Rig Veda 8.96

asmā uṣāsa ātiranta yāmam indrāya naktam ūrmyāḥ suvācaḥ asmā āpo mātaraḥ sapta tasthur nṛbhyas tarāya sindhavaḥ supārāḥ

For him the Mornings made their courses longer, and Nights with pleasant voices spake to Indra. For him the Floods stood still, the Seven Mothers, Streams easy for the heroes to pass over.

atividdhā vithureṇā cid astrā triḥ sapta sānu saṃhitā girīṇām na tad devo na martyas tuturyād yāni pravṛddho vṛṣabhaś cakāra

The Darter penetrated, though in trouble, thrice-seven close-pressed ridges of the mountains. Neither might God nor mortal man accomplish what the Strong Hero wrought in full-grown vigour.

indrasya vajra āyaso nimiśla indrasya bāhvor bhūyiṣṭham ojaḥ śīrṣann indrasya kratavo nireka āsann eṣanta śrutyā upāke

The mightiest force is Indra's bolt of iron when firmly grasped in both the arms of Indra. His head and mouth have powers that pass all others, and all his people hasten near to listen.

manye tvā yajñiyaṃ yajñiyānām manye tvā cyavanam acyutānām manye tvā satvanām indra ketum manye tvā vṛṣabhaṃ carṣaṇīnām

1 count thee as the Holiest of the Holy, the caster-down of what hath ne'er been shaken. I count thee as the Banner of the heroes, I count thee as the Chief of all men living.

ā yad vajram bāhvor indra dhatse madacyutam ahaye hantavā u pra parvatā anavanta pra gāvaḥ pra brahmāṇo abhinakṣanta indram

What time, O Indra, in thine arms thou tookest thy wildly rushing bolt to Slay the Dragon, The mountains roared, the cattle loudly bellowed, the Brahmans with their hymns drew nigh to Indra.

tam u ṣṭavāma ya imā jajāna viśvā jātāny avarāṇy asmāt indreṇa mitraṃ didhiṣema gīrbhir upo namobhir vṛṣabhaṃ viśema

Let us praise him who made these worlds and creatures, all things that after him sprang into being. May we win Mitra with our songs, and Indra, and. wait upon our Lord with adoration.

vṛtrasya tvā śvasathād īṣamāṇā viśve devā ajahur ye sakhāyaḥ marudbhir indra sakhyaṃ te astv athemā viśvāḥ pṛtanā jayāsi

Flying in terror from the snort of Vritra, all Deities who were thy friends forsook thee. So, Indra, be thy friendship with the Maruts: in all these battles thou shalt be the victor.

triḥ ṣaṣṭis tvā maruto vāvṛdhānā usrā iva rāśayo yajñiyāsaḥ upa tvemaḥ kṛdhi no bhāgadheyaṃ śuṣmaṃ ta enā haviṣā vidhema

Thrice-sixty Maruts, waxing strong, were with thee, like piles of beaming light, worthy of worship. We come to thee: grant us a happy portion. Let us adore thy might with this oblation.

tigmam āyudham marutām anīkaṃ kas ta indra prati vajraṃ dadharṣa anāyudhāso asurā adevāś cakreṇa tāṁ apa vapa ṛjīṣin

A sharpened weapon is the host of Maruts. Who, Indra, dares withstand thy bolt of thunder? Weaponless are the Asuras, the godless: scatter them with thy wheel, Impetuous Hero.

maha ugrāya tavase suvṛktim preraya śivatamāya paśvaḥ girvāhase gira indrāya pūrvīr dhehi tanve kuvid aṅga vedat

To him the Strong and Mighty, most auspicious, send up the beauteous hymn for sake of cattle. Lay oa his body many songs for Indra invoked with song, for will not he regard. them?

ukthavāhase vibhve manīṣāṃ druṇā na pāram īrayā nadīnām ni spṛśa dhiyā tanvi śrutasya juṣṭatarasya kuvid aṅga vedat

