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1
I WILL declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the
Thunder-wielder.
He slew the
Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain
torrents.
2
He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heavenly bolt of thunder Tvastar
fashioned.
Like lowing
kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean.
3
Impetuous as a bull, he chose the Soma and in three sacred beakers drank the
juices.
Maghavan
grasped the thunder for his weapon, and smote to death this firstborn of the
dragons.
4
When, Indra, thou hadst slain the dragon's firstborn, and overcome the charms
of the enchanters,
Then,
giving life to Sun and Dawn and Heaven, thou foundest not one foe to stand
against thee.
5
Indra with his own great and deadly thunder smote into pieces Vrtra, worst of
Vrtras.
As trunks
of trees, what time the axe hath felled them, low on the earth so lies the
prostrate Dragon.
6
He, like a mad weak warrior, challenged Indra, the great impetuous many-slaying
Hero.
He.
brooking not the clashing of the weapons, crushed-Indra's foe-the shattered
forts in falling.
7
Footless and handless still he challenged Indra, who smote him with his bolt
between the shoulders.
Emasculate
yet claiming manly vigour, thus Vrtra lay with scattered limbs dissevered.
8
There as he lies like a bank-bursting river, the waters taking courage flow
above him.
The Dragon
lies beneath the feet of torrents which Vrtra with his greatness had
encompassed.
9
Then humbled was the strength of Vrtra's mother: Indra hath cast his deadly
bolt against her.
The mother
was above, the son was under and like a cow beside her calf lay Danu.
10
Rolled in the midst of never-ceasing currents flowing without a rest for ever
onward.
The waters
bear off Vrtra's nameless body: the foe of Indra sank to during darkness.
11
Guarded by Ahi stood the thralls of Dasas, the waters stayed like kine held by
the robber.
But he,
when he had smitten Vrtra, opened the cave wherein the floods had been
imprisoned.
12
A horse's tail wast thou when he, O Indra, smote on thy bolt; thou, God without
a second,
Thou hast
won back the kine, hast won the Soma; thou hast let loose to flow the Seven
Rivers.
13
Nothing availed him lightning, nothing thunder, hailstorm or mist which had
spread around him:
When Indra
and the Dragon strove in battle, Maghavan gained the victory for ever.
14
Whom sawest thou to avenge the Dragon, Indra, that fear possessed thy heart
when thou hadst slain him;
That, like
a hawk affrighted through the regions, thou crossedst nine-and-ninety flowing
rivers?
15
Indra is King of all that moves and moves not, of creatures tame and horned,
the Thunder-wielder.
Over all
living men he rules as Sovran, containing all as spokes within the felly.
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