Sukta 56

Mantra 1

एष प्र पूर्वीरव तस्य चम्रिषोऽत्यो न योषामुदयंस्त भुर्वणिः । दक्षं महे पाययते हिरण्ययं रथमावृत्या हरियोगमृभ्वसम् ॥

This one drives forward the ancient powers; like a steed he rises up from the covering, the swift mover. He makes the golden skill drink for the Great; turning the chariot—yoked with the tawny ones—he advances in a masterful fashioning.

Mantra 2

तं गूर्तयो नेमन्निषः परीणसः समुद्रं न संचरणे सनिष्यवः । पतिं दक्षस्य विदथस्य नू सहो गिरिं न वेना अधि रोह तेजसा ॥

Towards him the well-guided seekers, carrying their ordained impulses of aspiration, move together as streams move to the ocean’s meeting. Now they climb to the Lord of discerning power and of the sacred session—upon the summit of force, as desirers ascend a mountain—by the blaze of his luminous energy.

Mantra 3

स तुर्वणिर्महाँ अरेणु पौंस्ये गिरेर्भृष्टिर्न भ्राजते तुजा शवः । येन शुष्णं मायिनमायसो मदे दुध्र आभूषु रामयन्नि दामनि ॥

He, the impetuous mover, vast and dustless in his manly might, shines like the mountain’s flashing stroke—his driving force. By that power, in the ecstasy of the iron (unyielding) will, he pressed down Śuṣṇa the sorcerer, subduing him amid the onsets, fastening him in his bonds.

Mantra 4

देवी यदि तविषी त्वावृधोतय इन्द्रं सिषक्त्युषसं न सूर्यः । यो धृष्णुना शवसा बाधते तम इयर्ति रेणुं बृहदर्हरिष्वणिः ॥

When the Goddess Power—your increasing might—yokes Indra for our help, as the Sun yokes the Dawn, then he who with daring force drives back the darkness sets the great dust in motion, roaring in his rush of luminous might.

Mantra 5

वि यत्तिरो धरुणमच्युतं रजोऽतिष्ठिपो दिव आतासु बर्हणा । स्वर्मीळ्हे यन्मद इन्द्र हर्ष्याहन्वृत्रं निरपामौब्जो अर्णवम् ॥

When you leapt beyond the firm, unshaken foundation and crossed the mid-world by your uplifting power, then in the rapture that wins the Sun (the light), O Indra, you rejoicingly struck down Vṛtra and released outward the ocean-flood of the waters.

Mantra 6

त्वं दिवो धरुणं धिष ओजसा पृथिव्या इन्द्र सदनेषु माहिनः । त्वं सुतस्य मदे अरिणा अपो वि वृत्रस्य समया पाष्यारुजः ॥

You establish by your might the firm support of heaven and, O Indra of vastness, you take your seat in the foundations of earth. You, in the ecstasy of the pressed Soma, set free the waters; you shattered the enclosing joints and fetters of Vṛtra.