Sukta 169

Mantra 1

महश्चित्त्वमिन्द्र यत एतान्महश्चिदसि त्यजसो वरूता । स नो वेधो मरुतां चिकित्वान्त्सुम्ना वनुष्व तव हि प्रेष्ठा ॥

You are indeed of the Vast, O Indra, from whom these powers come forth; you are indeed the protector by your luminous mastery. Therefore, O knower, discerning the Maruts, win for us your cherished graces—for your goodwill is the most beloved support in our journey.

Mantra 2

अयुज्रन्त इन्द्र विश्वकृष्टीर्विदानासो निष्षिधो मर्त्यत्रा । मरुतां पृत्सुतिर्हासमाना स्वर्मीळ्हस्य प्रधनस्य सातौ ॥

O Indra, you yoked the peoples of every kind—those who know—so that in the mortal field they might not be driven down. The Maruts’ battle-impulse, laughing in its force, is for the winning in the clash, for the gain of the luminous plenitude that is hard to conquer.

Mantra 3

अम्यक्सा त इन्द्र ऋष्टिरस्मे सनेम्यभ्वं मरुतो जुनन्ति । अग्निश्चिद्धि ष्मातसे शुशुक्वानापो न द्वीपं दधति प्रयांसि ॥

Straight and sure is your spear for us, O Indra; the Maruts urge on the vast winning. Even Agni, blazing for the traveler, sets the forward movements in place—like waters that establish an island—so the journey through the flood becomes a founded passage.

Mantra 4

त्वं तू न इन्द्र तं रयिं दा ओजिष्ठया दक्षिणयेव रातिम् । स्तुतश्च यास्ते चकनन्त वायोः स्तनं न मध्वः पीपयन्त वाजैः ॥

You, O Indra, give us that richness of being by your most puissant right-giving, as one gives the Dakṣiṇā. And those who praise you and delight in you, they make swell the honeyed breast of Vāyu with vāja—plenitudes of force—so the life-breath becomes abundant and sweet for the work.

Mantra 5

त्वे राय इन्द्र तोशतमाः प्रणेतारः कस्य चिदृतायोः । ते षु णो मरुतो मृळयन्तु ये स्मा पुरा गातूयन्तीव देवाः ॥

In you, O Indra, are the most satisfying riches; you are the guide of whoever walks in the ways of the Truth. Therefore may the Maruts be gracious to us—those gods who from of old were as if seekers and makers of the paths—opening the right passages for our advance.

Mantra 6

प्रति प्र याहीन्द्र मीळ्हुषो नॄन्महः पार्थिवे सदने यतस्व । अध यदेषां पृथुबुध्नास एतास्तीर्थे नार्यः पौंस्यानि तस्थुः ॥

Advance, advance, O Indra, toward the mighty human energies that are ready to be strengthened; take thy station in the earthly seat (the embodied field). Then, when their broad-based powers have stood firm at the ford, let the manly forces of the seeker be established there—at the crossing where the passage from limitation to wideness is made.

Mantra 7

प्रति घोराणामेतानामयासां मरुतां शृण्व आयतामुपब्दिः । ये मर्त्यं पृतनायन्तमूमैॠणावानं न पतयन्त सर्गैः ॥

Hear in response the oncoming cry of these formidable, unwearied Maruts; for they do not let fall with their rushes the mortal who battles on, but rather bear him through—so that the one in debt to weakness is released into the forward drive of force.

Mantra 8

त्वं मानेभ्य इन्द्र विश्वजन्या रदा मरुद्भिः शुरुधो गोअग्राः । स्तवानेभिः स्तवसे देव देवैर्विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥

Thou, O Indra, givest to the eager strivers the universal-born powers; with the Maruts thou breakest open the strongholds whose forefront is the Light. By our hymns thou art praised, O God, by the gods; may we come to know this victorious host, the impetuous giver who pours out the swift abundance.