Sukta 19

Mantra 1

यस्तिग्मशृङ्गो वृषभो न भीम एकः कृष्टीश्च्यावयति प्र विश्वाः । यः शश्वतो अदाशुषो गयस्य प्रयन्तासि सुष्वितराय वेदः ॥

He who is sharp-horned, a bull in might, formidable—alone he can set all the peoples into right motion. He who, for ever, is the forward-leader of the non-offerer’s vitality: you are the knower who guides toward a happier, more luminous passage.

Mantra 2

त्वं ह त्यदिन्द्र कुत्समावः शुश्रूषमाणस्तन्वा समर्ये । दासं यच्छुष्णं कुयवं न्यस्मा अरन्धय आर्जुनेयाय शिक्षन् ॥

You indeed, O Indra, did protect Kutsā when he served you with his whole being in the battle. When you brought down the Dāsa—Śuṣṇa the deceiver—subduing him for this one, you were teaching the Arjuneya the right skill of victory.

Mantra 3

त्वं धृष्णो धृषता वीतहव्यं प्रावो विश्वाभिरूतिभिः सुदासम् । प्र पौरुकुत्सिं त्रसदस्युमावः क्षेत्रसाता वृत्रहत्येषु पूरुम् ॥

You, the bold one, with bold force, protected Sudās, the well-offering, with all your helps. You aided Paurukutsi, you aided Trasadasyu; in the winning of the field, in the slayings of the coverer, you upheld Pūru.

Mantra 4

त्वं नृभिर्नृमणो देववीतौ भूरीणि वृत्रा हर्यश्व हंसि । त्वं नि दस्युं चुमुरिं धुनिं चास्वापयो दभीतये सुहन्तु ॥

You, delighting in the strong, in the god-guided advance, slay many coverings, O Indra of the tawny horses. You cast down the Dasyu—Cumuri and Dhuni—putting them to sleep, so that Dabhīti may strike well and prevail.

Mantra 5

तव च्यौत्नानि वज्रहस्त तानि नव यत्पुरो नवतिं च सद्यः । निवेशने शततमाविवेषीरहञ्च वृत्रं नमुचिमुताहन् ॥

Yours are those mighty deeds, O wielder of the thunderbolt: nine (were they), when you shattered the ninety forts at once. In the settling-place you entered as the hundredth completion; and you struck Vṛtra, and you struck Namuci too.

Mantra 6

सना ता त इन्द्र भोजनानि रातहव्याय दाशुषे सुदासे । वृष्णे ते हरी वृषणा युनज्मि व्यन्तु ब्रह्माणि पुरुशाक वाजम् ॥

From of old, O Indra, those enjoyments are yours for Sudās who offers the accepted oblation. For you the mighty one I yoke your two powerful tawny steeds; may the mantras spread out and win for us the plenitude of force, O accomplisher of many works.

Mantra 7

मा ते अस्यां सहसावन्परिष्टावघाय भूम हरिवः परादै । त्रायस्व नोऽवृकेभिर्वरूथैस्तव प्रियासः सूरिषु स्याम ॥

O might-possessing one, let us not, in this encompassing crisis, become for you a cause of harm or fall away, O lord of the tawny steeds. Protect us with shelters that are not wolfish; may we be your loved ones among the illumined leaders.

Mantra 8

प्रियास इत्ते मघवन्नभिष्टौ नरो मदेम शरणे सखायः । नि तुर्वशं नि याद्वं शिशीह्यतिथिग्वाय शंस्यं करिष्यन् ॥

O Maghavan (Indra), in thy dear and desired nearness may we, the strong souls, rejoice as comrades in the refuge. Press down Turvaśa, press down Yādva, sharpening the will for the guest-seer (Atithigva), as one who is about to accomplish what must be proclaimed (the act of luminous victory).

Mantra 9

सद्यश्चिन्नु ते मघवन्नभिष्टौ नरः शंसन्त्युक्थशास उक्था । ये ते हवेभिर्वि पणीँरदाशन्नस्मान्वृणीष्व युज्याय तस्मै ॥

Even at once, O Maghavan, in thy sought-for help, the strong ones proclaim the hymns—chanters of the Word proclaiming the Word. Those who by their calls have scattered the Paṇis, choose us also for that yoking (to thy power), for that work.

Mantra 10

एते स्तोमा नरां नृतम तुभ्यमस्मद्र्यञ्चो ददतो मघानि । तेषामिन्द्र वृत्रहत्ये शिवो भूः सखा च शूरोऽविता च नृणाम् ॥

These hymns of the strong, O most-manly, move from us toward thee, offering thy bounties. For them, O Indra, in the slaying of the Coverer be benign: be comrade and hero, be the protector of the souls of force.

Mantra 11

नू इन्द्र शूर स्तवमान ऊती ब्रह्मजूतस्तन्वा वावृधस्व । उप नो वाजान्मिमीह्युप स्तीन्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Now, O Indra the Hero, being praised, increase in thy help—impelled by the brahman (the soul’s truth-word)—grow in thy body of power. Build up for us the vājās (plenitudes of force), build up our firm stations; do you protect us always with well-being.