Rigveda 1.166.02
Rigveda · Mandala 1, Sukta 166 · Verse 1.166.2
Vedic Classification
Sanskrit Original
नित्यं॒ न सू॒नुं मधु॒ बिभ्र॑त॒ उप॒ क्रीळ॑न्ति क्री॒ळा वि॒दथे॑षु॒ घृष्व॑यः । नक्ष॑न्ति रु॒द्रा अव॑सा नम॒स्विनं॒ न म॑र्धन्ति॒ स्वत॑वसो हवि॒ष्कृत॑म्
nityaṃ na sūnuṃ madhu bibhrata upa krīḷanti krīḷā vidatheṣu ghṛṣvayaḥ nakṣanti rudrā avasā namasvinaṃ na mardhanti svatavaso haviṣkṛtam
They never carry honey to a son; they sport not in trivial plays—these are the smeared ones in contests. Rudras do not abandon offerings, nor do they crush the invoked oblation made with hymns.
Ever accepting the sweet (libation), as (they would) a son, they sport plural yfully at sacrifices, demolishing (all intruders); the Rudras come to the offerer of prayers and oblations, for his protection, and powerul as they are, do him no harm.
Bringing the pleasant mcath as 'twere their own dear son, they sport in sportive wise gay at their gatherings. The Rudras come with succour to the worshipper; self-strong they fail not him who offers sacrifice.