Sukta 40

Mantra 1

आ याह्यद्रिभिः सुतं सोमं सोमपते पिब । वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥

Come hither to the Soma pressed with stones; drink, O lord of Soma. O Indra the Bull, with thy bull-powers come—thou most mighty Vṛtra-slayer—so the force may be awakened and made victorious in us.

Mantra 2

वृषा ग्रावा वृषा मदो वृषा सोमो अयं सुतः । वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥

Bull is the pressing-stone, bull is the ecstasy, bull is this Soma pressed; therefore, O Indra the Bull, come with thy bull-powers—most mighty Vṛtra-slayer—so that the energizing delight may conquer in us.

Mantra 3

वृषा त्वा वृषणं हुवे वज्रिञ्चित्राभिरूतिभिः । वृषन्निन्द्र वृषभिर्वृत्रहन्तम ॥

As the Bull I call thee, the Bull, O wielder of the thunderbolt, with thy many-hued helps; O Indra the Bull, come with thy bull-powers, most mighty Vṛtra-slayer—bring the victorious energy into our being.

Mantra 4

ऋजीषी वज्री वृषभस्तुराषाट् छुष्मी राजा वृत्रहा सोमपावा । युक्त्वा हरिभ्यामुप यासदर्वाङ्माध्यंदिने सवने मत्सदिन्द्रः ॥

Indra, the strong bearer of the thunder-force, the bull of power, the irresistible conqueror, the mighty king and slayer of the obstructer, the drinker and purifier of Soma—having yoked his two tawny energies, comes near, turning to us; in the mid-day pressing he takes his seat in ecstasy.

Mantra 5

यत्त्वा सूर्य स्वर्भानुस्तमसाविध्यदासुरः । अक्षेत्रविद्यथा मुग्धो भुवनान्यदीधयुः ॥

When the Asuric Svàrbhānu struck you, O Sun, with darkness, the worlds were bewildered, as one who knows not the field loses the way and cannot set the right lights in order.

Mantra 6

स्वर्भानोरध यदिन्द्र माया अवो दिवो वर्तमाना अवाहन् । गूळ्हं सूर्यं तमसापव्रतेन तुरीयेण ब्रह्मणाविन्ददत्रिः ॥

Then, when the deceits of Svàrbhānu moved below the heaven, O Indra, and bore it down, Atri by the fourth power of the Word found the Sun hidden by darkness that had turned away from the right law.

Mantra 7

मा मामिमं तव सन्तमत्र इरस्या द्रुग्धो भियसा नि गारीत् । त्वं मित्रो असि सत्यराधास्तौ मेहावतं वरुणश्च राजा ॥

Let not this one, who is thine, O Atri, be cast down by fear through the harm of jealousy. Thou art Mitra, of true fulfillments; do you two—Mitra and King Varuṇa—protect me here.

Mantra 8

ग्राव्णो ब्रह्मा युयुजानः सपर्यन्कीरिणा देवान्नमसोपशिक्षन् । अत्रिः सूर्यस्य दिवि चक्षुराधात्स्वर्भानोरप माया अघुक्षत् ॥

The brahman-priest, setting the pressing-stones to their work, worshipping, instructing the gods with adoration and the hymn—Atri established the Sun’s eye in heaven and milked away the deceits of Svàrbhānu.

Mantra 9

यं वै सूर्यं स्वर्भानुस्तमसाविध्यदासुरः । अत्रयस्तमन्वविन्दन्नह्यन्ये अशक्नुवन् ॥

That Sun indeed whom the Asuric Svàrbhānu struck with darkness—the Atris followed and found him; none others had the power.