Sukta 40

Mantra 1

इन्द्राग्नी युवं सु नः सहन्ता दासथो रयिम् । येन दृळ्हा समत्स्वा वीळु चित्साहिषीमह्यग्निर्वनेव वात इन्नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

O Indra and Agni, you two are the overcomers; grant us a rayi, a plenitude of inner richness, by which in the firm-set battles we may prevail even over what is hard to pierce. May the Fire within, like a wind moving through the forest, drive away the others in the same field of struggle.

Mantra 2

नहि वां वव्रयामहेऽथेन्द्रमिद्यजामहे शविष्ठं नृणां नरम् । स नः कदा चिदर्वता गमदा वाजसातये गमदा मेधसातये नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

We do not seek to bar you out; rather we sacrifice to Indra alone, the most mighty, the hero among men. May he come to us sometime with his steed for the winning of vāja, the plenitude of force, and for the winning of medhā, the luminous intelligence; may the others be driven away in the same arena.

Mantra 3

ता हि मध्यं भराणामिन्द्राग्नी अधिक्षितः । ता उ कवित्वना कवी पृच्छ्यमाना सखीयते सं धीतमश्नुतं नरा नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

For those two, Indra and Agni, are established in the middle of the onrushes and burdens. Those two seer-powers, by their poetry and vision, questioned and befriended, attain the joined thought; O heroes, may the others be scattered in the same field.

Mantra 4

अभ्यर्च नभाकवदिन्द्राग्नी यजसा गिरा । ययोर्विश्वमिदं जगदियं द्यौः पृथिवी मह्युपस्थे बिभृतो वसु नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Sing forth to Indra and Agni in the manner of Nabhāka, with the worshipping word. For in these two is held all this moving world—this heaven and this vast earth—in whose lap they bear the treasure of being; may the others be scattered in the same field.

Mantra 5

प्र ब्रह्माणि नभाकवदिन्द्राग्निभ्यामिरज्यत । या सप्तबुध्नमर्णवं जिह्मबारमपोर्णुत इन्द्र ईशान ओजसा नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Send forth the brahmāṇi, as Nabhāka did, for Indra and Agni. They who opened the seven-founded ocean, the oblique-barred enclosure—Indra, lord by his force—may the others be scattered in the same field.

Mantra 6

अपि वृश्च पुराणवद्व्रततेरिव गुष्पितमोजो दासस्य दम्भय । वयं तदस्य सम्भृतं वस्विन्द्रेण वि भजेमहि नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Cut down even as of old the knotted force, as one cuts the fastening of a vow-breaker; shatter the power of the Dāsa. Then may we, with Indra, distribute the gathered treasure of being; may the others be scattered in the same field.

Mantra 7

यदिन्द्राग्नी जना इमे विह्वयन्ते तना गिरा । अस्माकेभिर्नृभिर्वयं सासह्याम पृतन्यतो वनुयाम वनुष्यतो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

When these peoples call upon Indra and Agni with their own voice, then with our men may we endure and prevail; may we win against those who fight and against those who seek to win; may the others be scattered in the same field.

Mantra 8

या नु श्वेताववो दिव उच्चरात उप द्युभिः । इन्द्राग्न्योरनु व्रतमुहाना यन्ति सिन्धवो यान्त्सीं बन्धादमुञ्चतां नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Those two bright ones who rise out from the heaven and come near with their lights—following the law of Indra and Agni the rivers move, bearing (their waters); may they release them from the bond; may the others be scattered in the same field.

Mantra 9

पूर्वीष्ट इन्द्रोपमातयः पूर्वीरुत प्रशस्तयः सूनो हिन्वस्य हरिवः । वस्वो वीरस्यापृचो या नु साधन्त नो धियो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Many are your ancient helps, O Indra; many too are your praises, O son of strength, O bearer of the tawny steeds. These contacts of the hero’s treasure that now accomplish our inspired thoughts—may the others be scattered in the same field.

Mantra 10

तं शिशीता सुवृक्तिभिस्त्वेषं सत्वानमृग्मियम् । उतो नु चिद्य ओजसा शुष्णस्याण्डानि भेदति जेषत्स्वर्वतीरपो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Sharpen him with well-fashioned words—him, the impetuous, the strong, the one worthy of the hymn. For even now he who by force breaks the eggs of Śuṣṇa will conquer the waters that bear the luminous heaven; may the others be scattered in the same field.

Mantra 11

तं शिशीता स्वध्वरं सत्यं सत्वानमृत्वियम् । उतो नु चिद्य ओहत आण्डा शुष्णस्य भेदत्यजैः स्वर्वतीरपो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Sharpen and make ready that true and well-directed force of the sacrifice, the power that works in the right season; for he indeed, by his strength, breaks open the eggs of Śuṣṇa—then the waters that bear the Sun-light surge forth and shine in another, higher level of the same being.

Mantra 12

एवेन्द्राग्निभ्यां पितृवन्नवीयो मन्धातृवदङ्गिरस्वदवाचि । त्रिधातुना शर्मणा पातमस्मान्वयं स्याम पतयो रयीणाम् ॥

Thus, to Indra-and-Agni a newer word is spoken, as the Fathers spoke, as Mandhātṛ, as the Angiras seers: guard us with the triple-founded peace; may we become masters of the plenitudes (rayi) of being.