HYMN XX. Indra.
1. FROM near or far away may mighty Indra giver of succour, come for our protection
Lord of men, armed with thunder, with the Strongest, slaying his foes in conflict, in the battles.
2. May Indra come to us with Tawny Coursers, inclined to us, to favour and enrich us.
May Maghavan, loud-voiced and wielding thunder, stand by us at this sacrifice, in combat.
3. Thou, honouring this our sacrifice, O Indra, shalt give us strength and fill us full of courage.
To win the booty, Thunder-armed! like hunters may we with thee subdue in fight our foemen.
4. Loving us well, benevolent, close beside us, drink, Godlike Indra, of the wellpressed Soma.
Drink of the meath we offer, and delight thee with food that cometh from the mountain ridges.
5. Him who is sung aloud by recent sages, like a ripe-fruited tree, a scythe-armed victor,-
I, like a bridegroom thinking of his consort, call hither Indra, him invoked of many;
6. Him who in native strength is like a mountain, the lofty Indra born or old for conquest,
Terrific wielder of the ancient thunder. filled full with splendour as a jar with water.
7. Whom from of old there is not one to hinder, none to curtail the riches of his bounty.
Pouring forth freely, O thou Strong and Mighty, vouchsafe us riches, God invoked of many!
8. Of wealth and homes of men thou art the ruler, and opener of the stable of the cattle.
Helper of men, winner of spoil in combats, thou leadest to an ample heap of riches.
9. By what great might is he renowned as strongest, wherewith the Lofty One stirs up wild battles?
Best soother of the worshipper’s great sorrow, he gives possessions to the man who lauds him.
10. Slay us not; bring, bestow onus the ample gift which thou hast to give to him who offers.
At this new gift, with this laud sung before thee, extolling thee, we, Indra, will declare it.
11. Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let power swell high, like rivers, for the singer.
A new hymn, Lord of Bays! for thee is fashioned. May we, car-born, through song be victors ever.
HYMN XXI. Indra.
1. MAY Indra come to us for our protection; here be the Hero, praised, our feast-companion.
May he whose powers are many, waxen mighty, cherish, like Dyaus, his own supreme dominion.
2. Here magnify his great heroic exploits, most glorious One, enriching men with bounties,
Whose will is like a Sovran in assembly, who rules the people, Conqueror, all-surpassing.
3. Hither let Indra come from earth or heaven, hither with speech from firmament or ocean;
With Maruts, from the realm of light to aid us, or from a distance, from the seat of Order.
4. That Indra will we laud in our assemblies, him who is Lord of great and lasting riches,
Victor with Vayu where the herds are gathered, who leads with boldness on to higher fortune.
5. May the Priest, Lord of many blessings, striving,-who fixing reverence on reverence, giving
Vent to his voice, inciteth men to worshipwith lauds bring Indra hither to our dwellings.
6. When sitting pondering in deep devotion in Ausija’s abode they ply the press-stone,
May he whose wrath is fierce, the mighty bearer, come as the house-lord’s priest within our chambers.
7. Surely the power of Bharvara the mighty for ever helpeth to support the singer;
That which in Ausija’s abode lies hidden, to come forth for delight and for devotion.
8. When he unbars the spaces of the mountains, and quickens with his floods the water-torrents,
He finds in lair the buffalo and wild-ox when the wise lead him on to vigorous exploit.
9. Auspicious are thy hands, thine arms wellfashioned which proffer bounty, Indra, to thy praiser.
What sloth is this? Why dost thou not rejoice thee? Why dost thou not delight thyself with giving?
10. So Indra is the truthful Lord of treasure. Freedom he gave to man by slaying Vrtra.
Much-lauded! help us with thy power to riches: may I be sharer of thy Godlike favour.
11. Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let power swell high, like rivers, for,the singer.
For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays! is fashioned. May we, care-borne, through song be victqrs ever.
HYMN XXII. Indra.
1. THAT gift of ours which Indra loves and welcomes, even that he makes for us, the Great and Strong One.
He who comes wielding in his might the thunder, Maghavan, gives prayer, praise, and laud, and Soma.
2. Bull, hurler of the four-edged rain-producer with both his arms, strong, mighty, most heroic;
Wearing as wool Parusni for adornment, whose joints for sake of friendship he hath covered.
3. God who of all the Gods was born divinest, endowed with ample strength and mighty powers,
And bearing in his arrns the yearning thunder, with violent rush caused heaven and earth to tremble.
4. Before the High God, at his birth, heaven trembled, earth, many floods and all the precipices.
The Strong One bringeth nigh the Bull’s two Parents: loud sing the winds, like men, in air’s mid-region.
5. These are thy great deeds, Indra, thine, the Mighty, deeds to be told aloud at all libations,
That thou, O Hero, bold and boldly daring, didst with thy bolt, by strength, destroy the Dragon.
6. True are all these thy deeds, O Most Heroic. The Milch-kine issued from the streaming udder.
In fear of thee, O thou of manly spirit, the rivers swiftly set themselves in motion.
7. With joy, O Indra, Lord of Tawny Coursers, the Sisters then, these Goddesses, extolled thee,
When thou didst give the prisoned ones their freedom to wander at their will in long succession.
8. Pressed is the gladdening stalk as ’twere a river: so let the rite, the toiler’s power, attract thee
To us-ward, of the Bright One, as the courser strains his. exceedingly strong leather bridle.
9. Ever by us perform thy most heroic, thine highest, best victorious deeds, O Victor.
For us make Vrtras easy to be conquered: destroy the weapon of our mortal foeman.
