Sukta 66

Mantra 1

तरोभिर्वो विदद्वसुमिन्द्रं सबाध ऊतये । बृहद्गायन्तः सुतसोमे अध्वरे हुवे भरं न कारिणम् ॥

With conquering impulses may you discover the wealth-giver Indra for our help; singing the Vast, in the Soma-pressed sacrifice I call him—like one who brings the offering—so that the Force may arrive and act.

Mantra 2

न यं दुध्रा वरन्ते न स्थिरा मुरो मदे सुशिप्रमन्धसः । य आदृत्या शशमानाय सुन्वते दाता जरित्र उक्थ्यम् ॥

Whom no resisting powers can hold back, nor the fixed obstructions, when he is in the ecstasy of the pressed delight—he who, taking heed, becomes the giver of the word’s might to the persevering presser and the praising soul.

Mantra 3

यः शक्रो मृक्षो अश्व्यो यो वा कीजो हिरण्ययः । स ऊर्वस्य रेजयत्यपावृतिमिन्द्रो गव्यस्य वृत्रहा ॥

He who is the strong one, the impetuous, the horse-born force, or the golden-shining energy—Indra the slayer of the Coverer makes tremble the enclosure’s opening; he turns the obstruction away so the rays (cows) may be won.

Mantra 4

निखातं चिद्यः पुरुसम्भृतं वसूदिद्वपति दाशुषे । वज्री सुशिप्रो हर्यश्व इत्करदिन्द्रः क्रत्वा यथा वशत् ॥

Even what is buried and heaped up in many layers of substance, he brings out and bestows on the giver; Indra, thunder-armed, strong in utterance, with tawny steeds, accomplishes it by will and insight as he chooses.

Mantra 5

यद्वावन्थ पुरुष्टुत पुरा चिच्छूर नृणाम् । वयं तत्त इन्द्र सं भरामसि यज्ञमुक्थं तुरं वचः ॥

Whatever you have won before, O much-praised Hero among men—this we now assemble for you, O Indra: the sacrifice, the hymn, the swift and driving word that carries the force forward.

Mantra 6

सचा सोमेषु पुरुहूत वज्रिवो मदाय द्युक्ष सोमपाः । त्वमिद्धि ब्रह्मकृते काम्यं वसु देष्ठः सुन्वते भुवः ॥

Move with us in the Soma-pressings, O much-invoked wielder of the thunderbolt, shining Soma-drinker, for the ecstasy; for you indeed become the bestower of the desired wealth to the maker of the sacred word, to the presser.

Mantra 7

वयमेनमिदा ह्योऽपीपेमेह वज्रिणम् । तस्मा उ अद्य समना सुतं भरा नूनं भूषत श्रुते ॥

We have strengthened him indeed, yesterday and today, here—the thunder-armed; therefore now, in the common gathering, bring the pressed Soma to him: let the hearing, the inspired reception, be adorned and fulfilled.

Mantra 8

वृकश्चिदस्य वारण उरामथिरा वयुनेषु भूषति । सेमं नः स्तोमं जुजुषाण आ गहीन्द्र प्र चित्रया धिया ॥

Even the wolf-like guardian-force of his, the wide-shaking energy, takes pleasure in the workings; accept then our hymn and come, O Indra, forward with a many-colored light of thought—an illumined intelligence that arranges the ways.

Mantra 9

कदू न्वस्याकृतमिन्द्रस्यास्ति पौंस्यम् । केनो नु कं श्रोमतेन न शुश्रुवे जनुषः परि वृत्रहा ॥

What deed of Indra is not a manly power? By what hearing of it has anyone not heard, from birth onward, of the Slayer of the Coverer?—for his acts are the very tradition of awakening strength.

Mantra 10

कदू महीरधृष्टा अस्य तविषीः कदु वृत्रघ्नो अस्तृतम् । इन्द्रो विश्वान्बेकनाटाँ अहर्दृश उत क्रत्वा पणीँरभि ॥

When indeed did his vast, irresistible powers become fully stretched out? When did the slayer of Vṛtra extend himself into the plenitude of action? Indra, seeing with the vision of the Day, by the force of conscious will confronts and presses upon all the Paṇis (the hoarders), to recover the hidden riches of Light.

Mantra 11

वयं घा ते अपूर्व्येन्द्र ब्रह्माणि वृत्रहन् । पुरूतमासः पुरुहूत वज्रिवो भृतिं न प्र भरामसि ॥

We bring forth to you, O Indra, words of power that are ever-new, O slayer of the Obstructor. Most abundant, much-invoked, wielder of the thunderbolt, we offer them as a sustaining bearing—like a support—so that your force may uphold and increase within us.

Mantra 12

पूर्वीश्चिद्धि त्वे तुविकूर्मिन्नाशसो हवन्त इन्द्रोतयः । तिरश्चिदर्यः सवना वसो गहि शविष्ठ श्रुधि मे हवम् ॥

For many are the ancient aspirations that call to you, O wide-moving Indra, for your help. Even from afar the noble striver seeks the pressings; come, O most puissant, and hear my call—enter the offering where the delight is prepared.

Mantra 13

वयं घा ते त्वे इद्विन्द्र विप्रा अपि ष्मसि । नहि त्वदन्यः पुरुहूत कश्चन मघवन्नस्ति मर्डिता ॥

We, the illumined seekers, are indeed with you—resting in you, O Indra. For none other than you, O much-invoked, O Lord of plenitude, exists as the true rescuer and healer of our distress.

Mantra 14

त्वं नो अस्या अमतेरुत क्षुधोऽभिशस्तेरव स्पृधि । त्वं न ऊती तव चित्रया धिया शिक्षा शचिष्ठ गातुवित् ॥

You must deliver us from this helplessness and from hunger and from the assault of hostile accusation. You are our help: with your many-colored, luminous intelligence teach us, O most skilful in power, O finder of the path—train our being into the right passage of the Truth.

Mantra 15

सोम इद्वः सुतो अस्तु कलयो मा बिभीतन । अपेदेष ध्वस्मायति स्वयं घैषो अपायति ॥

Let Soma indeed be pressed for you, O little ones—do not fear. This wasting darkness departs; of itself it moves away, of itself it falls back: when the delight is expressed, the powers of dissolution cannot hold their ground.