Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 14 May 2011 05:01 and updated at 14 May 2011 05:01
RIG VEDA
MANDALA 6
HYMN XX. Indra. 20
1. GIVE us wealth, Indra, that with might, as heaven overtops the earth, overcomes our foes in
battle
Wealth that brings thousands and that wins the cornlands-, wealth, Son of Strength! that
vanquishes the foeman.
2 Even as the power of Dyaus, to thee, O Indra, all Asura sway was by the Gods entrusted,
When thou, Impetuous! leagued with Visnu, slewest Vrtra the Dragon who enclosed the waters.
3 Indra, Strong, Victor, Mightier than the mighty, addressed with prayer and perfect in his
splendour,
Lord of the bolt that breaketh forts in pieces, became the King of the sweet juice of Soma..
4 There, Indra, while the light was won, the Panis f1ed, neath' a hundred blows, for wise Dasoni,
And greedy Susnas' magical devices nor left he any of their food remaining.
5 What time the thunder fell and Susna perished, all lifes' support from the great Druh was taken.
Indra made room for his cardrivcr- Kutsa who sate beside him, when he gained the sunlight.
6 As the Hawk rent for him the stalk that gladdens, he wrenched the head from Namuci the Dasa.
He guarded Nam, Sayyas' son, in slumber, and sated him with food, success, and riches.
7 Thou, thunderarmed-, with thy great might hast shattered Piprus' strong forts who knew the wiles
of serpents.
Thou gavest to thy worshipper Rjisvan imperishable Wealth, O Bounteous Giver.
8 The crafty Vetasu, the swift Dasni, and Tugra speedily with all his servants,
Hath Indra, gladdening with strong assistance, forced near as it were to glorify the Mother.
9 Resistless, with the hosts he battles, bearing in both his arms the Vrtraslaying- thunder.
He mounts his Bays, as the carseat- an archer: yoked at a word they bear the lofty Indra.
10 May we, O Indra, gain by thy new favour: so Parus laud thee, with their sacrifices,
That thou hast wrecked seven autumn forts, their shelter, slain Dasa tribes and aided Purukutsa.
11 Favouring Usana the son of Kavi, thou wast his ancient strengthener, O Indra.
Thou gavest Navavastva. as a present, to the great father gavest back his grandson.
12 Thou, roaring Indra, drovest on the waters that made a roaring sound like rushing rivers,
What time, O Hero, over the sea thou broughtest, in safety broughtest Turvasa and Yadu.
13 This Indra, was thy work in war: thou sentest Dhuni and Cumuri to sleep and slumber.
Dabhiti lit the flame for thee, and worshipped with fuel, hymns, poured Soma, dressed oblations.
HYMN XXI. Indra. Visvedevas. 21
1. THESE the most constant singers' invocations call thee who art to be invoked, O Hero;
Hymns call anew the chariotborne-, Eternal: by eloquence men gain abundant riches.
2 I praise that Indra, known to all men, honoured with songs, extolled with hymns at sacrifices,
Whose majesty, rich in wondrous arts, surpasseth the magnitude of earth, and heaven in greatness.
3 He hath made pathways, with the Sun to aid him, throughout the darkness that extended pathless.
Mortals who yearn to worship Never dishonour, O Mighty God, thy Law who art Immortal.
4 And he who did these things, where is that Indra? among what tribes? what people doth he visit?
What sacrifice contents thy mind , and wishes? What priest among them all? what hymn, O Indra?
5 Yea, here were they who, born of old, have served thee, thy friends of ancient time, thou active
Worker.
Bethink thee now of these, Invoked of many! the midmost and the recent, and the youngest.
6 Inquiring after him, thy later servants, Indra, have gained thy former old traditions.
Hero, to whom the prayer is brought, we praise thee as great for that wherein we know thee mighty.
7 The demons' strength is gathered fast against thee: great as that strength hath grown, go forth
to meet it.
With thine own ancient friend and companion, the thunderbolt, brave Champion! drive it backward.
8 Hear, too, the prayer of this thy present beadsman, O Indra, Hero, cherishing the singer.
For thou wast aye our fathers' Friend aforetime, still swift to listen to their supplication.
9 Bring to our help this day, for our protection, Varuna, Mitra , Indra, and the Maruts,
Pusan and Visnu, Agni and Purandhi, Savitar also, and the Plants and Mountains.
10 The singers here exalt with hymns and praises thee who art very Mighty and Most Holy.
Hear, when invoked, the invokers' invocation. Beside thee there is nonelike thee, Immortal!
