[06-021] HYMN XXI. Indra. Visvedevas.
1. THESE the most constant singer’s invocations call thee who art to be invoked, O Hero; Hymns call anew the chariot-borne, Eternal: by eloquence men gain abundant riches.
2 I praise that Indra, known to all men, honoured with songs, extolled with hymns at sacrifices, Whose majesty, rich in wondrous arts, surpasseth the magnitude of earth, and heaven in greatness.
3 He hath made pathways, with the Sun to aid him, throughout the darkness that extended pathless. Mortals who yearn to worship ne’er dishonour, O Mighty God, thy Law who art Immortal.
4 And he who did these things, where is that Indra? among what tribes? what people doth he visit? What sacrifice contents thy mind , and wishes? What priest among them all? what hymn, O Indra?
5 Yea, here were they who, born of old, have served thee, thy friends of ancient time, thou active
Worker.
Bethink thee now of these, Invoked of many! the midmost and the recent, and the youngest.
6 Inquiring after him, thy later servants, Indra, have gained thy former old traditions.
Hero, to whom the prayer is brought, we praise thee as great for that wherein we know thee mighty.
7 The demon’s strength is gathered fast against thee: great as that strength hath grown, go forth to meet it.
With thine own ancient friend and companion, the thunderbolt, brave Champion! drive it backward.
8 Hear, too, the prayer of this thy present beadsman, O Indra, Hero, cherishing the singer. For thou wast aye our fathers’ Friend aforetime, still swift to listen to their supplication.
9 Bring to our help this day, for our protection, Varuna, Mitra , Indra, and the Maruts, Pusan and Visnu, Agni and Purandhi, Savitar also, and the Plants and Mountains.
10 The singers here exalt with hymns and praises thee who art very Mighty and Most Holy. Hear, when invoked, the invoker’s invocation. Beside thee there is nonelike thee, Immortal!
11 Now to my words come quickly thou who knowest, O Son of Strength, with all who claim our worship,
Who visit sacred rites, whose tongue is Agni, Gods who made Manu stronger than the Dasyu.
12 On good and evil ways be thou our Leader, thou who art known to all as Path-preparer.
Bring power to us, O Indra, with thy Horses, Steeds that are best to draw, broad-backed, unwearied
[06-022] HYMN XXII. Indra.
1. WITH these my hymns I glorify that Indra who is alone to be invoked by mortals, The Lord, the Mighty One, of manly vigour, victorious, Hero, true, and full of wisdom.
2 Our sires of old,. Navagvas, sages seven, while urging him to show his might, extolled him, Dwelling on heights, swift, smiting down opponents, guileless in word, and in his thoughts most
mighty.
3 We seek that Indra to obtain his riches that bring much food, and men, and store of heroes. Bring us, Lord of Bay Steeds, to make us joyful, celestial wealth, abundant, undecaying.
4 Tell thou us this, if at thy hand aforetime the earlier singers have obtained good fortune, What is thy share and portion, Strong Subduer, Asura-slayer, rich, invoked of many?
5 He who for car-borne Indra, armed with thunder, hath a hymn, craving, deeply-piercing, fluent, Who sends a song effectual, firmly-grasping, and strength-bestowing, he comes near the mighty.
6 Strong of thyself, thou by this art hast shattered, with thought-swift Parvata, him who waxed against thee,
And, Mightiest! roaring! boldly rent in pieces things that were firmly fixed and never shaken.
7 Him will we fit for you with new devotion, the strongest Ancient One, in ancient manner. So may that Indra, boundless, faithful Leader, conduct us o’er all places hard to traverse.
8 Thou for the people who oppress hast kindled the earthly firmament and that of heaven.
With heat, O Bull, on every side consume them: heat earth and flood for him who hates devotion.
9 Of all the Heavenly Folk, of earthly creatures thou art the King, O God of splendid aspect. In thy right hand, O Indra, grasp die thunder: Eternal! thou destroyest all enchantments.
10 Give us confirmed prosperity, O Indra, vast and exhaustless for the foe’s subduing. Strengthen therewith the Arya’s hate and Dasa’s, and let the arms of Nahusas be mighty.
11 Come with thy team which brings all blessings hither, Disposer, much-invoked, exceeding holy. Thou whom no fiend, no God can stay or hinder, come swittly with these Steeds in my direction
[06-023] HYMN XXIII. Indra.
