Sukta 26

Mantra 1

श्रुधी न इन्द्र ह्वयामसि त्वा महो वाजस्य सातौ वावृषाणाः । सं यद्विशोऽयन्त शूरसाता उग्रं नोऽवः पार्ये अहन्दाः ॥

Hear us, O Indra; we call you, growing in the conquest of the great plenitude of force. When the peoples gather for the winning of the hero’s victory, then grant us your fierce protection in the decisive day.

Mantra 2

त्वां वाजी हवते वाजिनेयो महो वाजस्य गध्यस्य सातौ । त्वां वृत्रेष्विन्द्र सत्पतिं तरुत्रं त्वां चष्टे मुष्टिहा गोषु युध्यन् ॥

The seeker of force calls you, O winner of force, for the gaining of the great and firmly founded plenitude. In the battles with the obstructers, O Indra, he beholds you as the true lord, the saviour who carries across; you are seen as the smiter with the fist, fighting for the rays of Light.

Mantra 3

त्वं कविं चोदयोऽर्कसातौ त्वं कुत्साय शुष्णं दाशुषे वर्क् । त्वं शिरो अमर्मणः पराहन्नतिथिग्वाय शंस्यं करिष्यन् ॥

You spur on the seer in the winning of the hymn; you smite Śuṣṇa for Kutsā who offers. You struck off the head of the unyielding one, to make a deed worthy to be proclaimed for Atithigva.

Mantra 4

त्वं रथं प्र भरो योधमृष्वमावो युध्यन्तं वृषभं दशद्युम् । त्वं तुग्रं वेतसवे सचाहन्त्वं तुजिं गृणन्तमिन्द्र तूतोः ॥

You bring forward the chariot and you aid the lofty fighter, the bull of tenfold splendour as he battles. You struck down Tugra together with Vetasava; you help Tuji, the singer of your praise, O Indra (in the line of Tūtu).

Mantra 5

त्वं तदुक्थमिन्द्र बर्हणा कः प्र यच्छता सहस्रा शूर दर्षि । अव गिरेर्दासं शम्बरं हन्प्रावो दिवोदासं चित्राभिरूती ॥

You, O Indra, make that hymn effective with your uplifted might; you reveal, O hero, the hundreds and thousands (of powers). You struck down Śambara, the Dāsa, from the mountain; you strongly protected Divodāsa with your manifold help.

Mantra 6

त्वं श्रद्धाभिर्मन्दसानः सोमैर्दभीतये चुमुरिमिन्द्र सिष्वप् । त्वं रजिं पिठीनसे दशस्यन्षष्टिं सहस्रा शच्या सचाहन् ॥

You, gladdened by the somas with acts of faith, O Indra, made Cumuri sink for Dabhīti. You slew Raji for Pithīnas, giving him honour; sixty thousands you struck down together by your power.

Mantra 7

अहं चन तत्सूरिभिरानश्यां तव ज्याय इन्द्र सुम्नमोजः । त्वया यत्स्तवन्ते सधवीर वीरास्त्रिवरूथेन नहुषा शविष्ठ ॥

May I too attain, with the illumined lords, your greater favour and force, O Indra. By you the heroes, strong together, praise—protected by a triple armour, O most mighty, (in the Nahusha line).

Mantra 8

वयं ते अस्यामिन्द्र द्युम्नहूतौ सखायः स्याम महिन प्रेष्ठाः । प्रातर्दनिः क्षत्रश्रीरस्तु श्रेष्ठो घने वृत्राणां सनये धनानाम् ॥

May we be your companions, O Indra, in this call of luminous power—most dear to you in your greatness. Let Prātardani, rich in true sovereignty, be the best in the smiting of the obstructers, for the winning of the treasures (the spiritual riches).