Sukta 47

Mantra 1

स्वादुष्किलायं मधुमाँ उतायं तीव्रः किलायं रसवाँ उतायम् । उतो न्वस्य पपिवांसमिन्द्रं न कश्चन सहत आहवेषु ॥

Sweet indeed is this, honey-full is this; keen indeed is this, full of essence is this: and now, when Indra has drunk of it, none at all can withstand him in the inner battles.

Mantra 2

अयं स्वादुरिह मदिष्ठ आस यस्येन्द्रो वृत्रहत्ये ममाद । पुरूणि यश्च्यौत्ना शम्बरस्य वि नवतिं नव च देह्यो हन् ॥

This is sweet here, most intoxicating; in it Indra exults for the slaying of the Coverer. He who shattered the many strongholds of Śambara, who struck down the ninety and nine—he takes delight in this force.

Mantra 3

अयं मे पीत उदियर्ति वाचमयं मनीषामुशतीमजीगः । अयं षळुर्वीरमिमीत धीरो न याभ्यो भुवनं कच्चनारे ॥

This, when drunk by me, lifts up my speech; this awakens the desiring thought within. This, the steadfast seer-force, measured out the six wide spaces—beyond which no world at all stands apart.

Mantra 4

अयं स यो वरिमाणं पृथिव्या वर्ष्माणं दिवो अकृणोदयं सः । अयं पीयूषं तिसृषु प्रवत्सु सोमो दाधारोर्वन्तरिक्षम् ॥

This is he who made the wideness of earth and the lofty height of heaven. This Soma set the nectar in the three descents, and upheld the broad mid-region between.

Mantra 5

अयं विदच्चित्रदृशीकमर्णः शुक्रसद्मनामुषसामनीके । अयं महान्महता स्कम्भनेनोद्द्यामस्तभ्नाद्वृषभो मरुत्वान् ॥

This found the flood with its many visions, in the bright dwelling-place, in the face of the Dawns. This, the great one, with a mighty pillar-force, propped up heaven aloft—the Bull, companioned by the Maruts.

Mantra 6

धृषत्पिब कलशे सोममिन्द्र वृत्रहा शूर समरे वसूनाम् । माध्यंदिने सवन आ वृषस्व रयिस्थानो रयिमस्मासु धेहि ॥

Drink boldly the Soma in the cup, O Indra, slayer of the Coverer, hero in the battle for the riches. In the midday pressing grow full in thy might; thou who art the seat of plenitude, place that plenitude within us.

Mantra 7

इन्द्र प्र णः पुरएतेव पश्य प्र नो नय प्रतरं वस्यो अच्छ । भवा सुपारो अतिपारयो नो भवा सुनीतिरुत वामनीतिः ॥

O Indra, look ahead for us like a leader in front; lead us forward to a better and more luminous good. Become for us the good ferryman who carries beyond; become the right guidance and also the gracious guidance.

Mantra 8

उरुं नो लोकमनु नेषि विद्वान्त्स्वर्वज्ज्योतिरभयं स्वस्ति । ऋष्वा त इन्द्र स्थविरस्य बाहू उप स्थेयाम शरणा बृहन्ता ॥

Lead us, O knower, into the wide world—into the light that bears the sun, into fearlessness and well-being. Under thy two mighty arms, O Indra the steadfast, may we take our stand as in a vast refuge.

Mantra 9

वरिष्ठे न इन्द्र वन्धुरे धा वहिष्ठयोः शतावन्नश्वयोरा । इषमा वक्षीषां वर्षिष्ठां मा नस्तारीन्मघवन्रायो अर्यः ॥

Set us, O Indra, in the widest chariot-seat, with the two best steeds, O lord of a hundred powers. Bring to us the most abundant nourishment of force; let not the stranger-to-truth carry away our plenitude, O bounteous one.

Mantra 10

इन्द्र मृळ मह्यं जीवातुमिच्छ चोदय धियमयसो न धाराम् । यत्किं चाहं त्वायुरिदं वदामि तज्जुषस्व कृधि मा देववन्तम् ॥

Indra, be gracious to me; will for me the power to live. Impel my understanding like a stream that breaks through iron. Whatever I, as thy life-force within, speak here—accept it and make me filled with the gods (their powers).

