He who is Chief of men, their armies' Leader, is a strong Hero, bold, and fain for booty.

6 The people falter not, nor suffer sorrow, who win themselves this God's terrific spirit.

He who with sacrifices worships Indra is lord of wealth, lawborn and law's protector.

7 Whene'er the elder fain would help the younger, the greater cometh to the lesser's present.

Shall the Immortal sit aloof inactive? O Wondrous Indra, bring us wondrous riches.

8 Thy dear folk, Indra, who present oblations, are, in chief place, thy friends, O Thunder-wielder.

May we be best content in this thy favour, sheltered by One who slays not, but preserves us.

9 To thee the mighty hymn hath clamoured loudly, and, Maghavan, the eloquent hath besought thee.

Desire of wealth hath come upon thy singer: help us then,
Şakra, to our share of riches.

10 Place us by food which thou hast given, O Indra, us and the wealthy patrons who command us.

Let thy great power bring good to him who lauds thee.
Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.

HYMN XXI.

Ye

Indra.

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

We wake thee, Lord of Bays, with sacrifices: mark this our laud in the wild joy of Soma.

2 On to the rite they move, the grass they scatter, these Somadrinkers eloquent in synod.

Hither, for men to grasp, are brought the press-stones, far-thundering, famous, strong, that wait on heroes.

6 Law-born: born in accordance with the law.

7 The relations between Gods and men resemble those between elders and juniors, superiors and inferiors among men. The inferior comes to his superior with some offering in his hand and is assisted by him in return. So Indra should accept our oblations, and reward us with wealth.

9 The eloquent stamúḥ; according to Ludwig, the Greek σTwμúλos (from σróμa, mouth), mouthy, talkative, and, in a good sense, fluent, eloquent. The Commentators explain the word as 'praiser.'

1 We wake thee: or, we think of thee, serve thee.

3 Indra, thou settest free the many waters that were encompassed, Hero, by the Dragon.

Down rolled, as if on chariots borne, the rivers: through fear of thee all things created tremble.

4 Skilled in all manly deeds the God terrific hath with his weapons mastered these opponents.

Indra in rapturous joy shook down their castles: he slew them in his might, the Thunder-wielder.

5 No evil spirits have impelled us, Indra, nor fiends, O Mightiest God. with their devices.

Let our true God subdue the hostile rabble let not the lewd approach our holy worship.

6 Thou in thy strength surpassest Earth and Heaven: the regions comprehend not all thy greatness.

With thine own power and might thou slewest Vṛitra: no foe hath found the end of thee in battle.

7 Even the earlier Deities submitted their powers to thy supreme divine dominion.

Indra wins wealth and deals it out to others: men in the strife for booty call on Indra.

8 The humble hath invoked thee for protection, thee, Lord of great felicity, O Indra.

Thou with a hundred aids hast been our Helper: one who brings gifts like thee hath his defender.

9 May we, O Indra, be thy friends for ever, eagerly, Conqueror, yielding greater homage.

May, through thy grace, the strength of us who battle quell

in the shock the onset of the foeman.

10 Place us by food which thou hast given, O Indra, us and the wealthy patrons who command us.

Let thy great power bring good to him who lauds thee. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.

DRINK Soma, Lord of Bays, and let it cheer thee: Indra, the stone, like a well guided courser,

Directed by the presser's arms hath pressed it.

4 These opponents: according to Sâyana, the demons of the air. The text has no noun for these.'

5 The lewd those who do not follow Vedic observances, according to Yâska. For a full discussion of the meaning of ṣiṣnádeváḥ see Muir, O. S. Texts, IV. 406-411.

8 One who brings gifts like thee: Sayana interprets differently: 'be our defender against every overpowering (assailant) like to thee.'-Wilson.

2 So let the draught of joy, thy dear companion, by which, O Lord of Bays, thou slayest foemen,

Delight thee, Indra, Lord of princely treasures.

3 Mark closely, Maghavan, the words I utter, this eulogy recited by Vasishtha:

Accept the prayers I offer at thy banquet.

4 Hear thou the call of the juice-drinking press-stone: hear thou the Brahman's hymn who sings and lauds thee.

Take to thine inmost self these adorations.

5 I know and ne'er forget the hymns and praises of thee, the Conqueror, and thy strength immortal.

Thy name I ever utter, Self-Refulgent!

6 Among mankind many are thy libations, and many a time the pious sage invokes thee.

O .Maghavan, be not long distant from us.

7 All these libations are for thee, O Hero: to thee I offer these my prayers that strengthen.

Ever, in every place, must men invoke thee.

8 Never do men attain, O Wonder-Worker, thy greatness, Mighty One, who must be lauded,

Nor, Indra, thine heroic power

and bounty.

