Sukta 8

Mantra 1

शत्रुपराजयः। इन्द्रो मन्थतु मन्थिता शक्रः शूरः पुरंदरः । यथा हनाम सेना अमित्राणां सहस्रशः

For the defeat of enemies. Let Indra, the churner, stir them up—he, the Mighty, the Hero, the Fort-destroyer—so that we may smite the armies of our foemen by thousands.

Mantra 2

पूतिरज्जुरुपध्मानी पूतिं सेनां कृणोत्वमूम्। धूममग्निं परादृश्यामित्रा हृत्स्वा दधतां भयम्

Let the stinking cord, the blowing-bellows, make yonder host a stench; having made smoke and fire to vanish them from sight, let the foes set fear within their hearts.

Mantra 3

अमूनश्वत्थ निः शृणीहि खादामून् खदिराजिरम्। ताजद्भङ्ग इव भजन्तां हन्त्वेनान् वधको वधैः

O Aśvattha, rend forth yonder men; devour yonder men, O swift Khādira. Like the snapping of a lash let them be shattered: let the slayer smite them with his smitings.

Mantra 4

परुषानमून् परुषाह्वः कृणोतु हन्त्वेनान् वधको वधैः । क्षिप्रं शर इव भजन्तां बृहज्जालेन संदिताः

Let the Harsh-named Power make yonder men harsh; let the slayer smite them with his smitings. Swift as an arrow let them be cloven, fast-bound within the mighty net.

Mantra 5

अन्तरिक्षं जालमासीज्जालदण्डा दिशो महीः । तेनाभिधाय दस्यूनां शक्रः सेनामपावपत्

The mid-air was a net; the vast quarters were its net-staves. Therewith, having cast it over the Dasyus, Śakra smote their host away.

Mantra 6

बृहद्धि जालं बृहतः शक्रस्य वाजिनीवतः । तेन शत्रूनभि सर्वान् न्युऽब्ज यथा न मुच्यातै कतमश्चनैषाम्

For mighty is the net of great Śakra, the strong, the steed-possessing. Therewith press down all enemies against thee, so that not one of them, no single one, may be loosed.

Mantra 7

बृहत् ते जालं बृहत इन्द्र शूर सहस्रार्घस्य शतवीर्यस्य । तेन शतं सहस्रमयुतं न्यऽर्बुदं जघान शक्रो दस्यूनामभिधाय सेनया

Vast is thy net, O Indra, valiant hero—vast, of thousandfold value, of hundredfold might. With that he smote, the Mighty One, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, yea a myriad upon myriad of Dasyus, having assailed them with his host.

Mantra 8

अयं लोको जालमासीच्छक्रस्य महतो महान्। तेनाहमिन्द्रजालेनामूंस्तमसाभि दधामि सर्वान्

This world was a net of Śakra, the Great—mighty indeed. With that Indra-net I set those yonder all about in darkness.

Mantra 9

सेदिरुग्रा व्यृऽद्धिरार्तिश्चानपवाचना। श्रमस्तन्द्रीश्च मोहश्च तैरमूनभि दधामि सर्वान्

Fierce torpor, perverse increase, distress that is not to be averted—weariness, and drowsiness, and delusion: with these I set those yonder all about.

Mantra 10

मृत्यवेऽमून् प्र यच्छामि मृत्युपाशैरमी सिताः । मृत्योर्ये अघला दूतास्तेभ्य एनान् प्रति नयामि बद्ध्वा

Unto Death I deliver those yonder: with Death’s nooses are they bound. Death’s evil messengers—unto them I lead these, having bound them fast.

Mantra 11

नयतामून् मृत्युदूता यमदूता अपोम्भत । परःसहस्रा हन्यन्तां तृणेढ्वेनान् मत्यं भवस्य

Lead ye those yonder, O messengers of Death, messengers of Yama; sweep them away. Let them be smitten beyond a thousand; trample ye these to grass—into the mortal lot, by Bhava’s power.

Mantra 12

साध्या एकं जालदण्डमुद्यत्य यन्त्योजसा । रुद्रा एकं वसव एकमादित्यैरेक उद्यतः

The Sādhyas, lifting on high the single netted staff, advance with might. The Rudras are one, the Vasus are one; with the Ādityas there is One uplifted.

