Sukta 53

Mantra 1

न्यू षु वाचं प्र महे भरामहे गिर इन्द्राय सदने विवस्वतः । नू चिद्धि रत्नं ससतामिवाविदन्न दुःष्टुतिर्द्रविणोदेषु शस्यते ॥

Now indeed we bring forward a new speech for the Great One—songs for Indra in the seat of the Radiant. For even now the treasure is found, as by those who strive; no ill-praise is celebrated among the givers of plenitude.

Mantra 2

दुरो अश्वस्य दुर इन्द्र गोरसि दुरो यवस्य वसुन इनस्पतिः । शिक्षानरः प्रदिवो अकामकर्शनः सखा सखिभ्यस्तमिदं गृणीमसि ॥

O Indra, you are the gate and passage for the Horse—our driving life-force; you are the gate for the Cow—the ray of illumined knowledge; you are the gate for Yava—the nourishing increase. You are the lord who impels the treasure of being. As the trainer of men, extending from the higher heaven, drawing us beyond the pull of desire, Friend of friends—this One we affirm and sing.

Mantra 3

शचीव इन्द्र पुरुकृद्द्युमत्तम तवेदिदमभितश्चेकिते वसु । अतः संगृभ्याभिभूत आ भर मा त्वायतो जरितुः काममूनयीः ॥

O Indra of effective power, doer of many works, most luminous: this treasure is indeed seen everywhere as yours. Therefore, gather it up as the overcomer and bring it here; do not diminish the desire of the singer who reaches toward you—fulfil it by your bringing.

Mantra 4

एभिर्द्युभिः सुमना एभिरिन्दुभिर्निरुन्धानो अमतिं गोभिरश्विना । इन्द्रेण दस्युं दरयन्त इन्दुभिर्युतद्वेषसः समिषा रभेमहि ॥

With these luminous days (powers of light) and with these Soma-drops, holding back the crooked will, and with the radiant rays (cows) and swift energies (horses), we would—by Indra—split the Dasyu (the obstructing darkness) with the Soma-forces; united against hatred, may we attain together the divine impulsion (iṣā).

Mantra 5

समिन्द्र राया समिषा रभेमहि सं वाजेभिः पुरुश्चन्द्रैरभिद्युभिः । सं देव्या प्रमत्या वीरशुष्मया गोअग्रयाश्वावत्या रभेमहि ॥

O Indra, together with spiritual riches (rāyā) and with the divine impulsion (iṣā), may we take hold; together with plenitudes of force (vāja), with many-shining powers of light, together with the goddessly right-intelligence (pramatī) and heroic ardour, with the foremost rays (go) and the swift energies (aśva), may we attain.

Mantra 6

ते त्वा मदा अमदन्तानि वृष्ण्या ते सोमासो वृत्रहत्येषु सत्पते । यत्कारवे दश वृत्राण्यप्रति बर्हिष्मते नि सहस्राणि बर्हयः ॥

Those ecstasies have intoxicated you—those bull-like powers; those Soma-pressings, O lord of truth (satpati), in the battles of the Coverer. When, for the singer who spreads the sacred seat (barhis), you cast down a thousand barriers, and ten resistless obstructions.

Mantra 7

युधा युधमुप घेदेषि धृष्णुया पुरा पुरं समिदं हंस्योजसा । नम्या यदिन्द्र सख्या परावति निबर्हयो नमुचिं नाम मायिनम् ॥

From battle to battle you advance indeed with daring force; city after city you crush by your might. When, O Indra, by the yielding power of friendship in the far realm, you struck down Namuci the magician—so you make the crookedness fall.

Mantra 8

त्वं करञ्जमुत पर्णयं वधीस्तेजिष्ठयातिथिग्वस्य वर्तनी । त्वं शता वङ्गृदस्याभिनत्पुरोऽनानुदः परिषूता ऋजिश्वना ॥

You struck down Karañja and also Parṇaya by your most piercing force, opening the path for Atithigva. You shattered a hundred strongholds of Varṅgṛda, driven round and hemmed in by Ṛjiśvan—so the resisting powers could not press back the advance of light.

Mantra 9

त्वमेताञ्जनराज्ञो द्विर्दशाबन्धुना सुश्रवसोपजग्मुषः । षष्टिं सहस्रा नवतिं नव श्रुतो नि चक्रेण रथ्या दुष्पदावृणक् ॥

You made these people-kings—twice ten—who came against Suśravas though he seemed without support, into a difficult footing; you overthrew the famed host—sixty thousand, ninety and nine—by the wheel of the chariot: thus you confound the massed powers of ignorance.

Mantra 10

त्वमाविथ सुश्रवसं तवोतिभिस्तव त्रामभिरिन्द्र तूर्वयाणम् । त्वमस्मै कुत्समतिथिग्वमायुं महे राज्ञे यूने अरन्धनायः ॥

You have protected Suśravas by your helps, and Tūrvayāṇa by your saving powers, O Indra. You gave to him Kutsā, Atithigva, and Āyu as companions and instruments, for the great king, for the young one—so that he might be made unconquerable in the inner march.

Mantra 11

य उदृचीन्द्र देवगोपाः सखायस्ते शिवतमा असाम । त्वां स्तोषाम त्वया सुवीरा द्राघीय आयुः प्रतरं दधानाः ॥

We who rise upward, O Indra—guarded by the gods—may be your most benevolent friends. We will praise you; with you may we be rich in heroic powers, holding a longer life and a more victorious forward movement.