RIG VEDA

HYMN LIII. Indra.

I. WE will present fair praise unto the Mighty One, our hymns to Indra in Vivasvdn’s dwelling-place;
For he hath ne’er found wealth in those who seem to sleep: those who give wealth to men accept no paltry praise.

2. Giver of horses, Indra, giver, thou, of kine, giver of barley, thou art Lord and guard of wealth:
Man’s helper from of old, not disappointing hope, Friend of our friends, to thee ,as such we sing this praise.

3. Indra, most splendid, powerful, rich in mighty deeds, this treasure spread around is known to be thine own.
Gather therefrom, O Conqueror, and bring to us: fail not the hope of him who loves and sings to thee.

4. Well pleased with these bright flames and with these Soma drops, take thou away our poverty with seeds and kine.
With Indra scattering the Dasyu through these drops, freed from their hate may we obtain abundant food.

5. Let us obtain, O Indra, plenteous wealth and food, with strength exceeding glorious, shining to the sky:
May we obtain the Goddess Providence, the strength of heroes, special source of cattle, rich in steeds.

6. These our libations strength-inspiring, Soma draughts, gladdened thee in the fight with Vrtra, Hero Lord,
What time thou slewest for the singer with trimmed grass ten thousand Vrtras, thou resistless in thy might.

7. Thou goest on from fight to fight intrepidly, destroying castle after castle here with strength.
Thou, Indra, with thy friend who makes the foe bow down, slewest from far away the guileful Namuci.

8. Thou hast struck down in death Karanja, Parnaya, in Atithigva’s very glorious going forth.
Unyielding, when Rjisvan compassed them with siege, thou hast destroyed the hundred forts of Vangrida.

9. With all-outstripping chariot-wheel, O Indra, thou far-famed, hast overthrown the twice ten Kings of men,
With sixty thousand nine-and-ninety followers, who came in arms to fight with friendless Susravas.

10. Thou hast protected Susravas with succour, and Turvayana with thine aid, O Indra.
Thou madest Kutsa, Atithigva, Ayu, subject unto this King, the young, the mighty.

11. May we protected by the Gods hereafter remain thy very prosperous friends, O Indra.
Thee we extol, enjoying through thy favour life long and joyful and with store of heroes.


HYMN LIV. Indra.

1. URGE us not, Maghavan, to this distressful fight, for none may comprehend the limit of thy strength.
Thou with fierce shout hast made the woods and rivers roar: did not men run in crowds together in their fear?

2. Sing hymns of praise to Sakra, Lord of power and might; laud thou and magnify Indra who hearcth thee,
Who with his daring might, a Bull exceeding strong in strength, maketh him master of the heaven and earth.

3. Sing forth to lofty Dyaus a strength-bestowing song, the Bold, whose resolute mind hath independent sway.
High glory hath the Asura, compact of strength, drawn on by two Bay Steeds: a Bull, a Car is he.

4. The ridges of the lofty heaven thou madest shake; thou, daring, of thyself smotest through Sambara,
When bold with gladdening juice, thou warredst with thy bolt, sharp and twoedged, against the banded sorcerers.

5. When with a roar that fills the woods, thou forcest down on wind’s head the stores which 8usga kept confined,
Who shall have power to stay thee firm and eager-souled from doing still this day what thou of old hast done?

6. Thou helpest Narya, Turvasa, and Yadu, and Vayya’s son Turviti, Satakratu!
Thou helpest horse and car in final battle thou breakest down the nine-and-ninety castles.

7. A hero-lord is he, King of a mighty folk, who offers free oblations and promotes the Law,
Who with a bounteous guerdon welcomes hymns of praise: for him flows down the abundant stream below the sky.

8. His power is matchless, matchless is his wisdom; chief, through their work, be some who drink the Soma,
Those, Indra, who increase the lordly power, the firm heroic strength of thee the Giver.

9. Therefore for thee are these abundant beakers Indra’s drink, stone-pressed juices held in ladles.
Quaff them and satisfy therewith thy longing; then fix thy mind upon bestowing treasure.

10. There darkness stood, the vault that stayed the waters’ flow: in Vrtra’s hollow side the rain-cloud lay concealed.
But Indra smote the rivers which the obstructer stayed, flood following after flood, down steep declivitics.

11. So give us, Indra, bliss-increasing glory give us great sway and strength that conquers people.
Preserve our wealthy patrons, save our princes; vouchsafe us wealth and food with noble offspring.


HYMN LV. Indra.

1. THOUGH e’en this heaven’s wide space and earth have spread them out, nor heaven nor earth may be in greatness Indra’s match.
Awful and very mighty, causing woe to men, he whets his thunderbolt for sharpness, as a bull.

2. Like as the watery ocean, so doth he receive the rivers spread on all sides in their ample width.
He bears him like a bull to drink of Soma juice, and will, as Warrior from of old, be praised for might.

3. Thou swayest, Indra, all kinds of great manly power, so as to bend, as’t were, even that famed mountain down.
Foremost among the Gods is he through hero might, set in the van, the Strong One, for each arduous deed.

4. He only in the wood is praised by worshippers, when he shows forth to men his own fair Indra-power.
A friendly Bull is he, a Bull to be desired when Maghavan auspiciously sends forth his voice.

5. Yet verily the Warrior in his vigorous strength stirreth up with his might great battles for mankind;
And men have faith in Indra, the respIendent One, what time he hurleth down his bolt, his dart of death.

6. Though, fain for glory, and with strength increased on earth, he with great might destroys the dwellings made with art,
He makes the lights of heaven shine forth secure, he bids, exceeding wise, the floods flow for his worshipper.

7. Drinker of Soma, let thy heart incline to give; bring thy Bays hitherward, O thou who hearest praise.
Those charioteers of’ thine, best skilled to draw the rein, the rapid sunbeams, Indra, lead thee not astray.

8. Thou bearest in both hands treasure that never fails; the famed One in his body holds unvanquished might.
O Indra, in thy members many powers abide, like wells surrounded by the ministering priests.