Sukta 24

Mantra 1

वृषा मद इन्द्रे श्लोक उक्था सचा सोमेषु सुतपा ऋजीषी । अर्चत्र्यो मघवा नृभ्य उक्थैर्द्युक्षो राजा गिरामक्षितोतिः ॥

A bull is the ecstasy in Indra; with it go the chant and the high utterance in the pressed Soma; he drinks the expressed delight and is strong in the shining draught. The giver of plenitude, by the hymns of men, is to be kindled in praise—he, the luminous king of the word, whose help does not diminish.

Mantra 2

ततुरिर्वीरो नर्यो विचेताः श्रोता हवं गृणत उर्व्यूतिः । वसुः शंसो नरां कारुधाया वाजी स्तुतो विदथे दाति वाजम् ॥

A swift-overcoming hero is he, a power for men, wide in discernment; he hears the call of the singer and his help is vast. A good treasure is the praise of men fashioned by the seer; the strong one, praised, gives in the assembly the plenitude of force.

Mantra 3

अक्षो न चक्र्योः शूर बृहन्प्र ते मह्ना रिरिचे रोदस्योः । वृक्षस्य नु ते पुरुहूत वया व्यूतयो रुरुहुरिन्द्र पूर्वीः ॥

Like the axle of the two wheels, O hero, vast in being, thou hast filled out by thy greatness the two worlds. As branches of a tree, O Many-invoked, thy strengths and thy helpings have grown out wide, O Indra, from of old.

Mantra 4

शचीवतस्ते पुरुशाक शाका गवामिव स्रुतयः संचरणीः । वत्सानां न तन्तयस्त इन्द्र दामन्वन्तो अदामानः सुदामन् ॥

O thou of effective power, O many-branched one, thy branches are like the streaming tracks of the cows, moving together in their courses. Like the threads that bind the calves, O Indra, thy linkings hold firm—unbroken, O good establisher of the bonds.

Mantra 5

अन्यदद्य कर्वरमन्यदु श्वोऽसच्च सन्मुहुराचक्रिरिन्द्रः । मित्रो नो अत्र वरुणश्च पूषार्यो वशस्य पर्येतास्ति ॥

One thing today, another tomorrow—again and again Indra has made what was not into what is. Here for us are Mitra and Varuṇa and Pūṣan: Aryaman is the one who moves around and leads us in the seeking of mastery and true possession.

Mantra 6

वि त्वदापो न पर्वतस्य पृष्ठादुक्थेभिरिन्द्रानयन्त यज्ञैः । तं त्वाभिः सुष्टुतिभिर्वाजयन्त आजिं न जग्मुर्गिर्वाहो अश्वाः ॥

From thee the waters break forth as from the back of a mountain; by hymns and offerings they have led Indra onward. Thee they urge with well-fashioned praises toward plenitude, as horses of the word carry one to the winning of the course.

Mantra 7

न यं जरन्ति शरदो न मासा न द्याव इन्द्रमवकर्शयन्ति । वृद्धस्य चिद्वर्धतामस्य तनूः स्तोमेभिरुक्थैश्च शस्यमाना ॥

The seasons do not wear him out, nor the months; the days do not draw Indra down. Even of the grown and ancient one, may his body of power increase—praised and made manifest by our hymns and solemn utterances.

Mantra 8

न वीळवे नमते न स्थिराय न शर्धते दस्युजूताय स्तवान् । अज्रा इन्द्रस्य गिरयश्चिदृष्वा गम्भीरे चिद्भवति गाधमस्मै ॥

The hymn of affirmation does not bow to the weak, nor to the merely stable, nor does it yield to the pressure of those driven by the Dasyu-force. Even the unshaken mountains of Indra, though lofty, become a ford for him—even what is deep becomes passable for that Power.

Mantra 9

गम्भीरेण न उरुणामत्रिन्प्रेषो यन्धि सुतपावन्वाजान् । स्था ऊ षु ऊर्ध्व ऊती अरिषण्यन्नक्तोर्व्युष्टौ परितक्म्यायाम् ॥

With your deep and wide protection, O undeceived one, set in motion for us the forward impulsions and the plenitudes of force purified in the pressing. Stand upright with your guarding help, unassailable, through the night and at the breaking of dawn, encompassing us when the wasting weakness tries to creep in.

Mantra 10

सचस्व नायमवसे अभीक इतो वा तमिन्द्र पाहि रिषः । अमा चैनमरण्ये पाहि रिषो मदेम शतहिमाः सुवीराः ॥

Join with this leader for his safeguarding, close at hand; or from here, protect him, O Indra, from harm. Protect him from harm at home and also in the wilderness, so that we may rejoice—possessing a hundred winters, rich in heroic energies.