Mantra 13

विश्वे देवाः उपरिष्टादुब्जन्तो यन्त्वोजसा । मध्येन घ्नन्तो यन्तु सेनामङ्गिरसो महीम्

Let all the Gods, crushing from above, advance with might; smiting through the midst let the Aṅgirases go against the mighty host.

Mantra 14

वनस्पतीन् वानस्पत्यानोषधीरुत वीरुधः । द्विपाच्चतुष्पादिष्णामि यथा सेनाममूं हनन्

The forest-lords, the forest-born, the herbs and the creeping plants—bipeds and quadrupeds I set in motion, that they may smite that yonder host.

Mantra 15

गन्धर्वाप्सरसः सर्पान् देवान् पुण्यजनान् पितॄन्। दृष्टानदृष्टानिष्णामि यथा सेनाममूं हनन्

Gandharvas and Apsarases, serpents, Gods, the holy folk, the Fathers—seen and unseen I send forth, that they may smite that yonder host.

Mantra 16

इम उप्ता मृत्युपाशा यानाक्रम्य न मुच्यसे । अमुष्या हन्तु सेनाया इदं कूटं सहस्रशः

These are sown, the death-nooses: stepping upon which thou art not loosed. Let this snare, a thousandfold, smite the army of that yonder foe.

Mantra 17

घर्मः समिद्धो अग्निनायं होमः सहस्रहः । भवश्च पृश्निबाहुश्च शर्व सेनाममूं हतम्

This fervid offering, kindled by Agni, this oblation, thousand-smiting,—Bhava and Pṛśnibāhu, and Śarva: smite down that yonder host.

Mantra 18

मृत्योराषमा पद्यन्तां क्षुधं सेदिं वधं भयम्। इन्द्रश्चाक्षुजालाभ्यां शर्व सेनाममूं हतम्

Let Death’s hurt fall upon them—hunger, wasting, slaughter, terror. Indra too, with the eye-nets, and Śarva: smite down that yonder host.

Mantra 19

पराजिताः प्र त्रसतामित्रा नुत्ता धावत ब्रह्मणा । बृहस्पतिप्रनुत्तानां मामीषां मोचि कश्चन

Defeated, let the allies tremble; thrust forth, run ye, by the spell. Of those whom Bṛhaspati hath driven onward, let not one of these escape at all.

Mantra 20

अव पद्यन्तामेषामायुधानि मा शकन् प्रतिधामिषुम्। अथैषां बहु बिभ्यतामिषवः घ्नन्तु मर्मणि

Let their weapons drop away; let them not have power to set the arrow in opposition. Then let them greatly fear; let the missiles smite them in the vital spot.

Mantra 21

सं क्रोशतामेनान् द्यावापृथिवी समन्तरिक्षं सह देवताभिः । मा ज्ञातारं मा प्रतिष्ठां विदन्त मिथो विघ्नाना उप यन्तु मृत्युम्

Let Heaven and Earth, let mid-air, with the Gods, make these cry aloud together. Let them find no guide, no firm foothold; thwarting one another, let them go on toward Death.

Mantra 22

दिशश्चतस्रोऽश्वतर्यो देवरथस्य पुरोडाशाः शफा अन्तरिक्षमुद्धिः । द्यावापृथिवी पक्षसी ऋतवोऽभीशवोऽन्तर्देशाः किंकरा वाक् परिरथ्यम्

The four Quarters are the mule-mares; of the God’s chariot the sacrificial cakes are its provender; its hoofs are the Mid-air’s up-heaving. Heaven and Earth are its two wings; the Seasons are its reins; the intermediate regions its attendants; Speech is its circling-course about the car.

Mantra 23

संवत्सरो रथः परिवत्सरो रथोपस्थो विराडीषाग्नी रथमुखम्। इन्द्रः सव्यष्ठाश्चन्द्रमाः सारथिः

The Year is the chariot; the Circling-Year is the chariot-seat. Virāj is the pole; Agni is the chariot’s mouth. Indra stands upon the right; the Moon is the charioteer.

Mantra 24

इतो जयेतो वि जय सं जय जय स्वाहा । इमे जयन्तु परामी जयन्तां स्वाहैभ्यो दुराहामीभ्यः । नीललोहितेनामूनभ्यवतनोमि

From hence win thou; from hence win forth; win wholly; win—svāhā! Let these here conquer; let the yonder ones be conquered—svāhā! From these ill-speaking foes, with blue-and-red I spread a covering over those yonder.