HYMN XXIX Indra: Rig Veda – Book 6 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator

इन्द्रं वो नरः सख्याय सेपुर्महो यन्तः सुमतये चकानाः |
महो हि दाता वज्रहस्तो अस्ति महामु रण्वमवसे यजध्वम ||

आ यस्मिन हस्ते नर्या मिमिक्षुरा रथे हिरण्यये रथेष्ठाः |
आ रश्मयो गभस्त्यो सथूरयोराध्वन्नश्वासो वर्षणो युजानाः ||

शरिये ते पादा दुव आ मिमिक्षुर्ध्र्ष्णुर्वज्री शवसा दक्षिणावान |
वसानो अत्कं सुरभिं दर्शे कं सवर्ण नर्तविषिरो बभूथ ||

स सोम आमिश्लतमः सुतो भूद यस्मिन पक्तिः पच्यते सन्तिधानाः |
इन्द्रं नर सतुवन्तो बरह्मकारा उक्था शंसन्तो देववाततमाः ||

न ते अन्तः शवसो धाय्यस्य वि तु बाबधे रोदसी महित्वा |
आ ता सूरिः पर्णति तूतुजानो यूथेवाप्सु समीजमान ऊती ||

एवेदिन्द्रः सुहव रष्वो अस्तूती अनूती हिरिशिप्रः सत्वा |
एवा हि जातो असमात्योजाः पुरू च वर्त्रा हनति नि दस्यून ||

indraṃ vo naraḥ sakhyāya sepurmaho yantaḥ sumataye cakānāḥ |
maho hi dātā vajrahasto asti mahāmu raṇvamavase yajadhvam ||

ā yasmin haste naryā mimikṣurā rathe hiraṇyaye ratheṣṭhāḥ |
ā raśmayo ghabhastyo sthūrayorādhvannaśvāso vṛṣaṇo yujānāḥ ||

śriye te pādā duva ā mimikṣurdhṛṣṇurvajrī śavasā dakṣiṇāvān |
vasāno atkaṃ surabhiṃ dṛśe kaṃ svarṇa nṛtaviṣiro babhūtha ||

sa soma āmiślatamaḥ suto bhūd yasmin paktiḥ pacyate santidhānāḥ |
indraṃ nara stuvanto brahmakārā ukthā śaṃsanto devavātatamāḥ ||

na te antaḥ śavaso dhāyyasya vi tu bābadhe rodasī mahitvā |
ā tā sūriḥ pṛṇati tūtujāno yūthevāpsu samījamāna ūtī ||

evedindraḥ suhava ṛṣvo astūtī anūtī hiriśipraḥ satvā |
evā hi jāto asamātyojāḥ purū ca vṛtrā hanati ni dasyūn ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. YOUR men have followed Indra for his friendship, and for his loving-kindness glorified him.
For he bestows great wealth, the Thunder-wielder: worship him, Great and Kind, to win his favour.

2 Him to whose hand, men closely cling, and drivers stand on his golden chariot firmly stationed.
With his firm arms he holds the reins; his Horses, the Stallions, are yoked ready for the journey.

3 Thy devotees embrace thy feet for glory. Bold, thunder-armed, rich, through thy strength, in guerdon,
Robed in a garment fair as heaven to look on, thou hast displayed thee like an active dancer.

4 That Soma when effused hath best consistence, for which the food is dressed and grain is mingled;
By which the men who pray, extolling Indra chief favourites of Gods, recite their praises.

5 No limit of thy might hath been appointed, which by its greatness sundered earth and heaven.
These the Prince filleth full with strong endeavour, driving, as ’twere, with help his flocks to waters.

6 So be the lofty Indra prompt to listen, Helper unaided, golden-visored Hero.
Yea, so may he, shown forth in might unequalled, smite down the many Vṛtras and the Dasyus.