Have mercy upon us, O twin lords! We are but dust and weakness; our days are numbered like the stars that fade at dawn. Yet we have sinned—we have broken thy laws, we have forgotten thy covenant, we have turned our faces from thy light.

The burden of our transgressions weigheth heavy upon us. We carry the weight of broken oaths like stones in our breast. The liar's knot bindeth our tongue; the oath-breaker's curse followeth us as the shadow followeth the body. We cannot escape our own deeds.

Yet we know thee to be merciful as well as just. The storm passeth; the flood draineth away. Even the worst offender may find grace in thy eyes if he turneth from his wickedness. Teach us to walk straight; guide us back to the path of truth.

We confess our weakness before thee, O Mitra! We acknowledge our folly before thee, O Varuṇa! We cast ourselves upon thy mercy. Accept our hymn as a token of our repentance. Let us not fall into the pit we have dug for ourselves.

Loose the bonds that hold us! Free us from the chains of our own making. Teach us to speak truth though it cost us dearly. Teach us to keep our word though the world crumble. Let thy compassion descend upon us as the rain descendeth upon the thirsty earth. For we are thy creatures, made in the shadow of thy glory, and we yearn to return to the light of thy favour.