Sukta 21

Mantra 1

असावि देवं गोऋजीकमन्धो न्यस्मिन्निन्द्रो जनुषेमुवोच । बोधामसि त्वा हर्यश्व यज्ञैर्बोधा नः स्तोममन्धसो मदेषु ॥

The divine pressing has been expressed—the soma that wins the Light; in it Indra, by his very birth, has spoken. We awaken to you, O tawny-horsed one, by our sacrifices; awaken for us to the hymn in the ecstasies of the soma.

Mantra 2

प्र यन्ति यज्ञं विपयन्ति बर्हिः सोममादो विदथे दुध्रवाचः । न्यु भ्रियन्ते यशसो गृभादा दूरउपब्दो वृषणो नृषाचः ॥

They go forward to the sacrifice; they spread the sacred seat. In the assembly the soma-delight is prepared by firm-voiced invocations. The glories are borne down from the grasp into manifestation; far-reaching is the call to the Bull-power who moves among men.

Mantra 3

त्वमिन्द्र स्रवितवा अपस्कः परिष्ठिता अहिना शूर पूर्वीः । त्वद्वावक्रे रथ्यो न धेना रेजन्ते विश्वा कृत्रिमाणि भीषा ॥

You, O Indra, are the releaser of the waters—active in the works; the ancient streams were held about by the serpent. From you they turned and rolled forth like swift chariots; all the fashioned obstructions tremble in fear.

Mantra 4

भीमो विवेषायुधेभिरेषामपांसि विश्वा नर्याणि विद्वान् । इन्द्रः पुरो जर्हृषाणो वि दूधोद्वि वज्रहस्तो महिना जघान ॥

Terrible, he has driven them apart with his weapons, knowing all their manly deeds. Indra, exulting, has shattered their strongholds; the thunderbolt-bearer, by greatness, has struck them down.

Mantra 5

न यातव इन्द्र जूजुवुर्नो न वन्दना शविष्ठ वेद्याभिः । स शर्धदर्यो विषुणस्य जन्तोर्मा शिश्नदेवा अपि गुॠतं नः ॥

Let no wanderers, O Indra, overpower us, nor empty flatteries with their ritual knowings, O most mighty. May the noble one break the onslaught of the perverse being; let not the false-worshippers cover up our ṛta.

Mantra 6

अभि क्रत्वेन्द्र भूरध ज्मन्न ते विव्यङ्महिमानं रजांसि । स्वेना हि वृत्रं शवसा जघन्थ न शत्रुरन्तं विविदद्युधा ते ॥

By your will, O Indra, you became vast; then your greatness spread through the worlds. For by your own force you slew Vṛtra; no enemy has found the limit of your battle.

Mantra 7

देवाश्चित्ते असुर्याय पूर्वेऽनु क्षत्राय ममिरे सहांसि । इन्द्रो मघानि दयते विषह्येन्द्रं वाजस्य जोहुवन्त सातौ ॥

Even the ancient gods, for thy lordly might, measured out strengths in accord with thy sovereign power. Indra grants the bounties that are hard to overcome; in the winning of plenitude of force they call Indra again and again.

Mantra 8

कीरिश्चिद्धि त्वामवसे जुहावेशानमिन्द्र सौभगस्य भूरेः । अवो बभूथ शतमूते अस्मे अभिक्षत्तुस्त्वावतो वरूता ॥

For even the singer indeed calls thee for help, O Indra, the Master, for abundant felicity. Thou hast become our aid, O hundred-helped; a protecting guard to him who presses forward under thy power.

Mantra 9

सखायस्त इन्द्र विश्वह स्याम नमोवृधासो महिना तरुत्र । वन्वन्तु स्मा तेऽवसा समीकेऽभीतिमर्यो वनुषां शवांसि ॥

May we be thy comrades always, O Indra, increasing in the power of surrender, crossing beyond by thy greatness. Let the strengths of the striving Arya win, by thy help in the encounter, the onrush of fear.

Mantra 10

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

O Indra, establish for us the impelling force that moves toward thee, and by thy own being for those who kindle the bounteous powers. Let there be for thy praiser a rich and abiding capacity; and do you protect us always with your harmonies of well-being.