HYMN XXV. Indra.

1
WITH thine assistance, O thou Mighty Indra, be it the least, the midmost, or the highest,- Great with those aids and by these powers support us, Strong God! in battle that subdues our foemen.

2
With these discomfit hosts that fight against us, and check the opponent's wrath, thyself uninjured. With these chase all our foes to every quarter: subdue the tribes of Dasas to the Arya.

3
Those who array themselves as foes to smite us, O Indra, be they kin or be they strangers,- Strike thou their manly strength that it be feeble, and drive in headlong flight our foemen backward.

4
With strength of limb the hero slays the hero, when bright in arms they range them for the combat. When two opposing hosts contend in battle for seed and offspring, waters, kine, or corn-lands.

5
Yet no strong man hath conquered thee, no hero, no brave, no warrior trusting in his valour. Not one of these is match for thee, O Indra. Thou far surpassest all these living creatures.

6
He is the Lord of both these armies' valour when the commanders call them to the conflict: When with their ranks expanded they are fighting with a great foe or for a home with heroes.

7
And when the people stir themselves for battle, be thou their saviour, Indra, and protector, And theirs, thy manliest of our friends, the pious, the chiefs who have installed us priests, O Indra.

8
To thee for high dominion hath been for evermore, for slaughtering the Vrtras, All lordly power and might, O Holy Indra, given by Gods for victory in battle.

9
So urge our hosts together in the combats: yield up the godless bands that fight against us. Singing, at morn may we find thee with favour, yea, Indra, and e'en now, we Bharadvajas.

HYMN XXVI. Indra.

1
O INDRA, hear us. Raining down the Soma, we call on thee to win us mighty valour. Give us strong succour on the day of trial, when the tribes gather on the field of battle.

2
The warrior, son of warrior sire, invokes thee, to gain great strength that may be won as booty: To thee, the brave man's Lord, the fiends' subduer, he looks when fighting hand to hand for cattle.

3
Thou didst impel the sage to win the daylight, didst ruin Susna for the pious Kutsa. The invulnerable demon's head thou clavest when thou wouldst win the praise of Atithigva.

4
The lofty battle-car thou broughtest forward; thou holpest Dasadyu the strong when fighting. Along with Vetasu thou slewest Tugra, and madest Tuji strong, who praised thee, Indra.

5
Thou madest good the laud, what time thou rentest a hundred thousand fighting foes, O Hero, Slewest the Dasa Sambara of the mountain, and with strange aids didst succour Divodasa.

6
Made glad with Soma-draughts and faith, thou sentest Cumuri to his sleep, to please Dabhiti. Thou, kindly giving Raji to Pithinas, slewest with might, at once, the sixty thousand.

7
May I too, with the liberal chiefs, O Indra, acquire thy blin supreme and domination, When, Mightiest! Hero-girt! Nahusa heroes boast them in thee, the triply-strong Defender.

8
So may we he thy friends, thy best beloved, O Indra, at this holy invocation. Best be Pratardani, illustrious ruler, in slaying foemen and in gaining riches.

HYMN XXVII. Indra.

1
WHAT deed hath Indra done in the wild transport, in quaffing or in friendship with, the Soma? What joys have men of ancient times or recent obtained within the chamber of libation?

2
In its wild joy Indra hath proved him faithful, faithful in quaffing, faithful in its friendship. His truth is the delight that in this chamber the men of old and recent times have tasted.

3
All thy vast power, O Maghavan, we know not, know not the riches of thy full abundance. No one hath seen that might of thine, productive of bounty every day renewed, O Indra.

4
This one great power of thine our eyes have witnessed, wherewith thou slewest Varasikha's children, When by the force of thy descending thunder, at the mere sound, their boldest was demolished.

5
In aid of Abhyavartin Cayamana, Indra destroyed the seed of Varasikha. At Hariyupiya he smote the vanguard of the Vrcivans, and the rear fled frighted.