1. THOU art attached to pressed-out Soma, Indra, at laud, at prayer, and when the hymn is chanted; Or when with yoked Bays, Maghavan, thou comest, O Indra, bearing in thine arms the thunder.
2 Or when on that decisive day thou holpest the presser of the juice at Vrtra’s slaughter;
Or when thou, while the strong one feared, undaunted, gavest to death, Indra, the daring Dasyus.
3 Let Indra drink the pressed-out Soma, Helper and mighty Guide of him who sings his praises. He gives the hero room who pours oblations, and treasure even to the lowly singer.
4 E’en humble rites with his Bay steeds he visits: he wields the bolt, drinks Soma, gives us cattle.
He makes the valiant rich in store of heroes, accepts our praise and hears the singer’s calling.
5 What he hath longed for we have brought to Indra, who from the days of old hath done us service. While Soma flows we will sing hymn, and laud him, so that our prayer may streng. then Indra’s
vigour.
6 Thou hast made prayer the means of thine exalting, therefore we wait on thee with hymns, O Indra. May we, by the pressed Soma, Somadrinker! bring thee, with sacrifice, blissful sweet refreshment.
7 Mark well our sacrificial cake, delighted Indra, drink Soma and the milk commingled. Here on the sacrificer’s grass be seated: give ample room to thy devoted servant.
8 O Mighty One, be joyful as thou willest. Let these our sacrifices reach and find thee;
And may this hymn and these our invocations turn thee, whom many men invoke, to help us.
9 Friends, when thejuices flow, replenish duly your own, your bounteous Indra with the Soma. Will it not aid him to support us? Indra. spares him who sheds the juice to win his favour.
10 While Soma flowed, thus Indra hath been lauded, Ruler of nobles, mid the Bharadvajas, That Indra may become the singer’s patron and give him wealth in every kind of treasure.
[06-024] HYMN XXIV. Indra.
1. STRONG rapturous joy, praise, glory are with Indra: impetuous God, he quaffs the juice of Soma: That Maghavan whom men must laud with singing, Heaven-dweller, King of songs, whose help is
lasting.
2 He, Friend of man, most wise, victorious Hero, hears, with far-reaching aid, the singer call him. Excellent, Praise of Men, the bard’s Supporter, Strong, he gives strength, extolled in holy synod.
3 The lofty axle of thy wheels, O Hero, is not surpassed by heaven and earth in greatness. Like branches of a tree, Invoked of many manifold aids spring forth from thee, O Indra.
4 Strong Lord, thine energies, endowed with vigour, are like the paths of kine converging homeward. Like bonds of cord, Indra, that bind the younglings, no bonds are they, O thou of boundless bounty.
5 One act to-day, another act tomorrow oft Indra makes what is not yet existeni. Here have we Mitra, Varuna, and Pusan to overcome the foeman’s domination.
6 By song and sacrifice men brought the waters from thee, as from a mountain’s ridge, O Indra. Urging thy might, with these fair lauds they seek thee, O theme of song, as horses rush tobattle.
7 That Indra whom nor months nor autumn seasons wither with age, nor fleeting days enfeeble,- Still may his body Wax, e’en now so mighty, glorified by the lauds and hymns that praise him.
8 Extolled, he bends not to the strong, the steadfast, nor to the bold incited by the Dasyu. High mountains are as level plains to Indra: even in the deep he finds firm ground to rest on.
9 Impetuous Speeder through all depth and distance, give strengthening food, thou drinker of the juices.
Stand up erect to help us, unreluctant, what time the gloom of night brightens to morning.
10 Hasting to help, come hither and protect him, keep him from harm when he is here, O Indra.
At home, abroad, from injury preserve him. May brave sons gladden us through a hundred winters.
[06-025] HYMN XXV. Indra.
1. WITH thine assistance, O thou Mighty Indra, be it the least, the midmost, or the highest,- Great with those aids and by these powers support us, Strong God! in battle that subdues our
foemen.
2 With these discomfit hosts that fight against us, and check the opponent’s wrath, thyself uninjured. With these chase all our foes to every quarter: subdue the tribes of Dasas to the Arya.
3 Those who array themselves as foes to smite us, O Indra, be they kin or be they strangers,-
Strike thou their manly strength that it be feeble, and drive in headlong flight our foemen backward.
