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1
EVEN to him, swift, strong and high. exalted, I bring my song of praise as
dainty viands,
My thought
to him resistless, praise-deserving, prayers offered most especially to Indra.
2
Praise, like oblation, I present, and utter aloud my song, my fair hymn to the
Victor.
For Indra,
who is Lord of old, the singers have decked their lauds with heart and mind and
spirit.
3
To him then with my lips mine adoration, winning heaven's light, most
excellent, I offer,
To magnify
with songs of invocation and with fair hymns the Lord, most bounteous Giver.
4
Even for him I frame a laud, as fashions the wright a chariot for the man who
needs it, -
Praises to
him who gladly hears our praises, a hymn well-formed, all-moving, to wise
Indra.
5
So with my tongue I deck, to please that Indra, my hymn, as 'twere a horse,
through love of glory,
To
reverence the Hero, bounteous Giver, famed far and wide, destroyer of the
castles.
6
Even for him hath Tvastar forged the thunder, most deftly wrought, celestial,
for the battle,
Wherewith he
reached the vital parts of Vrtra, striking-the vast, the mighty with the
striker.
7
As soon as, at libations of his mother, great Visnu had drunk up the draught,
he plundered.
The dainty
cates, the cooked mess; but One stronger transfixed the wild boar, shooting
through the mountain.
8
To him, to Indra, when he slew the Dragon, the Dames, too, Consorts of the
Goda, wove praises.
The mighty
heaven and earth hath he encompassed: thy greatness heaven and earth, combined,
exceed not.
9
Yea, of a truth, his magnitude surpasseth the magnitude of earth, mid-air, and
heaven.
Indra,
approved by all men, self-resplendent, waxed in his home, loud-voiced and
strong for battle.
10
Through his own strength Indra with bolt of thunder cut piece-meal Vrtra, drier
up of waters.
He let the
floods go free, like cows imprisoned, for glory, with a heart inclined to
bounty.
11
The rivers played, through his impetuous splendour, since with his bolt he
compassed them on all sides.
Using his
might and favouring him who worshipped, he made a ford, victorious, for
Turviti.
12
Vast, with thine ample power, with eager movement, against this Vrtra cast thy
bolt of thunder.
Rend thou
his joints, as of an ox, dissevered, with bolt oblique, that floods of rain may
follow.
13
Sing with new lauds his exploits wrought aforetime, the deeds of him, yea, him
who moveth swiftly,
When,
hurling forth his weapons in the battle, he with impetuous wrath lays low the
foemen.
14
When he, yea, he, comes forth the firm. Set mountains and the whole heaven and
earth, tremble for terror.
May Nodhas,
ever praising the protection of that dear Friend, gain quickly strength heroic.
15
Now unto him of these things hath been given what he who rules alone o'er much,
electeth.
Indra hath
helped Etasa, Soma-presser, contending in the race of steeds with Sarya.
16
Thus to thee, Indra, yoker of Bay Coursers, the Gotamas have brought their
prayers to please thee.
Bestow upon
them thought, decked with all beauty. May he, enriched with prayer, come soon
and early.
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