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1. THE friends who offer Soma long to find
thee: they pour forth Soma and present their viands.
They bear unmoved the cursing of the people, for all our
wisdom comes from thee, O Indra.
2 Not far for thee are mid-air's loftiest regions:
start hither, Lord of Bays, with thy Bay Horses.
Made for the Firm and Strong are these libations. The
pressing-stones are set and fire is kindled.
3 Fair cheeks hath Indra, Maghavan, the
Victor, Lord of a great host, Stormer, strong in action.
What once thou didst in might when mortals vexed thee,-where
now, O Bull, are those thy hero exploits?
4 For, overthrowing what hath ne'er been
shaken, thou goest forth alone destroying Vrtras.
For him who followeth thy Law the mountains and heaven and
earth stand as if firmly stablished.
5 Yea, Much-invoked! in safety through thy
glories alone thou speakest truth as Vrtra's slayer.
E'en these two boundless worlds to thee, O Indra, what time
thou graspest them, are but a handful.
6 Forthwith thy Bay steeds down the steep,
O Indra, forth, crushing foemen, go thy bolt of thunder!
Slay those who meet thee, those who flee, who follow: make
all thy promise true; be all completed.
7 The man to whom thou givest as Provider
enjoys domestic plenty undivided.
Blest, Indra, is thy favour dropping fatness: thy worship,
Much-invoked! brings gifts in thousands.
8 Thou, Indra, Much-invoked! didst crush to
pieces Kunaru handless fiend who dwelt with Danu.
Thou with might, Indra, smotest dead the scorner, the
footless Vrtra as he waxed in vigour.
9 Thou hast established in her seat, O
Indra, the level earth, vast, vigorous, unbounded.
The Bull hath propped the heaven and air's mid-region. By
thee sent onward let the floods flow hither.
10 He who withheld the kine, in silence I
yielded in fear before thy blow, O Indra.
He made paths easy to drive forth the cattle. Loud-breathing
praises helped the Much-invoked One.
11 Indra alone filled full the earth and
heaven, the Pair who meet together, rich in treasures.
Yea, bring thou near us from the air's mid-region strength,
on thy car, and wholesome food, O Hero.
12 Surya transgresses not the ordered
limits set daily by the Lord of Tawny Coursers.
When to the goal he comes, his journey ended, his Steeds he
looses: this is Indra's doing.
13 Men gladly in the course of night would
look on the broad bright front of the refulgent Morning;
And all acknowledge, when she comes in glory, the manifold
and goodly works of Indra.
14 A mighty splendour rests upon her bosom:
bearing ripe milk the Cow, unripe, advances.
All sweetness is collected in the Heifer, sweetness which
Indra made for our enjoyment.
15 Barring the way they come. Be firm, O
Indra; aid friends to sacrifice and him who singeth.
These must be slain by thee, malignant mortals, armed with
ill arts, our quiverbearing foemen.
16 A cry is beard from enemies most near
us: against them send thy fiercest-flaming weapon.
Rend them from under, crush them and subdue them. Slay,
Maghavan, and make the fiends our booty.
17 Root up the race of Raksasas, O Indra
rend it in front and crush it in the middle.
How long hast thou bebaved as one who wavers? Cast thy hot
dart at him who hates devotion:
18 When borne by strong Steeds for our
weal, O Leader, thou seatest thee at many noble viands.
May we be winners of abundant riches. May Indra be our
wealth with store of children.
19 Bestow on us resplendent wealth. O Indra
let us enjoy thine overflow of bounty.
Wide as a sea our longing hath expanded, fulfil it, O thou
Treasure-Lord of treasures.
20 With kine and horses satisfy this
longing with very splendid bounty skill extend it.
Seeking the light, with hymns to thee, O Indra, Kusikas have
brought their gift, the singers.
21 Lord of the kine, burst the kine's
stable open: cows shall be ours, and strength that wins the booty.
Hero, whose might is true, thy home is heaven: to us, O
Maghavan, grant gifts of cattle.
22 Call we on Maghavan, auspicious Indra,
best Hero in this fight where spoil is gathered,
The Strong who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays
the Vrtras, wins and gathers riches.
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