Sukta 174

Mantra 1

त्वं राजेन्द्र ये च देवा रक्षा नॄन्पाह्यसुर त्वमस्मान् । त्वं सत्पतिर्मघवा नस्तरुत्रस्त्वं सत्यो वसवानः सहोदाः ॥

Thou art the king, O Indra, with all the gods: protect the human powers in us; guard us, O Asura, Lord of conscious might. Thou art the master of the true being, the bounteous giver; for us thou art the deliverer across all hazards. Thou art the True, the wealthy in plenitude, the bestower of force.

Mantra 2

दनो विश इन्द्र मृध्रवाचः सप्त यत्पुरः शर्म शारदीर्दर्त् । ऋणोरपो अनवद्यार्णा यूने वृत्रं पुरुकुत्साय रन्धीः ॥

Thou didst subdue, O Indra, the hostile-speaking peoples; thou didst break the seven firmholds that stood as a cover through the seasons. Thou didst open the faultless waters in their flood; thou didst make Vṛtra yield to the young and advancing soul (Puru-kutsa).

Mantra 3

अजा वृत इन्द्र शूरपत्नीर्द्यां च येभिः पुरुहूत नूनम् । रक्षो अग्निमशुषं तूर्वयाणं सिंहो न दमे अपांसि वस्तोः ॥

With those powers, O Indra, thou hast encompassed the unaging forces and even heaven itself, O much-invoked, even now. Guard the Fire that does not wane, rushing forward; like a lion in the home, protect the works of our dwelling.

Mantra 4

शेषन्नु त इन्द्र सस्मिन्योनौ प्रशस्तये पवीरवस्य मह्ना । सृजदर्णांस्यव यद्युधा गास्तिष्ठद्धरी धृषता मृष्ट वाजान् ॥

Now remain thou, O Indra, in this womb of our being for the praise of him who brings the purifying stream, by thy greatness. When in battle thou releasest the floods downward, thy two tawny steeds stand firm, boldly grooming the plenitudes of force.

Mantra 5

वह कुत्समिन्द्र यस्मिञ्चाकन्त्स्यूमन्यू ऋज्रा वातस्याश्वा । प्र सूरश्चक्रं वृहतादभीकेऽभि स्पृधो यासिषद्वज्रबाहुः ॥

Bear Kutsa, O Indra, in whom the uplifted ardour is awake, and the straight horses of the Wind are yoked. The Sun sets forward the wide wheel in the near encounter; the arm of the thunderbolt presses on against all rivalries.

Mantra 6

जघन्वाँ इन्द्र मित्रेरूञ्चोदप्रवृद्धो हरिवो अदाशून् । प्र ये पश्यन्नर्यमणं सचायोस्त्वया शूर्ता वहमाना अपत्यम् ॥

Having smitten, O Indra, the foes of Mitra, grown strong by the impelling word, O lord of the tawny steeds, thou didst overcome the ungiving. Those who behold Aryaman as companion, by thee made bold, bear onward their progeny (the soul’s continuance and right lineage of works).

Mantra 7

रपत्कविरिन्द्रार्कसातौ क्षां दासायोपबर्हणीं कः । करत्तिस्रो मघवा दानुचित्रा नि दुर्योणे कुयवाचं मृधि श्रेत् ॥

Swift moves the seer, O Indra, in the winning of the hymn; who made the earth a couch for the Dāsa? The bounteous made the three many-formed Dānu-powers; he cast down in the hard seat the false-speaking one, and in the battle he shattered him.

Mantra 8

सना ता त इन्द्र नव्या आगुः सहो नभोऽविरणाय पूर्वीः । भिनत्पुरो न भिदो अदेवीर्ननमो वधरदेवस्य पीयोः ॥

From of old, and again anew, these thy forces have come, O Indra, the mights of heaven for the conquering without battle. Thou breakest the forts as one breaks the breakers; the weapon of the undivine bows down before thee, the drinker of the pressed delight.

Mantra 9

त्वं धुनिरिन्द्र धुनिमतीॠणोरपः सीरा न स्रवन्तीः । प्र यत्समुद्रमति शूर पर्षि पारया तुर्वशं यदुं स्वस्ति ॥

Thou art the shaker, O Indra; thou hast opened the shaking waters that flow like furrows. When thou carriest the hero beyond the ocean, lead across Turvaśa and Yadu in well-being.

Mantra 10

त्वमस्माकमिन्द्र विश्वध स्या अवृकतमो नरां नृपाता । स नो विश्वासां स्पृधां सहोदा विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥

Be thou wholly ours, O Indra, in every way; most wolf-proof guardian of men, protector of the human king-force. Then, giver of might, may we know and win the impelling plenitude, the battle-host, the swift-giving bounty.