Part I, Book IV — Hymns to Indra and others

THESE Soma juices mixt with curd have been ex- pressed for Indra here :

Indra, these Somas with their lauds have been pre-

I call on thee, Sabardughd, this day, inspirer of the

Indra, the strong and lofty hills are powerless to

Who knows what vital power he wins, drinking

What time thou easiest from his seat and punishest

Let Tvashtar, Brahmanaspati, Parjanya guard our

Ne'er are thou fruitless, Indra, ne'er dost tbou desert

Best slayer of the Vritras, yoke thy bay steeds,

O Thunderer, zealous worshippers gave thee drink

ADVANCING, sending forth her rays, the daughter of

These morning sacrifices call you, Asvins, at the

Where are ye, Gods ? What mortal man, O Asvins,

This sweetest Soma juice hath been expressed for

Let me not, still beseeching thee with might and

Adhvaryu, let the Soma flow, for Indra longs to

Bring thou all this unto the good, O Indra, to the

If I, O India, were the lord of riches ample as thine

Thou in thy battles, Indra, art subduer of all hostile

For in thy might thou stretchest out beyond the

PRESSED is the juice divine with milk commingled : thereto hath India ever been accustomed.

A home is made for thee to dwell in, Indra : O

The well thou clavest, settest free the fountains, and

When we have pressed the juice we laud thee, Indra,

Thy right hand have we grasped in ours, O Indra,

Men call on India in the armed encounter that he

Like birds of beauteous wing the Priyamedhas,

Tney gaze on thee with longing in their spirit, as on

First in the ancient time was Prayer engendered :

They have prepared and fashioned for this hero words

THE black drop sank in Ansumati's bosom, advancing

Flying in terror from the snort of Vritra all deities

The old hath waked the young Moon from his slumber

Then, at thy birth, thou wast the foeman, Indra, of

A friend we count thee, sharp-edged, thunder-wielder,

Bring to the wise, the great, who waxeth mighty

Call we on Maghavan, auspicious Indra, best hero

Prayers have been offered up through love of glory :

M iy the sweet Soma juices make him happy to cast

THIS vigorous one whom deities commission, the conqueror of cars, the strong and mighty,

Indra the rescuer, Indra the helper, hero who listens

Indra whose right hand wields the bolt we worship,

The ever-slaying, bold and furious Indra, the bright

The man who lies in wait and fights against us,

He whom men call when striving with their foemen^

On a high car, O Parvata and Indra, bring pleasant

In ceaseless flow hath he poured forth his praises,

May our friends turn thee hither ward to friendship !

Who yokes to-day unto the pole of Order the strong

THE singers hymn thee, they who chant the psalm of

All sacred songs have magnified Indra expansive as

This poured libation, Indra, drink, immortal, gladden-

Stone-darting Indra, wondrous God, what wealth

O Indra, hear Tiraschi's call, the call of him who

This Soma hath been pressed for thee, O Indra :

Come hither, Indra, with thy bays, come thou to

Song-lover ! like the charioteer come songs to thee

Come now and let us glorify pure India with pure

BRING forth oblations to the God who knoweth all

To us the mighty, lying in all vital power, who resteth in the deep, who standeth in the east. Drive thou the awful word away.

Even as a car to give us aid, we draw thee nigh to

With power of mighty ones hath he, the friend, the

What time the swift and shining steeds, yoked to the

Him for your sake I glorify as Lord of Strength

I with my praise have glorified strong Dadhikravan,

Render of forts, the young, the wise, of strength un- measured, was he born,

Ye Gods who yonder have your home amid the luminous realm of heaven,

We offer laud and psalm wherewith men celebrate their holy rites.

HEROES of one accord brought forth and formed for kingship Indra who wins the victory in all en- counters,

I trust in thy first wrathful deed, O Indra, when

Come all with might together to the Lord of heaven

Thine, Indra, praised of many, excellently rich, are

High hymns have sounded forth the praise of Magha-

In perfect unison have all your longing hymns that

Make glad with songs that Rani whom many men

I glorify that Ram who finds the light of heaven,

Filled full of fatness, compassing all things that be,

As, like the Morning, thou hast filled, O Indra,

WHEN Somas flow thou rnakest pure, Indra, thy mind

Sing forth to him whom many men invoke, to him

We sing this strong and wild delight of thine which

Whether thou drink the Soma by Vishnu's or Trita

Come, priest, and of the savoury juice pour forth a

Pour out the drops for Indra; let him drink the

Come, sing we praise to Indra, friends ! the hero who

Sing ye a psalm to Indra, sing a great sing to the

He who alone bestoweth wealth on mortal man who

Companions, let us learn a prayer to Indra, to the