6
Three thousand, mailed, in quest of fame, together, on the Yavyavati, O much-sought Indra, Vrcivan's sons, falling before the arrow, like bursting vessels went to their destruction.

7
He, whose two red Steers, seeking goodly pasture, plying their tongues move on 'twixt earth and heaven, Gave Turvasa to Srnjaya, and, to aid him, gave the Vrcivans up to Daivavata.

8
Two wagon-teams, with damsels, twenty oxen, O Agni, Abhydvartin Cayamdna, The liberal Sovran, giveth me. This guerdon of Prthu's seed is hard to win from others.

HYMN XXVIII. Cows.

2
Indra aids him who offers sacrifice and gifts: he takes not what is his, and gives him more thereto. Increasing ever more and ever more his wealth, he makes the pious dwell within unbroken bounds.

3
These are ne'er lost, no robber ever injures them: no evil-minded foe attempts to harass them. The master of the Kine lives many a year with these, the Cows whereby he pours his gifts and serves the Gods.

4
The charger with his dusty brow o'ertakes them not, and never to the shambles do they take their way. These Cows, the cattle of the pious worshipper, roam over widespread pasture where no danger is.

5
To me the Cows seem Bhaga, they seem Indra, they seem a portion of the first-poured Soma. These present Cows, they, O ye Indra. I long for Indra with my heart and spirit.

6
O Cows, ye fatten e'en the worn and wasted, and make the unlovely beautiful to look on. Prosper my house, ye with auspicious voices. Your power is glorified in our assemblies.

7
Crop goodly pasturage and be prolific drink pure sweet water at good drinking places. Never be thief or sinful man your matter, and may the dart of Rudra still avoid you.

8
Now let this close admixture be close intermingled with these Cows, Mixt with the Steer's prolific flow, and, Indra, with thy hero might.

HYMN XXIX Indra.

1
YOUR men have followed Indra for his friendship, and for his loving-kindness glorified him. For he bestows great wealth, the Thunder-wielder: worship him, Great and Kind, to win his favour.

2
Him to whose hand, men closely cling, and drivers stand on his golden chariot firmly stationed. With his firm arms he holds the reins; his Horses, the Stallions, are yoked ready for the journey.

3
Thy devotees embrace thy feet for glory. Bold, thunder-armed, rich, through thy strength, in guerdon, Robed in a garment fair as heaven to look on, thou hast displayed thee like an active dancer.

4
That Soma when effused hath best consistence, for which the food is dressed and grain is mingled; By which the men who pray, extolling Indra chief favourites of Gods, recite their praises.

5
No limit of thy might hath been appointed, which by its greatness sundered earth and heaven. These the Prince filleth full with strong endeavour, driving, as 'twere, with help his flocks to waters.

6
So be the lofty Indra prompt to listen, Helper unaided, golden-visored Hero. Yea, so may he, shown forth in might unequalled, smite down the many Vrtras and the Dasyus.

HYMN XXX. Indra.

1
INDRA hath waxed yet more for hero prowess, alone, Eternal, he bestoweth treasures. Indra transcendeth both the worlds in greatness: one half of him equalleth earth and heaven.

2
Yea, mighty I esteem his Godlike nature: none hindereth what he hath once determined. Near and afar he spread and set the regions, and every day the Sun became apparent.

3
E'en now endures thine exploit of the Rivers, when, Indra, for their floods thou clavest passage. Like men who sit at meat the mountains settled: by thee, Most Wise! the regions were made steadfast.

4
This is the truth, none else is like thee, Indra, no God superior to thee, no mortal. Thou slewest Ahi who besieged the waters, and lettest loose the streams to hurry seaward.

5
Indra, thou breakest up the floods and portals on all sides, and the firmness of the mountain. Thou art the King of men, of all that liveth, engendering at once Sun, Heaven, and Morning.

HYMN XXXI Indra.

