Sukta 22

Mantra 1

यन्न इन्द्रो जुजुषे यच्च वष्टि तन्नो महान्करति शुष्म्या चित् । ब्रह्म स्तोमं मघवा सोममुक्था यो अश्मानं शवसा बिभ्रदेति ॥

Whatever Indra accepts from us and whatever he desires, that the Mighty One accomplishes for us—even by his impetuous power. He, the bountiful, upholds the word, the chant, the Soma, the hymn: he who goes bearing the stone with force.

Mantra 2

वृषा वृषन्धिं चतुरश्रिमस्यन्नुग्रो बाहुभ्यां नृतमः शचीवान् । श्रिये परुष्णीमुषमाण ऊर्णां यस्याः पर्वाणि सख्याय विव्ये ॥

The Bull, hurling the four-edged, strong-jointed (weapon), the fierce one, most manful, full of power with his arms—he, for splendour, wraps the many-streaming (river) like wool; her joints he has woven for friendship.

Mantra 3

यो देवो देवतमो जायमानो महो वाजेभिर्महद्भिश्च शुष्मैः । दधानो वज्रं बाह्वोरुशन्तं द्याममेन रेजयत्प्र भूम ॥

He who, born, is the god most godlike—great with great plenitudes of force and with mighty impetuosities—bearing the desired thunderbolt in his arms, he made heaven tremble and the earth surge forth.

Mantra 4

विश्वा रोधांसि प्रवतश्च पूर्वीर्द्यौॠष्वाज्जनिमन्रेजत क्षाः । आ मातरा भरति शुष्म्या गोर्नृवत्परिज्मन्नोनुवन्त वाताः ॥

All the barriers and the ancient slopes—heaven from its high birth shook, and earth. He brings the two Mothers forward with the impetuous light; the winds, manlike in their circling motion, drive on.

Mantra 5

ता तू त इन्द्र महतो महानि विश्वेष्वित्सवनेषु प्रवाच्या । यच्छूर धृष्णो धृषता दधृष्वानहिं वज्रेण शवसाविवेषीः ॥

These, indeed, O Indra, are your great deeds of the Great One, to be proclaimed in every pressing. For you, O hero, daring with the daring force, utterly bold, did strike the serpent with the thunderbolt by your might.

Mantra 6

ता तू ते सत्या तुविनृम्ण विश्वा प्र धेनवः सिस्रते वृष्ण ऊध्नः । अधा ह त्वद्वृषमणो भियानाः प्र सिन्धवो जवसा चक्रमन्त ॥

These, indeed, are thy true powers of vast manhood: all the milch-cows stream forth from the Bull’s udder. Then the rivers, moved by thy impetuous might, run forward in speed, as if in awe before thee.

Mantra 7

अत्राह ते हरिवस्ता उ देवीरवोभिरिन्द्र स्तवन्त स्वसारः । यत्सीमनु प्र मुचो बद्बधाना दीर्घामनु प्रसितिं स्यन्दयध्यै ॥

Here, O lord of the tawny steeds, the divine Sisters praise thee with their helps, O Indra—when, following after him, thou loosest the one held bound, so that the long-stretched outflow may be made to stream.

Mantra 8

पिपीळे अंशुर्मद्यो न सिन्धुरा त्वा शमी शशमानस्य शक्तिः । अस्मद्र्यक्छुशुचानस्य यम्या आशुर्न रश्मिं तुव्योजसं गोः ॥

The Soma-stalk, like an intoxicating river, has filled itself; to thee it comes—this force of the seeker who strives. And it draws toward us the yoking of the flaming energy, like the swift ray of the Cow, of vast puissance.

Mantra 9

अस्मे वर्षिष्ठा कृणुहि ज्येष्ठा नृम्णानि सत्रा सहुरे सहांसि । अस्मभ्यं वृत्रा सुहनानि रन्धि जहि वधर्वनुषो मर्त्यस्य ॥

In us make thy most raining, thy eldest powers—heroic forces that conquer in the continual battle. For us, O slayer of Vṛtra, grant the good slayings; strike down the weapon of the mortal who seeks to wound.

Mantra 10

अस्माकमित्सु शृणुहि त्वमिन्द्रास्मभ्यं चित्राँ उप माहि वाजान् । अस्मभ्यं विश्वा इषणः पुरंधीरस्माकं सु मघवन्बोधि गोदाः ॥

Hear thou, O Indra, only us; bring near to us the many-hued plenitudes of force. For us set in motion all inspirations and fulfillments; for us, O bounteous one, become awake as the giver of the Light (the cows).

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 in the praiser as rivers swell. A new formative word has been made for thee, O lord of the tawny steeds; by the vision may we be ever fit for the chariot-path (fit instruments of thy onward movement).