4 With strength of limb the hero slays the hero, when bright in arms they range them for the combat. When two opposing hosts contend in battle for seed and offspring, waters, kine, or corn-lands.
5 Yet no strong man hath conquered thee, no hero, no brave, no warrior trusting in his valour.
Not one of these is match for thee, O Indra. Thou far surpassest all these living creatures.
6 He is the Lord of both these armies’ valour when the commanders call them to the conflict: When with their ranks expanded they are fighting with a great foe or for a home with heroes.
7 And when the people stir themselves for battle, be thou their saviour, Indra, and protector,
And theirs, thy manliest of our friends, the pious, the chiefs who have installed us priests, O Indra.
8 To thee for high dominion hath been for evermore, for slaughtering the Vrtras, All lordly power and might, O Holy Indra, given by Gods for victory in battle.
9 So urge our hosts together in the combats: yield up the godless bands that fight against us. Singing, at morn may we find thee with favour, yea, Indra, and e’en now, we Bharadvajas.
[06-026] HYMN XXVI. Indra.
1. O INDRA, hear us. Raining down the Soma, we call on thee to win us mighty valour. Give us strong succour on the day of trial, when the tribes gather on the field of battle.
2 The warrior, son of warrior sire, invokes thee, to gain great strength that may be won as booty: To thee, the brave man’s Lord, the fiends’ subduer, he looks when fighting hand to hand for cattle.
3 Thou didst impel the sage to win the daylight, didst ruin Susna for the pious Kutsa.
The invulnerable demon’s head thou clavest when thou wouldst win the praise of Atithigva.
4 The lofty battle-car thou broughtest forward; thou holpest Dasadyu the strong when fighting. Along with Vetasu thou slewest Tugra, and madest Tuji strong, who praised thee, Indra.
5 Thou madest good the laud, what time thou rentest a hundred thousand fighting foes, O Hero, Slewest the Dasa Sambara of the mountain, and with strange aids didst succour Divodasa.
6 Made glad with Soma-draughts and faith, thou sentest Cumuri to his sleep, to please Dabhiti. Thou, kindly giving Raji to Pithinas, slewest with might, at once, the sixty thousand.
7 May I too, with the liberal chiefs, O Indra, acquire thy blin supreme and domination, When, Mightiest! Hero-girt! Nahusa heroes boast them in thee, the triply-strong Defender.
8 So may we he thy friends, thy best beloved, O Indra, at this holy invocation. Best be Pratardani, illustrious ruler, in slaying foemen and in gaining riches.
[06-027] HYMN XXVII. Indra.
1 WHAT deed hath Indra done in the wild transport, in quaffing or in friendship with, the Soma? What joys have men of ancient times or recent obtained within the chamber of libation?
2 In its wild joy Indra hath proved him faithful, faithful in quaffing, faithful in its friendship. His truth is the delight that in this chamber the men of old and recent times have tasted.
3 All thy vast power, O Maghavan, we know not, know not the riches of thy full abundance. No one hath seen that might of thine, productive of bounty every day renewed, O Indra.
4 This one great power of thine our eyes have witnessed, wherewith thou slewest Varasikha’s children,
When by the force of thy descending thunder, at the mere solund, their boldest was demolished.
5 In aid of Abhyavartin Cayamana, Indra destroyed the seed of Varasikha.
At Hariyupiya he smote the vanguard of the Vrcivans, and the rear fled frighted.
6 Three thousand, mailed, in quest of fame, together, on the Yavyavati, O much-sought Indra, Vrcivan’s sons, falling before the arrow, like bursting vessels went to their destruction.
7 He, whose two red Steers, seeking goodly pasture, plying their tongues move on ‘twixt earth and heaven,
Gave Turvasa to Srnjaya, and, to aid him, gave the Vrcivans up to Daivavata.
8 Two wagon-teams, with damsels, twenty oxen, O Agni, Abhydvartin Cayamdna,
The liberal Sovran, giveth me. This guerdon of Prthu’s seed is hard to win from others.
[06-028] HYMN XXVIII. Cows.
I. THE Kine have come and brought good fortune: let them rest in the cow-pen and be happy near us. Here let them stay prolific, many-coloured, and yield through many morns their milk for Indra.
