mā nas toke tanaye mā na āyuṣi mā no goṣu mā no aśveṣu rīriṣaḥ | vīrān mā no rudra bhāmito vadhīr haviṣmantaḥ sadam it tvā havāmahe ||
"Do not harm us in our children and descendants, nor in our own lives, nor in our cattle, nor in our horses. O Rudra, do not in your anger strike down our brave men; bearing our offerings, we ever call upon you."
What This Means:
This is a heartfelt prayer asking Rudra not to bring harm to the things people hold most dear: their children, their own lives, and the animals that sustain their livelihood. It is the cry of an ordinary person turning to God for protection, especially for the young and the strong among them. The verse ends by promising faithful, ongoing devotion, saying that we ever call upon you.
Going Deeper:
In Vedantic terms, the same Supreme Reality praised as the formless Brahman throughout this chapter is here approached personally as Rudra, the Lord who is both fearsome and gracious, showing that the absolute can be both the goal of knowledge and the object of trustful prayer. The plea for protection acknowledges that all life and prosperity rest entirely in the hands of the one Being from whom the universe comes forth and into whom it returns.
How To Apply This:
When you fear for the wellbeing of your family or your livelihood, turn that fear into honest prayer, entrusting what you love most to a power greater than yourself rather than carrying the anxiety alone.
Key Sanskrit Terms: