Sukta 20

Mantra 1

उग्रो जज्ञे वीर्याय स्वधावाञ्चक्रिरपो नर्यो यत्करिष्यन् । जग्मिर्युवा नृषदनमवोभिस्त्राता न इन्द्र एनसो महश्चित् ॥

The fierce one is born for hero-power; self-mastered, he has made the mighty waters (currents) ready, intent on the human work he will accomplish. The young one has come to the seat of the strong with his aids: Indra is our saviour even from great guilt and darkness of error.

Mantra 2

हन्ता वृत्रमिन्द्रः शूशुवानः प्रावीन्नु वीरो जरितारमूती । कर्ता सुदासे अह वा उ लोकं दाता वसु मुहुरा दाशुषे भूत् ॥

Indra, eager and ardent, the slayer of the Coverer, has indeed come forward to help the singer. He has made a wide world for Sudāsa; he has become the giver of riches again and again to the one who offers.

Mantra 3

युध्मो अनर्वा खजकृत्समद्वा शूरः सत्राषाड्जनुषेमषाळ्हः । व्यास इन्द्रः पृतनाः स्वोजा अधा विश्वं शत्रूयन्तं जघान ॥

Warlike, unbending, breaker of resistance in the shock of battle—hero, ever-conquering, by birth unconquered—Indra has spread out and mastered the battles by his own force; then he smote all that moved in hostility.

Mantra 4

उभे चिदिन्द्र रोदसी महित्वा पप्राथ तविषीभिस्तुविष्मः । नि वज्रमिन्द्रो हरिवान्मिमिक्षन्त्समन्धसा मदेषु वा उवोच ॥

Even both Heaven and Earth, O Indra, thou didst widen by thy greatness, O strong one, with thy intensities. Indra the lord of the shining steeds, mingling the Soma-essence, set down the thunderbolt; and in the ecstasies he uttered the decisive word.

Mantra 5

वृषा जजान वृषणं रणाय तमु चिन्नारी नर्यं ससूव । प्र यः सेनानीरध नृभ्यो अस्तीनः सत्वा गवेषणः स धृष्णुः ॥

The Bull has begotten the Bull for battle; even a woman has borne that human-heroic power. He who stands forth as leader of the hosts for the strong—this being, seeker of the luminous cows (rays), is the daring one.

Mantra 6

नू चित्स भ्रेषते जनो न रेषन्मनो यो अस्य घोरमाविवासात् । यज्ञैर्य इन्द्रे दधते दुवांसि क्षयत्स राय ऋतपा ऋतेजाः ॥

Even now that person stumbles not, nor does the mind fall into harm, who has served the terrible (force) of him with reverence. He who by sacrifices sets his offerings in Indra, dwells in the plenitude: a drinker of ṛta, born of ṛta.

Mantra 7

यदिन्द्र पूर्वो अपराय शिक्षन्नयज्ज्यायान्कनीयसो देष्णम् । अमृत इत्पर्यासीत दूरमा चित्र चित्र्यं भरा रयिं नः ॥

If, O Indra, the elder once instructed the younger and the stronger bestowed a gift upon the lesser, then the Immortal indeed stood around and beyond even what is far: bring to us, O Wonder-worker, a wealth that is manifold and luminous—fullness of being.

Mantra 8

यस्त इन्द्र प्रियो जनो ददाशदसन्निरेके अद्रिवः सखा ते । वयं ते अस्यां सुमतौ चनिष्ठाः स्याम वरूथे अघ्नतो नृपीतौ ॥

He who is dear to you, O Indra, who gives and becomes your friend in the solitary inward space—O wielder of the stone—may we be the most cherished in this your good-minded grace, within your shelter, unharmed, under your lordly guardianship.

Mantra 9

एष स्तोमो अचिक्रदद्वृषा त उत स्तामुर्मघवन्नक्रपिष्ट । रायस्कामो जरितारं त आगन्त्वमङ्ग शक्र वस्व आ शको नः ॥

This hymn-cry has sounded out to you, O Bull of force; and the pressing has been done, O Maghavan. Desiring the plenitude, the singer has come to you—come then, O Shakra, and make the riches and powers able in us.

Mantra 10

स न इन्द्र त्वयताया इषे धास्त्मना च ये मघवानो जुनन्ति । वस्वी षु ते जरित्रे अस्तु शक्तिर्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

So, O Indra, establish for us the impulsion that is turned wholly toward you—by your own self-power—and also for those bounteous ones who stir the energies. Let there be for your singer a rich strength; and do you protect us always with well-being.