Sukta 44

Mantra 1

आ यात्विन्द्रः स्वपतिर्मदाय यो धर्मणा तूतुजानस्तुविष्मान् । प्रत्वक्षाणो अति विश्वा सहांस्यपारेण महता वृष्ण्येन ॥

Let Indra come—lord of his own mastery—for the ecstasy; he who by the right law rushes forward in his mighty force, surpassing all resistances by an immeasurable, vast heroic power.

Mantra 2

सुष्ठामा रथः सुयमा हरी ते मिम्यक्ष वज्रो नृपते गभस्तौ । शीभं राजन्त्सुपथा याह्यर्वाङ्वर्धाम ते पपुषो वृष्ण्यानि ॥

Well-founded is your chariot, well-guided your two steeds; your thunderbolt is set firm in your grasp, O lord of men. Come swiftly, O king, by the good paths toward us; we increase your heroic powers as you drink.

Mantra 3

एन्द्रवाहो नृपतिं वज्रबाहुमुग्रमुग्रासस्तविषास एनम् । प्रत्वक्षसं वृषभं सत्यशुष्ममेमस्मत्रा सधमादो वहन्तु ॥

O bearers of Indra, bring here the lord of men with the thunderbolt in his arm—fierce, and borne by the fierce and the strong: the forward-growing Bull, whose true force is sure; let the comrades of the common delight carry him to us here.

Mantra 4

एवा पतिं द्रोणसाचं सचेतसमूर्जः स्कम्भं धरुण आ वृषायसे । ओजः कृष्व सं गृभाय त्वे अप्यसो यथा केनिपानामिनो वृधे ॥

Thus you grow into the lord who holds the soma-vat, the conscious one, the pillar of the plenitude, the support in the foundation. Fashion strength; gather it together within yourself, so that you may be the impelling master for the increase of the drinkers.

Mantra 5

गमन्नस्मे वसून्या हि शंसिषं स्वाशिषं भरमा याहि सोमिनः । त्वमीशिषे सास्मिन्ना सत्सि बर्हिष्यनाधृष्या तव पात्राणि धर्मणा ॥

Come to us with the riches, for you are the one we invoke; bring your own benediction, come to the soma-pressers. You have mastery; sit here upon the sacred seat: unassailable are your vessels by the right law.

Mantra 6

पृथक्प्रायन्प्रथमा देवहूतयोऽकृण्वत श्रवस्यानि दुष्टरा । न ये शेकुर्यज्ञियां नावमारुहमीर्मैव ते न्यविशन्त केपयः ॥

Separately they went forth—the first who were called by the gods—and they accomplished deeds of glory hard to pass. But those who could not mount the sacrificial boat, those weak in impulse, sank down and entered the flood below.

Mantra 7

एवैवापागपरे सन्तु दूढ्योऽश्वा येषां दुर्युज आयुयुज्रे । इत्था ये प्रागुपरे सन्ति दावने पुरूणि यत्र वयुनानि भोजना ॥

So indeed let the others be left behind and pressed down—those whose horses are ill-yoked and cannot be harnessed rightly. But those who are in front and higher, they are for giving many gifts, where the ordered discernments are the enjoyments.

Mantra 8

गिरीँरज्रान्रेजमानाँ अधारयद्द्यौः क्रन्ददन्तरिक्षाणि कोपयत् । समीचीने धिषणे वि ष्कभायति वृष्णः पीत्वा मद उक्थानि शंसति ॥

He upheld the trembling mountains and the quivering ridges; Heaven itself cried out and the mid-regions were stirred into tumult. In the harmonised twin powers of inspiration he establishes a wide firm support; the Bull, having drunk the ecstasy, proclaims the hymns of the Word.

Mantra 9

इमं बिभर्मि सुकृतं ते अङ्कुशं येनारुजासि मघवञ्छफारुजः । अस्मिन्त्सु ते सवने अस्त्वोक्यं सुत इष्टौ मघवन्बोध्याभगः ॥

I bear for thee this well-fashioned goad by which, O bounteous one, thou breakest open the hoof-fastness. In this thy pressing may there be a homeward nearness; in the offered Soma and the desired rite, O Maghavan, awaken as the dispenser of the portion.

Mantra 10

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

By the rays of Light may we cross beyond the crooked insufficiency; by the grain of plenitude may we conquer every hunger. May we, with the kingly powers, win the foremost riches; by our own ordered host of energies may we prevail.

Mantra 11

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

May Brihaspati guard us from behind and from above and below against the forces of harm. May Indra from the front and from the midst, the Friend, create for his friends a wide space of freedom and secure passage.