Sukta 23

Mantra 1

सुत इत्त्वं निमिश्ल इन्द्र सोमे स्तोमे ब्रह्मणि शस्यमान उक्थे । यद्वा युक्ताभ्यां मघवन्हरिभ्यां बिभ्रद्वज्रं बाह्वोरिन्द्र यासि ॥

When the Soma is pressed, then thou art wholly attentive, O Indra—praised in the chant, in the sacred word, in the uttered hymn. Or when, O bounteous one, yoked with thy two tawny powers, bearing the thunder-force on thy arms, thou comest.

Mantra 2

यद्वा दिवि पार्ये सुष्विमिन्द्र वृत्रहत्येऽवसि शूरसातौ । यद्वा दक्षस्य बिभ्युषो अबिभ्यदरन्धयः शर्धत इन्द्र दस्यून् ॥

Whether in the far heaven, O Indra, thou hast grown strong for the slaying of obstruction, for the winning of the hero; or whether, fearless, thou didst subdue the Dasyu hordes who feared thy power and skill—so art thou our aid in the battle for the Light.

Mantra 3

पाता सुतमिन्द्रो अस्तु सोमं प्रणेनीरुग्रो जरितारमूती । कर्ता वीराय सुष्वय उ लोकं दाता वसु स्तुवते कीरये चित् ॥

Let Indra drink the pressed Soma—fierce leader, bringing the singer forward by his protection. He creates for the hero who presses well a wide space of being; he gives riches of substance even to the poet who praises.

Mantra 4

गन्तेयान्ति सवना हरिभ्यां बभ्रिर्वज्रं पपिः सोमं ददिर्गाः । कर्ता वीरं नर्यं सर्ववीरं श्रोता हवं गृणतः स्तोमवाहाः ॥

He comes; he goes to the pressings with his tawny powers: bearing the thunder-force, drinking the Soma, giving the rays of light. He makes the hero, the manly one, the all-hero; he hears the call of the singing one—he who carries the hymns.

Mantra 5

अस्मै वयं यद्वावान तद्विविष्म इन्द्राय यो नः प्रदिवो अपस्कः । सुते सोमे स्तुमसि शंसदुक्थेन्द्राय ब्रह्म वर्धनं यथासत् ॥

For him we would seek and choose what is truly to be chosen—for Indra who is our worker from the highest heaven. When Soma is pressed we praise; in the hymn we proclaim, so that for Indra the mantric word may become an increase of power.

Mantra 6

ब्रह्माणि हि चकृषे वर्धनानि तावत्त इन्द्र मतिभिर्विविष्मः । सुते सोमे सुतपाः शंतमानि राण्ड्या क्रियास्म वक्षणानि यज्ञैः ॥

For thou hast indeed made the mantras to be strengthenings; so far, O Indra, we would choose thee by our thoughts. O drinker of the pressed Soma, make for us by the sacrifices the most peace-giving prosperities, the rich enjoyments that bear us forward.

Mantra 7

स नो बोधि पुरोळाशं रराणः पिबा तु सोमं गोऋजीकमिन्द्र । एदं बर्हिर्यजमानस्य सीदोरुं कृधि त्वायत उ लोकम् ॥

Awaken to us, rejoicing in the offering-cake; drink the Soma that is rich in luminous rays, O Indra. Sit on this sacred seat of the sacrificer; make wide the world-space for the one who reaches out to thee.

Mantra 8

स मन्दस्वा ह्यनु जोषमुग्र प्र त्वा यज्ञास इमे अश्नुवन्तु । प्रेमे हवासः पुरुहूतमस्मे आ त्वेयं धीरवस इन्द्र यम्याः ॥

O Indra, the Forceful One, become glad and widen in the soul’s consenting delight; may these our workings of offering reach and take hold of thee. May these callings of ours press forward to the Many-invoked within us; to thee may this illumined thought yoke itself for our help, O Indra.

Mantra 9

तं वः सखायः सं यथा सुतेषु सोमेभिरीं पृणता भोजमिन्द्रम् । कुवित्तस्मा असति नो भराय न सुष्विमिन्द्रोऽवसे मृधाति ॥

Friends, fill and make complete that Indra the Enjoyer with the pressed Soma-draughts, as men do in the offerings. Surely he will be there for our bearing and bringing of the plenitude; Indra does not fail the well-pressing one when the being seeks his help.

Mantra 10

एवेदिन्द्रः सुते अस्तावि सोमे भरद्वाजेषु क्षयदिन्मघोनः । असद्यथा जरित्र उत सूरिरिन्द्रो रायो विश्ववारस्य दाता ॥

Thus indeed Indra is affirmed by the pressed Soma among the Bharadvājas; he dwells there as the bountiful one. May he be for the praiser as for the illumined giver: Indra, the bestower of the all-desirable plenitude of being.