HYMN LXVI. Indra.

1. SCARCELY was Satakratu, born when of his Mother he inquired,

Who are the mighty? Who are famed?

2. Then Savassi declared to him Aurnavabha, Ahisuva:

Son, these be they thou must o'erthrow

3 The Vrtra-slayer smote them all as spokes are hammered into naves:

The Dasyu-killer waxed in might.

4 Then Indra at a single draught drank the contents of thirty pails,

Pails that were filled with Soma juice.

5 Indra in groundless realms of space pierced the Gandharva through, that he

Might make Brahmans' strength increase.

6 Down from the mountains Indra shot hither his well-directed shaft:

He gained the ready brew of rice.

7 One only is that shaft of thine, with thousand feathers, hundred barbs,

Which, Indra, thou hast made thy friend.

8 Strong as the gbhus at thy birth, therewith to those who praise thee, men,

And women, bring thou food to eat.

9 By thee these exploits were achieved, the mightiest deeds, abundantly:

Firm in thy heart thou settest them.

10 All these things Visnu brought, the Lord of ample stride whom thou hadst sent -

A hundred buffaloes, a brew of rice and milk: and Indra, slew the ravening boar

11 Most deadly is thy bow, successful, fashioned well: good is thine arrow, decked with gold.

Warlike and well equipped thine arms are, which increase sweetness for him who drinks the sweet.