Sukta 54

Mantra 1

मा नो अस्मिन्मघवन्पृत्स्वंहसि नहि ते अन्तः शवसः परीणशे । अक्रन्दयो नद्यो रोरुवद्वना कथा न क्षोणीर्भियसा समारत ॥

O Maghavan (Indra), do not leave us in this battle-field to the narrowness of sin and distress; for there is no end or failing in thy force. Thou hast made the rivers cry aloud, the woods roar; how then should the earth-spaces not tremble together in fear (before thy onrush)?

Mantra 2

अर्चा शक्राय शाकिने शचीवते शृण्वन्तमिन्द्रं महयन्नभि ष्टुहि । यो धृष्णुना शवसा रोदसी उभे वृषा वृषत्वा वृषभो न्यृञ्जते ॥

Sing to the Mighty, the capable, the lord of effective power; magnifying, hymn Indra who hears. He who by daring force sets both Heaven and Earth in motion and yokes them—bull by bull-nature, the strong Bull mastering the worlds.

Mantra 3

अर्चा दिवे बृहते शूष्यं वचः स्वक्षत्रं यस्य धृषतो धृषन्मनः । बृहच्छ्रवा असुरो बर्हणा कृतः पुरो हरिभ्यां वृषभो रथो हि षः ॥

Sing the strong word to the vast Heaven: his is a self-sovereign mastery, his mind is daring and presses forward. Wide in fame, a lordly power of increase, he is made for the front—his bull-chariot is yoked with the two tawny steeds.

Mantra 4

त्वं दिवो बृहतः सानु कोपयोऽव त्मना धृषता शम्बरं भिनत् । यन्मायिनो व्रन्दिनो मन्दिना धृषच्छितां गभस्तिमशनिं पृतन्यसि ॥

Thou shakest the ridge of the vast Heaven; by thy own self, with daring, thou breakest Śambara. When against the illusionist, the resistive, thou fightest, grasping the sharp thunderbolt in thy hand of power.

Mantra 5

नि यद्वृणक्षि श्वसनस्य मूर्धनि शुष्णस्य चिद्व्रन्दिनो रोरुवद्वना । प्राचीनेन मनसा बर्हणावता यदद्या चित्कृणवः कस्त्वा परि ॥

When thou strikest down upon the head of Śvasana, even of Śuṣṇa the resistive, the woods roar aloud. With thy forward-driving mind, rich in increase, whatever thou doest even today—who can encompass thee?

Mantra 6

त्वमाविथ नर्यं तुर्वशं यदुं त्वं तुर्वीतिं वय्यं शतक्रतो । त्वं रथमेतशं कृत्व्ये धने त्वं पुरो नवतिं दम्भयो नव ॥

Thou hast helped Narya, Turvaśa, Yadu; thou hast helped Turvīti and Vayya, O hundred-powered. Thou hast fashioned the swift chariot for the winning of the work; thou hast shattered ninety and nine strongholds.

Mantra 7

स घा राजा सत्पतिः शूशुवज्जनो रातहव्यः प्रति यः शासमिन्वति । उक्था वा यो अभिगृणाति राधसा दानुरस्मा उपरा पिन्वते दिवः ॥

He indeed is king, lord of the true, the eager people who brings the offered call; he advances the command. Or he who chants the hymns to him with plenitude— to that one the flowing giver (Dānu) swells the upper streams from Heaven.

Mantra 8

असमं क्षत्रमसमा मनीषा प्र सोमपा अपसा सन्तु नेमे । ये त इन्द्र ददुषो वर्धयन्ति महि क्षत्रं स्थविरं वृष्ण्यं च ॥

Unequal is thy sovereignty, unequal thy thought; may these Soma-drinkers go forth with works. They who, O Indra, by giving increase thee, they grow thy great mastery—firm and enduring, and thy bull-force too.

Mantra 9

तुभ्येदेते बहुला अद्रिदुग्धाश्चमूषदश्चमसा इन्द्रपानाः । व्यश्नुहि तर्पया काममेषामथा मनो वसुदेयाय कृष्व ॥

For thee are these many Soma-cups, pressed by the stone, set on the trays—cups for Indra’s drinking. Partake fully; satisfy their desire. Then shape our mind for the giving of the true riches (vasu).

Mantra 10

अपामतिष्ठद्धरुणह्वरं तमोऽन्तर्वृत्रस्य जठरेषु पर्वतः । अभीमिन्द्रो नद्यो वव्रिणा हिता विश्वा अनुष्ठाः प्रवणेषु जिघ्नते ॥

The mountain stood over the waters, a wavering darkness, within the bellies of Vṛtra. Indra pressed upon it; the rivers, held and enclosed, are set free—each finding its course, they strike forth along the slopes.

Mantra 11

स शेवृधमधि धा द्युम्नमस्मे महि क्षत्रं जनाषाळिन्द्र तव्यम् । रक्षा च नो मघोनः पाहि सूरीन्राये च नः स्वपत्या इषे धाः ॥

Set over us the ever-increasing luminous power; establish in us, O Indra who conquers for the peoples, the vast and masterful sovereignty of the soul. Guard us, O bounteous one; protect our seers of the inner seeing; and set for us the plenitude of being—spiritual wealth and a happy continuance of the inner lineage—for the impulse of fulfilment.