To him, the Mighty, who accepts laudation, send forth thy thought as by a boat o'er rivers, Stir with thy hymn the body of the Famous and Dearest One, for will not he regard it?

tad viviḍḍhi yat ta indro jujoṣat stuhi suṣṭutiṃ namasā vivāsa upa bhūṣa jaritar mā ruvaṇyaḥ śrāvayā vācaṃ kuvid aṅga vedat

Serve him with gifts of thine which Indra welcomes: praise with fair praise, invite him with thine homage. Draw near, O singer, and refrain from outcry. Make thy voice heard, for will not he regard it?

ava drapso aṃśumatīm atiṣṭhad iyānaḥ kṛṣṇo daśabhiḥ sahasraiḥ

The Black Drop sank in Amsumati's bosom, advancing with ten thousand round about it. Indra with might longed for it as it panted: the hero-hearted laid aside his weapons.

drapsam apaśyaṃ viṣuṇe carantam upahvare nadyo aṃśumatyāḥ nabho na kṛṣṇam avatasthivāṃsam iṣyāmi vo vṛṣaṇo yudhyatājau

1 saw the Drop in the far distance moving, on the slope bank of Amsumati's river, Like a black cloud that sank into the water. Heroes, I send you forth. Go, fight in battle.

adha drapso aṃśumatyā upasthe 'dhārayat tanvaṃ titviṣāṇaḥ viśo adevīr abhy ācarantīr bṛhaspatinā yujendraḥ sasāhe

And then the Drop in Amsumati's bosom, splendid with light, assumed its proper body; And Indra, with Brihaspati to aid him, conquered the godless tribes that came against him.

tvaṃ ha tyat saptabhyo jāyamāno 'śatrubhyo abhavaḥ śatrur indra gūﾱhe dyāvāpṛthivī anv avindo vibhumadbhyo bhuvanebhyo raṇaṃ dhāḥ

Then, at thy birth, thou wast the foeman, Indra, of those the seven who ne'er had met a rival. The hidden Pair, the Heaven and Earth, thou foundest, and to the mighty worlds thou gavest pleasure.

tvaṃ ha tyad apratimānam ojo vajreṇa vajrin dhṛṣito jaghantha tvaṃ śuṣṇasyāvātiro vadhatrais tvaṃ gā indra śacyed avindaḥ

So, Thunder-armed! thou with thy bolt of thunder didst boldly smite that power which none might equal; With weapons broughtest low the might of Sushna, and, Indra, foundest by thy strength the cattle.

tvaṃ ha tyad vṛṣabha carṣaṇīnāṃ ghano vṛtrāṇāṃ taviṣo babhūtha tvaṃ sindhūṃr asṛjas tastabhānān tvam apo ajayo dāsapatnīḥ

Then wast thou, Chieftain of all living mortals, the very mighty slayer of the Vritras. Then didst thou set the obstructed rivers flowing, and win the floods that were enthralled by Dasas.

sa sukratū raṇitā yaḥ suteṣv anuttamanyur yo aheva revān ya eka in nary apāṃsi kartā sa vṛtrahā pratīd anyam āhuḥ

Most wise is he, rejoicing in libations, splendid as day, resistless in his anger. He only doth great deeds, the only Hero, sole Vritra-slayer he, with none beside him.

sa vṛtrahendraś carṣaṇīdhṛt taṃ suṣṭutyā havyaṃ huvema sa prāvitā maghavā no 'dhivaktā sa vājasya śravasyasya dātā

Indra is Vritra's slayer, man's sustainer: he must be called; with fair praise let us call him. Maghavan is our Helper, our Protector, giver of spoil and wealth to make us famous.

sa vṛtrahendra ṛbhukṣāḥ sadyo jajñāno havyo babhūva kṛṇvann apāṃsi naryā purūṇi somo na pīto havyaḥ sakhibhyaḥ

This Indra, Vritra-slayer, this Ribhukshan, even at his birth, was meet for invocation. Doer of many deeds for man's advantage, like Soma quaffed, for friends we must invoke him.