. Thou whom Gopavana gladdens with his word, O Fire, O Angiras, O purifying Flame, hear his call.

¹ Or, with outstretched ladles.

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12. Thou whom men oppressed pray for the winning of the plenitudes, awake in the piercing of the Coverers.

13. As if calling armed forces in Shrutarvan, son of Riksha, from whom drips the rapturous inspiration, I comb the shaggy-maned head of the four.

14. Me the swift and galloping four of that most strong one, well-charioted, bore¹ towards the delight as if birds flying to water.²

15. O great river Parushni, I have marked out (with them) thy true course. O waters, than this most strong one no mortal man is a greater giver of the Horses of power.³

¹ Or, let them bear me ² Or, as the birds carried Tugrya.

³ Note on Riks 13, 14 and 15:

As is shown by the “Shravansiˮ, “Turvathaˮ and the name “Shrutarvanˮ — the Rishi is giving a symbolic turn to the name as well as to the horses and the waters.

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