Sukta 103

Mantra 1

आशुः शिशानो वृषभो न भीमो घनाघनः क्षोभणश्चर्षणीनाम् । संक्रन्दनोऽनिमिष एकवीरः शतं सेना अजयत्साकमिन्द्रः ॥

Swift, self-kindled, like a formidable bull, smiter of the smiters, the awakener of the human fields of action—Indra, the single hero, the unblinking War-Cry, conquered together a hundred hostings. (So may the one-pointed power in us break the massed resistances and win the unified victory.)

Mantra 2

संक्रन्दनेनानिमिषेण जिष्णुना युत्कारेण दुश्च्यवनेन धृष्णुना । तदिन्द्रेण जयत तत्सहध्वं युधो नर इषुहस्तेन वृष्णा ॥

By the rallying cry, by the unblinking wakefulness, by the conquering power, by the battle-shout, by the unshakable drive, by the daring might—by that Indra win; in that join together, O fighters, with the Bull who bears the arrows (the directed rays of force).

Mantra 3

स इषुहस्तैः स निषङ्गिभिर्वशी संस्रष्टा स युध इन्द्रो गणेन । संसृष्टजित्सोमपा बाहुशर्ध्युग्रधन्वा प्रतिहिताभिरस्ता ॥

He with the arrow-bearers, he with the sword-bearers—master and arranger—he, Indra, with the troop in the battle; victorious in the close-pressed encounter, Soma-drinker, strong in the arm-bands, fierce in the bow, the archer with well-aimed castings.

Mantra 4

बृहस्पते परि दीया रथेन रक्षोहामित्राँ अपबाधमानः । प्रभञ्जन्त्सेनाः प्रमृणो युधा जयन्नस्माकमेध्यविता रथानाम् ॥

O Brihaspati, circle on with your chariot, slayer of the devouring darkness, thrusting away the hostile powers; shattering the hosts, crushing them in the battle, victorious—be for us the increaser, the protector of our movements (our chariots of progress).

Mantra 5

बलविज्ञायः स्थविरः प्रवीरः सहस्वान्वाजी सहमान उग्रः । अभिवीरो अभिसत्वा सहोजा जैत्रमिन्द्र रथमा तिष्ठ गोवित् ॥

Knower of forces, firm and steadfast, rich in heroes, full of might, bearer of plenitude, enduring and fierce; overpowering in heroism, overpowering in being, born of strength—O Indra, mount the victory-chariot, finder of the Rays (cows of light).

Mantra 6

गोत्रभिदं गोविदं वज्रबाहुं जयन्तमज्म प्रमृणन्तमोजसा । इमं सजाता अनु वीरयध्वमिन्द्रं सखायो अनु सं रभध्वम् ॥

The breaker of the enclosures, the finder of the Rays, the arm of the thunderbolt—victorious, crushing by force in the onset: follow him, O kindred powers; grow heroic after him; O comrades, take hold together of Indra.

Mantra 7

अभि गोत्राणि सहसा गाहमानोऽदयो वीरः शतमन्युरिन्द्रः । दुश्च्यवनः पृतनाषाळयुध्योऽस्माकं सेना अवतु प्र युत्सु ॥

Pressing into the enclosures by force, the merciless hero, Indra of a hundred impulses of wrath and energy; hard to dislodge, conqueror of battles, unconquerable—may he help our hosts in the forward clashes.

Mantra 8

इन्द्र आसां नेता बृहस्पतिर्दक्षिणा यज्ञः पुर एतु सोमः । देवसेनानामभिभञ्जतीनां जयन्तीनां मरुतो यन्त्वग्रम् ॥

Indra be their leader, Brihaspati their guiding power; let Dakṣiṇā, the yajña, go in front—let Soma advance. Of the divine hosts that shatter the opposing, that are victorious, let the Maruts go at the head.

Mantra 9

इन्द्रस्य वृष्णो वरुणस्य राज्ञ आदित्यानां मरुतां शर्ध उग्रम् । महामनसां भुवनच्यवानां घोषो देवानां जयतामुदस्थात् ॥

Of Indra the Bull, of Varuṇa the King, of the Ādityas, of the Maruts—the fierce host; of the great-minded who shake the worlds: the victorious cry of the gods has risen up.

Mantra 10

उद्धर्षय मघवन्नायुधान्युत्सत्वनां मामकानां मनांसि । उद्वृत्रहन्वाजिनां वाजिनान्युद्रथानां जयतां यन्तु घोषाः ॥

Rouse up, O Maghavan, the weapons; rouse up the hearts of my fighters. O slayer of Vṛtra, lift up the plenitudes of the strong; lift up the chariots—let the cries of the victorious go forth.

Mantra 11

अस्माकमिन्द्रः समृतेषु ध्वजेष्वस्माकं या इषवस्ता जयन्तु । अस्माकं वीरा उत्तरे भवन्त्वस्माँ उ देवा अवता हवेषु ॥

May Indra be ours in the joined encounter and under the lifted standards; may the arrows that arise from our being win the issue. May our heroic powers become the higher and the stronger; and may the gods protect us in our calls—when we invoke the Light for the inner battle.

Mantra 12

अमीषां चित्तं प्रतिलोभयन्ती गृहाणाङ्गान्यप्वे परेहि । अभि प्रेहि निर्दह हृत्सु शोकैरन्धेनामित्रास्तमसा सचन्ताम् ॥

Seizing and turning aside their mind by counter-allurement, take hold of their limbs, O swift-moving force, and pass beyond them. Advance upon them; burn them out with griefs in their hearts. Let the hostile powers be yoked to blind darkness—so that the inner adversaries fall back into the night they serve.

Mantra 13

प्रेता जयता नर इन्द्रो वः शर्म यच्छतु । उग्रा वः सन्तु बाहवोऽनाधृष्या यथासथ ॥

Go forward and conquer, O men; may Indra grant you the peace of a protected wideness. Let your arms be fierce in force, not to be overpowered, so that you may stand as you truly are—firm in the soul’s right courage.