Sukta 31

Mantra 1

इन्द्रो रथाय प्रवतं कृणोति यमध्यस्थान्मघवा वाजयन्तम् । यूथेव पश्वो व्युनोति गोपा अरिष्टो याति प्रथमः सिषासन् ॥

Indra makes a downward path for the chariot he mounts, the bounteous one driving the plenitude of force. Like a herdsman he separates and arranges the herds; unhurt he goes foremost, seeking to set all rightly in motion.

Mantra 2

आ प्र द्रव हरिवो मा वि वेनः पिशङ्गराते अभि नः सचस्व । नहि त्वदिन्द्र वस्यो अन्यदस्त्यमेनाँश्चिज्जनिवतश्चकर्थ ॥

Run here, O lord of the tawny steeds; do not turn away from us, O giver of the bright. Draw near and join with us. For there is no better support than you, O Indra; even the weak and wavering you have made capable of being born anew.

Mantra 3

उद्यत्सहः सहस आजनिष्ट देदिष्ट इन्द्र इन्द्रियाणि विश्वा । प्राचोदयत्सुदुघा वव्रे अन्तर्वि ज्योतिषा संववृत्वत्तमोऽवः ॥

When force arose from Force, Indra’s powers of mastery shone out entirely. He impelled the well-yielding streams; within he unfolded with light and wrapped the darkness below.

Mantra 4

अनवस्ते रथमश्वाय तक्षन्त्वष्टा वज्रं पुरुहूत द्युमन्तम् । ब्रह्माण इन्द्रं महयन्तो अर्कैरवर्धयन्नहये हन्तवा उ ॥

The Anavas shaped for you the chariot for the steed; Tvaṣṭṛ forged for you, O much-invoked, the radiant thunder-force. The seers, magnifying Indra with their hymns, increased his might so that he may slay the Serpent of obstruction.

Mantra 5

वृष्णे यत्ते वृषणो अर्कमर्चानिन्द्र ग्रावाणो अदितिः सजोषाः । अनश्वासो ये पवयोऽरथा इन्द्रेषिता अभ्यवर्तन्त दस्यून् ॥

When, O bull-like Indra, the strong ones chanted your radiant hymn, the pressing-stones and Aditi in one accord—then those wheel-rims, horseless and chariotless, driven by you, turned upon the Dasyus (powers of division) and overwhelmed them.

Mantra 6

प्र ते पूर्वाणि करणानि वोचं प्र नूतना मघवन्या चकर्थ । शक्तीवो यद्विभरा रोदसी उभे जयन्नपो मनवे दानुचित्राः ॥

I proclaim your former deeds and also the new ones you have done, O bountiful. When, full of powers, you upheld both Heaven and Earth, conquering, you released the waters for Manu—those many-formed streams hidden in Dānu.

Mantra 7

तदिन्नु ते करणं दस्म विप्राहिं यद्घ्नन्नोजो अत्रामिमीथाः । शुष्णस्य चित्परि माया अगृभ्णाः प्रपित्वं यन्नप दस्यूँरसेधः ॥

This indeed is your wonder-work, O inspired hero: striking the Serpent, you gathered force here. Even the spells of Śuṣṇa you seized and circled round; and when you advanced, you drove away the Dasyus and barred them from the path.

Mantra 9

इन्द्राकुत्सा वहमाना रथेना वामत्या अपि कर्णे वहन्तु । निः षीमद्भ्यो धमथो निः षधस्थान्मघोनो हृदो वरथस्तमांसि ॥

O Indra with Kutsa, borne on the chariot, let the swift horses bring you close to our hearing. Blow away the darkness from the waters, blow it away from the seat; from the heart of the giver remove the shadows.

Mantra 10

वातस्य युक्तान्त्सुयुजश्चिदश्वान्कविश्चिदेषो अजगन्नवस्युः । विश्वे ते अत्र मरुतः सखाय इन्द्र ब्रह्माणि तविषीमवर्धन् ॥

Even the well-yoked horses of the Wind this seeker has reached, even the seer has come in his aspiration. Here all the Maruts, your comrades, O Indra, by their mantras increased your might.

Mantra 11

सूरश्चिद्रथं परितक्म्यायां पूर्वं करदुपरं जूजुवांसम् । भरच्चक्रमेतशः सं रिणाति पुरो दधत्सनिष्यति क्रतुं नः ॥

Even the Sun makes the chariot first and then the higher course, ever driving onward. Etaśa brings the wheel and sets it in motion; placing the fronts (the leading powers), he will win for us our effective will (krátu).

Mantra 12

आयं जना अभिचक्षे जगामेन्द्रः सखायं सुतसोममिच्छन् । वदन्ग्रावाव वेदिं भ्रियाते यस्य जीरमध्वर्यवश्चरन्ति ॥

This one, O peoples, has come into our sight—Indra seeking his friend who has pressed the Soma. Speaking, the pressing-stones are carried down to the altar; for him the Adhvaryus move about the quickened (living) rite.

Mantra 13

ये चाकनन्त चाकनन्त नू ते मर्ता अमृत मो ते अंह आरन् । वावन्धि यज्यूँरुत तेषु धेह्योजो जनेषु येषु ते स्याम ॥

Those mortals who have delighted, who delight in you now, O Immortal—let not your harm come near them. Strengthen the worshippers, and in those peoples set your force, among whom we would be yours.