Sukta 34

Mantra 1

अजातशत्रुमजरा स्वर्वत्यनु स्वधामिता दस्ममीयते । सुनोतन पचत ब्रह्मवाहसे पुरुष्टुताय प्रतरं दधातन ॥

Move in the wake of the self-law (svadhā), O ageless Power rich in the light of heaven, advancing toward the Wonder-Worker who is ‘unborn to hostility’. Press and prepare the offering; set forth a swifter forward impulse for the much-praised bearer of the Word—so that the inner sacrifice may carry the mantra-force into action.

Mantra 2

आ यः सोमेन जठरमपिप्रतामन्दत मघवा मध्वो अन्धसः । यदीं मृगाय हन्तवे महावधः सहस्रभृष्टिमुशना वधं यमत् ॥

He who, with Soma, filled his belly and grew glad—the bountiful one—by the honeyed draught: when he sought the weapon of a thousand edges to strike the ‘wild-beast’ that resists, then the seer Ushanas fixed for him that slaying-force. Thus delight becomes a sharpened will for the conquest of inner obstruction.

Mantra 4

यस्यावधीत्पितरं यस्य मातरं यस्य शक्रो भ्रातरं नात ईषते । वेतीद्वस्य प्रयता यतंकरो न किल्बिषादीषते वस्व आकरः ॥

He who struck down father and mother, and before whom even a brother does not stand in resistance—he indeed knows the forward-pressed energies of this being. The one who makes the soul’s effort disciplined and yoked does not fear blame; he becomes a mine of plenitude. Thus Indra’s fierce mastery is the conversion of raw drives into ordered force.

Mantra 5

न पञ्चभिर्दशभिर्वष्ट्यारभं नासुन्वता सचते पुष्यता चन । जिनाति वेदमुया हन्ति वा धुनिरा देवयुं भजति गोमति व्रजे ॥

Not by five nor by ten does he desire a mere grasp; he does not ally with the non-pressers, not even with those who prosper outwardly. He conquers by knowledge—or else he strikes down by that driving Force; and he apportions to the god-seeking one the luminous herds in the pen. Thus Indra chooses the inner sacrificer and gives the rays of knowledge, not to the inertly successful.

Mantra 6

वित्वक्षणः समृतौ चक्रमासजोऽसुन्वतो विषुणः सुन्वतो वृधः । इन्द्रो विश्वस्य दमिता विभीषणो यथावशं नयति दासमार्यः ॥

He who, with penetrating craft, set the wheel in motion in the joining of the seasons—separate from the non-pressers, increaser of the pressers: Indra, tamer of all, terrible in his might, leads the dark servile nature as he wills, while the Aryan power (the striving noble) advances. Thus the divine Force organizes time and disciplines the lower movements for the soul’s ascent.

Mantra 7

समीं पणेरजति भोजनं मुषे वि दाशुषे भजति सूनरं वसु । दुर्गे चन ध्रियते विश्व आ पुरु जनो यो अस्य तविषीमचुक्रुधत् ॥

He drives off from the Paṇi the hoarded enjoyment for the seeker; he distributes to the giver the strong and radiant riches. Even in hard passages the whole multitude is upheld—whoever has not grown wrathful against his might. Thus the divine Force reclaims the stolen delight and assigns it to the soul that offers.

Mantra 8

सं यज्जनौ सुधनौ विश्वशर्धसाववेदिन्द्रो मघवा गोषु शुभ्रिषु । युजं ह्यन्यमकृत प्रवेपन्युदीं गव्यं सृजते सत्वभिर्धुनिः ॥

When Indra the bountiful found the two well-stored peoples, the universal hosts, amid the shining cows (rays), then he made one the yoke-fellow of the other; the driving Shaker, with his powers, releases upward the luminous cattle. Thus he joins divided energies and lifts the rays of knowledge into manifestation.

Mantra 9

सहस्रसामाग्निवेशिं गृणीषे शत्रिमग्न उपमां केतुमर्यः । तस्मा आपः संयतः पीपयन्त तस्मिन्क्षत्रममवत्त्वेषमस्तु ॥

I praise the thousand-chanting Agniveśi, the rival-conqueror, O Agni, the peerless banner of the Aryan seeker. For him let the gathered waters swell in fullness; in him let the sovereign force become vigorous and luminous. Thus the fire of will becomes the standard of the soul’s rule, nourished by the waters of life.