11 Now to my words come quickly thou who knowest, O Son of Strength, with all who claim our
worship,
Who visit sacred rites, whose tongue is Agni, Gods who made Manu stronger than the Dasyu.
12 On good and evil ways be thou our Leader, thou who art known to all as Pathpreparer-.
Bring power to us, O Indra, with thy Horses, Steeds that are best to draw, broadbacked-, unwearied.
HYMN XXII. Indra. 22
1. WITH these my hymns I glorify that Indra who is alone to be invoked by mortals,
The Lord, the Mighty One, of manly vigour, victorious, Hero, true, and full of wisdom.
2 Our sires of old,. Navagvas, sages seven, while urging him to show his might, extolled him,
Dwelling on heights, swift, smiting down opponents, guileless in word, and in his thoughts most
mighty.
3 We seek that Indra to obtain his riches that bring much food, and men, and store of heroes.
Bring us, Lord of Bay Steeds, to make us joyful, celestial wealth, abundant, undecaying.
4 Tell thou us this, if at thy hand aforetime the earlier singers have obtained good fortune,
What is thy share and portion, Strong Subduer, Asuraslayer-, rich, invoked of many?
5 He who for carborne- Indra, armed with thunder, hath a hymn, craving, deeplypiercing-, fluent,
Who sends a song effectual, firmlygrasping-, and strengthbestowing-, he comes near the mighty.
6 Strong of thyself, thou by this art hast shattered, with thoughtswift- Parvata, him who waxed
against thee,
And, Mightiest! roaring! boldly rent in pieces things that were firmly fixed and never shaken.
7 Him will we fit for you with new devotion, the strongest Ancient One, in ancient manner.
So may that Indra, boundless, faithful Leader, conduct us over all places hard to traverse.
8 Thou for the people who oppress hast kindled the earthly firmament and that of heaven.
With heat, O Bull, on every side consume them: heat earth and flood for him who hates devotion.
9 Of all the Heavenly Folk, of earthly creatures thou art the King, O God of splendid aspect.
In thy right hand, O Indra, grasp die thunder: Eternal! thou destroyest all enchantments.
10 Give us confirmed prosperity, O Indra, vast and exhaustless for the foes' subduing.
Strengthen therewith the Aryas' hate and Dasas', and let the arms of Nahusas be mighty.
11 Come with thy team which brings all blessings hither, Disposer, muchinvoked-, exceeding holy.
Thou whom no fiend, no God can stay or hinder, come swittly with these Steeds in my direction.
HYMN XXIII. Indra. 23
1. THOU art attached to pressedout- Soma, Indra, at laud, at prayer, and when the hymn is chanted;
Or when with yoked Bays, Maghavan, thou comest, O Indra, bearing in thine arms the thunder.
2 Or when on that decisive day thou holpest the presser of the juice at Vrtras' slaughter;
Or when thou, while the strong one feared, undaunted, gavest to death, Indra, the daring Dasyus.
3 Let Indra drink the pressedout- Soma, Helper and mighty Guide of him who sings his praises.
He gives the hero room who pours oblations, and treasure even to the lowly singer.
4 even humble rites with his Bay steeds he visits: he wields the bolt, drinks Soma, gives us
cattle.
He makes the valiant rich in store of heroes, accepts our praise and hears the singers' calling.
5 What he hath longed for we have brought to Indra, who from the days of old hath done us service.
While Soma flows we will sing hymn, and laud him, so that our prayer may streng. then Indras'
vigour.
6 Thou hast made prayer the means of thine exalting, therefore we wait on thee with hymns, O Indra.
May we, by the pressed Soma, Somadrinker! bring thee, with sacrifice, blissful sweet refreshment.
7 Mark well our sacrificial cake, delighted Indra, drink Soma and the milk commingled.
Here on the sacrificers' grass be seated: give ample room to thy devoted servant.
8 O Mighty One, be joyful as thou willest. Let these our sacrifices reach and find thee;
And may this hymn and these our invocations turn thee, whom many men invoke, to help us.
9 Friends, when thejuices flow, replenish duly your own, your bounteous Indra with the Soma.
Will it not aid him to support us? Indra. spares him who sheds the juice to win his favour.
10 While Soma flowed, thus Indra hath been lauded, Ruler of nobles, mid the Bharadvajas,
That Indra may become the singers' patron and give him wealth in every kind of treasure.
