Sukta 25

Mantra 1

को अद्य नर्यो देवकाम उशन्निन्द्रस्य सख्यं जुजोष । को वा महेऽवसे पार्याय समिद्धे अग्नौ सुतसोम ईट्टे ॥

Who today, a manly soul desiring the gods, chooses the friendship of Indra? Or who, for the great help that carries beyond, with Soma pressed, worships at the kindled Fire?

Mantra 2

को नानाम वचसा सोम्याय मनायुर्वा भवति वस्त उस्राः । क इन्द्रस्य युज्यं कः सखित्वं को भ्रात्रं वष्टि कवये क ऊती ॥

Who bows with the word to the Soma-joy, becoming the mind’s ardor as the bright dawns clothe him? Who is fit to be yoked to Indra—who for comradeship, who chooses brotherhood for the seer, who is the true help?

Mantra 3

को देवानामवो अद्या वृणीते क आदित्याँ अदितिं ज्योतिरीट्टे । कस्याश्विनाविन्द्रो अग्निः सुतस्यांशोः पिबन्ति मनसाविवेनम् ॥

Who today chooses the guardianship of the gods? Who worships the Ādityas—Aditi—the Light? For whom do the Aśvins, Indra, and Agni drink of the pressed share, with a mind free of division?

Mantra 4

तस्मा अग्निर्भारतः शर्म यंसज्ज्योक्पश्यात्सूर्यमुच्चरन्तम् । य इन्द्राय सुनवामेत्याह नरे नर्याय नृतमाय नृणाम् ॥

To him may Agni, the Bharata-power, grant a sheltering peace, so that he may behold for long the Sun ascending. He who says, “Let us press Soma for Indra,”—that man is for the Man, for the true manhood, for the most puissant among men.

Mantra 5

न तं जिनन्ति बहवो न दभ्रा उर्वस्मा अदितिः शर्म यंसत् । प्रियः सुकृत्प्रिय इन्द्रे मनायुः प्रियः सुप्रावीः प्रियो अस्य सोमी ॥

Many cannot overcome him, nor the few; for Aditi grants him a wide peace. Dear is he—doer of the good; dear to Indra in his thought-and-impulse; dear as one of strong protections; dear to him is the Soma-bearer.

Mantra 6

सुप्राव्यः प्राशुषाळेष वीरः सुष्वेः पक्तिं कृणुते केवलेन्द्रः । नासुष्वेरापिर्न सखा न जामिर्दुष्प्राव्योऽवहन्तेदवाचः ॥

This hero, of good forward-help, strong in the pressing, makes for the well-pressing a share of ripeness; Indra becomes wholly his. For the non-presser he is neither kin nor comrade nor intimate; the ill-aided are driven down—mere empty utterance-bearers.

Mantra 7

न रेवता पणिना सख्यमिन्द्रोऽसुन्वता सुतपाः सं गृणीते । आस्य वेदः खिदति हन्ति नग्नं वि सुष्वये पक्तये केवलो भूत् ॥

Indra makes no comradeship with the rich Paṇi; Soma-drinker, he consents not to the one who does not press. His knowledge afflicts and strikes down the naked emptiness; but for the good presser, for the ripened one, he becomes wholly present.

Mantra 8

इन्द्रं परेऽवरे मध्यमास इन्द्रं यान्तोऽवसितास इन्द्रम् । इन्द्रं क्षियन्त उत युध्यमाना इन्द्रं नरो वाजयन्तो हवन्ते ॥

Indra the far and the near and the midmost call; Indra the travelers, the dwellers call. Indra they call who settle and who battle; Indra the men call who seek the plenitude of force.