Sukta 23

Mantra 1

यजामह इन्द्रं वज्रदक्षिणं हरीणां रथ्यं विव्रतानाम् । प्र श्मश्रु दोधुवदूर्ध्वथा भूद्वि सेनाभिर्दयमानो वि राधसा ॥

We sacrifice to Indra whose right hand is the thunderbolt, the chariot-warrior of the tawny steeds that break through limits. His beard is shaken forth; he rises upward, distributing with his hosts, dividing out the riches (of force and fulfillment).

Mantra 2

हरी न्वस्य या वने विदे वस्विन्द्रो मघैर्मघवा वृत्रहा भुवत् । ऋभुर्वाज ऋभुक्षाः पत्यते शवोऽव क्ष्णौमि दासस्य नाम चित् ॥

Now his two tawny powers, found in the wood, discover the treasure; Indra becomes the bountiful by bounties, the slayer of the coverer. R̥bhu, Vāja, R̥bhukṣan—strength rules; I grind down even the very name of the hostile Dāsa.

Mantra 3

यदा वज्रं हिरण्यमिदथा रथं हरी यमस्य वहतो वि सूरिभिः । आ तिष्ठति मघवा सनश्रुत इन्द्रो वाजस्य दीर्घश्रवसस्पतिः ॥

When the thunderbolt of gold, and then the chariot that his two tawny powers bear, are made ready among the illumined seers, then the bountiful Indra, famed from of old, takes his seat—the lord of vāja, master of far-reaching fame.

Mantra 4

सो चिन्नु वृष्टिर्यूथ्या स्वा सचाँ इन्द्रः श्मश्रूणि हरिताभि प्रुष्णुते । अव वेति सुक्षयं सुते मधूदिद्धूनोति वातो यथा वनम् ॥

Even so, now the rain in her troop comes with Indra as her own companion; with the tawny powers he sprinkles his beard. He comes down to a fair dwelling; at the pressed honey (Soma) he shakes the being as the wind shakes the forest.

Mantra 5

यो वाचा विवाचो मृध्रवाचः पुरू सहस्राशिवा जघान । तत्तदिदस्य पौंस्यं गृणीमसि पितेव यस्तविषीं वावृधे शवः ॥

He who by the word strikes down the many—those of perverse speech, of a thousand harmful stratagems; that, that very manhood of his we proclaim. Like a father he who has increased might and strength (in us) by his force.

Mantra 6

स्तोमं त इन्द्र विमदा अजीजनन्नपूर्व्यं पुरुतमं सुदानवे । विद्मा ह्यस्य भोजनमिनस्य यदा पशुं न गोपाः करामहे ॥

A hymn to you, O Indra, the Vimadas have brought forth—unprecedented, most abundant—for the good giver. For we know the enjoyment of this lordly power: when we make it our own, as herdsmen make secure the cattle (the rays of light/knowledge).

Mantra 7

माकिर्न एना सख्या वि यौषुस्तव चेन्द्र विमदस्य च ऋषेः । विद्मा हि ते प्रमतिं देव जामिवदस्मे ते सन्तु सख्या शिवानि ॥

Let none at all break apart these friendships—yours, O Indra, and that of the Seer Vimadá. For we know your forward-leading guidance, O God, intimate as one of the same house; may those friendships become for us beneficent and auspicious.