Sukta 43

Mantra 1

आ याह्यर्वाङुप वन्धुरेष्ठास्तवेदनु प्रदिवः सोमपेयम् । प्रिया सखाया वि मुचोप बर्हिस्त्वामिमे हव्यवाहो हवन्ते ॥

Come hither, turning toward us; mount the chariot-seat that is thine, and follow the wide heaven’s path to the Soma-drinking. O beloved friends, spread out the sacred seat; these bearers of the offering call thee to the inner feast.

Mantra 2

आ याहि पूर्वीरति चर्षणीराँ अर्य आशिष उप नो हरिभ्याम् । इमा हि त्वा मतयः स्तोमतष्टा इन्द्र हवन्ते सख्यं जुषाणाः ॥

Come, passing beyond the many races of men; come, noble one, with thy bay steeds, to our aspirations. For these thoughts, shaped into hymns, call thee, O Indra, desiring thy friendship and consenting to thy joy.

Mantra 3

आ नो यज्ञं नमोवृधं सजोषा इन्द्र देव हरिभिर्याहि तूयम् । अहं हि त्वा मतिभिर्जोहवीमि घृतप्रयाः सधमादे मधूनाम् ॥

Come to our sacrifice that increases by reverence; come in one accord, O divine Indra, swiftly with thy bay steeds. For I call thee again and again with my thought-offerings, rich in clarified light, to the common rapture of the honeyed delights.

Mantra 4

आ च त्वामेता वृषणा वहातो हरी सखाया सुधुरा स्वङ्गा । धानावदिन्द्रः सवनं जुषाणः सखा सख्युः शृणवद्वन्दनानि ॥

And these two mighty companions, the bay steeds, well-yoked and strong-limbed, bear thee hither. Let Indra, rich in the grain of increase, accept the pressing; as friend of the friend, may he hear our words of adoration.

Mantra 5

कुविन्मा गोपां करसे जनस्य कुविद्राजानं मघवन्नृजीषिन् । कुविन्म ऋषिं पपिवांसं सुतस्य कुविन्मे वस्वो अमृतस्य शिक्षाः ॥

Will you indeed become for me the protector of the peoples—will you indeed be my king, O Maghavan, wielder of the straight-moving force? Will you indeed make me a seer, one who has drunk of the pressed Soma; will you indeed instruct me in the riches of the Deathless—those plenitudes that bring the soul to fullness?

Mantra 6

आ त्वा बृहन्तो हरयो युजाना अर्वागिन्द्र सधमादो वहन्तु । प्र ये द्विता दिव ऋञ्जन्त्याताः सुसम्मृष्टासो वृषभस्य मूराः ॥

May the strong tawny steeds, yoked, bring you here to us, O Indra, for the shared ecstasy of the rite. Those that are driven forth from heaven, that run out in their double course—well-groomed energies of the Bull—let them bear you inwardly into our field of offering.

Mantra 7

इन्द्र पिब वृषधूतस्य वृष्ण आ यं ते श्येन उशते जभार । यस्य मदे च्यावयसि प्र कृष्टीर्यस्य मदे अप गोत्रा ववर्थ ॥

Indra, drink—O Bull—the Soma clarified by the strong ones, that which the eager falcon has brought to you. In whose ecstasy you set the peoples’ energies moving forward; in whose ecstasy you rolled away the pens that imprison the rays (the hidden ‘cows’).

Mantra 8

शुनं हुवेम मघवानमिन्द्रमस्मिन्भरे नृतमं वाजसातौ । शृण्वन्तमुग्रमूतये समत्सु घ्नन्तं वृत्राणि संजितं धनानाम् ॥

With a happy forwardness we call Indra the bountiful—most manful in this bearing of the struggle, in the winning of plenitude. Hearing us, fierce for our help amid the battles, slaying the Vṛtras, the complete conqueror of the riches (the inner treasures).