Mantra 11

त्रातारमिन्द्रमवितारमिन्द्रं हवेहवे सुहवं शूरमिन्द्रम् । ह्वयामि शक्रं पुरुहूतमिन्द्रं स्वस्ति नो मघवा धात्विन्द्रः ॥

Indra the rescuer, Indra the protector—at every call I invoke Indra, easy to summon, the heroic. I call the mighty, much-invoked Indra; may Indra the bountiful set well-being in us.

Mantra 12

इन्द्रः सुत्रामा स्ववाँ अवोभिः सुमृळीको भवतु विश्ववेदाः । बाधतां द्वेषो अभयं कृणोतु सुवीर्यस्य पतयः स्याम ॥

May Indra, the perfect protector, rich in his own power, by his helps become wholly gracious, the knower of all. Let him smite hatred and make fearlessness; may we be masters of a splendid hero-force.

Mantra 13

तस्य वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियस्यापि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम । स सुत्रामा स्ववाँ इन्द्रो अस्मे आराच्चिद्द्वेषः सनुतर्युयोतु ॥

In the good thought of that adorable One may we dwell, yes, in a fortunate gladness of mind. May that Indra, the perfect protector, strong in himself, drive hatred away from us—far off, utterly.

Mantra 14

अव त्वे इन्द्र प्रवतो नोर्मिर्गिरो ब्रह्माणि नियुतो धवन्ते । उरू न राधः सवना पुरूण्यपो गा वज्रिन्युवसे समिन्दून् ॥

Toward thee, Indra, our words and our formulations rush like a descending wave. Wide is thy giving: many are the pressings; for thy youthful might, O wielder of the thunderbolt, the waters, the rays (cows), and the Soma-drops are gathered together.

Mantra 15

क ईं स्तवत्कः पृणात्को यजाते यदुग्रमिन्मघवा विश्वहावेत् । पादाविव प्रहरन्नन्यमन्यं कृणोति पूर्वमपरं शचीभिः ॥

Who can truly praise him, who can satisfy him, who can sacrifice to him, when the bountiful One knows the fierce power in every way? Striking as with two feet one after another, by his masteries he makes the former become the latter, and the latter the former.

Mantra 16

शृण्वे वीर उग्रमुग्रं दमायन्नन्यमन्यमतिनेनीयमानः । एधमानद्विळुभयस्य राजा चोष्कूयते विश इन्द्रो मनुष्यान् ॥

The hero is heard—ever more and more formidable—subduing, driving beyond one after another. Growing, hating the divided, king of both (sides), Indra urges on the human clans to move and strive.

Mantra 17

परा पूर्वेषां सख्या वृणक्ति वितर्तुराणो अपरेभिरेति । अनानुभूतीरवधून्वानः पूर्वीरिन्द्रः शरदस्तर्तरीति ॥

He casts away the friendships of the former and, hastening beyond, goes with the later. Shaking off what has not been truly experienced, Indra repeatedly overpasses the many seasons of the past.

Mantra 18

रूपंरूपं प्रतिरूपो बभूव तदस्य रूपं प्रतिचक्षणाय । इन्द्रो मायाभिः पुरुरूप ईयते युक्ता ह्यस्य हरयः शता दश ॥

Form after form he becomes the corresponding form; that is his form for our seeing. Indra moves by his powers of shaping (māyā), manifold in form; yoked to him indeed are his tawny steeds, a hundred and ten.

Mantra 19

युजानो हरिता रथे भूरि त्वष्टेह राजति । को विश्वाहा द्विषतः पक्ष आसत उतासीनेषु सूरिषु ॥

Yoking the tawny steeds to the chariot, the abundant fashioner shines here. Who, at any time, could be the wing/support of the hostile—whether among those seated as lords?

Mantra 20

अगव्यूति क्षेत्रमागन्म देवा उर्वी सती भूमिरंहूरणाभूत् । बृहस्पते प्र चिकित्सा गविष्टावित्था सते जरित्र इन्द्र पन्थाम् ॥

We have entered, O Gods, the field of the seeking of the Rays (the Light-cattle); wide indeed is the Earth and she becomes without distress. O Brhaspati, in the quest for the Rays make clear the knowledge; thus, O Indra, establish for the singer the path that is true and victorious.

Mantra 21

दिवेदिवे सदृशीरन्यमर्धं कृष्णा असेधदप सद्मनो जाः । अहन्दासा वृषभो वस्नयन्तोदव्रजे वर्चिनं शम्बरं च ॥

Day by day the blackness that had seized the other half was thrust away from the home of birth. The Bull-power struck down the Dāsas; seeking the plenitudes, he cast out Varchin and also Śambara from their enclosed hold.

