Sukta 21

इमा उ त्वा पुरुतमस्य कारोर्हव्यं वीर हव्या हवन्ते। धियो रथेष्ठामजरं नवीयो रयिर्विभूतिरीयते वचस्या॥

imā u tvā purutamasya kārorhavyaṁ vīra havyā havante | dhiyo ratheṣṭhāmajaraṁ navīyo rayirvibhūtirīyate vacasyā ||

THESE the most constant singer's invocations call thee who art to be invoked, O Hero; Hymns call anew the chariot-borne, Eternal: by eloquence men gain abundant riches.

तमु स्तुष इन्द्रं यो विदानो गिर्वाहसं गीर्भिर्यज्ञवृद्धम्। यस्य दिवमति मह्ना पृथिव्याः पुरुमायस्य रिरिचे महित्वम्॥

tamu stuṣa indraṁ yo vidāno girvāhasaṁ gīrbhiryajñavṛddham | yasya divamati mahnā pṛthivyāḥ purumāyasya ririce mahitvam ||

I praise that Indra, known to all men, honoured with songs, extolled with hymns at sacrifices, Whose majesty, rich in wondrous arts, surpasseth the magnitude of earth, and heaven in greatness.

स इत्तमोऽवयुनं ततन्वत्सूर्येण वयुनवच्चकार। कदा ते मर्ता अमृतस्य धामेयक्षन्तो न मिनन्ति स्वधावः॥

sa ittamo'vayunaṁ tatanvatsūryeṇa vayunavaccakāra | kadā te martā amṛtasya dhāmeyakṣanto na minanti svadhāvaḥ ||

He hath made pathways, with the Sun to aid him, throughout the darkness that extended pathless. Mortals who yearn to worship ne'er dishonour, O Mighty God, thy Law who art Immortal.

यस्ता चकार स कुह स्विदिन्द्रः कमा जनं चरति कासु विक्षु। कस्ते यज्ञो मनसे शं वराय को अर्क इन्द्र कतमः स होता॥

yastā cakāra sa kuha svidindraḥ kamā janaṁ carati kāsu vikṣu | kaste yajño manase śaṁ varāya ko arka indra katamaḥ sa hotā ||

And he who did these things, where is that Indra? among what tribes? what people doth he visit? What sacrifice contents thy mind , and wishes? What priest among them all? what hymn, O Indra?

इदा हि ते वेविषतः पुराजाः प्रत्नास आसुः पुरुकृत्सखायः। ये मध्यमास उत नूतनास उतावमस्य पुरुहूत बोधि॥

idā hi te veviṣataḥ purājāḥ pratnāsa āsuḥ purukṛtsakhāyaḥ | ye madhyamāsa uta nūtanāsa utāvamasya puruhūta bodhi ||

Yea, here were they who, born of old, have served thee, thy friends of ancient time, thou active Worker. Bethink thee now of these, Invoked of many! the midmost and the recent, and the youngest.

तं पृच्छन्तोऽवरासः पराणि प्रत्ना त इन्द्र श्रुत्यानु येमुः। अर्चामसि वीर ब्रह्मवाहो यादेव विद्म तात्त्वा महान्तम्॥

taṁ pṛcchanto'varāsaḥ parāṇi pratnā ta indra śrutyānu yemuḥ | arcāmasi vīra brahmavāho yādeva vidma tāttvā mahāntam ||

Inquiring after him, thy later servants, Indra, have gained thy former old traditions. Hero, to whom the prayer is brought, we praise thee as great for that wherein we know thee mighty.

अभि त्वा पाजो रक्षसो वि तस्थे महि जज्ञानमभि तत्सु तिष्ठ। तव प्रत्नेन युज्येन सख्या वज्रेण धृष्णो अप ता नुदस्व॥

abhi tvā pājo rakṣaso vi tasthe mahi jajñānamabhi tatsu tiṣṭha | tava pratnena yujyena sakhyā vajreṇa dhṛṣṇo apa tā nudasva ||

The demon's strength is gathered fast against thee: great as that strength hath grown, go forth to meet it. With thine own ancient friend and companion, the thunderbolt, brave Champion! drive it backward.

स तु श्रुधीन्द्र नूतनस्य ब्रह्मण्यतो वीर कारुधायः। त्वं ह्यापिः प्रदिवि पितॄणां शश्वद्बभूथ सुहव एष्टौ॥

sa tu śrudhīndra nūtanasya brahmaṇyato vīra kārudhāyaḥ | tvaṁ hyāpiḥ pradivi pitṝṇāṁ śaśvadbabhūtha suhava eṣṭau ||

Hear, too, the prayer of this thy present beadsman, O Indra, Hero, cherishing the singer. For thou wast aye our fathers' Friend aforetime, still swift to listen to their supplication.

प्रोतये वरुणं मित्रमिन्द्रं मरुतः कृष्वावसे नो अद्य। प्र पूषणं विष्णुमग्निं पुरंधिं सवितारमोषधीः पर्वताँश्च॥

protaye varuṇaṁ mitramindraṁ marutaḥ kṛṣvāvase no adya | pra pūṣaṇaṁ viṣṇumagniṁ puraṁdhiṁ savitāramoṣadhīḥ parvatāśca ||

Bring to our help this day, for our protection, Varuna, Mitra , Indra, and the Maruts, Pusan and Visnu, Agni and Purandhi, Savitar also, and the Plants and Mountains.

इम उ त्वा पुरुशाक प्रयज्यो जरितारो अभ्यर्चन्त्यर्कैः। श्रुधी हवमा हुवतो हुवानो न त्वावाँ अन्यो अमृत त्वदस्ति॥

ima u tvā puruśāka prayajyo jaritāro abhyarcantyarkaiḥ | śrudhī havamā huvato huvāno na tvāvā anyo amṛta tvadasti ||

The singers here exalt with hymns and praises thee who art very Mighty and Most Holy. Hear, when invoked, the invoker's invocation. Beside thee there is nonelike thee, Immortal!

नू म आ वाचमुप याहि विद्वान्विश्वेभिः सूनो सहसो यजत्रैः। ये अग्निजिह्वा ऋतसाप आसुर्ये मनुं चक्रुरुपरं दसाय॥

nū ma ā vācamupa yāhi vidvānviśvebhiḥ sūno sahaso yajatraiḥ | ye agnijihvā ṛtasāpa āsurye manuṁ cakruruparaṁ dasāya ||

Now to my words come quickly thou who knowest, O Son of Strength, with all who claim our worship, Who visit sacred rites, whose tongue is Agni, Gods who made Manu stronger than the Dasyu.

स नो बोधि पुरएता सुगेषूत दुर्गेषु पथिकृद्विदानः। ये अश्रमास उरवो वहिष्ठास्तेभिर्न इन्द्राभि वक्षि वाजम्॥

sa no bodhi puraetā sugeṣūta durgeṣu pathikṛdvidānaḥ | ye aśramāsa uravo vahiṣṭhāstebhirna indrābhi vakṣi vājam ||

On good and evil ways be thou our Leader, thou who art known to all as Path-preparer. Bring power to us, O Indra, with thy Horses, Steeds that are best to draw, broad-backed, unwearied.