HYMN XXVIII Indra, Etc.
1. THERE where the broad-based stone raised on high to press the juices out,
O Indra, drink with eager thirst the droppings which the mortar sheds.
2. Where, like broad hips, to hold the juice the platters of the press are laid,
O Indra, drink with eager thirst the droppings which the mortar sheds.
3. There where the woman marks and leans the pestle’s constant rise and fall,
O Indra, drink with eager thirst the droppings which the mortar sheds.
4. Where, as with reins to guide a horse, they bind the churning-staff with cords,
O Indra, drink with eager thirst the droppings which the mortar sheds.
5. If of a truth in every house, O Mortar thou art set for work,
Here give thou forth thy clearest sound, loud as the drum of conquerors.
6. O Sovran of the Forest, as the wind blows soft in front of thee,
Mortar, for Indra press thou forth the Soma juice that he may drink.
7. Best strength-givers, ye stretch wide jaws, O Sacrificial Implements,
Like two bay horses champing herbs.
8. Ye Sovrans of the Forest, both swift, with swift pressers press to-day
Sweet Soma juice for Indra’s drink.
9. Take up in beakers what remains: the Soma on the filter pour,
and on the ox-hide set the dregs.
HYMN XXIX. Indra.
1. O SOMA DRINKER, ever true, utterly hopeless though we be,
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
2. O Lord of Strength, whose jaws are strong, great deeds are thine, the powerful:
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
3. Lull thou asleep, to wake no more, the pair who on each other look
Do thou, O Indra, give us, help of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
4. Hero, let hostile spirits sleep, and every gentler genius wake:
Do thou, O Indra,. give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
5. Destroy this ass, O Indra, who in tones discordant brays to thee:
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
6. Far distant on the forest fall the tempest in a circling course!
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine,
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
7. Slay each reviler, and destroy him who in secret injures us:
Do thou, O Indra, give us hope of beauteous horses and of kine
In thousands, O most wealthy One.
HYMN XXX. Indra.
1. WE seeking strength with Soma-drops fill full your Indra like a well,
Most liberal, Lord of Hundred Powers,
2. Who lets a hundred of the pure, a thousand of the milk-blent draughts
Flow, even as down a depth, to him;
3. When for the strong, the rapturous joy he in this manner hath made room
Within his belly, like the sea.
4. This is thine own. Thou drawest near, as turns a pigeon to his mate:
Thou carest too for this our prayer.
5. O Hero, Lord of Bounties, praised in hymns, may power and joyfulness
Be his who sings the laud to thee.
6. Lord of a Hundred Powers, stand up to lend us succour in this fight
In others too let us agree.
7. In every need, in every fray we call as friends to succour us
Indra the mightiest of all.
8. If he will hear us let him come with succour of a thousand kinds,
And all that strengthens, to our call.
9. I call him mighty to resist, the Hero of our ancient home,
Thee whom my sire invoked of old.
10. We pray to thee, O much-invoked, rich in all prccious gifts, O Friend,
Kind God to those who sing thy praise.
11. O Soma-drinker, Thunder-armed, Friend of our lovely-featured dames
And of our Soma-drinking friends.
12. Thus, Soma-drinker, may it be; thus, Friend, who wieldest thunder, act
To aid each wish as we desire.
13. With Indra splendid feasts be ours, rich in all strengthening things wherewith,
Wealthy in food, we may rejoice.
14. Like thee, thyself, the singers’ Friend, thou movest, as it were, besought,
Bold One, the axle of the car.
15. That, Satakratu, thou to grace and please thy praisers, as it were,
Stirrest the axle with thy strength.
16. With champing, neighing loudly-snorting horses Indra hath ever won himself great treasures
A car of gold hath he whose deeds are wondrous received from us, and let us too receive it.
17. Come, Asvins, with enduring strength wealthy in horses and in kine,
And gold, O ye of wondrous deeds.
18. Your chariot yoked for both alike, immortal, ye of mighty acts,
Travels, O Aivins, in the sea.
19 High on the forehead of the Bull one chariot wheel ye ever keep,
The other round the sky revolves.
20. What mortal, O immortal Dawn, enjoyeth thee? Where lovest thou?
To whom, O radiant, dost thou go?
21. For we have had thee in our thoughts whether anear or far away,
Red-hued and like a dappled mare.
22. Hither, O Daughter of the Sky, come thou with these thy strengthenings,
And send thou riches down to us.
