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Hymn 90: The Paths of Bliss
Rişhi: Gotamaĥ Rāhūgaņaĥ
This sūkta, along with the earlier
one, is extensively cited in Upanishads. The verses (6) to (8)
form the foundation of the doctrine of bliss or honey of the
Bŗhadāraņyaka U.
MANTRA (1.90.1): LEAD US TO THE
TRUTH
By straight paths may Varuņa and Mitra
Lead us to the great sages endowed with knowledge;
Also may Aryamān (lead us) to the state which is in harmony with
the Gods.
ŗjunītī no varuņo
leading by a straight path, us, Varuņa,
mitro nayatu vidvān;
Mitra, lead us, one with knowledge,
aryamā devaiĥ sajoşhāĥ.
Aryama, Gods, in harmony.
MANTRA (1.90.2): DELUSION AND
VASTNESS
They hold the wealth in cover;
They are undeluded because of their vastness;
For ever they guard their laws with their radiances.
te hi vasvo vasavānās te
they, ., wealth or substance, cover, they,
apramūrā mahobhiĥ;
undeluded, their own lights or vastness,
vratā rakşhante vishvāhā.
laws, guard, all days.
Details:
The wealth or
knowledge is the foundation of all existence. It is not merely
physical. This knowledge is revealed to the human aspirant when
s/he is ready.
Delusion about our
own greatness comes because of our limited knowledge. The Gods
are not deluded because of their abode in the Vast.
MANTRA (1.90.3): HAPPINESS
May the immortals grant
Happiness to us mortals,
Repelling the inimical powers.
te asmabhyam sharma
they, to us, happiness,
yamsann amŗtā martyebhyaĥ;
grant, immortals, to mortals,
bādhamānā apa dvişhaĥ.
destroying, ., foes or inimical powers.
Details:
apa + bādhamāna:
repelling the powers who harm the God-loving good persons.
MANTRA (1.90.4): PATH FOR BLISS
For our easy progress or bliss
May Indra and Maruts secure a path for us,
Also Pūshaņ and Bhaga, the Gods adorable.
vi naĥ pathaĥ suvitāya
., us, paths, for easy progress or bliss,
chiyantv indro marutaĥ;
secure, Indra, Maruts,
pūşhā bhago vandyāsaĥ.
Pūshaņ, Bhaga, adorable.
Details:
The path for us has to
be secured against the psychological foes.
suvitāya:
auspicious, similar to bhadra.
MANTRA (1.90.5): THOUGHTS LED BY
LIGHT
Form in us the thoughts which are led by the rays of
illumination,
O Pūshaņ, Vişhņu and the hosts of Maruts;
Make us indestructible or full of happiness.
uta no dhiyo goagrāĥ
and, our, thoughts, led by the rays of illumination,
pūşhan vişhņav evayāvaĥ;
Pūshaņ, Vişhņu, hosts of Maruts,
kartā naĥ svastimataĥ.
make, us, full of happiness or indestructible.
Details:
evayāvah:
those who run their course on steeds, hosts of Maruts.
goagrāĥ:
fronted by the rays of knowledge, go; for ritualists,
fronted by cows;
S. translates line 1 as "make our
rites restorative of our cattle.''
MANTRA (1.90.6): MADHU VIDYA-1
Sweetness in the winds of life to the truth-seeker;
Sweet flow for him the rivers of being;
Sweet for us be its growths (or plants).
madhu vātā ŗtāyate
sweetness, winds of life, the truth-seeker,
madhu kşharanti sindhavaĥ;
sweet, flow rivers of beings,
mādhvīr naĥ santv oşhadhīĥ.
sweetness, for us, be, plants or growths.
Details:
The three verses
(1.90.6, 1.90.7, 1.90.8) are famous and are repeated in several
Upanishads such as Bŗhadāraņyaka U. (6.3.6), where it is
intertwined with the famous gāyatri mantra of RV (3.62.10),
Mahanārayaņa U, (Sec. 39, Verses 4-6).
These verses
constitute the foundation for the doctrine of honey or bliss,
elaborated in the Bŗhad āraņyaka U, Book 2, Brāhmaņa or adhyāya
5, known as Madhu Brāhmaņa.
MANTRA (1.90.7): MADHU VIDYA-2
May the nights be sweet for us and also the dawns;
May the Earth and its associated regions be sweet;
May the Father-Heaven be sweet.
madhu naktam ut oşhaso
sweetness, night, and, the dawn,
madhumat pārthivam rajaĥ;
be sweet, Earth, associated regions,
madhu dyaur astu naĥ pitā.
sweet, Heaven, be, our, father.
Details:
utoşhasah: uta + uşhasah;
and + dawn.
rajaĥ:
it is a synonym of loka or world.
pārthivam rajaĥ:
means the collectivity of the physical world, vital world,
mental world etc.
MANTRA (1.90.8): MADHU VIDYA-3
Full of sweetness to us be the lord of bliss;
Full of sweetness Sūrya, the luminous;
Sweet become to us the herds of his rays.
madhumān no vanaspatir
sweet, us, trees or the lord of bliss,
madhumān astu sūryaĥ;
sweet, be, Sun,
mādhvīr gāvo bhavantu naĥ.
full of sweetness, the cows or the rays of consciousness,
become, us.
MANTRA (1.90.9): PEACE FOR ALL
O Mitra, be a peace to us, peace Varuņa;
Peace in us Aryamā;
Peace in us Indra and Bŗhaspati;
Peace in us Vişhņu, the wide-striding.
sham no mitraĥ sham varuņaĥ
peace, us, Mitra, peace, Varuņa,
sham no bhavatv aryamā;
peace, us, become, Aryamā,
sham na indro bŗhaspatiĥ
peace, us, Indra, Bŗhaspati,
sham no vişhņur urukramaĥ.
peace, us, Vişhņu, wide-striding.
Details:
The translation is due to Sri
Aurobindo. This verse is the invocatory verse (1.1.1) in the
Taittirīya U.
Vişhņu: one capable of extension,
vyāpanashīla.
We can also translate "sham no' as "be gracious to
us'.
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