1
SOLE Lord of wealth art thou, O Lord of riches: thou in thine hands hast held the people, Indra! Men have invoked thee with contending voices for seed and waters, progeny and sunlight.

2
Through fear of thee, O Indra, all the regions of earth, though naught may move them, shake and tremble. All that is firm is frightened at thy coming, -the earth, the heaven, the mountain, and the forest.

3
With Kutsa, Indra! thou didst conquer Susna, voracious, bane of crops, in fight for cattle. In the close fray thou rentest him: thou stolest the Sun's wheel and didst drive away misfortunes.

4
Thou smotest to the ground the hundred castles, impregnable, of Sambara the Dasyu, When, Strong, with might thou holpest Divodasa who poured libations out, O Soma-buyer, and madest Bharadvaja rich who praised thee.

5
As such, true Hero, for great joy of battle mount thy terrific car, O Brave and Manly. Come with thine help to me, thou distant Roamer, and, glorious God, spread among men my glory.

HYMN XXXII Indra.

1
I WITH my lips have fashioned for this Hero words never matched, most plentiful and auspicious, For him the Ancient, Great, Strong, Energetic, the very mighty Wielder of the Thunder.

2
Amid the sages, with the Sun he brightened the Parents: glorified, he burst the mountain; And, roaring with the holy-thoughted singers, he loosed the bond that held the beams of Morning.

3
Famed for great deeds, with priests who kneel and laud him, he still hath conquered in the frays for cattle, And broken down the forts, the Fort-destroyer, a Friend with friends, a Sage among the sages.

4
Come with thy girthed mares, with abundant vigour and plenteous strength to him who sings thy praises. Come hither, borne by mares with many heroes, Lover of song! Steer! for the people's welfare.

5
Indra with rush and might, sped by his Coursers, hath swiftly won the waters from the southward. Thus set at liberty the rivers daily flow to their goal, incessant and exhaustless.

HYMN XXXIII. Indra.

1
GIVE us the rapture that is mightiest, Indra, prompt to bestow and swift to aid, O Hero, That wins with brave steeds where brave steeds encounter, and quells the Vrtras and the foes in battle.

2
For with loud voice the tribes invoke thee, Indra, to aid them in the battlefield of heroes. Thou, with the singers, hast pierced through the Panis: the charger whom thou aidest wins the booty.

3
Both races, Indra, of opposing foemen, O Hero, both the Arya and the Dasa, Hast thou struck down like woods with well-shot lightnings: thou rentest them in fight, most manly Chieftain!

4
Indra, befriend us with no scanty succour, prosper and aid us, Loved of all that liveth, When, fighting for the sunlight, we invoke thee, O Hero, in the fray, in war's division.

5
Be ours, O Indra, now and for the future, be graciously inclined and near to help us. Thus may we, singing, sheltered by the Mighty, win many cattle on the day of trial.

Continued...

HYMN XXXIV. Indra.

1
FULL Many songs have met in thee, O Indra, and many a noble thought from thee proceedeth. Now and of old the eulogies of sages, their holy hymns and lauds, have yearned for Indra.

2
He, praised of many, bold, invoked of many, alone is glorified at sacrifices. Like a car harnessed for some great achievement, Indra must be the cause of our rejoicing.

3
They make their way to Indra and exalt him, him whom no prayers and no laudations trouble; For when a hundred or a thousand singers. laud him who loves the song their praise delights him.

4
As brightness mingles with the Moon in heaven, the offered Soma yearns to mix with Indra. Like water brought to men in desert places, our gifts at sacrifice have still refreshed him.

5
To him this mighty eulogy, to Indra hath this our laud been uttered by the poets, That in the great encounter with the foemen, Loved of all life, Indra may guard and help us.

HYMN XXXV. Indra.

1
WHEN shall our prayers rest in thy car beside thee? When dost thou give the singer food for thousands? When wilt thou clothe this poet's laud with plenty, and when wilt thou enrich our hymns with booty?

