Sukta 23

Mantra 1

आ तू न इन्द्र मद्र्यऽग्घुवानः सोमपीतये । हरिभ्यां याह्यद्रिवः

Come then to us, O Indra, gladdening, being invoked for soma-drinking; with thy two tawny steeds drive hither, O stone-wielder.

Mantra 2

सत्तो होता न ऋत्वियस्तिस्तिरे बर्हिरानुषक्। अयुज्रन् प्रातरद्रयः

Seated, the Hotar, like the duly-seasoned priests, have in ordered course strewn the Barhis; and in the morning the pressing-stones have been yoked to their work.

Mantra 3

इमा ब्रह्म ब्रह्मवाहः क्रियन्त आ बर्हिः सीद । वीहि शूर पुरोलाशम्

These sacred strains, O bearer of the holy word, are being wrought: sit down upon the Barhis; come, O Hero, to the Puroḷāśa cake.

Mantra 4

रारन्धि सवनेषु ण एषु स्तोमेषु वृत्रहन्। उक्थेष्विन्द्र गिर्वणः

Bestow on us, in these pressings, in these praises, O Vṛtra-slayer—yea, in the ukthas, O Indra, thou lover of song.

Mantra 5

मतयः सोमपामुरुं रिहन्ति शवसस्पतिम्। इन्द्रं वत्सं न मातरः

The inspired thoughts, the Soma-drinkers, caress the wide, the Lord of might—Indra—as mothers lick their calf.

Mantra 6

स मन्दस्वा ह्यन्धसो राधसे तन्वा महे। न स्तोतारं निदे करः

Do thou rejoice, forsooth, in the Soma-draught, for bounty, in thine own person, for our great good; make not the praiser a mark for reproach.

Mantra 7

वयमिन्द्र त्वायवो हविष्मन्तो जरामहे । उत त्वमस्मयुर्वसो

We, Indra, thine own, furnished with oblation, do magnify and invoke thee; and do thou also, O bounteous one, be kindly-minded toward us.

Mantra 8

मारे अस्मद् वि मुमुचो हरिप्रियार्वाङ् याहि । इन्द्र स्वधावो मत्स्वेह

O slayer, from us do thou wholly loose (the harm); O lover of the tawny steeds, come hitherward. Indra, lord of native might, amid the Soma-exhilarations drink thou here.

Mantra 9

अर्वाञ्चं त्वा सुखे रथे वहतामिन्द्र केशिना । घृतस्नू बर्हिरासदे

Hitherward let the long-maned (steeds) bear thee, Indra, in thy easy chariot, to sit upon the sacred grass, dripping with ghee.