Sukta 20

Mantra 1

वयं ते वय इन्द्र विद्धि षु णः प्र भरामहे वाजयुर्न रथम् । विपन्यवो दीध्यतो मनीषा सुम्नमियक्षन्तस्त्वावतो नॄन् ॥

Know, O Indra, our strength for you; we bring it forward like a chariot eager for plenitude of force. We who are seekers of the luminous word, kindling by thought, long to win your grace—men upheld by you.

Mantra 2

त्वं न इन्द्र त्वाभिरूती त्वायतो अभिष्टिपासि जनान् । त्वमिनो दाशुषो वरूतेत्थाधीरभि यो नक्षति त्वा ॥

You, O Indra, by your helps guard the peoples who move towards you, a protector of their sought-for good. You are the shelter of the giver; thus, with right seeing, you come near to him who reaches for you.

Mantra 3

स नो युवेन्द्रो जोहूत्रः सखा शिवो नरामस्तु पाता । यः शंसन्तं यः शशमानमूती पचन्तं च स्तुवन्तं च प्रणेषत् ॥

May youthful Indra be for us the invoking friend, gracious, the protector of men—he who leads forward with his help the one who proclaims, the one who toils, the one who prepares, and the one who praises.

Mantra 4

तमु स्तुष इन्द्रं तं गृणीषे यस्मिन्पुरा वावृधुः शाशदुश्च । स वस्वः कामं पीपरदियानो ब्रह्मण्यतो नूतनस्यायोः ॥

Him I praise—Indra; him I hymn—he in whom the ancients grew and found firm abiding. Moving still, he fills the desire for the wealth of being of the one who seeks the brahman, of the ever-new Arya.

Mantra 5

सो अङ्गिरसामुचथा जुजुष्वान्ब्रह्मा तूतोदिन्द्रो गातुमिष्णन् । मुष्णन्नुषसः सूर्येण स्तवानश्नस्य चिच्छिश्नथत्पूर्व्याणि ॥

He, accepting the chants of the Aṅgirases, Indra the formulator struck open the path, impelling the way. Stealing away the Dawns by the Sun, praising, he shattered even the ancient strongholds of the Rock.

Mantra 6

स ह श्रुत इन्द्रो नाम देव ऊर्ध्वो भुवन्मनुषे दस्मतमः । अव प्रियमर्शसानस्य साह्वाञ्छिरो भरद्दासस्य स्वधावान् ॥

He indeed is famed—Indra by name—the god who rises high, most wondrous for man. The self-powered one bore down the head of the Dāsa Arśasāna, the violent, though dear (to his own).

Mantra 7

स वृत्रहेन्द्रः कृष्णयोनीः पुरंदरो दासीरैरयद्वि । अजनयन्मनवे क्षामपश्च सत्रा शंसं यजमानस्य तूतोत् ॥

He, Indra the slayer of Vṛtra, the breaker of strongholds, drove apart the Dāsī powers that dwell in darkness. He brought forth for Manu the fields and the waters, and continually impelled the praise of the sacrificer.

Mantra 8

तस्मै तवस्यमनु दायि सत्रेन्द्राय देवेभिरर्णसातौ । प्रति यदस्य वज्रं बाह्वोर्धुर्हत्वी दस्यून्पुर आयसीर्नि तारीत् ॥

To him, to Indra, strength was given in the common battle with the gods for the winning of the flood. When they set his thunderbolt into his arms, he slew the Dasyus and brought down the iron strongholds.

Mantra 9

नूनं सा ते प्रति वरं जरित्रे दुहीयदिन्द्र दक्षिणा मघोनी । शिक्षा स्तोतृभ्यो माति धग्भगो नो बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Now indeed, let that bounteous Dakṣiṇā, rich in plenitude, be milked out in response for you, O Indra, for the singer. Grant to the praisers; let not our Bhaga (portion of felicity) be overburnt or diminished; may we speak the Vast (Bṛhat) in the assembly, possessed of good and heroic powers.