Sukta 29

Mantra 1

वने न वा यो न्यधायि चाकञ्छुचिर्वां स्तोमो भुरणावजीगः । यस्येदिन्द्रः पुरुदिनेषु होता नृणां नर्यो नृतमः क्षपावान् ॥

As if in a forest, a pure and eager hymn has been set down for you two, and it stirs the strong ones to movement. For him Indra becomes, through many days, the invoking priest of men—the manly power, the most victorious, master of the nights: he calls the Light through the stretches of obscurity.

Mantra 2

प्र ते अस्या उषसः प्रापरस्या नृतौ स्याम नृतमस्य नृणाम् । अनु त्रिशोकः शतमावहन्नॄन्कुत्सेन रथो यो असत्ससवान् ॥

Forward for you with this Dawn and with the later Dawn: may we be in the victorious movement of the most victorious among men. Following Triśoka, the chariot that was, together with Kutsa, bore a hundred men—so may the divine Force carry us beyond the limiting darkness into the many powers of the journey.

Mantra 3

कस्ते मद इन्द्र रन्त्यो भूद्दुरो गिरो अभ्युग्रो वि धाव । कद्वाहो अर्वागुप मा मनीषा आ त्वा शक्यामुपमं राधो अन्नैः ॥

What was your rapture, O Indra, that became delighting—so that fierce, you rush forth against the hard barriers with the word? When will the bringing-force turn hither? Let my thought come near, that I may be able to reach you with a fitting offering of plenitude, with the nourishments that sustain the right exchange.

Mantra 4

कदु द्युम्नमिन्द्र त्वावतो नॄन्कया धिया करसे कन्न आगन् । मित्रो न सत्य उरुगाय भृत्या अन्ने समस्य यदसन्मनीषाः ॥

When will the luminous power come to men who are yours, O Indra? By what thought will you fashion it, and when will you arrive for us? Like a true Mitra, wide-going, you become serviceable for our fostering—when our inspired thoughts are in harmony with the nourishment of the sacrifice.

Mantra 5

प्रेरय सूरो अर्थं न पारं ये अस्य कामं जनिधा इव ग्मन् । गिरश्च ये ते तुविजात पूर्वीर्नर इन्द्र प्रतिशिक्षन्त्यन्नैः ॥

Set the hero-force in motion, as one drives toward the farther shore of the aim—those who go to his desire as if to a birth-place. And the many ancient words that are yours, O much-born Indra—men learn them back in response with the nourishments: they enter the reciprocity of speech and offering.

Mantra 6

मात्रे नु ते सुमिते इन्द्र पूर्वी द्यौर्मज्मना पृथिवी काव्येन । वराय ते घृतवन्तः सुतासः स्वाद्मन्भवन्तु पीतये मधूनि ॥

In your good measuring, O Indra, the ancient pair—Heaven by its greatness and Earth by the seer’s shaping—stand as a mother’s frame. For your choosing, let the pressed Soma-draughts, rich with clarified light, become sweet in relish for your drinking: may the delight be pure and luminous in the vessel.

Mantra 7

आ मध्वो अस्मा असिचन्नमत्रमिन्द्राय पूर्णं स हि सत्यराधाः । स वावृधे वरिमन्ना पृथिव्या अभि क्रत्वा नर्यः पौंस्यैश्च ॥

They have poured out for him the honeyed delight, a full measure for Indra—for he is one whose attainments are true. He has grown in wideness up to the Earth, by his will of action, by his manly powers and virile energies: the inner being expands when Truth-power is fed with the sweet essence.

Mantra 8

व्यानळिन्द्रः पृतनाः स्वोजा आस्मै यतन्ते सख्याय पूर्वीः । आ स्मा रथं न पृतनासु तिष्ठ यं भद्रया सुमत्या चोदयासे ॥

Indra has spread out the battles by his own force; the many ancient powers strive toward him for comradeship. Stand here, like a chariot amid the battles—he whom you impel forward by the happy, luminous right-mindedness.