
Rishi: Traditionally attributed to Ṛgvedic seers in the Indra cycle (AV 20 is largely RV-derived); specific r̥ṣi for this verse follows the RV Anukramaṇī for the source hymn.
Devata: Indra
Chandas: Triṣṭubh/Jagatī context in RV-derived material; this pāda-set is commonly treated within the RV meter of its source hymn.
Mantra 1
स घा नो योग आ भुवत् स राये स पुरंध्याम्। गमद् वाजेभिरा स नः
May he, verily, be ours in the yoking-time; may he be for wealth, for abundance: may he come to us hither with prizes of strength.
Mantra 2
यस्य संस्थे न वृण्वते हरी समत्सु शत्रवः । तस्मा इन्द्राय गायत
He whose two bays the foes win not in the encounter, in the battles,—to that Indra sing ye.
Mantra 3
सुतपाव्ने सुता इमे शुचयो यन्ति वीतये । सोमासो दध्याशिरः
O purifier of the pressed draught, these pressed (Soma-juices), bright and cleansed, go forth for thy enjoyment: the Soma-drops, with curd for their crowning mixture.
Mantra 4
त्वं सुतस्य पीतये सद्यो वृद्धो अजायथाः । इन्द्र ज्यैष्ठ्याय सुक्रतो
Thou, for the drinking of the pressed draught, wast straightway born full-grown: O Indra, of good resolve, for supremacy.
Mantra 5
आ त्वा विशन्त्वाशवः सोमास इन्द्र गिर्वणः । शं ते सन्तु प्रचेतसे
Enter thou—ye swift Soma-draughts—into Indra, the hymn-delighting: for thee, the fore-knowing, let them be for welfare.
Mantra 6
त्वां स्तोमा अवीवृधन् त्वामुक्था शतक्रतो । त्वां वर्धन्तु नो गिरः
The praises have strengthened thee, thee the solemn recitations, O hundred-powered: let our songs increase thee.
Mantra 7
अक्षितोतिः सनेदिमं वाजमिन्द्रः सहस्रिणम्। यस्मिन् विश्वानि पौंस्या
Indra, whose succour perisheth not, may win for us this prize of strength, thousandfold,—wherein are all manly powers.
Mantra 8
मा नो मर्ता अभि द्रुहन् तनूनामिन्द्र गिर्वणः । ईशानो यवया वधम्
Let not mortal men assail our bodies with treachery, O Indra, Lord of Song. As sovereign, drive thou the deadly blow away.
Mantra 9
युञ्जन्ति ब्रध्नमरुषं चरन्तं परि तस्थुषः । रोचन्ते रोचना दिवि
They yoke the tawny, ruddy one that moves; around him stand the watchers. The luminous regions shine in heaven.
Mantra 10
युञ्जन्त्यस्य काम्या हरी विपक्षसा रथे । शोणा धृष्णू नृवाहसा
They yoke for him the wishful pair of bays, wide-flanking, to the chariot—ruddy, daring, man-bearing.
Mantra 11
केतुं कृण्वन्नकेतवे पेशो मर्या अपेशसे । समुषद्भिरजायथाः
Making a sign for him who hath no sign, and beauty for the unadorned, O hero, thou wast wholly born together with the Dawns.
Mantra 12
आदह स्वधामनु पुनर्गर्भत्वमेरिरे। दधाना नाम यज्ञियम्
Burn forth, in thine own proper might, according to ordinance: again they have set pregnancy in motion, bearing the sacrificial name.
It is used for protection and counter-hostility—asking Indra to prevent treacherous harm to one’s body and to drive away deadly attacks, while also supporting victory in contests.
No specific substances are required in the text; it works primarily through praise (stotra). In a soma-oriented setting, it can be aligned with Indra’s soma empowerment, but that is optional.
Mantra 20.69.8 is the clearest protective petition: it asks that mortals not attack the body with treachery and that Indra, as sovereign, drive away the lethal blow.