Sukta 51

Mantra 1

अभि त्यं मेषं पुरुहूतमृग्मियमिन्द्रं गीर्भिर्मदता वस्वो अर्णवम् । यस्य द्यावो न विचरन्ति मानुषा भुजे मंहिष्ठमभि विप्रमर्चत ॥

Set your delighting hymns toward that ram-like Force, the much-invoked, the song-worthy Indra—an ocean of plenitude; whom the human measures cannot traverse like the heavens: adore the seer, the most bounteous for our enjoyment.

Mantra 2

अभीमवन्वन्त्स्वभिष्टिमूतयोऽन्तरिक्षप्रां तविषीभिरावृतम् । इन्द्रं दक्षास ऋभवो मदच्युतं शतक्रतुं जवनी सूनृतारुहत् ॥

Toward him the helpful Powers press, seeking the true fulfilment; Indra is encompassed by his mights that fill the mid-world. The skilful Rbhus, masters of right formation, uplift Indra—unfallen from ecstasy, of a hundred effective wills; and swift Truth (sūnṛtā) climbs up to him.

Mantra 3

त्वं गोत्रमङ्गिरोभ्योऽवृणोरपोतात्रये शतदुरेषु गातुवित् । ससेन चिद्विमदायावहो वस्वाजावद्रिं वावसानस्य नर्तयन् ॥

You opened the hidden Light (gotra) for the Angiras seers; and for Atri you released the waters, knowing the path through a hundred barriers. Even with Sāsena you brought the plenitude for Vimadā; in the battle you made the stone/obstacle yield, setting the possessor of wealth into the dance of victory.

Mantra 4

त्वमपामपिधानावृणोरपाधारयः पर्वते दानुमद्वसु । वृत्रं यदिन्द्र शवसावधीरहिमादित्सूर्यं दिव्यारोहयो दृशे ॥

You opened the coverings of the waters; you set the rich treasure upon the mountain. When by your force, O Indra, you slew Vṛtra, the Serpent, then you made the Sun ascend in heaven to be seen—so that vision might return.

Mantra 5

त्वं मायाभिरप मायिनोऽधमः स्वधाभिर्ये अधि शुप्तावजुह्वत । त्वं पिप्रोर्नृमणः प्रारुजः पुरः प्र ऋजिश्वानं दस्युहत्येष्वाविथ ॥

By your powers you cast down the deceivers, the lowest who, by their self-will, call upon the Sleep. You broke open the strongholds of Pipru, O force of manhood; and you aided Ṛjiśvāna in the slaying of the dasyus—cutting a way through the obscurity.

Mantra 6

त्वं कुत्सं शुष्णहत्येष्वाविथारन्धयोऽतिथिग्वाय शम्बरम् । महान्तं चिदर्बुदं नि क्रमीः पदा सनादेव दस्युहत्याय जज्ञिषे ॥

You helped Kutsa in the slaying of Śuṣṇa; you made Śambara submit for Atithigva. Even mighty Arbuda you trod down with your foot. From of old you are born for the destruction of the dasyu—an eternal power for the victory of the Light.

Mantra 7

त्वे विश्वा तविषी सध्र्यग्घिता तव राधः सोमपीथाय हर्षते । तव वज्रश्चिकिते बाह्वोर्हितो वृश्चा शत्रोरव विश्वानि वृष्ण्या ॥

In you all the forces are set in right poise; your plenitude exults for the drinking of Soma. Your thunderbolt is awake, placed in your arms; cut down from the enemy all the violent powers—let your manly energies prevail.

Mantra 8

वि जानीह्यार्यान्ये च दस्यवो बर्हिष्मते रन्धया शासदव्रतान् । शाकी भव यजमानस्य चोदिता विश्वेत्ता ते सधमादेषु चाकन ॥

Discern clearly the Aryan powers and those that are dasyu; for the one who spreads the sacred seat, subdue the lawless who refuse the right. Become capable, urged by the sacrificer’s will; and may all these your powers find delight in the common ecstasy.

Mantra 9

अनुव्रताय रन्धयन्नपव्रतानाभूभिरिन्द्रः श्नथयन्ननाभुवः । वृद्धस्य चिद्वर्धतो द्यामिनक्षतः स्तवानो वम्रो वि जघान संदिहः ॥

Making the powers conform to the right law, he subdues those who turn away from the law; by his onsets Indra shatters the ineffective. Even as he grows vast and increases, touching the heaven, being praised, the strong one strikes apart the compacted mass of obstruction.

Mantra 10

तक्षद्यत्त उशना सहसा सहो वि रोदसी मज्मना बाधते शवः । आ त्वा वातस्य नृमणो मनोयुज आ पूर्यमाणमवहन्नभि श्रवः ॥

When Uśanā fashioned for you a force by force, your energy with its greatness presses apart the two worlds. Then the Wind’s yoked-to-thought powers bore you forward—filling you more and more—toward the plenitude of inspired hearing and fame.

Mantra 11

मन्दिष्ट यदुशने काव्ये सचाँ इन्द्रो वङ्कू वङ्कुतराधि तिष्ठति । उग्रो ययिं निरपः स्रोतसासृजद्वि शुष्णस्य दृंहिता ऐरयत्पुरः ॥

Most gladdening, when he moves with Uśanā Kāvya, Indra stands upon the winding height. The fierce one released the waters in a streaming current; he shattered apart Śuṣṇa’s hardened strongholds and drove his forts asunder.

Mantra 12

आ स्मा रथं वृषपाणेषु तिष्ठसि शार्यातस्य प्रभृता येषु मन्दसे । इन्द्र यथा सुतसोमेषु चाकनोऽनर्वाणं श्लोकमा रोहसे दिवि ॥

Thou takest thy stand upon the chariot among the strong-armed powers, in the offerings of Śāryāta that are brought forth, wherein thou delightest. O Indra, as in the pressed Soma-draughts thou art glad, so thou ascendest to the unbroken hymn of affirmation in the heaven of the mind.

Mantra 13

अददा अर्भां महते वचस्यवे कक्षीवते वृचयामिन्द्र सुन्वते । मेनाभवो वृषणश्वस्य सुक्रतो विश्वेत्ता ते सवनेषु प्रवाच्या ॥

Thou gavest the little (child/seed) to the great singer Kakṣīvat who presses Soma, O Indra of luminous will. Thou becamest his inspirer and wise counsel, O strong-minded; therefore all these thy deeds are to be proclaimed in every pressing of the Soma.

Mantra 14

इन्द्रो अश्रायि सुध्यो निरेके पज्रेषु स्तोमो दुर्यो न यूपः । अश्वयुर्गव्यू रथयुर्वसूयुरिन्द्र इद्रायः क्षयति प्रयन्ता ॥

Indra has leaned and taken firm support, clear in discerning, in the open spaces; among the Pajras the hymn stands like a household pillar. Seeking the steed-force, seeking the rays (cows), seeking the chariot-force, seeking plenitude, Indra indeed dwells as the disposer of the spiritual wealth for the one who advances.

Mantra 15

इदं नमो वृषभाय स्वराजे सत्यशुष्माय तवसेऽवाचि । अस्मिन्निन्द्र वृजने सर्ववीराः स्मत्सूरिभिस्तव शर्मन्त्स्याम ॥

This homage has been spoken to the Bull of power, the self-king, to thee of true force and might. O Indra, in this battle/striving may we be full of heroes; with our illumined leaders may we dwell in thy sheltering peace.