HYMN XXIV. Indra. 24
1. STRONG rapturous joy, praise, glory are with Indra: impetuous God, he quaffs the juice of Soma:
That Maghavan whom men must laud with singing, Heavendweller-, King of songs, whose help is
lasting.
2 He, Friend of man, most wise, victorious Hero, hears, with farreaching- aid, the singer call him.
Excellent, Praise of Men, the bards' Supporter, Strong, he gives strength, extolled in holy synod.
3 The lofty axle of thy wheels, O Hero, is not surpassed by heaven and earth in greatness.
Like branches of a tree, Invoked of many manifold aids spring forth from thee, O Indra.
4 Strong Lord, thine energies, endowed with vigour, are like the paths of kine converging homeward.
Like bonds of cord, Indra, that bind the younglings, no bonds are they, O thou of boundless bounty.
5 One act today-, another act tomorrow oft Indra makes what is not yet existeni.
Here have we Mitra, Varuna, and Pusan to overcome the foemans' domination.
6 By song and sacrifice men brought the waters from thee, as from a mountains' ridge, O Indra.
Urging thy might, with these fair lauds they seek thee, O theme of song, as horses rush tobattle.
7 That Indra whom nor months nor autumn seasons wither with age, nor fleeting days enfeeble,
Still may his body Wax, even now so mighty, glorified by the lauds and hymns that praise him.
8 Extolled, he bends not to the strong, the steadfast, nor to the bold incited by the Dasyu.
High mountains are as level plains to Indra: even in the deep he finds firm ground to rest on.
9 Impetuous Speeder through all depth and distance, give strengthening food, thou drinker of the
juices.
Stand up erect to help us, unreluctant, what time the gloom of night brightens to morning.
10 Hasting to help, come hither and protect him, keep him from harm when he is here, O Indra.
At home, abroad, from injury preserve him. May brave sons gladden us through a hundred winters.
HYMN XXV. Indra. 25
1. WITH thine assistance, O thou Mighty Indra, be it the least, the midmost, or the highest,
Great with those aids and by these powers support us, Strong God! in battle that subdues our
foemen.
2 With these discomfit hosts that fight against us, and check the opponents' wrath, thyself
uninjured.
With these chase all our foes to every quarter: subdue the tribes of Dasas to the Arya.
3 Those who array themselves as foes to smite us, O Indra, be they kin or be they strangers,
Strike thou their manly strength that it be feeble, and drive in headlong flight our foemen
backward.
4 With strength of limb the hero slays the hero, when bright in arms they range them for the
combat.
When two opposing hosts contend in battle for seed and offspring, waters, kine, or cornlands-.
5 Yet no strong man hath conquered thee, no hero, no brave, no warrior trusting in his valour.
Not one of these is match for thee, O Indra. Thou far surpassest all these living creatures.
6 He is the Lord of both these armies' valour when the commanders call them to the conflict:
When with their ranks expanded they are fighting with a great foe or for a home with heroes.
7 And when the people stir themselves for battle, be thou their saviour, Indra, and protector,
And theirs, thy manliest of our friends, the pious, the chiefs who have installed us priests, O
Indra.
8 To thee for high dominion hath been for evermore, for slaughtering the Vrtras,
All lordly power and might, O Holy Indra, given by Gods for victory in battle.
9 So urge our hosts together in the combats: yield up the godless bands that fight against us.
Singing, at morn may we find thee with favour, yea, Indra, and even now, we Bharadvajas.
HYMN XXVI. Indra. 26
1. O INDRA, hear us. Raining down the Soma, we call on thee to win us mighty valour.
Give us strong succour on the day of trial, when the tribes gather on the field of battle.
2 The warrior, son of warrior sire, invokes thee, to gain great strength that may be won as booty:
To thee, the brave mans' Lord, the fiends' subduer, he looks when fighting hand to hand for cattle.
3 Thou didst impel the sage to win the daylight, didst ruin Susna for the pious Kutsa.
The invulnerable demons' head thou clavest when thou wouldst win the praise of Atithigva.
4 The lofty battlecar- thou broughtest forward; thou holpest Dasadyu the strong when fighting.
Along with Vetasu thou slewest Tugra, and madest Tuji strong, who praised thee, Indra.
5 Thou madest good the laud, what time thou rentest a hundred thousand fighting foes, O Hero,
Slewest the Dasa Sambara of the mountain, and with strange aids didst succour Divodasa.
6 Made glad with Somadraughts- and faith, thou sentest Cumuri to his sleep, to please Dabhiti.
Thou, kindly giving Raji to Pithinas, slewest with might, at once, the sixty thousand.
