Sukta 23

Mantra 1

कथा महामवृधत्कस्य होतुर्यज्ञं जुषाणो अभि सोममूधः । पिबन्नुशानो जुषमाणो अन्धो ववक्ष ऋष्वः शुचते धनाय ॥

How did he grow to greatness, and for which invoker, accepting the sacrifice, did he turn toward the Soma as toward an udder? Drinking, desiring, enjoying the pressed delight, the lofty one has increased for shining wealth.

Mantra 2

को अस्य वीरः सधमादमाप समानंश सुमतिभिः को अस्य । कदस्य चित्रं चिकिते कदूती वृधे भुवच्छशमानस्य यज्योः ॥

Who is his hero that attained the common gladness, who shared it by good understandings—who is his? What of his wonder does one discern, what is his succour, that he may grow for the strong striver, the one worthy of offering?

Mantra 3

कथा शृणोति हूयमानमिन्द्रः कथा शृण्वन्नवसामस्य वेद । का अस्य पूर्वीरुपमातयो ह कथैनमाहुः पपुरिं जरित्रे ॥

How does Indra hear when he is being called, how, hearing, does he know the acts of help? What are his ancient measures and standards—how do they speak of him as the drinker, for the praiser?

Mantra 4

कथा सबाधः शशमानो अस्य नशदभि द्रविणं दीध्यानः । देवो भुवन्नवेदा म ऋतानां नमो जगृभ्वाँ अभि यज्जुजोषत् ॥

How may the striver, breaking through all constraint, reach his wealth by luminous thought? Becoming divine, may he know the truths; taking up the reverence, may he be accepted in what he offers.

Mantra 5

कथा कदस्या उषसो व्युष्टौ देवो मर्तस्य सख्यं जुजोष । कथा कदस्य सख्यं सखिभ्यो ये अस्मिन्कामं सुयुजं ततस्रे ॥

How and by what secret turn, at the dawning-out of this Dawn, does the god accept the mortal’s comradeship? How and by what means does he make that comradeship real among the comrades who here have stretched out the desire that is rightly yoked (to the divine purpose)?

Mantra 6

किमादमत्रं सख्यं सखिभ्यः कदा नु ते भ्रात्रं प्र ब्रवाम । श्रिये सुदृशो वपुरस्य सर्गाः स्वर्ण चित्रतममिष आ गोः ॥

What is this measureless bond of comradeship for the comrades—and when indeed shall we proclaim your brotherhood? For the sake of splendor, the fair-seeing form of him is released in its outpourings; like heaven’s gold, most wondrous, it comes as the impulsion of the Cow (the radiant Light).

Mantra 7

द्रुहं जिघांसन्ध्वरसमनिन्द्रां तेतिक्ते तिग्मा तुजसे अनीका । ऋणा चिद्यत्र ऋणया न उग्रो दूरे अज्ञाता उषसो बबाधे ॥

He sharpens the keen fronts to smite the deceit and the violent rush that is without Indra (without the lordly light). Even where the hostile debts (burdens) press upon us, the fierce power drives far away the unknown Dawns that would obstruct—so the true Dawn breaks through.

Mantra 8

ऋतस्य हि शुरुधः सन्ति पूर्वीॠतस्य धीतिर्वृजिनानि हन्ति । ऋतस्य श्लोको बधिरा ततर्द कर्णा बुधानः शुचमान आयोः ॥

For of the Truth (ṛta) indeed are the ancient strongholds; the thought of the Truth strikes down the crookednesses. The utterance of the Truth pierces the deafness; awakening the ears, it purifies in the metal-hard endurance of the life-force.

Mantra 9

ऋतस्य दृळ्हा धरुणानि सन्ति पुरूणि चन्द्रा वपुषे वपूंषि । ऋतेन दीर्घमिषणन्त पृक्ष ऋतेन गाव ऋतमा विवेशुः ॥

Firm are the foundations of the Truth; many and radiant are the forms for its manifestation. By the Truth the strong ones extend the long reach of the impulsion; by the Truth the Cows (rays of knowledge) enter into the Truth itself.

Mantra 10

ऋतं येमान ऋतमिद्वनोत्यृतस्य शुष्मस्तुरया उ गव्युः । ऋताय पृथ्वी बहुले गभीरे ऋताय धेनू परमे दुहाते ॥

He who holds himself to the Truth wins the Truth; the might of the Truth presses forward, seeking the luminous herds. For the Truth the wide Earth becomes abundant and deep; for the Truth the two Milch-Cows in the highest realm yield their milk (the streams of plenitude).

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, may you swell the impulsion for the singer as rivers swell their flood. For you, O lord of the tawny steeds, a new word of power is fashioned; by the seeing-thought may we become ever-ready for the journey and the battle-path.