2
When wilt thou gather men with men, O Indra, heroes with heroes, and prevail in combat? Thou shalt win triply kine in frays for cattle, so, Indra, give thou us celestial glory.

3
Yea, when wilt thou, O Indra, thou Most Mighty, make the prayer all-sustaining for the singer? When wilt thou yoke, as we yoke songs, thy Horses, and come to offerings that bring wealth in cattle?

4
Grant to the Singer food with store of cattle, splendid with horses and the fame of riches. Send food to swell the milch-cow good at milking: bright be its shine among the Bharadvajas.

5
Lead otherwise this present foeman, Sakra! Hence art thou praised as Hero, foe destroyer Him who gives pure gifts may I praise unceasing. Sage, quicken the Angirases by devotion.

HYMN XXXVI. Indra.

1
THY raptures ever were for all men's profit: so evermore have been thine earthly riches. Thou still hast been the dealer-forth of vigour, since among Gods thou hast had power and Godhead.

2
Men have obtained his strength by sacrificing, and ever urged him, on to hero valour. For the rein-seizing, the impetuous Charger they furnished power even for Vrtra's slaughter.

3
Associate with him, as teams of horses, help, manly might, and vigour follow Indra. As rivers reach the sea, so, strong with praises, our holy songs reach him the Comprehensive.

4
Lauded by us, let flow the spring, O Indra, of excellent and brightly-shining riches. For thou art Lord of men, without an equal: of all the world thou art the only Sovran.

5
Hear what thou mayst hear, thou who, fain for worship, as heaven girds earth, guardest thy servant's treasure; That thou mayst be our own, joying in power, famed through thy might in every generation.

HYMN XXXVII Indra.

1
LET thy Bay Horses, yoked, O mighty Indra, bring thy car hither fraught with every blessing. For thee, the Heavenly, e'en the poor invoketh: may we this day, thy feast-companions, prosper.

2
Forth to the vat the brown drops flow for service, and purified proceed directly forward. May Indra drink of this, our guest aforetime, Celestial King of the strong draught of Soma.

3
Bringing us hitherward all-potent Indra on well-wheeled chariot, may the Steeds who bear him Convey him on the road direct to glory, and ne'er may Vayu's Amrta cease and fail him.

4
Supreme, he stirs this man to give the guerdon,-Indra, most efficacious of the princes,- Wherewith, O Thunderer, thou removest sorrow, and, Bold One! partest wealth among the nobles.

5
Indra is he who gives enduring vigour: may our songs magnify the God Most Mighty. Best Vrtra-slayer be the Hero Indra these things he gives as Prince, with strong endeavour.

HYMN XXXVIII. Indra.

1
HE hath drunk hence, Most Marvellous, and carried away our great and splendid call on Indra. The Bounteous, when we serve the Gods, accepteth song yet more famous and the gifts we bring him.

2
The speaker filleth with a cry to Indra his ears who cometh nigh e'en from a distance. May this my call bring Indra to my presence, this call to Gods composed in sacred verses.

3
Him have I sung with my best song and praises, Indra of ancient birth and Everlasting. For prayer and songs in him are concentrated: let laud wax mighty when addressed to Indra:

4
Indra, whom sacrifice shall strengthen, Soma, and song and hymn, and praises and devotion, Whom Dawns shall strengthen when the night departeth, Indra whom days shall strengthen, months, and autumns.

5
Him, born for conquering might in full perfection, and waxen strong for bounty and for glory, Great, Powerful, will we to-day, O singer, invite to aid. us and to quell our foemen.

HYMN XXXIX Indra.

1
OF this our charming, our celestial Soma, eloquent, wise, Priest, with inspired devotion, Of this thy close attendant, hast thou drunken. God, send the singer food with milk to grace it.

