Sukta 21

Mantra 1

वयमु त्वामपूर्व्य स्थूरं न कच्चिद्भरन्तोऽवस्यवः । वाजे चित्रं हवामहे ॥

We, seeking thy protection, call thee—the ever-new—bearing (our offering) like a strong support that does not fail; and for the plenitude of force (vāja) we invoke thy bright and manifold power.

Mantra 2

उप त्वा कर्मन्नूतये स नो युवोग्रश्चक्राम यो धृषत् । त्वामिद्ध्यवितारं ववृमहे सखाय इन्द्र सानसिम् ॥

To thee, in the work, for help, that young and formidable force in us has moved forward in daring; for it is thee alone we choose as the deliverer. O Indra, our comrade, bringer of gain, stand with us in the conquest.

Mantra 3

आ याहीम इन्दवोऽश्वपते गोपत उर्वरापते । सोमं सोमपते पिब ॥

Come here—these pressed Soma streams call thee: O lord of the horse-force, lord of the radiant herds, lord of the wide fields of growth; O Soma-lord, drink the Soma—take into thee the delight that strengthens the inner mastery.

Mantra 4

वयं हि त्वा बन्धुमन्तमबन्धवो विप्रास इन्द्र येमिम । या ते धामानि वृषभ तेभिरा गहि विश्वेभिः सोमपीतये ॥

For we, though without other supports, hold to thee as the one full of true bonds; O Indra, we seers cleave to thee. O Bull of force, come with all thy stations and powers, to the drinking of Soma—enter with thy whole being into our offering and our ascent.

Mantra 5

सीदन्तस्ते वयो यथा गोश्रीते मधौ मदिरे विवक्षणे । अभि त्वामिन्द्र नोनुमः ॥

As thy powers settle within us—like the rays that come to rest in the cow-rich sweetness, in the intoxicating honey of discernment—so we press and urge ourselves toward thee, O Indra, for the awakening of the inner voice.

Mantra 6

अच्छा च त्वैना नमसा वदामसि किं मुहुश्चिद्वि दीधयः । सन्ति कामासो हरिवो ददिष्ट्वं स्मो वयं सन्ति नो धियः ॥

Toward thee we speak with this reverence: why should we again and again be scattered in our thoughts? For desires are here, O lord of the tawny steeds; thou art the giver—and in us too there are thoughts that can become luminous.

Mantra 7

नूत्ना इदिन्द्र ते वयमूती अभूम नहि नू ते अद्रिवः । विद्मा पुरा परीणसः ॥

New indeed are we become in thy protection, O Indra; for truly, O wielder of the stone, we know thy former widenesses—thy powers that encompassed us before.

Mantra 8

विद्मा सखित्वमुत शूर भोज्यमा ते ता वज्रिन्नीमहे । उतो समस्मिन्ना शिशीहि नो वसो वाजे सुशिप्र गोमति ॥

We know thy friendship and thy heroic bounty; therefore, O wielder of the thunderbolt, we draw near to claim them. And in this very togetherness, O Vasu, sharpen us—O fair-lipped one—in the plenitude of force that is rich in rays of knowledge.

Mantra 9

यो न इदमिदं पुरा प्र वस्य आनिनाय तमु वः स्तुषे । सखाय इन्द्रमूतये ॥

He who long ago brought to us, again and again, the more excellent wideness and well-being—him I praise for you, O comrades: Indra for the help that saves and uplifts.

Mantra 10

हर्यश्वं सत्पतिं चर्षणीसहं स हि ष्मा यो अमन्दत । आ तु नः स वयति गव्यमश्व्यं स्तोतृभ्यो मघवा शतम् ॥

The tawny-steeded, the true lord, the upholder of the peoples—he indeed is the one who takes delight. May he come to us and weave for us the luminous wealth and the swift powers; may Maghavan grant a hundredfold fullness to the singers.

Mantra 11

त्वया ह स्विद्युजा वयं प्रति श्वसन्तं वृषभ ब्रुवीमहि । संस्थे जनस्य गोमतः ॥

With thee as yoked companion, we answer the panting resistance, O Bull of strength; we speak back to it. In the firm station of the people’s luminous abundance, establish us.

Mantra 12

जयेम कारे पुरुहूत कारिणोऽभि तिष्ठेम दूढ्यः । नृभिर्वृत्रं हन्याम शूशुयाम चावेरिन्द्र प्र णो धियः ॥

May we conquer in the making, O much-invoked, those who would make against us; may we stand over the hard-pressed difficulties. With the man-powers may we slay the Vṛtra within; may we burn with the will to do it. O Indra, bring forward our inspired thoughts.

Mantra 13

अभ्रातृव्यो अना त्वमनापिरिन्द्र जनुषा सनादसि । युधेदापित्वमिच्छसे ॥

Without rival-brother, without defect, O Indra, by birth thou art from of old; yet it is through battle that thou seekest closeness and belonging with us.

Mantra 14

नकी रेवन्तं सख्याय विन्दसे पीयन्ति ते सुराश्वः । यदा कृणोषि नदनुं समूहस्यादित्पितेव हूयसे ॥

None finds a more splendid friend than thee; thy bright-steeded powers drink of thee. When thou makest the roaring surge and gatherest it into one, then indeed thou art called like a father—because thou buildest the oneness that shelters.

Mantra 15

मा ते अमाजुरो यथा मूरास इन्द्र सख्ये त्वावतः । नि षदाम सचा सुते ॥

O Indra, let not the unripe and bewildered (impulses) come upon you as dull forces in the comradeship of one who is upheld by you. With you beside us, may we sit down in the pressed Soma—steadied in the right companionship.

Mantra 16

मा ते गोदत्र निरराम राधस इन्द्र मा ते गृहामहि । दृळ्हा चिदर्यः प्र मृशाभ्या भर न ते दामान आदभे ॥

O Indra, giver of the Light-Cows, let us not be driven out from your riches; let us not be cut off from you. Even if the hostile power is hard-set, bring (us) through by your forward-reaching protections; let none lay hands upon your ordinances that bind and uphold.

Mantra 17

इन्द्रो वा घेदियन्मघं सरस्वती वा सुभगा ददिर्वसु । त्वं वा चित्र दाशुषे ॥

It is Indra indeed who comes with the mighty gift—or Sarasvatī, the fortunate, who gives the good treasure. Or you, O Wonder-Worker, (give) to the one who offers: the shining wealth of being.

Mantra 18

चित्र इद्राजा राजका इदन्यके यके सरस्वतीमनु । पर्जन्य इव ततनद्धि वृष्ट्या सहस्रमयुता ददत् ॥

Wondrous indeed is the king, and wondrous the lesser kings—those others who follow after Sarasvatī. For like Parjanya he has stretched forth with the rain; he gives the thousand, the ten-thousand: the overflowing plenitudes.