Sukta 22

Mantra 1

कुह श्रुत इन्द्रः कस्मिन्नद्य जने मित्रो न श्रूयते । ऋषीणां वा यः क्षये गुहा वा चर्कृषे गिरा ॥

Where is Indra heard of—among what people today is he heard, like a friend? Is he in the home of the seers, or hidden in secrecy, that he is made active by the word?

Mantra 2

इह श्रुत इन्द्रो अस्मे अद्य स्तवे वज्र्यृचीषमः । मित्रो न यो जनेष्वा यशश्चक्रे असाम्या ॥

Here and now may Indra be heard within us; today we chant him, the wielder of the thunder-force, with hymns of illumined speech. Like Mitra, he who among the peoples establishes glory and harmony, fashions in us a power that does not diminish.

Mantra 3

महो यस्पतिः शवसो असाम्या महो नृम्णस्य तूतुजिः । भर्ता वज्रस्य धृष्णोः पिता पुत्रमिव प्रियम् ॥

He is the lord of a vast strength that does not diminish, the mighty impeller of the great heroic power. He bears the bold thunder-force; he is as a father who cherishes the beloved son—nourishing in us the growing might of the soul.

Mantra 4

युजानो अश्वा वातस्य धुनी देवो देवस्य वज्रिवः । स्यन्ता पथा विरुक्मता सृजानः स्तोष्यध्वनः ॥

Yoking the horses, the rushing powers of the Wind, O Vajrin, the god who serves the divine work, you set flowing paths of radiant movement; creating the way, you become the praise along the journey.

Mantra 5

त्वं त्या चिद्वातस्याश्वागा ऋज्रा त्मना वहध्यै । ययोर्देवो न मर्त्यो यन्ता नकिर्विदाय्यः ॥

You indeed came with those wind-horses, straight and bright, by your own self-force, to carry us onward. Of those steeds no mortal, but only the divine, is the true driver; none can fully know their secret movement.

Mantra 6

अध ग्मन्तोशना पृच्छते वां कदर्था न आ गृहम् । आ जग्मथुः पराकाद्दिवश्च ग्मश्च मर्त्यम् ॥

Then the eager seeker asks you two: for what purpose have you come to our home? You have come from far away, from heaven and from the hidden ground, into the mortal field.

Mantra 7

आ न इन्द्र पृक्षसेऽस्माकं ब्रह्मोद्यतम् । तत्त्वा याचामहेऽवः शुष्णं यद्धन्नमानुषम् ॥

Come, O Indra, and strengthen our uplifted word of revelation. For that we ask you for help: strike down Shushna, the inhuman darkness that opposes the human ascent.

Mantra 8

अकर्मा दस्युरभि नो अमन्तुरन्यव्रतो अमानुषः । त्वं तस्यामित्रहन्वधर्दासस्य दम्भय ॥

A doer of no true works, the Dasyu presses upon us—mindless, following another law, inhuman. You, O slayer of foes, crush the weapon-force of that Dāsa; break his power of deception.

Mantra 9

त्वं न इन्द्र शूर शूरैरुत त्वोतासो बर्हणा । पुरुत्रा ते वि पूर्तयो नवन्त क्षोणयो यथा ॥

You are our hero, O Indra, with heroes; and we are those who are helped by you, O enlarger. In many ways your fulfillments flow out, like broad rivers over the lands.

Mantra 10

त्वं तान्वृत्रहत्ये चोदयो नॄन्कार्पाणे शूर वज्रिवः । गुहा यदी कवीनां विशां नक्षत्रशवसाम् ॥

You urge those men on to the slaying of the Coverer, O hero Vajrin, even in the critical moment. And when the peoples of the seers hide themselves, you are the secret strength, the star-like power within them.

Mantra 11

मक्षू ता त इन्द्र दानाप्नस आक्षाणे शूर वज्रिवः । यद्ध शुष्णस्य दम्भयो जातं विश्वं सयावभिः ॥

Swiftly, O Indra, come with those powers that win the gifts, O hero Vajrin, in the moment of contest. For you have shattered the deceit-force of Śuṣṇa, and with your comradeship-forces you have brought all that is born into safety and right being.

Mantra 12

माकुध्र्यगिन्द्र शूर वस्वीरस्मे भूवन्नभिष्टयः । वयंवयं त आसां सुम्ने स्याम वज्रिवः ॥

O Indra, heroic one, let not our movement turn aside into the crooked (way). Let the rich supports become in us; may we, again and again, abide in the fostering happiness of those powers of yours, O wielder of the thunderbolt.

Mantra 13

अस्मे ता त इन्द्र सन्तु सत्याहिंसन्तीरुपस्पृशः । विद्याम यासां भुजो धेनूनां न वज्रिवः ॥

May those (supports) of yours be in us, O Indra—true, not wounding, near-touching. May we know their enjoyment and use, as one knows the yielding of the cows of light, O wielder of the thunderbolt.

Mantra 14

अहस्ता यदपदी वर्धत क्षाः शचीभिर्वेद्यानाम् । शुष्णं परि प्रदक्षिणिद्विश्वायवे नि शिश्नथः ॥

When the earth-fields grew, as it were, without hands and without feet, by the powers of conscious skill among the knowers, you encompassed Śuṣṇa and, moving in the right circuit for the universal life, you shattered him down.

Mantra 15

पिबापिबेदिन्द्र शूर सोमं मा रिषण्यो वसवान वसुः सन् । उत त्रायस्व गृणतो मघोनो महश्च रायो रेवतस्कृधी नः ॥

Drink, drink indeed, O Indra the hero, the Soma; do not harm us—being the lord of riches, yourself a wealth. And protect the singer who calls you; make for us a great and shining plenitude of being.