Sukta 61

Mantra 1

अस्मा इदु प्र तवसे तुराय प्रयो न हर्मि स्तोमं माहिनाय । ऋचीषमायाध्रिगव ओहमिन्द्राय ब्रह्माणि राततमा ॥

For him indeed—Indra of swift might—I bring forward the hymn as one brings nourishing strength, for his greatness. To Indra, the master of the rich word and the unshaken bull-force, I offer these mantras, most capable of giving, as a true gift of the soul.

Mantra 2

अस्मा इदु प्रय इव प्र यंसि भराम्याङ्गूषं बाधे सुवृक्ति । इन्द्राय हृदा मनसा मनीषा प्रत्नाय पत्ये धियो मर्जयन्त ॥

To him I extend as nourishment and bring an inspired chant, a well-turned word to break the resistance. For Indra—ancient lord—I cleanse and refine the thoughts by heart and mind, by the discerning intelligence, so the inner offering becomes fit for victory.

Mantra 3

अस्मा इदु त्यमुपमं स्वर्षां भराम्याङ्गूषमास्येन । मंहिष्ठमच्छोक्तिभिर्मतीनां सुवृक्तिभिः सूरिं वावृधध्यै ॥

To him I bring with my mouth the inspired chant, a supreme and incomparable power that wins the luminous heaven. With clear utterances of thought and with well-fashioned words, I seek to increase the Hero—Indra—so the inner leader grows in might within us.

Mantra 4

अस्मा इदु स्तोमं सं हिनोमि रथं न तष्टेव तत्सिनाय । गिरश्च गिर्वाहसे सुवृक्तीन्द्राय विश्वमिन्वं मेधिराय ॥

For him I fashion and drive together the hymn, as a craftsman shapes a chariot for the onward course. I offer words and well-turned utterances to Indra, the bearer of inspired speech, the all-impelling, the wise—so the inner force moves rightly and victoriously.

Mantra 5

अस्मा इदु सप्तिमिव श्रवस्येन्द्रायार्कं जुह्वा समञ्जे । वीरं दानौकसं वन्दध्यै पुरां गूर्तश्रवसं दर्माणम् ॥

For him I anoint the chant for Indra, as one harnesses a swift team for fame. To adore the Hero who dwells in the house of giving, the upholder of strongholds, the one of firmly established renown—so that the protecting power stands firm in our inner cities.

Mantra 6

अस्मा इदु त्वष्टा तक्षद्वज्रं स्वपस्तमं स्वर्यं रणाय । वृत्रस्य चिद्विदद्येन मर्म तुजन्नीशानस्तुजता कियेधाः ॥

For him indeed Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned the thunderbolt—most perfect in work, luminous for the battle. With it he found even Vṛtra’s vital point and, pressing on as the sovereign, he smote the smiters and shattered the obstructing powers.

Mantra 7

अस्येदु मातुः सवनेषु सद्यो महः पितुं पपिवाञ्चार्वन्ना । मुषायद्विष्णुः पचतं सहीयान्विध्यद्वराहं तिरो अद्रिमस्ता ॥

Even as soon as he was born, in his mother’s pressings, he drank the great delight, the lovely food. Strong Viṣṇu stole the cooking; he pierced the boar, casting him beyond the rock—an image of the power that breaks through the stony cover and releases the hidden nourishment of light.

Mantra 8

अस्मा इदु ग्नाश्चिद्देवपत्नीरिन्द्रायार्कमहिहत्य ऊवुः । परि द्यावापृथिवी जभ्र उर्वी नास्य ते महिमानं परि ष्टः ॥

For him even the divine Mothers, the goddesses, voiced the flaming chant for Indra in the slaying of the serpent-obstruction. Wide Heaven and Earth encompassed him; yet they do not encompass your greatness—your vastness exceeds the frame of the worlds.

Mantra 9

अस्येदेव प्र रिरिचे महित्वं दिवस्पृथिव्याः पर्यन्तरिक्षात् । स्वराळिन्द्रो दम आ विश्वगूर्तः स्वरिरमत्रो ववक्षे रणाय ॥

Indeed, of him this greatness overflows—encircling Heaven and Earth and reaching through the mid-world. Indra, self-ruling, established in the home of the being, upheld by all impulses of the universal, the good fighter, undiminished in force, grows vast for the battle—towards the victory of the Light.

Mantra 10

अस्येदेव शवसा शुषन्तं वि वृश्चद्वज्रेण वृत्रमिन्द्रः । गा न व्राणा अवनीरमुञ्चदभि श्रवो दावने सचेताः ॥

By this very force he hewed apart the withering Obstructor with the thunderbolt—Indra. And he released the fertile grounds, as rays (cows) freed from wounding constraint, for the giving of the inspired hearing and the fame of the soul—awake and consenting in consciousness.

Mantra 11

अस्येदु त्वेषसा रन्त सिन्धवः परि यद्वज्रेण सीमयच्छत् । ईशानकृद्दाशुषे दशस्यन्तुर्वीतये गाधं तुर्वणिः कः ॥

By his impetuous force the rivers delight and move when with the thunderbolt he sets their course and bounds. Creating sovereignty, he gives to the giver the right worship; and for the swift advancing he makes a ford, a safe passage—who is that but the impelling Indra?

Mantra 12

अस्मा इदु प्र भरा तूतुजानो वृत्राय वज्रमीशानः कियेधाः । गोर्न पर्व वि रदा तिरश्चेष्यन्नर्णांस्यपां चरध्यै ॥

Bring forth for him the thunderbolt—he who rushes to the front, the master of powers—against Vṛtra, for the decisive work. Split the joints as of a bull; drive through, moving across, so that the flood-currents of the waters may find their free course.

Mantra 13

अस्येदु प्र ब्रूहि पूर्व्याणि तुरस्य कर्माणि नव्य उक्थैः । युधे यदिष्णान आयुधान्यृघायमाणो निरिणाति शत्रून् ॥

Tell forth, with ever-new utterances, the ancient works of this swift Power: how in battle, whetting his weapons, pressing forward in the assault, he drives the enemies out and down—casting them from their hold.

Mantra 14

अस्येदु भिया गिरयश्च दृळ्हा द्यावा च भूमा जनुषस्तुजेते । उपो वेनस्य जोगुवान ओणिं सद्यो भुवद्वीर्याय नोधाः ॥

By fear of him even the firm mountains, and Heaven and Earth, are shaken from their very birth. Then, by the seeking of the desire-soul, pressing close to the covering, he becomes at once a force for heroism—Nodhās (the seer) made it manifest.

Mantra 15

अस्मा इदु त्यदनु दाय्येषामेको यद्वव्ने भूरेरीशानः । प्रैतशं सूर्ये पस्पृधानं सौवश्व्ये सुष्विमावदिन्द्रः ॥

To him indeed that followed gift was given—when alone, as master, he won the abundant plenitude. Indra aided the well-pressed Soma in the contest with the Sun’s steed Etaśa—so that the right swiftness might prevail.

Mantra 16

एवा ते हारियोजना सुवृक्तीन्द्र ब्रह्माणि गोतमासो अक्रन् । ऐषु विश्वपेशसं धियं धाः प्रातर्मक्षू धियावसुर्जगम्यात् ॥

So for you, O Indra who yoke the tawny steeds, the Gotamas have fashioned these well-woven words of power. In them set the thought that has all forms; and at dawn may the treasure of inspired intelligence swiftly come to us.