Sukta 42

Mantra 1

अस्तेव सु प्रतरं लायमस्यन्भूषन्निव प्र भरा स्तोममस्मै । वाचा विप्रास्तरत वाचमर्यो नि रामय जरितः सोम इन्द्रम् ॥

As one who casts the dice for a better throw, hurl forward a stronger gain; as if adorning, bring forth for him the hymn. O seers, cross beyond with the Word; O noble one, delight the singer—(for) in Soma, give ease and joy to Indra within us.

Mantra 3

किमङ्ग त्वा मघवन्भोजमाहुः शिशीहि मा शिशयं त्वा शृणोमि । अप्नस्वती मम धीरस्तु शक्र वसुविदं भगमिन्द्रा भरा नः ॥

Why indeed do they call you ‘the giver of enjoyment’, O Maghavan? Sharpen me; I hear you as the awakener. Let my understanding be full of effective work, O Shakra; bring to us, O Indra, the portion that finds the riches—the share that discovers the true plenitudes.

Mantra 4

त्वां जना ममसत्येष्विन्द्र संतस्थाना वि ह्वयन्ते समीके । अत्रा युजं कृणुते यो हविष्मान्नासुन्वता सख्यं वष्टि शूरः ॥

Men call you, O Indra, in the gatherings where the truth of the soul is tested and affirmed. Here he becomes yoked to you who offers the oblation; but the heroic power does not choose friendship with one who does not press (the Soma), who does not distill the delight.

Mantra 5

धनं न स्यन्द्रं बहुलं यो अस्मै तीव्रान्त्सोमाँ आसुनोति प्रयस्वान् । तस्मै शत्रून्त्सुतुकान्प्रातरह्नो नि स्वष्ट्रान्युवति हन्ति वृत्रम् ॥

Like abundant wealth flowing forth, he who with right striving presses for him the intense Soma—on him Indra at the day’s dawn lets fall the well-struck enemies; the youthful force smites the Vṛtra, the obstruction, and clears the way.

Mantra 6

यस्मिन्वयं दधिमा शंसमिन्द्रे यः शिश्राय मघवा काममस्मे । आराच्चित्सन्भयतामस्य शत्रुर्न्यस्मै द्युम्ना जन्या नमन्ताम् ॥

In whom we set our affirmation for Indra—he, Maghavan, who has leaned toward our desire—let even the distant enemy fear him; and let the human energies of splendor bow down and arrange themselves for him.

Mantra 7

आराच्छत्रुमप बाधस्व दूरमुग्रो यः शम्बः पुरुहूत तेन । अस्मे धेहि यवमद्गोमदिन्द्र कृधी धियं जरित्रे वाजरत्नाम् ॥

Drive the enemy away, far from us; O fierce one, O much-invoked, do it by that power of your beneficence. Set in us the plenitude with grain and with rays of light; and fashion for the singer an inspired thought that is a treasure of vāja—fullness of force.

Mantra 8

प्र यमन्तर्वृषसवासो अग्मन्तीव्राः सोमा बहुलान्तास इन्द्रम् । नाह दामानं मघवा नि यंसन्नि सुन्वते वहति भूरि वामम् ॥

When the strong Soma-pressings, intense and abundant, enter within toward Indra, then Maghavan does not hold back the gift; he carries down to the presser a vast and desirable good—an overflowing plenitude.

Mantra 9

उत प्रहामतिदीव्या जयाति कृतं यच्छ्वघ्नी विचिनोति काले । यो देवकामो न धना रुणद्धि समित्तं राया सृजति स्वधावान् ॥

And even one who has overplayed the throw can win again when, at the right time, the discerning power gathers what is truly made. He who desires the gods does not block the riches; the self-lawed one sets him free into fullness of being—releasing him together with abundance.

Mantra 10

गोभिष्टरेमामतिं दुरेवां यवेन क्षुधं पुरुहूत विश्वाम् । वयं राजभिः प्रथमा धनान्यस्माकेन वृजनेना जयेम ॥

With the luminous Rays (go) may we cross beyond the evil-mindedness that leads astray; with the force of nourishment (yava) may we pass beyond every hunger, O Indra of many callings. May we, with kingship-powers (rāja) as our allies, win the foremost riches of being; may we conquer by our own ordered host (vṛjana).

Mantra 11

बृहस्पतिर्नः परि पातु पश्चादुतोत्तरस्मादधरादघायोः । इन्द्रः पुरस्तादुत मध्यतो नः सखा सखिभ्यो वरिवः कृणोतु ॥

May Bṛhaspati guard us all around—from behind, from above, from below—against the powers that wish harm. May Indra, our comrade, protect from the front and from the middle of our being; may he make wide room (varivas) for our allied energies.