Sukta 102

Mantra 1

प्र ते रथं मिथूकृतमिन्द्रोऽवतु धृष्णुया । अस्मिन्नाजौ पुरुहूत श्रवाय्ये धनभक्षेषु नोऽव ॥

Forward may Indra, by his bold power, protect your chariot made for the paired course. In this contest, O much-invoked, in the battles that bring fame and the sharings of substance, protect us.

Mantra 2

उत्स्म वातो वहति वासोऽस्या अधिरथं यदजयत्सहस्रम् । रथीरभून्मुद्गलानी गविष्टौ भरे कृतं व्यचेदिन्द्रसेना ॥

Up rose the wind, carrying her garment over the chariot when she won the thousand. Mudgalānī became the charioteer in the seeking of the cows; in the clash, Indra’s host discerned clearly the deed accomplished.

Mantra 3

अन्तर्यच्छ जिघांसतो वज्रमिन्द्राभिदासतः । दासस्य वा मघवन्नार्यस्य वा सनुतर्यवया वधम् ॥

O Indra, holder of plenitude, restrain within the thunderbolt of the assailing will-to-harm; drive far away the stroke—whether it rises from the dark obstructer or even from the outwardly noble force—so that the seeker may pass beyond and be safe.

Mantra 4

उद्नो ह्रदमपिबज्जर्हृषाणः कूटं स्म तृंहदभिमातिमेति । प्र मुष्कभारः श्रव इच्छमानोऽजिरं बाहू अभरत्सिषासन् ॥

He drank the lake of waters, exulting; he crushed the ridge and goes against the oppressive hostility. Bearing the burden of strength, desiring fame of the soul, he brought forward swift arms, yearning to win.

Mantra 5

न्यक्रन्दयन्नुपयन्त एनममेहयन्वृषभं मध्य आजेः । तेन सूभर्वं शतवत्सहस्रं गवां मुद्गलः प्रधने जिगाय ॥

They drove him on with cries as they came near; they made the bull release his force in the midst of the contest. By that power Mudgala won the rich gain—cows in hundreds and thousands—in the decisive battle.

Mantra 6

ककर्दवे वृषभो युक्त आसीदवावचीत्सारथिरस्य केशी । दुधेर्युक्तस्य द्रवतः सहानस ऋच्छन्ति ष्मा निष्पदो मुद्गलानीम् ॥

The bull was yoked at the rough course; his long-haired charioteer cried out to him. With the yoked one running, together with the cart, the footless (helpers) reach Mudgalānī—drawn by the rush of the harnessed power.

Mantra 7

उत प्रधिमुदहन्नस्य विद्वानुपायुनग्वंसगमत्र शिक्षन् । इन्द्र उदावत्पतिमघ्न्यानामरंहत पद्याभिः ककुद्मान् ॥

And knowing, he struck up the rim (of the wheel) and yoked the moveable part, learning here the skill. Indra lifted up the lord of the unassailable cows and made him swift with his feet, the high-crested power.

Mantra 8

शुनमष्ट्राव्यचरत्कपर्दी वरत्रायां दार्वानह्यमानः । नृम्णानि कृण्वन्बहवे जनाय गाः पस्पशानस्तविषीरधत्त ॥

Happily the braided one moved on, being bound to the wooden shaft by the strap. Creating heroic powers for many people, touching the cows (the rays), he established strengths within himself.

Mantra 9

इमं तं पश्य वृषभस्य युञ्जं काष्ठाया मध्ये द्रुघणं शयानम् । येन जिगाय शतवत्सहस्रं गवां मुद्गलः पृतनाज्येषु ॥

Look upon this yoker of the bull, lying like a wooden club in the midst of the timber—by whom Mudgala won the cows in hundreds and thousands in the battle-press.

Mantra 10

आरे अघा को न्वित्था ददर्श यं युञ्जन्ति तम्वा स्थापयन्ति । नास्मै तृणं नोदकमा भरन्त्युत्तरो धुरो वहति प्रदेदिशत् ॥

Away with misfortune—who has ever seen it thus: the one they yoke, him they also set up again. They bring him neither grass nor water; the upper pole/shaft bears the load and points the way forward.

Mantra 11

परिवृक्तेव पतिविद्यमानट् पीप्याना कूचक्रेणेव सिञ्चन् । एषैष्या चिद्रथ्या जयेम सुमङ्गलं सिनवदस्तु सातम् ॥

Like one turned aside, she cried out seeking the known lord; swelling, she sprinkled as with a little wheel. Even with this going and coming on the road, may we win; let the attainment be auspicious, winning like ‘Sina’ (abundant).

Mantra 12

त्वं विश्वस्य जगतश्चक्षुरिन्द्रासि चक्षुषः । वृषा यदाजिं वृषणा सिषाससि चोदयन्वध्रिणा युजा ॥

You are the eye of all that moves, O Indra—the eye of the seer’s seeing. When, a bull of force, you urge on the contest with the strong pair, driving with the harnessed power, you awaken victorious movement in us.