2 Indra aids him who offers sacrifice and gifts: he takes not what is his, and gives him more thereto.
Increasing ever more and ever more his wealth, he makes the pious dwell within unbroken bounds.
3 These are ne’er lost, no robber ever injures them: no evil-minded foe attempts to harass them.
The master of the Kine lives many a year with these, the Cows whereby he pours his gifts and serves the Gods.
4 The charger with his dusty brow o’ertakes them not, and never to the shambles do they take their way.
These Cows, the cattle of the pious worshipper, roam over widespread pasture where no danger is.
5 To me the Cows seem Bhaga, they seem Indra, they seem a portion of the first-poured Soma. These present Cows, they, O ye Indra. I long for Indra with my heart and spirit.
6 O Cows, ye fatten e’en the worn and wasted, and make the unlovely beautiful tolook on. Prosper my house, ye with auspicious voices. Your power is glorified in our assemblies.
7 Crop goodly pasturage and be prolific drink pure sweet water at good drinking places. Never be thief or sinful man your matter, and may the dart of Rudra still avoid you.
8 Now let this close admixture be close intermigled with these Cows, Mixt with the Steer’s prolific flow, and, Indra, with thy hero might.
[06-029] HYMN XXIX Indra.
1. YOUR men have followed Indra for his friendship, and for his loving-kindness glorified him.
For he bestows great wealth, the Thunder-wielder: worship him, Great and Kind, to win his favour.
2 Him to whose hand, men closely cling, and drivers stand on his golden chariot firmly stationed. With his firm arms he holds the reins; his Horses, the Stallions, are yoked ready for the journey.
3 Thy devotees embrace thy feet for glory. Bold, thunder-armed, rich, through thy strength, in guerdon,
Robed in a garment fair as heaven to look on, thou hast displayed thee like an active dancer.
4 That Soma when effused hath best consistence, for which the food is dressed and grain is mingled; By which the men who pray, extolling Indra chief favourites of Gods, recite their praises.
5 No limit of thy might hath been appointed, which by its greatness sundered earth and heaven. These the Prince filleth full with strong endeavour, driving, as ’twere, with help his flocks to waters.
6 So be the lofty Indra prompt to listen, Helper unaided, golden-visored Hero.
Yea, so may he, shown forth in might unequalled, smite down the many Vrtras and the Dasyus.
[06-030] HYMN XXX. Indra.
1. INDRA hath waxed yet more for hero prowess, alone, Eternal, he bestoweth treasures. Indra transcendeth both the worlds in greatness: one half of him equalleth earth and heaven.
2 Yea, mighty I esteem his Godlike nature: none hindereth what he hath once determined. Near and afar he spread and set the regions, and every day the Sun became apparent.
3 E’en now endures thine exploit of the Rivers, when, Indra, for their floods thou clavest passage. Like men who sit at meat the mountains settled: by thee, Most Wise! the regions were made
steadfast.
4 This is the truth, none else is like thee, Indra, no God superior to thee, no mortal.
Thou slewest Ahi who besieged the waters, and lettest loose the streams to hurry seaward.
5 Indra, thou breakest up the floods and portals on all sides, and the firmness of the mountain. Thou art the King of men, of all that liveth, engendering at once Sun, Heaven, and Morning.
[06-031] HYMN XXXI Indra.
1. SOLE Lord of wealth art thou, O Lord of riches: thou in thine hands hast held the people, Indra! Men have invoked thee with contending voices for seed and waters, progeny and sunlight.
2 Through fear of thee, O Indra, all the regions of earth, though naught may move them, shake and tremble.
All that is firm is frightened at thy coming, -the earth, the heaven, the mountain, and the forest.
3 With Kutsa, Indra! thou didst conquer Susna, voracious, bane of crops, in fight for cattle.
In the close fray thou rentest him: thou stolest the Sun’s wheel and didst drive away misfortunes.
4 Thou smotest to the ground the hundred castles, impregnable, of Sambara the Dasyu,
When, Strong, with might thou holpest Divodasa who poured libations out, O Soma-buyer, and madest Bharadvaja rich who praised thee.
5 As such, true Hero, for great joy of battle mount thy terrific car, O Brave and Manly.
Come with thine help to me, thou distant Roamer, and, glorious God, spread among men my glory.
