यामृतं मा कुर्वित्येवैतदाह तमसो माज्योतिर्गमयेति मृत्युर्वै तमो ज्योतिरमृतंमृत्योर्मामृतं गमयामृतं मा कुर्वित्येवै-तदाह मृत्योर्मामृतं गमयेति नात्र ति-रोहितमिवास्ति ।अथ यानीतराणिस्तोत्राणि तेष्वात्मनेऽन्नाद्यमागायेत्तस्मा-दु तेषु वरं वृणीत यं कामं कामयेत तँस एष एवंविदुद्गातात्मने वा यजमाना-य वा यं कामं कामयते तमागायति त-द्धैतल्लोकजिदेव न हैवालोक्यताय आ-शास्ति य एवमेतत्साम वेद ॥ २८ ॥
In plain words
'Make me immortal'—this is precisely what is meant when it says: 'Lead me from darkness to light.' Darkness is indeed death, and light is immortality; 'Lead me from death to immortality' is simply another way of saying 'Make me immortal.' There is nothing obscure about this. Now, as for the remaining stotras, he should chant them desiring food for himself. Therefore, among those hymns, he should select whatever boon he desires. This knowing udgātṛ chants to fulfill whatever wish he or the sacrificer cherishes. Indeed, whoever knows this sāman in this way conquers worlds, and never has to fear being left without a world.
Close to the Sanskrit
Which 'Make me immortal'—thus indeed says this: 'From darkness lead me to light'. Death indeed is darkness, light is immortality; 'From death lead me to immortality', 'Make me immortal'—thus indeed says this: 'From death lead me to immortality'. Not here is it obscured like. Now, which other hymns of praise, in those he should chant for food for himself. Therefore indeed in those he should choose a boon, which desire he might desire. That this knowing udgātṛ for himself or for the sacrificer which desire he desires, that he chants for. That indeed this is a conqueror of worlds indeed, not indeed for having no world he hopes, who thus knows this sāman.