1. THAT we may
win us wealth and power we poets, verily, call on thee:
In war men call on thee, Indra,
the hero's Lord, in the steed's race-course call on thee.
2 As such, O
Wonderful, whose hand holds thunder, praised as mighty, Caster of the Stone!
Pour on us boldly, Indra, kine
and chariotsteeds, ever to be the conqueror's strength.
3 We call upon
that Indra, who, most active, ever slays the foe:
Lord of the brave, Most Manly,
with a thousand powers, help thou and prosper us in fight.
4 Rcisama,
thou forcest men as with a bull, with anger, in the furious fray.
Be thou our Helper in the
mighty battle fought for sunlight, water, and for life.
5 O Indra,
bring us name and fame, enriching, mightiest, excellent,
Wherewith, O Wondrous God,
fair-visored, thunder-armed, thou hast filled full this earth and heaven.
6 We call on
thee, O King, Mighty amid the Gods, Ruler of men, to succour us.
All that is weak in us,
Excellent God, make firm: make our foes easy to subdue.
7 All strength
and valour that is found, Indra, in tribes of Nahusas, and all the splendid
fame that the Five Tribes enjoy
Bring, yea, all manly powers at
once.
8 Or,
Maghavan, what vigorous strength in Trksi lay, in Druhyus or in Paru's folk,
Fully bestow on us, that, in
the conquering fray, we may subdue our foes in fight.
9 O Indra,
grant a happy home, a triple refuge triply strong.
Bestow a dwelling-place on the
rich lords and me, and keep thy dart afar from these.
10 They who
with minds intent on spoil subdue the foe, boldly attack and smite him down, -
From these, O Indra Maghavan
who lovest song, be closest guardian of our lives.
11 And now, O
Indra, strengthen us: come near and aid us in the fight,
What time the feathered shafts
are flying in the air, the arrows with their sharpened points.
12 Give us,
where heroes strain their bodies in the fight, the shelter that our fathers
loved.
To us and to our sons give
refuge: keep afar all unobserved hostility.
13 When,
Indra, in the mighty fray thou urgest chargers to their speed,
On the uneven road and on a
toilsome path, like falcons, eager for renown,
14 Speeding
like rivers rushing down a steep descent, responsive to the urging call,
That come like birds attracted
to the bait, held in by reins in both the driver's hands.
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