[06-032] HYMN XXXII Indra.
1. I WITH my lips have fashioned for this Hero words never matched, most plentiful and auspicious, For him the Ancient, Great, Strong, Energetic, the very mighty Wielder of the Thunder.
2 Amid the sages, with the Sun he brightened the Parents: glorified, he burst the mountain;
And, roaring with the holy-thoughted singers, he loosed the bond that held the beams of Morning.
3 Famed for great deeds, with priests who kneel and laud him, he still hath conquered in the frays for cattle,
And broken down the forts, the Fort-destroyer, a Friend with friends, a Sage among the sages.
4 Come with thy girthed mares, with abundant vigour and plenteous strength to him who sings thy praises.
Come hither, borne by mares with many heroes, Lover of song! Steer! for the people’s welfare.
5 Indra with rush and might, sped by his Coursers, hath swiftly won the waters from the southward. Thus set at liberty the rivers daily flow to their goal, incessant and exhaustless.
[06-033] HYMN XXXIII. Indra.
1. GIVE us the rapture that is mightiest, Indra, prompt to bestow and swift to aid, O Hero,
That wins with brave steeds where brave steeds encounter, and quells the Vrtras and the foes in battle.
2 For with loud voice the tribes invoke thee, Indra, to aid them in the battlefield of heroes.
Thou, with the singers, hast pierced through the Panis: the charger whom thou aidest wins the booty.
3 Both races, Indra, of opposing foemen, O Hero, both the Arya and the Dasa,
Hast thou struck down like woods with well-shot lightnings: thou rentest them in fight, most manly
Chieftain!
4 Indra, befriend us with no scanty succour, prosper and aid us, Loved of all that liveth, When, fighting for the sunlight, we invoke thee, O Hero, in the fray, in war’s division.
5 Be ours, O Indra, now and for the future, be graciously inclined and near to help us. Thus may we, singing, sheltered by the Mighty, win many cattle on the day of trial.
[06-034] HYMN XXXIV. Indra.
1. FULL Many songs have met in thee, O Indra, and many a noble thought from thee proceedeth. Now and of old the eulogies of sages, their holy hymns and lauds, have yearned for Indra.
2 He, praised of many, bold, invoked of many, alone is glorified at sacrifices.
Like a car harnessed for some great achievement, Indra must be the cause of our rejoicing.
3 They make their way to Indra and exalt him, bim whom no prayers and no laudations trouble; For when a hundred or a thousand singers. laud him who loves the song their praise delights him.
4 As brightness mingles with the Moon in heaven, the offered Soma yearns to mix with Indra. Like water brought to men in desert places, our gifts at sacrifice have still refreshed him.
5 To him this mighty eulogy, to Indra hath this our laud been uttered by the poets,
That in the great encounter with the foemen, Loved of all life, Indra may guard and help us.
[06-035] HYMN XXXV. Indra.
1. WHEN shall our prayers rest in thy car beside thee? When dost thou give the singer food for thousands?
When wilt thou clothe this poet’s laud with plenty, and when wilt thou enrich our hymns with booty?
2 When wilt thou gatber men with men, O Indra, heroes with heroes, and prevail in combat? Thou shalt win triply kine in frays for cattle, so, Indra, give thou us celestial glory.
3 Yea, when wilt thou, O Indra, thou Most Mighty, make the prayer all-sustaining for the singer? When wilt thou yoke, as we yoke songs, thy Horses, and come to offerings that bring wealth in
cattle?
4 Grant to the Singer food with store of cattle, splendid with horses and the fame of riches. Send food to swell the milch-cow good at milking: bright be its shine among the Bharadvajas.
5 Lead otherwise this present foeman, Sakra! Hence art thou praised as Hero, foe destroyer
Him who gives pure gifts may I praise unceasing. Sage, quicken the Angirases by devotion.
[06-036] HYMN XXXVI. Indra.
1. THY raptures ever were for all men’s profit: so evermore have been thine earthly riches.
Thou still hast been the dealer-forth of vigour, since among Gods thou hast had power and Godhead.
2 Men have obtained his strength by sacrificing, and ever urged him, on to hero valour.
For the rein-seizing, the impetuous Charger they furnished power even for Vrtra’s slaughter.
3 Associate with him, as teams of horses, help, manly might, and vigour follow Indra.
As rivers reach the sea, so, strong with praises, our holy songs reach him the Comprehensive.