Mantra 22

प्रस्तोक इन्नु राधसस्त इन्द्र दश कोशयीर्दश वाजिनोऽदात् । दिवोदासादतिथिग्वस्य राधः शाम्बरं वसु प्रत्यग्रभीष्म ॥

A small portion indeed of your bounty, O Indra—yet you gave ten treasure-chests and ten vigorous steeds. From Divodāsa, from Atithigva, we received the Śāmbara wealth—those gains of force that answer to the victory.

Mantra 23

दशाश्वान्दश कोशान्दश वस्त्राधिभोजना । दशो हिरण्यपिण्डान्दिवोदासादसानिषम् ॥

Ten steeds, ten treasuries, ten garments with their sustaining enjoyments; ten lumps of gold—from Divodāsa we won these. Even the counted measures of outer wealth figure the inner measure: powers to move, to hold, to cover, and to sustain the being.

Mantra 24

दश रथान्प्रष्टिमतः शतं गा अथर्वभ्यः । अश्वथः पायवेऽदात् ॥

Ten chariots well-furnished, and a hundred Rays (cows) for the Atharvans; Aśvatha gave them to Pāyu. The movement of the soul and the recovered illuminations are affirmed as transmissible powers within the lineage of the work.

Mantra 25

महि राधो विश्वजन्यं दधानान्भरद्वाजान्त्सार्ञ्जयो अभ्ययष्ट ॥

Holding a great bounty that is for all peoples, Sārñjaya offered in honour of the Bharadvājas. When the gift becomes universal in its aim, the sacrifice turns from private gain to the widening of the collective soul.

Mantra 26

वनस्पते वीड्वङ्गो हि भूया अस्मत्सखा प्रतरणः सुवीरः । गोभिः संनद्धो असि वीळयस्वास्थाता ते जयतु जेत्वानि ॥

O Lord of the Forest, become firm-limbed; be our comrade, our overcomer, rich in heroes. Girt with the Rays, stand strong; may your driver win, and may your winnings be victorious.

Mantra 27

दिवस्पृथिव्याः पर्योज उद्भृतं वनस्पतिभ्यः पर्याभृतं सहः । अपामोज्मानं परि गोभिरावृतमिन्द्रस्य वज्रं हविषा रथं यज ॥

Worship with the offering the chariot, Indra’s thunderbolt: its force is drawn from Heaven and Earth, its might gathered from the Lords of the Wood; the waters’ energy surrounds it, and it is covered about with Rays. Thus is the instrument of victory formed from the totality of powers.

Mantra 28

इन्द्रस्य वज्रो मरुतामनीकं मित्रस्य गर्भो वरुणस्य नाभिः । सेमां नो हव्यदातिं जुषाणो देव रथ प्रति हव्या गृभाय ॥

This is Indra’s thunderbolt, the front of the Maruts, the womb of Mitra, the navel of Varuṇa. O divine Chariot, consenting to our offering, take up our oblations—receive the giving of the sacrifice and establish it in the right order.

Mantra 29

उप श्वासय पृथिवीमुत द्यां पुरुत्रा ते मनुतां विष्ठितं जगत् । स दुन्दुभे सजूरिन्द्रेण देवैर्दूराद्दवीयो अप सेध शत्रून् ॥

Breathe upon the Earth and upon Heaven; let the world of men, spread out in many places, take heart through you. O Drum, united with Indra and the Gods, drive away the enemies—far off, still farther—banish the hostile forces from our field.

Mantra 30

आ क्रन्दय बलमोजो न आ धा निः ष्टनिहि दुरिता बाधमानः । अप प्रोथ दुन्दुभे दुच्छुना इत इन्द्रस्य मुष्टिरसि वीळयस्व ॥

O Drum of the battle, cry out and set within us strength and concentrated force. Thunder forth, driving away the evil movements. Strike down and push away from here the hostile misfortune; for you are the clenched fist of Indra—press forward and prevail.

Mantra 31

आमूरज प्रत्यावर्तयेमाः केतुमद्दुन्दुभिर्वावदीति । समश्वपर्णाश्चरन्ति नो नरोऽस्माकमिन्द्र रथिनो जयन्तु ॥

Drive back those yonder forces; let the war-drum sound with its bannered sign. Let our men move together with the swift horse-winged energy; O Indra, may our chariot-fighters win.