2
Craving the kine, rushing against the mountain led on by Law, with holy minded comrades, He broke the never-broken ridge of Vala. With words of might Indra subdued the Panis.

3
This Indu lighted darksome nights, O Indra, throughout the years, at morning and at evening. Him have they stablished as the days' bright ensign. He made the Mornings to be born in splendour.

4
He shone and caused to shine the worlds that shone not. By Law he lighted up the host of Mornings. He moves with Steeds yoked by eternal Order, contenting men with nave that finds the sunlight.

5
Now, praised, O Ancient King! fill thou the singer with plenteous food that he may deal forth treasures. Give waters, herbs that have no poison, forests, and kine, and steeds, and men, to him who lauds thee.

HYMN XL. Indra

1
DRINK, Indra; juice is shed to make thee joyful: loose thy Bay Steeds and give thy friends their freedom. Begin the song, seated in our assembly. Give strength for sacrifice to him who singeth.

2
Drink thou of this whereof at birth, O Indra, thou drankest, Mighty One for power and rapture. The men, the pressing-stones, the cows, the waters have made this Soma ready for thy drinking.

3
The fire is kindled, Soma pressed, O Indra: let thy Bays, best to draw, convey thee hither. With mind devoted, Indra, I invoke thee. Come, for our great prosperity approach us.

4
Indra, come hither: evermore thou camest through our great strong desire to drink the Soma. Listen and hear the prayers which now we offer, and let this sacrifice increase thy vigour.

5
Mayst thou, O Indra, on the day of trial, present or absent, wheresoe'er thou dwellest, Thence, with thy team, accordant with the Maruts, Song-lover! guard our sacrifice, to help us.

HYMN XLL Indra.

1
COME gracious to our sacrifice, O Indra: pressed Soma-drops are purified to please thee. As cattle seek their home, so Thunderwielder, come, Indra, first of those who claim our worship.

2
With that well-formed most wide-extending palate, wherewith thou ever drinkest streams of sweetness, Drink thou; the Adhvaryu standeth up before thee: let thy spoil-winning thunderbolt attend thee.

3
This drop, steer-strong and omniform, the Soma, hath been made ready for the Bull, for India. Drink this, Lord of the Bays, thou Strong Supporter, this that is thine of old, thy food for ever.

4
Soma when pressed excels the unpressed Soma, better, for one who knows, to give him pleasure. Come to this sacrifice of ours, O Victor replenish all thy powers with this libation.

5
We call on thee, O Indra: come thou hither: sufficient be the Soma for thy body. Rejoice thee, Satakratu! in the juices guard us in wars, guard us among our people.

HYMN XLII- Indra.

1
BRING sacrificial gifts to him, Omniscient, for he longs to drink, The Wanderer who comes with speed, the Hero ever in the van.

2
With Soma go ye nigh to him chief drinker of the Soma's juice: With beakers to the Impetuous God, to Indra with the drops effused.

3
What time, with Soma, with the juice effused, ye come before the God, Full wise he knows the hope of each, and, Bold One, strikes this foe and that.

4
To him, Adhvaryu! yea, to him give offerings of the juice expressed. Will he not keep us safely from the spiteful curse of each presumptuous high-born foe?

HYMN XLIII. Indra

1
IN whose wild joy thou madest once Sambara Divodasa's prey, This Soma is pressed out for thee, O Indra: drink!

2
Whose gladdening draught, shed from the points, thou guardest in the midst and end, This Soma is pressed out for thee, O Indra drink!

3
In whose wild joy thou settest free the kine held fast within the rock, This Soma is pressed out for thee, O Indra: drink!

4
This, in whose juice delighting thou gainest the might of Maghavan, This Soma is pressed out for thee, O Indra drink!

HYMN XLIV. Indra.

1
THAT which is wealthiest, Wealthy God in splendoursmost illustrious, Soma is pressed: thy gladdening draught, Indra! libation's Lord! is this.

