HYMN XXXVIII. Indra: Rig Veda – Book 3 – Ralph T.H. Griffith, Translator
अभि तष्टेव दीधया मनीषामत्यो न वाजी सुधुरो जिहानः |
अभि परियाणि मर्म्र्शत पराणि कवीन्रिछामि सन्द्र्शे सुमेधाः ||
इनोत पर्छ जनिमा कवीनां मनोध्र्तः सुक्र्तस्तक्षत दयाम |
इमा उ ते परण्यो वर्धमाना मनोवाता अध नु धर्मणिग्मन ||
नि षीमिदत्र गुह्या दधाना उत कषत्राय रोदसी समञ्जन |
सं मात्राभिर्ममिरे येमुर उर्वी अन्तर मही सम्र्ते धायसे धुः ||
आतिष्ठन्तं परि विश्वे अभूषञ्छ्रियो वसानश्चरति सवरोचिः |
महत तद वर्ष्णो असुरस्य नामा विश्वरूपो अम्र्तानि तस्थौ ||
असूत पूर्वो वर्षभो जयायानिमा अस्य शुरुधः सन्ति पूर्वीः |
दिवो नपाता विदथस्य धीभिः कषत्रं राजाना परदिवो दधाथे ||
तरीणि राजाना विदथे पुरूणि परि विश्वानि भूषथः सदांसि |
अपश्यमत्र मनसा जगन्वान वरते गन्धर्वानपि वायुकेशान ||
तदिन नवस्य वर्षभस्य धेनोरा नामभिर्ममिरे सक्म्यंगोः |
अन्यद-अन्यदसुर्यं वसाना नि मायिनो ममिरे रूपमस्मिन ||
तदिन नवस्य सवितुर्नकिर्मे हिरण्ययीममतिं यामशिश्रेत |
आ सुष्टुती रोदसी विश्वमिन्वे अपीव योषा जनिमानि वव्रे ||
युवं परत्नस्य साधथो महो यद दैवी सवस्तिः परि णः सयातम |
गोपाजिह्वस्य तस्थुषो विरूपा विश्वे पश्यन्ति मायिनः कर्तानि ||
शुनं हुवेम … ||
abhi taṣṭeva dīdhayā manīṣāmatyo na vājī sudhuro jihānaḥ |
abhi priyāṇi marmṛśat parāṇi kavīnrichāmi sandṛśe sumedhāḥ ||
inota pṛcha janimā kavīnāṃ manodhṛtaḥ sukṛtastakṣata dyām |
imā u te praṇyo vardhamānā manovātā adha nu dharmaṇighman ||
ni ṣīmidatra ghuhyā dadhānā uta kṣatrāya rodasī samañjan |
saṃ mātrābhirmamire yemur urvī antar mahī samṛte dhāyase dhuḥ ||
ātiṣṭhantaṃ pari viśve abhūṣañchriyo vasānaścarati svarociḥ |
mahat tad vṛṣṇo asurasya nāmā viśvarūpo amṛtāni tasthau ||
asūta pūrvo vṛṣabho jyāyānimā asya śurudhaḥ santi pūrvīḥ |
divo napātā vidathasya dhībhiḥ kṣatraṃ rājānā pradivo dadhāthe ||
trīṇi rājānā vidathe purūṇi pari viśvāni bhūṣathaḥ sadāṃsi |
apaśyamatra manasā jaghanvān vrate ghandharvānapi vāyukeśān ||
tadin nvasya vṛṣabhasya dhenorā nāmabhirmamire sakmyaṃghoḥ |
anyad-anyadasuryaṃ vasānā ni māyino mamire rūpamasmin ||
tadin nvasya saviturnakirme hiraṇyayīmamatiṃ yāmaśiśret |
ā suṣṭutī rodasī viśvaminve apīva yoṣā janimāni vavre ||
yuvaṃ pratnasya sādhatho maho yad daivī svastiḥ pari ṇaḥ syātam |
ghopājihvasya tasthuṣo virūpā viśve paśyanti māyinaḥ kṛtāni ||
śunaṃ huvema … ||
English Translation
Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith
1. HASTING like some strong courser good at drawing, a thought have I imagined like a workman.
Pondering what is dearest and most noble, I long to see the sages full of wisdom.
2 Ask of the sages’ mighty generations firm-minded and devout they framed the heaven.
These are thy heart-sought strengthening directions, and they have come to be sky’s upholders.
3 Assuming in this world mysterious natures, they decked the heaven and earth for high dominion,
Measured with measures, fixed their broad expanses, set the great worlds apart held firm for safety.
4 Even as he mounted up they all adorned him: self-luminous he travels clothed in splendour.
That is the Bull’s, the Asura’s mighty figure: he, omniform, hath reached the eternal waters.
5 First the more ancient Bull engendered offspring; these are his many draughts that lent him vigour.
From days of old ye Kings, two Sons of Heaven, by hymns of sacrifice have won dominion.
6 Three seats ye Sovrans, in the Holy synod, many, yea, all, ye honour with your presence.
There saw I, going thither in the spirit, Gandharvas in their course with wind-blown tresses.
7 That same companionship of her, the Milch-cow, here with the strong Bull’s divers forms they stablished.
Enduing still some new celestial figure, the skilful workers shaped a form around him.
8 Let no one here debar me from enjoying the golden light which Savitar diffuses.
He covers both all-fostering worlds with praises even as a woman cherishes her children.
9 Fulfil, ye twain, his work, the Great, the Ancient: as heavenly blessing keep your guard around us.
All the wise Gods behold his varied actions who stands erect, whose voice is like a herdsman’s.
10 Call we on Indra, Maghavan, auspicious, best Hero in the fight where spoil is gathered,
The Strong, who listens, who gives aid in battles, who slays the Vṛtras, wins and gathers riches.