4 Lauded by us, let flow the spring, O Indra, of excellent and brightly-shining riches. For thou art Lord of men, without an equal: of all the world thou art the only Sovran.
5 Hear what thou mayst hear, thou who, fain for worship, as heaven girds earth, guardest thy servant’s treasure;
Tlat thou mayst be our own, joying in power, famed through thy might in every generation.
[06-037] HYMN XXXVII Indra.
1. LET thy Bay Horses, yoked, O mighty Indra, bring thy car hither fraught with every blessing. For thee, the Heavenly, e’en the poor invoketh: may we this day, thy feast-companions, prosper.
2 Forth to the vat the brown drops flow for service, and purified proceed directly forward. May Indra drink of this, our guest aforetime, Celestial King of the strong draught of Soma.
3 Bringing us hitherward all-potent Indra on well-wheeled chariot, may the Steeds who bear him
Convey him on the road direct to glory, and ne’er may Vayu’s Amrta cease and fail him.
4 Supreme, he stirs this man to give the guerdon,-Indra, most efficacious of the princes,- Wherewith, O Thunderer, thou removest sorrow, and, Bold One! partest wealth among the nobles.
5 Indra is hewho gives enduring vigour: may our songs magnify the God Most Mighty.
Best Vrtra-slayer be the Hero Indra these things he gives as Prince, with strong endeavour.
[06-038] HYMN XXXVIII. Indra.
1. HE hath drunk hence, Most Marvellous, and carried away our great and splendid call on Indra. The Bounteous, when we serve the Gods, accepteth song yet more famous and the gifts we bring
him.
2 The speaker filleth with a cry to Indra his ears who cometh nigh e’en from a distance. May this my call bring Indra to my presence, this call to Gods composed in sacred verses.
3 Him have I sung with my best song and praises, Indra of ancient birth and Everlasting.
For prayer and songs in him are concentrated: let laud wax mighty when addressed to Indra:
4 Indra, whom sacrifice shall strengthen, Soma, and song and hymn, and praises and devotion, Whom Dawns shall strengthen when the night departeth, Indra whom days shall strengthen,
months, and autumns.
5 Him, born for conquering might in full perfection, and waxen strongfor bounty and for glory, Great, Powerful, will we to-day, O singer, invite to aid. us and to quell our foemen.
[06-039] HYMN XXXIX Indra.
1. OF this our charming, our celestial Soma, eloquent, wise, Priest, with inspired devotion,
Of this thy close attendant, hast thou drunken. God, send the singer food with milk to grace it.
2 Craving the kine, rushing against the mountain led on by Law, with holyminded comrades, He broke the never-broken ridge of Vala. With words of might Indra subdued the Panis.
3 This Indu lighted darksome nights, O Indra, throughout the years, at morning and at evening.
Him have they stablished as the days’ bright ensign. He made the Mornings to be born in splendour.
4 He shone and caused to shme the worlds that shone not. By Law he lighted up the host of
Mornings.
He moves with Steeds yoked by eternal Order, contenting men with nave that finds the sunlight.
5 Now, praised, O Ancient King! fill thou the singer with plenteous food that he may deal forth treasures.
Give waters, herbs that have no poison, forests, and kine, and steeds, and men, to him who lauds thee.
[06-040] HYMN XL. Indra
1. DRINK, Indra; juice is shed to make thee joyful: loose thy Bay Steeds and give thy friends their freedom.
Begin the song, seated in our assembly. Give strength for sacrifice to him who singeth.
2 Drink thou of this whereof at birth, O Indra, thou drankest, Mighty One for power and rapture. The men, the pressing-stones, the cows, the waters have made this Soma ready for thy drinking.
3 The fire is kindled, Soma pressed, O Indra: let thy Bays, best to draw, convey thee hither. With mind devoted, Indra, I invoke thee. Come, for our great prosperity approach us.
4 Indra, come hither: evermore thou camest through our great strong desire to drink the Soma. Listen and hear the prayers which now we offer, and let this sacrifice increase thy vigour.
5 Mayst thou, O Indra, on the day of trial, present or absent, wheresoe’er thou dwellest, Thence, with thy team, accordant with the Maruts, Song-lover! guard our sacrifice, to help us.