Sukta 48

Mantra 1

अहं भुवं वसुनः पूर्व्यस्पतिरहं धनानि सं जयामि शश्वतः । मां हवन्ते पितरं न जन्तवोऽहं दाशुषे वि भजामि भोजनम् ॥

I am the ancient lord of the abundance; I gather the riches together forever. Creatures call to me as to a father; and to the giver of offering I apportion the enjoyment—an inward sustenance and share of felicity.

Mantra 2

अहमिन्द्रो रोधो वक्षो अथर्वणस्त्रिताय गा अजनयमहेरधि । अहं दस्युभ्यः परि नृम्णमा ददे गोत्रा शिक्षन्दधीचे मातरिश्वने ॥

I am Indra, the resisting barrier and the widening breast of Atharvan-power; for Trita I brought forth the rays of Light from over the serpent. I set strength around against the dasyus; and I taught the hidden pens to Dadhīci for Mātariśvan—so the secret Fire may be borne.

Mantra 3

मह्यं त्वष्टा वज्रमतक्षदायसं मयि देवासोऽवृजन्नपि क्रतुम् । ममानीकं सूर्यस्येव दुष्टरं मामार्यन्ति कृतेन कर्त्वेन च ॥

For me Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned the iron thunder-force; in me the gods set also the will and effective intention. My front is hard to overpass like the Sun’s; they strive against me by their works and doings, yet I stand unbroken.

Mantra 4

अहमेतं गव्ययमश्व्यं पशुं पुरीषिणं सायकेना हिरण्ययम् । पुरू सहस्रा नि शिशामि दाशुषे यन्मा सोमास उक्थिनो अमन्दिषुः ॥

I prepare for the offerer this wealth of cattle and horses, this fruitful living force, golden and armed with the dart of power. Many thousands I set in order for the giver of sacrifice, when the Soma-pressings with their hymns have gladdened me.

Mantra 5

अहमिन्द्रो न परा जिग्य इद्धनं न मृत्यवेऽव तस्थे कदा चन । सोममिन्मा सुन्वन्तो याचता वसु न मे पूरवः सख्ये रिषाथन ॥

I am Indra; I have not been conquered at all, not by wealth, nor have I ever bowed down to death. Let the pressers of Soma ask from me the good things: O Pūrus, do not injure my friendship.

Mantra 6

अहमेताञ्छाश्वसतो द्वाद्वेन्द्रं ये वज्रं युधयेऽकृण्वत । आह्वयमानाँ अव हन्मनाहनं दृळ्हा वदन्ननमस्युर्नमस्विनः ॥

I struck down these enduring ones, two by two, who made the thunder-force into a weapon for battle against Indra. Even as they called on me, I smote them with the jaw of power; speaking firmly, the reverent one does not bow to the arrogant.

Mantra 7

अभीदमेकमेको अस्मि निष्षाळभी द्वा किमु त्रयः करन्ति । खले न पर्षान्प्रति हन्मि भूरि किं मा निन्दन्ति शत्रवोऽनिन्द्राः ॥

Facing this single challenge, I stand alone, a force not to be crushed. Why should two—or even three—matter against that? Like grains on the threshing-floor I strike down many obstacles. Why do the foes, who lack the Indra-power, still revile me?

Mantra 8

अहं गुङ्गुभ्यो अतिथिग्वमिष्करमिषं न वृत्रतुरं विक्षु धारयम् । यत्पर्णयघ्न उत वा करञ्जहे प्राहं महे वृत्रहत्ये अशुश्रवि ॥

I upheld for the peoples a sustaining power, Atithigva, a nourishment like the force that presses down the Vṛtra. When I slew the Parṇaya, or in the battle at Karañja, then my fame went forth in the great act of Vṛtra-slaying.

Mantra 9

प्र मे नमी साप्य इषे भुजे भूद्गवामेषे सख्या कृणुत द्विता । दिद्युं यदस्य समिथेषु मंहयमादिदेनं शंस्यमुक्थ्यं करम् ॥

Forward for me went Namī, the companion, for impulse and for enjoyment; he made again the friendship in the seeking of the luminous Rays. When I magnified his lightning-force in the battles, then I made him one to be proclaimed and hymned.

Mantra 10

प्र नेमस्मिन्ददृशे सोमो अन्तर्गोपा नेममाविरस्था कृणोति । स तिग्मशृङ्गं वृषभं युयुत्सन्द्रुहस्तस्थौ बहुले बद्धो अन्तः ॥

In this very mid-region Soma is seen within; the hidden herdsman makes the half-world manifest. He, desiring to fight, stood—bull with sharp horns—yet the deceiver remained bound within the dense enclosure.

Mantra 11

आदित्यानां वसूनां रुद्रियाणां देवो देवानां न मिनामि धाम । ते मा भद्राय शवसे ततक्षुरपराजितमस्तृतमषाळ्हम् ॥

Of the Ādityas, of the Vasus, of the Rudriyas—of the gods I, a god, do not diminish the seat of power. They have fashioned me for an auspicious might: unconquered, unpierced, not to be overpowered.