7 May I too, with the liberal chiefs, O Indra, acquire thy blin supreme and domination,
When, Mightiest! Herogirt-! Nahusa heroes boast them in thee, the triplystrong- Defender.
8 So may we he thy friends, thy best beloved, O Indra, at this holy invocation.
Best be Pratardani, illustrious ruler, in slaying foemen and in gaining riches.
HYMN XXVII. Indra. 27
1 WHAT deed hath Indra done in the wild transport, in quaffing or in friendship with, the Soma?
What joys have men of ancient times or recent obtained within the chamber of libation?
2 In its wild joy Indra hath proved him faithful, faithful in quaffing, faithful in its friendship.
His truth is the delight that in this chamber the men of old and recent times have tasted.
3 All thy vast power, O Maghavan, we know not, know not the riches of thy full abundance.
No one hath seen that might of thine, productive of bounty every day renewed, O Indra.
4 This one great power of thine our eyes have witnessed, wherewith thou slewest Varasikhas'
children,
When by the force of thy descending thunder, at the mere solund, their boldest was demolished.
5 In aid of Abhyavartin Cayamana, Indra destroyed the seed of Varasikha.
At Hariyupiya he smote the vanguard of the Vrcivans, and the rear fled frighted.
6 Three thousand, mailed, in quest of fame, together, on the Yavyavati, O muchsought- Indra,
Vrcivans' sons, falling before the arrow, like bursting vessels went to their destruction.
7 He, whose two red Steers, seeking goodly pasture, plying their tongues move on twixt' earth and
heaven,
Gave Turvasa to SrÑjaya, and, to aid him, gave the Vrcivans up to Daivavata.
8 Two wagonteams-, with damsels, twenty oxen, O Agni, Abhyavartin Cayamdna,
The liberal Sovran, giveth me. This guerdon of Prthus' seed is hard to win from others.
HYMN XXVIII. Cows. 28
1. THE Kine have come and brought good fortune: let them rest in the cowpen- and be happy near us.
Here let them stay prolific, manycoloured-, and yield through many morns their milk for Indra.
2 Indra aids him who offers sacrifice and gifts: he takes not what is his, and gives him more
thereto.
Increasing ever more and ever more his wealth, he makes the pious dwell within unbroken bounds.
3 These are Never lost, no robber ever injures them: no evilminded- foe attempts to harass them.
The master of the Kine lives many a year with these, the Cows whereby he pours his gifts and
serves the Gods.
4 The charger with his dusty brow overtakes them not, and never to the shambles do they take their
way.
These Cows, the cattle of the pious worshipper, roam over widespread pasture where no danger is.
5 To me the Cows seem Bhaga, they seem Indra, they seem a portion of the firstpoured- Soma.
These present Cows, they, O ye Indra. I long for Indra with my heart and spirit.
6 O Cows, ye fatten even the worn and wasted, and make the unlovely beautiful tolook on.
Prosper my house, ye with auspicious voices. Your power is glorified in our assemblies.
7 Crop goodly pasturage and be prolific drink pure sweet water at good drinking places.
Never be thief or sinful man your matter, and may the dart of Rudra still avoid you.
8 Now let this close admixture be close intermigled with these Cows,
Mixt with the Steers' prolific flow, and, Indra, with thy hero might.
HYMN XXIX Indra. 29
1. YOUR men have followed Indra for his friendship, and for his lovingkindness- glorified him.
For he bestows great wealth, the Thunderwielder-: worship him, Great and Kind, to win his favour.
2 Him to whose hand, men closely cling, and drivers stand on his golden chariot firmly stationed.
With his firm arms he holds the reins; his Horses, the Stallions, are yoked ready for the journey.
3 Thy devotees embrace thy feet for glory. Bold, thunderarmed-, rich, through thy strength, in
guerdon,
Robed in a garment fair as heaven to look on, thou hast displayed thee like an active dancer.
4 That Soma when effused hath best consistence, for which the food is dressed and grain is mingled;
By which the men who pray, extolling Indra chief favourites of Gods, recite their praises.
5 No limit of thy might hath been appointed, which by its greatness sundered earth and heaven.
These the Prince filleth full with strong endeavour, driving, as it were, with help his flocks to
waters.
6 So be the lofty Indra prompt to listen, Helper unaided, goldenvisored- Hero.
Yea, so may he, shown forth in might unequalled, smite down the many Vrtras and the Dasyus.
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