9 Among all Rishis, Indra, old and recent, who have engendered hymns as sacred singers,

Even with us be thine auspicious friendships. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.

PRAYERS have been offered up through love of glory: Vasishtha, honour Indra in the battle.

He who with might extends through all existence hears words which I, his faithful servant, utter.

2 A cry was raised which reached the Gods, O Indra, a cry to them to send us strength in combat.

None among men knows his own life's duration: bear us in safety over these our troubles.

3 The Bays, the booty-seeking car I harness: my prayers have reached him who accepts them gladly.

4 Juice-drinking: that presses out the juice of the plant, and so may be said to drink it. The Scholiast inserts mama. of me: 'Hear the invocation of the (grinding) stone (of me) repeatedly drinking (the Soma).'-Wilson.

2 A cry was raised: I follow Pischel's interpretation of this very difficult stanza. See Vedische Studien, I. pp. 34-36.

Indra, when he had slain resistless foemen, forced with his might the two world-halves asunder.

4 Like barren cows, moreover, swelled the waters: the singers sought thy holy rite, O Indra.

Come unto us as with his team comes Vâyu: thou, through our solemn hymns bestowest booty.

5 So may these gladdening draughts rejoice thee, Indra, the Mighty, very bounteous to the singer.

Alone among the Gods thou pitiest mortals: O Hero, make thee glad at this libation.

6 Thus the Vasishthas glorify with praises Indra the Powerful whose arm wields thunder.

Praised, may he guard our wealth in kine and heroes. Ye Gods, preserve us evermore with blessings.

A HOME is made for thee to dwell in, Indra: O Much-invoked, go thither with the heroes.

That thou, to prosper us, mayst be our Helper, vouchsafe us wealth, rejoice with draughts of Soma.

2 Indra, thy wish, twice-strong, is comprehended: pressed is the Soma, poured are pleasant juices.

This hymn of praise, from loosened tongue, made perfect, draws Indra to itself with loud invoking.

3 Come, thou Impetuous God, from earth or heaven come to our holy grass to drink the Soma.

Hither to me let thy Bay Horses bring thee to listen to our hymns and make thee joyful.

4 Come unto us with all thine aids, accordant, Lord of Bay Steeds, accepting our devotions,

Fair-helmeted, o'ercoming with the mighty, and lending us the strength of bulls, O Indra.

5 As to the chariot pole a vigorous courser, this laud is brought to the great strong Upholder.

This hymn solicits wealth of thee: in heaven, as 'twere above the sky, set thou our glory.

6 With precious things. O Indra, thus content us: may we attain to thine exalted favour.

Send our chiefs plenteous food with hero children. Preserve us evermore, ye Gols, with blessings.

4 Barren cows which are fatter than others.

1 A home in the sacrificial chamber. Heroes: or. men; the priests. 4 Fair-helmeted or fair-checked, or handsome chinned.

WHEN with thy mighty help, O potent Indra, the armies rush

together in their fury,

When from the strong man's arm the lightning flieth, let not thy mind go forth to side with others.

2 O Indra, where the ground is hard to traverse, smite down our foes, the mortals who assail us.

Keep far from us the curse of the reviler: bring us accumulated store of treasures.

3 God of the fair helm. give Sudâs a hundred succours, a thousand blessings, and thy bounty.

Strike down the weapon of our mortal foeman: bestow upon us splendid fame and riches.

4 I wait the power of one like thee, O Indra, gifts of a Helper such as thou art, Hero.

Strong, Mighty God, dwell with me now and ever: Lord of Bay Horses, do not thou desert us.

5 Here are the Kutsas supplicating Indra for might, the Lord of Bays for God-sent conquest.

Make our foes ever easy to be vanquished: may we, victorious, win the spoil, O Hero.

6 With precious things, O Indra, thus content us: may we attain to thine exalted favour.

Send our chiefs plenteous food with hero children. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.

SOMA unpressed ne'er gladdened liberal Indra, no juices pressed without a prayer have pleased him.

I generate a laud that shall delight him, new and heroic, so that he may hear us.

2 At every laud the Soma gladdens Indra: pressed juices please him as each psalm is chanted,

What time the priests with one united effort call him to aid, as sons invoke their father.

3 These deeds he did; let him achieve new exploits, such as the priests declare at their libations.

The battle has begun, and the singer prays to Indra for aid.

1 The lightning: the swift and flashing arrow.

Others: the enemy.

3 Sudas: according to Sâyaṇa, 'the liberal donor (of oblations).'—Wilson. The Kutsas: apparently the priests of the hostile party.

1 Soma unpressed: cp. VI. 41. 4, Soma when (properly) pressed excels the unpressed (or ill-pressed) Soma. Not only must the juice be duly expressed, but it must be expressed and offered with prayer.