Sukta 20

Mantra 1

आ न इन्द्रो दूरादा न आसादभिष्टिकृदवसे यासदुग्रः । ओजिष्ठेभिर्नृपतिर्वज्रबाहुः संगे समत्सु तुर्वणिः पृतन्यून् ॥

Let Indra come to us from afar, let him come from near—he who makes our sure protection, the formidable. With his most puissant strengths, the lord of men, whose arm bears the thunder-force, may he in the clash of battles swiftly overcome the fighters who rage against the advance.

Mantra 2

आ न इन्द्रो हरिभिर्यात्वच्छार्वाचीनोऽवसे राधसे च । तिष्ठाति वज्री मघवा विरप्शीमं यज्ञमनु नो वाजसातौ ॥

Let Indra come to us with his tawny steeds, turning towards us for our help and our plenitude. The thunder-bearer, the bounteous, stands in wide-ranging might; may he follow this our sacrifice in the winning of the vāja—our fullness of force.

Mantra 3

इमं यज्ञं त्वमस्माकमिन्द्र पुरो दधत्सनिष्यसि क्रतुं नः । श्वघ्नीव वज्रिन्त्सनये धनानां त्वया वयमर्य आजिं जयेम ॥

This sacrifice of ours, O Indra, set it in the front and thou shalt win for us the right will and discerning power. Like a hound that strikes the quarry, O thunder-bearer, for the gaining of riches—through thee may we, the Aryan in aspiration, conquer the battle.

Mantra 4

उशन्नु षु णः सुमना उपाके सोमस्य नु सुषुतस्य स्वधावः । पा इन्द्र प्रतिभृतस्य मध्वः समन्धसा ममदः पृष्ठ्येन ॥

Desiring it, be now gracious to us near at hand, O master of thy own power: drink, O Indra, of the honey offered and brought to thee, and rejoice wholly in the soma-essence with its supporting strength.

Mantra 5

वि यो ररप्श ऋषिभिर्नवेभिर्वृक्षो न पक्वः सृण्यो न जेता । मर्यो न योषामभि मन्यमानोऽच्छा विवक्मि पुरुहूतमिन्द्रम् ॥

He who has grown wide in power with the new seers, like a tree ripened to fullness, like a missile that wins; like a young man ardent towards the maiden, so with yearning I call straight towards Indra, the much-invoked.

Mantra 6

गिरिर्न यः स्वतवाँ ऋष्व इन्द्रः सनादेव सहसे जात उग्रः । आदर्ता वज्रं स्थविरं न भीम उद्नेव कोशं वसुना न्यृष्टम् ॥

Like a mountain in his self-strength stands lofty Indra; from of old he is born for might, the formidable. He upholds the thunderbolt, firm and not to be feared; like a treasure-chest set deep in the waters, stored with riches, he holds within the plenitudes.

Mantra 7

न यस्य वर्ता जनुषा न्वस्ति न राधस आमरीता मघस्य । उद्वावृषाणस्तविषीव उग्रास्मभ्यं दद्धि पुरुहूत रायः ॥

There is no limit to his course by birth, no failing of the bounty of the bounteous. Pouring forth in uprising strength, O mighty one of irresistible force—give to us, O much-invoked, the rays of plenitude.

Mantra 8

ईक्षे रायः क्षयस्य चर्षणीनामुत व्रजमपवर्तासि गोनाम् । शिक्षानरः समिथेषु प्रहावान्वस्वो राशिमभिनेतासि भूरिम् ॥

You look upon and govern the plenitude (rāyas) and the abiding dwelling (kṣaya) of the human peoples; and you are the one who turns back (releases) the closed pen of the Rays of Light (go). Training the aspiring man in the battles within, striking down the obstructors, you lead us to the great heap of true riches (vasu) in abundance.

Mantra 9

कया तच्छृण्वे शच्या शचिष्ठो यया कृणोति मुहु का चिदृष्वः । पुरु दाशुषे विचयिष्ठो अंहोऽथा दधाति द्रविणं जरित्रे ॥

By what effective power of thy Wisdom (śacyā), O most capable (śaciṣṭha), do I hear that thou again and again accomplishest even the difficult? Thou who discernest and separatest the peril (aṃhas) for the giver, then thou establishest the true substance of wealth (draviṇa) in the singer.

Mantra 10

मा नो मर्धीरा भरा दद्धि तन्नः प्र दाशुषे दातवे भूरि यत्ते । नव्ये देष्णे शस्ते अस्मिन्त उक्थे प्र ब्रवाम वयमिन्द्र स्तुवन्तः ॥

Do not crush us; bring to us and establish that for us—abundantly—so that the giver may truly give. In this new act of bestowal, in this praise and utterance, we, O Indra, proclaim it forth as we adore thee.

Mantra 11

नू ष्टुत इन्द्र नू गृणान इषं जरित्रे नद्यो न पीपेः । अकारि ते हरिवो ब्रह्म नव्यं धिया स्याम रथ्यः सदासाः ॥

Now praised, O Indra, now sung, mayest thou swell the impulsion (iṣ) for the singer as rivers swell (the streams). For thee, O lord of the tawny steeds, a new inspired formulation (brahman) has been made; by the awakened thought (dhī) may we become fit for the journey, ever seated in thy companionship.