Sukta 55

Mantra 1

दिवश्चिदस्य वरिमा वि पप्रथ इन्द्रं न मह्ना पृथिवी चन प्रति । भीमस्तुविष्माञ्चर्षणिभ्य आतपः शिशीते वज्रं तेजसे न वंसगः ॥

Even the vastness of heaven is spread out by his wideness; the earth cannot measure him by greatness. Terrible, of overwhelming force, he burns upon the human planes; he sharpens the thunderbolt for the blaze of consciousness, as a smith hones the metal for its shining edge.

Mantra 2

सो अर्णवो न नद्यः समुद्रियः प्रति गृभ्णाति विश्रिता वरीमभिः । इन्द्रः सोमस्य पीतये वृषायते सनात्स युध्म ओजसा पनस्यते ॥

As an ocean receives the rivers, so he gathers to himself the wide-spread currents by their vastness. Indra grows puissant for the drinking of Soma; from of old he, the warrior, rejoices in strength—he increases by the force that wins the delight.

Mantra 3

त्वं तमिन्द्र पर्वतं न भोजसे महो नृम्णस्य धर्मणामिरज्यसि । प्र वीर्येण देवताति चेकिते विश्वस्मा उग्रः कर्मणे पुरोहितः ॥

You, O Indra, are not diminished like a mountain that is eaten away; you blaze forth in the great laws of heroic force. By your might the divine working becomes manifest; for every action you stand in front, the fierce forerunner who leads the labour to victory.

Mantra 4

स इद्वने नमस्युभिर्वचस्यते चारु जनेषु प्रब्रुवाण इन्द्रियम् । वृषा छन्दुर्भवति हर्यतो वृषा क्षेमेण धेनां मघवा यदिन्वति ॥

He is voiced in the forested being by those who bow; he proclaims his Indra-force as a beautiful thing among men. A bull of power, he becomes the glad delight for the aspiring; a bull again, the bounteous one drives the milch-cow of abundance by peace—pressing out the nourishing flow.

Mantra 5

स इन्महानि समिथानि मज्मना कृणोति युध्म ओजसा जनेभ्यः । अधा चन श्रद्दधति त्विषीमत इन्द्राय वज्रं निघनिघ्नते वधम् ॥

He indeed accomplishes the great battles by his plenitude, the warrior, by strength for the peoples. Then they set their faith in the radiant one; for Indra they hammer out the thunderbolt, striking and striking—fashioning the slaying force against the obstruction.

Mantra 6

स हि श्रवस्युः सदनानि कृत्रिमा क्ष्मया वृधान ओजसा विनाशयन् । ज्योतींषि कृण्वन्नवृकाणि यज्यवेऽव सुक्रतुः सर्तवा अपः सृजत् ॥

For he is the seeker of glory, destroying by strength the fabricated seats of darkness upon the earth-field as he grows in might. Making the lights unassailable for the sacrificer, the wise in will releases the waters to flow—letting the streams run in their course.

Mantra 7

दानाय मनः सोमपावन्नस्तु तेऽर्वाञ्चा हरी वन्दनश्रुदा कृधि । यमिष्ठासः सारथयो य इन्द्र ते न त्वा केता आ दभ्नुवन्ति भूर्णयः ॥

Let your mind be turned to giving, O Soma-drinker; make your two tawny steeds come near, hearers of our praise. For those charioteers of yours, O Indra, most restraining and sure, the swirling impulses cannot deceive; no false perceptions overtake you.

Mantra 8

अप्रक्षितं वसु बिभर्षि हस्तयोरषाळ्हं सहस्तन्वि श्रुतो दधे । आवृतासोऽवतासो न कर्तृभिस्तनूषु ते क्रतव इन्द्र भूरयः ॥

You bear in your hands the un-diminishing wealth; in your body you hold the unconquerable force, famed of hearing. In your being, O Indra, are many wills and workings—self-covered, self-guarded, not fashioned by human makers.