Sukta 16

Mantra 1

प्र सम्राजं चर्षणीनामिन्द्रं स्तोता नव्यं गीर्भिः । नरं नृषाहं मंहिष्ठम् ॥

Forth I bring with new inspired words Indra, the universal king of the peoples— the Man, the overcomer of human limits, the most bountiful giver of plenitude.

Mantra 2

यस्मिन्नुक्थानि रण्यन्ति विश्वानि च श्रवस्या । अपामवो न समुद्रे ॥

In whom all hymns delight and all seekings for fame find their fullness—like the waters’ might gathered in the ocean—so is Indra the vast receptacle of our inspired speech and its victorious renown.

Mantra 3

तं सुष्टुत्या विवासे ज्येष्ठराजं भरे कृत्नुम् । महो वाजिनं सनिभ्यः ॥

With a right and well-shaped praise I seek to win him, the eldest king, complete in the battle— the great bringer of vāja, the plenitude of force, for our gains.

Mantra 4

यस्यानूना गभीरा मदा उरवस्तरुत्राः । हर्षुमन्तः शूरसातौ ॥

Whose raptures are un-diminished and deep, wide and irresistibly overcoming—full of exultation in the winning of the hero’s prize: such is Indra’s force when it rises in us.

Mantra 5

तमिद्धनेषु हितेष्वधिवाकाय हवन्ते । येषामिन्द्रस्ते जयन्ति ॥

Him indeed they call upon in the battles where the stakes are set, for the decisive word and guiding command; those for whom Indra stands—those are the ones who win.

Mantra 6

तमिच्च्यौत्नैरार्यन्ति तं कृतेभिश्चर्षणयः । एष इन्द्रो वरिवस्कृत् ॥

Him indeed the striving powers win by their exertions; him the human clans secure by their accomplished works. This is Indra, the maker of wide room—who creates the open space for our growth.

Mantra 7

इन्द्रो ब्रह्मेन्द्र ऋषिरिन्द्रः पुरू पुरुहूतः । महान्महीभिः शचीभिः ॥

Indra is the sacred word and the shaping vision; Indra is the seer. Indra is abundant and many-called. Great is he by his mighty powers of effective will.

Mantra 8

स स्तोम्यः स हव्यः सत्यः सत्वा तुविकूर्मिः । एकश्चित्सन्नभिभूतिः ॥

He is worthy of the hymn, he is worthy of the offering; he is truth, and a being of power, with vast surging energies. Even being one, he becomes the conquering mastery.

Mantra 9

तमर्केभिस्तं सामभिस्तं गायत्रैश्चर्षणयः । इन्द्रं वर्धन्ति क्षितयः ॥

Him they strengthen with illumined chants, with harmonies, with the Gayatri measures; the human habitations foster Indra—so that the Power of luminous mind grows in us.

Mantra 10

प्रणेतारं वस्यो अच्छा कर्तारं ज्योतिः समत्सु । सासह्वांसं युधामित्रान् ॥

Toward the leader of the better way we move—toward the maker of Light in the battles; toward the overcomer who, by the fight, conquers the hostile powers.

Mantra 11

स नः पप्रिः पारयाति स्वस्ति नावा पुरुहूतः । इन्द्रो विश्वा अति द्विषः ॥

He, the fulfiller, carries us across in well-being, as in a boat—Indra, the many-invoked—beyond all hatreds and divisions.

Mantra 12

स त्वं न इन्द्र वाजेभिर्दशस्या च गातुया च । अच्छा च नः सुम्नं नेषि ॥

So you, O Indra, by plenitudes of force, by the giving of right service and by the leading to the path—bring to us also your grace and gladness of the soul.