Sukta 73

Mantra 1

जनिष्ठा उग्रः सहसे तुराय मन्द्र ओजिष्ठो बहुलाभिमानः । अवर्धन्निन्द्रं मरुतश्चिदत्र माता यद्वीरं दधनद्धनिष्ठा ॥

He was born, the formidable one, for a swift and conquering force—joyful in the play of power, most mighty, confident in many widenesses. Even the Maruts increased Indra here, when the Mother set the hero in place, establishing the treasure of force within the being.

Mantra 2

द्रुहो निषत्ता पृशनी चिदेवैः पुरू शंसेन वावृधुष्ट इन्द्रम् । अभीवृतेव ता महापदेन ध्वान्तात्प्रपित्वादुदरन्त गर्भाः ॥

Even Druha, seated in the obscurity, and Pṛśanī too, by the divine powers, increased Indra with abundant affirmations. As if encompassed, those hidden wombs of formation rose upward by the great stride, out of darkness, out of the nether enclosure.

Mantra 3

ऋष्वा ते पादा प्र यज्जिगास्यवर्धन्वाजा उत ये चिदत्र । त्वमिन्द्र सालावृकान्त्सहस्रमासन्दधिषे अश्विना ववृत्याः ॥

When thy lofty steps press forward to win, the plenitudes of force increase—even those that are here. Thou, O Indra, didst set a thousand sālāvṛkas in their seats, as the Aśvins turned toward thee in their movement.

Mantra 4

समना तूर्णिरुप यासि यज्ञमा नासत्या सख्याय वक्षि । वसाव्यामिन्द्र धारयः सहस्राश्विना शूर ददतुर्मघानि ॥

With a common swiftness thou comest near the sacrifice; the Nāsatyas thou bearest for comradeship. In the rich dual plenty, O Indra, thou holdest firm; the thousandfold Aśvins, O hero, give the bounties.

Mantra 5

मन्दमान ऋतादधि प्रजायै सखिभिरिन्द्र इषिरेभिरर्थम् । आभिर्हि माया उप दस्युमागान्मिहः प्र तम्रा अवपत्तमांसि ॥

Growing in delight from the Truth above, for the birth of the soul’s increase, Indra with his eager comrades sought the aim. With these powers of formation he came upon the Dasyu; the ruddy mists fell away, the darknesses were cast down.

Mantra 6

सनामाना चिद्ध्वसयो न्यस्मा अवाहन्निन्द्र उषसो यथानः । ऋष्वैरगच्छः सखिभिर्निकामैः साकं प्रतिष्ठा हृद्या जघन्थ ॥

Even the ancient ruinous powers were driven down for him, O Indra, as dawns are borne onward like a chariot. With lofty comrades of one desire thou didst advance; together thou didst smite the heart-hurting resistances that block the standing-place.

Mantra 7

त्वं जघन्थ नमुचिं मखस्युं दासं कृण्वान ऋषये विमायम् । त्वं चकर्थ मनवे स्योनान्पथो देवत्राञ्जसेव यानान् ॥

Thou didst strike down Namuci, the perverter of the sacrifice, making the obstructer subject for the seer’s discerning measure. Thou didst fashion for Manu the pleasant paths, godward ways, straight as if by direct going.

Mantra 8

त्वमेतानि पप्रिषे वि नामेशान इन्द्र दधिषे गभस्तौ । अनु त्वा देवाः शवसा मदन्त्युपरिबुध्नान्वनिनश्चकर्थ ॥

Thou hast filled out these powers and set them forth by name, O Indra the lord; thou hast held them in thy grasp. Following thee the gods exult by thy might; thou hast made the lofty-based ones and shaped the winning energies.

Mantra 9

चक्रं यदस्याप्स्वा निषत्तमुतो तदस्मै मध्विच्चच्छद्यात् । पृथिव्यामतिषितं यदूधः पयो गोष्वदधा ओषधीषु ॥

When his wheel is set in the waters, then for him it should be covered with honey indeed. When the udder is over-stretched upon the earth, thou hast placed the milk in the cows and in the healing plants.

Mantra 10

अश्वादियायेति यद्वदन्त्योजसो जातमुत मन्य एनम् । मन्योरियाय हर्म्येषु तस्थौ यतः प्रजज्ञ इन्द्रो अस्य वेद ॥

They say, ‘He came from the Horse’; he was born of might—so I deem him. He came from Force-of-Will (Manyu) and stood in the inner mansions; from where he was born—Indra knows that origin.

Mantra 11

वयः सुपर्णा उप सेदुरिन्द्रं प्रियमेधा ऋषयो नाधमानाः । अप ध्वान्तमूर्णुहि पूर्धि चक्षुर्मुमुग्ध्यस्मान्निधयेव बद्धान् ॥

As winged birds of the soul we have sat near Indra—seers of dear intelligence, laboring upward. Unroll the darkness away; fill full the vision; release us who are bound like treasures stored away.