Sukta 120

Mantra 1

तदिदास भुवनेषु ज्येष्ठं यतो जज्ञ उग्रस्त्वेषनृम्णः । सद्यो जज्ञानो नि रिणाति शत्रूननु यं विश्वे मदन्त्यूमाः ॥

That indeed was the eldest power in the worlds, from whom the fierce one was born, blazing in manhood-force. Newly born, he at once drives down the adversaries, following whom all the vital energies exult.

Mantra 2

वावृधानः शवसा भूर्योजाः शत्रुर्दासाय भियसं दधाति । अव्यनच्च व्यनच्च सस्नि सं ते नवन्त प्रभृता मदेषु ॥

Growing by strength, abundant in power, he lays fear upon the hostile Dāsa. He bends what is unbent and what is bent; in the carried-forward ecstasies they bow to you in the raptures.

Mantra 3

त्वे क्रतुमपि वृञ्जन्ति विश्वे द्विर्यदेते त्रिर्भवन्त्यूमाः । स्वादोः स्वादीयः स्वादुना सृजा समदः सु मधु मधुनाभि योधीः ॥

In you all gather their will and discernment, when these vital energies become double and triple. Sweeter than the sweet, by sweetness create; in union of ecstasy, join honey with honey and fight through with it.

Mantra 4

इति चिद्धि त्वा धना जयन्तं मदेमदे अनुमदन्ति विप्राः । ओजीयो धृष्णो स्थिरमा तनुष्व मा त्वा दभन्यातुधाना दुरेवाः ॥

Even so, indeed, the seers acclaim you, winning the riches in each rapture after rapture. O stronger one, O bold, stretch out a firm protection; let not the hostile sorcerers of evil intent deceive you.

Mantra 5

त्वया वयं शाशद्महे रणेषु प्रपश्यन्तो युधेन्यानि भूरि । चोदयामि त आयुधा वचोभिः सं ते शिशामि ब्रह्मणा वयांसि ॥

With you we prevail in the battles, seeing ahead the many things that must be fought. I urge your weapons with my words; with the power of the mantra I sharpen your onrushes.

Mantra 6

स्तुषेय्यं पुरुवर्पसमृभ्वमिनतममाप्त्यमाप्त्यानाम् । आ दर्षते शवसा सप्त दानून्प्र साक्षते प्रतिमानानि भूरि ॥

I would praise the many-formed, the skillful one, the most mighty—Aptya among the Aptyas. By strength he comes to be seen; he overmasters the seven streams of resistance and manifests many measures and standards.

Mantra 7

नि तद्दधिषेऽवरं परं च यस्मिन्नाविथावसा दुरोणे । आ मातरा स्थापयसे जिगत्नू अत इनोषि कर्वरा पुरूणि ॥

You set that down—both the lower and the higher—in the house where you help by your protection. You establish the two Mothers, moving to their goal; from there you drive out many darkenings.

Mantra 8

इमा ब्रह्म बृहद्दिवो विवक्तीन्द्राय शूषमग्रियः स्वर्षाः । महो गोत्रस्य क्षयति स्वराजो दुरश्च विश्वा अवृणोदप स्वाः ॥

These mantras of the Vast Heaven distinguish and deliver the ardent force to Indra, the foremost winner of the luminous worlds. The self-ruling One settles in the mighty home of the hidden Light; he has opened all the doors and removed what was his own obstruction.

Mantra 9

एवा महान्बृहद्दिवो अथर्वावोचत्स्वां तन्वमिन्द्रमेव । स्वसारो मातरिभ्वरीररिप्रा हिन्वन्ति च शवसा वर्धयन्ति च ॥

Thus Atharvan, the Vast Heaven, has spoken Indra himself as his own body. The sister-powers, the all-pervading mothers, flawless, drive him forward and by force increase him.