2
Effectual, Most Effectual One! thine, as bestowing wealth of hymns, Soma is pressed: thy gladdening draught, Indra! libation's Lord! is this.

3
Wherewith thou art increased in strength, and conquerest with thy proper aids, Soma is pressed: thy gladdening draught, Indra! libation's Lord! is this.

4
Him for your sake I glorify as Lord of Strength who wrongeth none, The Hero Indra, conquering all, Most Bounteous, God of all the tribes.

5
Those Goddesses, both Heaven and Earth, revere the power and might of him, Him whom our songs increase in strength, the Lord of bounty swift to come.

6
To seat your Indra, I will spread abroad with power this song of praise. The saving succours that abide in him, like songs, extend and grow.

7
A recent Friend, he found the skilful priest: he drank, and showed forth treasure from the Gods. He conquered, borne by strong all-shaking mares, and was with far-spread power his friends' Protector.

8
In course of Law the sapient juice was quaffed: the Deities to glory turned their mind. Winning through hymns a lofty title, he, the Lovely, made his beauteous form apparent.

9
Bestow on us the most illustrious strength ward off men's manifold malignities. Give with thy might abundant vital force, and aid us graciously in gaining riches.

10
We turn to thee as Giver, liberal Indra. Lord of the Bay Steeds, be not thou ungracious. No friend among mankind have we to lookto: why have men called thee him who spurs the niggard?

11
Give us not up, Strong Hero! to the hungry: unharmed be we whom thou, so rich, befriendest. Full many a boon hast thou for men demolish those who present no gifts nor pour oblations.

12
As Indra thundering impels the rain-clouds, so doth he send us store of kine and horses. Thou art of old the Cherisher of singers let not the rich who bring no gifts deceive thee.

13
Adbyaryu, hero, bring to mighty Indra for he is King thereof-the pressed-out juices; To him exalted by the hymns and praises, ancient and modern, of the singing Rsis.

14
In the wild joy of this hath Indra, knowing full many a form, struck down resistless Vrtras. Proclaim aloud to him the savoury Soma so that the Hero, strong of jaw, may drink it.

15
May Indra drink this Soma poured to please him, and cheered therewith slay Vrtra with his thunder. Come to our sacrifice even from a distance, good lover of our songs, the bard's Supporter.

16
The cup whence Indra drinks the draught is present: the Amrta dear to Indra hath been drunken, That it may cheer the God to gracious favour, and keep far from us hatred and affliction.

17
Therewith enraptured, Hero, slay our foemen, the unfriendly, Maghavan be they kin or strangers, Those who still aim their hostile darts to smite us, turn them to flight, O Indra, crush and kill them.

18
O Indra Maghavan, in these our battles win easy paths for us and ample freedom. That we may gain waters and seed and offspring, set thou our princes on thy side, O Indra.

19
Let thy Bay Stallions, harnessed, bring thee hither, Steeds with strong chariot and strong reins to hold them, Strong Horses, speeding hither, bearing thunder, well-harnessed, for the strong exciting potion.

20
Beside the vat, Strong God! stand thy strong Horses, shining with holy oil, like waves exulting. Indra, they bring to thee, the Strong and Mighty, Soma of juices shed by mighty press-stones.

21
Thou art the Bull of earth, the Bull of heaven, Bull of the rivers, Bull of standing waters. For thee, the Strong, O Bull, hath Indu swollen. juice pleasant, sweet to drink, for thine election.

22
This God, with might, when first he had his being, with Indra for ally, held fast the Pani. This Indu stole away the warlike weapons, and foiled the arts of his malignant father.

23
The Dawns he wedded to a glorious Consort, and set within the Sun the light that lights him. He found in heaven, in the third lucid regions, the threefold Amrta in its close concealment.

24
He stayed and held the heaven and earth asunder: the chariot with the sevenfold reins he harnessed. This Soma Set with power within the milch-kine a spring whose ripe contents ten fingers empty.

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