10. Graciously listen to our prayer, O Indra, and strength of varied sort bestow thou on us.
Send to us all intelligence arid wisdom O Maghavan, be he who gives us cattle.
11. Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let wealth swell hiah like rivers to the singer.
For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays, is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through song be victors ever.
HYMN XXIII. Indra.
1. How, what priest’s sacrifice hath he made mighty, rejoicing in the Soma and its fountain?
Delighting in juice, eagerly drinking, the Lofty One hath waxed for splendid riches.
2. What hero hath been made his feast-companion? Who hath been partner in his loving-kindness?
What know we of his wondrous acts? How often comes he to aid and speed the pious toiler?
3. How heareth Indra offered invocation? How, hearing, marketh he the invoker’s wishes?
What are his ancient acts of bounty? Wherefore call they him One who filleth full the singer?
4. How doth the priest who laboureth, ever longing, win for himself the wealth which he possesseth?
May he, the God, mark well my truthful praises, having received the homage which he loveth.
5. How, and what bond of friendship with a mortal hath the God chosen as this morn is breaking?
How, and what love hath he for those who love him, who have entwined in him their firm affection?
6. Is then thy friendship with thy friends most mighty? Thy brotherhood with us, -when may we tell it?
The streams of milk move, as most wondrous sunlight, the beauty of the Lovely One for glory.
7. About to stay the Indra-less destructive spirit he sharpens his keen arms to strike her.
Whereby the Strong, although our debts’ exactor, drives in the distant mornings that we know not.
8. Eternal Law hath varied food that strengthens; thought of eternal Law, removes transgressions.
The praise-hymn of eternal Law, arousing, glowing, hath oped the deaf ears of the living.
9. Firm-seated are eternal Law’s foundations in its fair form are many splendid beauties.
By holy Law long lasting food they bring us; by holy Law have cows come to our worship.
10. Fixing eternal Law he, too, upholds it swift moves the might of Law and wins the booty.
To Law belong the vast deep Earth and Heaven: Milch-kine supreme, to Law their milk they render.
11. Now, Indra! lauded,- glorified with praises, let power swell high like rivers to the singer.
For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays, is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through song be victors ever.
HYMN XXIV. Indra.
1. WHAT worthy praise will bring before us Indra, the Son of Strength, that he may grant us riches;
For he the Hero, gives the singer treasures: he is the Lord who sends us gifts, ye people.
2. To be invoked and hymned in fight with Vrtra, that well-praised Indra gives us real bounties.
That Maghavan brings comfort in the foray to the religious man who pours libations.
3. Him, verily, the men invoke in combat; risking their lives they make him their protector,
When heroes, foe to foe, give up their bodies, fighting, each side, for children and their offspring.
4. Strong God! the folk at need put forth their vigour, striving together in the whirl of battle.
When warrior bands encounter one another some in the grapple quit themselves like Indra.
5. Hence many a one worships the might of Indra: hence let the brew succeed the meal-oblation.
Hence let the Soma banish those who pour not: even hence I joy to pay the Strong One worship.
6. Indra gives comfort to the man who truly presses, for him who longs fot it, the Soma,
Not disaffected, with devoted spirit this man he takes to be his friend in battles.
7. He who this day for Indra presses Soma, prepares the brew and fries the grains of barley-
Loving the hymns of that devoted servant, to him may Indra give heroic vigour.
8. When the impetuous chief hath sought the confliet, and the lord looked upon the long-drawn battle,
The matron calls to the Strong God whom pressers of Soma have encouraged int the dwelling.
9. He bid a small price for a thing of value: I was content, returning, still unpurchased.
He heightened not his insufficient offer. Simple and clever, both milk out the udder.
10. Who for ten milch-kine purchaseth from rne this Indra who is mine?
When he hath slain the Vrtras let the buyer give him back to me.
11. Now, Indra! lauded, glorified with praises, let wealth swell high like rivers for the singer.
For thee a new hymn, Lord of Bays, is fashioned. May we, car-borne, through song be victors ever.
HYMN XXV. Indra.
1. WHAT friend of man, God-loving, hath delighted, yearning therefor, this day in Indra’s friendship?
Who with enkindled flame and flowing Soma laudeth him for his great protecting favour?
2. Who hath with prayer bowed to the Soma-lover? What pious man endues the beams of morning?
Who seeks bond, fritridship, brotherhood with Indra? Who hath recourse unto the Sage for succour?
3. Who claims to-day the Deities’ protection, asks Aditi for light, or the Adityas?
Of whose pressed stalk of Soma drink the Asvins, Indra, and Agni, well-inclined in spirit?
4. To him shall Agni Bharata give shelter: long shall he look upon the Sun up-rising,
Who sayeth, Let us press the juice for Indra, man’s Friend, the Hero manliest of heroes.
5. Him neither few men overcome, nor many to him shall Aditi give spacious shelter.
Dear is the pious, the devout, to Indra dear is the zealous, dear the Soma-bringer.
6. This Hero curbs the mighty for the zealous: the presser’s brew Indra possesses solely:
No brother, kin, or friend to him who pours not, destroyer of the dumb who would resist him.
7. Not with the wealthy churl who pours no Soma doth Indra, Soma-drinker, bind alliance.
He draws away his wealth and slays him naked, own Friend to him who offers, for oblation.
8. Highest and lowest, men who stand between diem, going, returning, dwelling in contentment,
Those who show forth their strength when urged to battle-these are the men who call for aid on Indra.
