Sukta 24

Mantra 1

सखाय आ शिषामहि ब्रह्मेन्द्राय वज्रिणे । स्तुष ऊ षु वो नृतमाय धृष्णवे ॥

O comrades of the inner journey, let us set in motion the inspired Word (brahman) for Indra the wielder of the thunder-force. Yes, indeed, I would affirm and praise him for you—Indra, most perfect in manhood, the daring power that overcomes.

Mantra 2

शवसा ह्यसि श्रुतो वृत्रहत्येन वृत्रहा । मघैर्मघोनो अति शूर दाशसि ॥

For by sheer force you are famed—by the slaying of the Coverer you are the slayer of the Coverer. O Hero, by your bounties you surpass all the bountiful; you apportion the plenitudes beyond measure.

Mantra 3

स नः स्तवान आ भर रयिं चित्रश्रवस्तमम् । निरेके चिद्यो हरिवो वसुर्ददिः ॥

He—praised by us—bring to us the rayi, the rich plenitude most radiant in its fame. Even in scantness, O you of the tawny steeds, you are the giver of the true treasure.

Mantra 4

आ निरेकमुत प्रियमिन्द्र दर्षि जनानाम् । धृषता धृष्णो स्तवमान आ भर ॥

Bring to us, O Indra, both the relief from scantness and what is dear to the peoples. O daring one, with bold force—since we praise—bring it here into our life.

Mantra 5

न ते सव्यं न दक्षिणं हस्तं वरन्त आमुरः । न परिबाधो हरिवो गविष्टिषु ॥

No dull inertia can restrain your left hand or your right, nor can any enclosing pressure hem you in, O lord of the tawny steeds, in the quest for the Rays of Light.

Mantra 6

आ त्वा गोभिरिव व्रजं गीर्भिॠणोम्यद्रिवः । आ स्मा कामं जरितुरा मनः पृण ॥

I enclose you with my hymns as one pens the Rays into their fold, O lord of the stone-press. Now fill the desire of the singer—fill the mind with its sought plenitude.

Mantra 7

विश्वानि विश्वमनसो धिया नो वृत्रहन्तम । उग्र प्रणेतरधि षू वसो गहि ॥

O most Vṛtra-slaying, with our thought that holds the whole, we would grasp all things. O fierce Leader, come here—take your seat upon our riches and make them firm in us.

Mantra 8

वयं ते अस्य वृत्रहन्विद्याम शूर नव्यसः । वसोः स्पार्हस्य पुरुहूत राधसः ॥

We would know and possess, O Vṛtra-slayer, O Hero, these ever-new forms of your desirable riches—O much-invoked, the plenitude of your grace.

Mantra 9

इन्द्र यथा ह्यस्ति तेऽपरीतं नृतो शवः । अमृक्ता रातिः पुरुहूत दाशुषे ॥

Indra, since your manly force is indeed unbounded, so too your gift is unwithheld—O much-invoked—toward the one who offers and gives himself in the sacrifice.

Mantra 10

आ वृषस्व महामह महे नृतम राधसे । दृळ्हश्चिद्दृह्य मघवन्मघत्तये ॥

Pour yourself forth, O great-giver, for the vast and most manful bounty. Even what is hard-set, make it firm and supportive, O Maghavan, for the increase of plenitude.

Mantra 12

नह्यङ्ग नृतो त्वदन्यं विन्दामि राधसे । राये द्युम्नाय शवसे च गिर्वणः ॥

Surely, O Lord of the human march, I find none other than you for the giving of effective plenitude—of inner riches, of luminous victory, and of the soul’s force, O accepter of the chant.

Mantra 13

एन्दुमिन्द्राय सिञ्चत पिबाति सोम्यं मधु । प्र राधसा चोदयाते महित्वना ॥

Pour the Indu for Indra; he drinks the honey of the Soma-nature. By that effective plenitude he is urged forward, by greatness—setting the soul’s powers into victorious motion.

Mantra 14

उपो हरीणां पतिं दक्षं पृञ्चन्तमब्रवम् । नूनं श्रुधि स्तुवतो अश्व्यस्य ॥

Near to the lord of the two powers (the tawny steeds), the capable one being anointed, I spoke: ‘Now indeed hear the praise of him who seeks the swiftness of the inner steed.’

Mantra 15

नह्यङ्ग पुरा चन जज्ञे वीरतरस्त्वत् । नकी राया नैवथा न भन्दना ॥

Surely, even from of old, none has been born more heroic than you; none equals you in plenitude of being—neither in any manner, nor by any breaking-force.

Mantra 16

एदु मध्वो मदिन्तरं सिञ्च वाध्वर्यो अन्धसः । एवा हि वीरः स्तवते सदावृधः ॥

Yes—pour out the more intoxicating sweetness of the pressed essence, O Adhvaryu; for thus the Hero is praised, he who is forever increasing—ever growing in the being of the seeker.

Mantra 17

इन्द्र स्थातर्हरीणां नकिष्टे पूर्व्यस्तुतिम् । उदानंश शवसा न भन्दना ॥

Indra, establisher of the twin powers, none has attained your ancient praise—neither by sheer force nor by violent breaking; your greatness stands beyond all rival claim.

Mantra 18

तं वो वाजानां पतिमहूमहि श्रवस्यवः । अप्रायुभिर्यज्ञेभिर्वावृधेन्यम् ॥

Him, the lord of plenitudes of force, we call—seekers of the soul’s fame; with undiminishing sacrifices we would increase the ever-growing power within.

Mantra 20

अगोरुधाय गविषे द्युक्षाय दस्म्यं वचः । घृतात्स्वादीयो मधुनश्च वोचत ॥

Speak the wonder-working word to him who is unobstructed, who seeks the rays of Light and the luminous increase; speak what is sweeter than clarified ghee and honey—speech that nourishes the inner ascent.

Mantra 21

यस्यामितानि वीर्या न राधः पर्येतवे । ज्योतिर्न विश्वमभ्यस्ति दक्षिणा ॥

Whose heroic powers are immeasurable, and whose effective plenitude none can encompass; like light that pervades all, his Dakṣiṇā stands over and around the whole being—an encompassing right-gift.

Mantra 22

स्तुहीन्द्रं व्यश्ववदनूर्मिं वाजिनं यमम् । अर्यो गयं मंहमानं वि दाशुषे ॥

Praise Indra, rich in steed-force, un-waved by obstruction, the bearer of plenitude and the restrainer of disorder; the noble power who enlarges the life-force and distributes it widely to the giver of offering.

Mantra 23

एवा नूनमुप स्तुहि वैयश्व दशमं नवम् । सुविद्वांसं चर्कृत्यं चरणीनाम् ॥

Even now, draw near and affirm with praise, O Vaiyaśva, the ever-new and yet the tenth completion: the one who knows well, the doer of the work that must be done, the guide of the moving powers within us.

Mantra 24

वेत्था हि निॠतीनां वज्रहस्त परिवृजम् । अहरहः शुन्ध्युः परिपदामिव ॥

For you know, O Thunder-handed, the circling removal of the forces of dissolution; day after day you cleanse the paths, as one who clears the dangerous tracks for the advancing soul.

Mantra 25

तदिन्द्राव आ भर येना दंसिष्ठ कृत्वने । द्विता कुत्साय शिश्नथो नि चोदय ॥

Bring to us, O Indra, that aid by which you are most potent for the work of accomplishment; with it you once again strengthen Kutsa and drive downward the opposing pressure.

Mantra 26

तमु त्वा नूनमीमहे नव्यं दंसिष्ठ सन्यसे । स त्वं नो विश्वा अभिमातीः सक्षणिः ॥

That you, even now, we seek—ever new, O most capable, for our winning; and you, for us, are the one who can endure and overcome all assailing hostilities.

Mantra 27

य ऋक्षादंहसो मुचद्यो वार्यात्सप्त सिन्धुषु । वधर्दासस्य तुविनृम्ण नीनमः ॥

You who release from the clutch of anguish, who guard the Arya-force in the seven rivers of the being; you who are the slayer of the Dāsa—O vast in manhood-power, we bow and submit our striving to you.

Mantra 28

यथा वरो सुषाम्णे सनिभ्य आवहो रयिम् । व्यश्वेभ्यः सुभगे वाजिनीवति ॥

As one who chooses rightly, bring the plenitude of being to the gainers of victory; for the wide-horsed powers, O fortunate one, O bearer of the energizing force.

Mantra 29

आ नार्यस्य दक्षिणा व्यश्वाँ एतु सोमिनः । स्थूरं च राधः शतवत्सहस्रवत् ॥

Let the offering-gift of the noble one come to the Soma-pressers, rich in wide-ranging energies; and let the firm abundance arrive—hundredfold, thousandfold—in fullness of being.

Mantra 30

यत्त्वा पृच्छादीजानः कुहया कुहयाकृते । एषो अपश्रितो वलो गोमतीमव तिष्ठति ॥

When the sacrificer asks you, O master of hidden workings, by a secret way of secret formation—then this Vala, withdrawn and sheltered, stands below, holding back the luminous herds of knowledge.