Hymn to Indra
Rigveda VIII.96 is a sūkta (hymn of praise) from Maṇḍala 8 of the Rigveda, one of the 1,028 hymns organized within the ten books of the oldest Veda. The Rigveda was composed approximately 1700–1100 BCE in Vedic Sanskrit and preserved through oral transmission across millennia.
This is a Good Works Translation produced by the New Tianmu Anglican Church from the Sanskrit of the Śākala recension.
Come hither, Indra, mighty-armed, the victor of the thunderbolt. Thy cosmic deed hath shaken heaven; the mountains quailed before Thee when Thy foe lay broken 'neath Thy mace.
We call upon Thee, Thunderer, wielder of the supreme force. Thou didst smite the dragon of the deep and loose the waters for all the world. The demon's blood hath stained the earth, but Thou hast bathed in victory.
Thy coursers, bay and fleet of foot, they bear Thee swiftly through the sky. No chariot hath Thy equal in its speed; the gods themselves bow down before Thee as Thou passest through the clouds.
In ancient days, when chaos ruled and darkness held dominion o'er the earth, Thou didst arise, O Indra, armed with purpose and with might. Thy generosity doth overflow; the bounteous giver of all good.
We praise Thy deeds, O Lord of War. The heavens hold Thy name in sacred awe; the earth doth tremble at Thy voice. Give us the strength to face our foes, to stand as Thou dost stand—unwavering and bold.
Thy victories are sung in every hymn; Thy thunderbolt is feared by all. The Maruts follow in Thy train; the winds themselves do bow to Thee. Grant us Thy favor in this hour, O mighty one, O king of gods.
The sacrifice is set, the soma flows; we offer up our voices in Thy praise. Accept this gift as Thou hast done in times of old. Be merciful and grant us victory and wealth and honor.
The dragon's blood hath colored all the streams; his scales lie scattered in the deep. Yet more there are who wait to test Thy strength. Come forth, O Indra, come again and show Thy power to all the world.
Thy friendship is the greatest prize; to walk beneath Thy watchful gaze is blessing beyond measure. The gods themselves do seek Thy favor. How blessed are those whom Thou dost call Thy own.
In battle Thou art undefeated; no foe hath ever turned Thee back. Thy hand is swift, Thy heart is true, Thy courage boundless and complete. Be our ally, be our friend; defend us from all evil and all harm.
The earth doth bear the weight of Thy great deeds; the sky cannot contain the vastness of Thy glory. Thy name doth echo through all worlds and ages yet unborn shall hear of Thee and know Thy fame.
The soma pressed with reverent hands doth reach Thy lips as Thou dost sit on high. Drink deeply, mighty one, and let this gift restore Thy strength. We call upon Thee with the oldest songs; accept our praise as Thou didst in the days of old.
Thy enemies do fall like autumn leaves; they scatter at the sound of Thy great war-cry. Their fortresses are nothing 'neath Thy power; Thy will alone is law unto all lands. Guard those who call upon Thy name with truth and honor in their hearts.
The Maruts, wild and fierce, they are but servants of Thy greater might. What force could stand against Thee when Thou marchest forth in splendor? No king hath ever matched Thy throne; no god hath ever equaled Thee in glory.
We offer up our voices in this hymn; we pour the soma for Thy drinking. Accept our gift and show Thy favor unto us. Grant us wealth and victory and sons to carry on our names to generations yet unborn.
Thy cosmic acts did forge the very shape of all existence. When Thou didst battle with the dark, the light was born and order came to be. Thou art the keeper of all truth; the guardian of the sacred law. Be ever watchful over us.
The singer calls to Thee with ancient words; the singers call with voices raised in prayer. Hear us, O mighty Indra, from Thy throne on high. Let not our voices go unanswered; let not our sacrifice be turned away.
Thy generosity doth know no bounds; the giver of all precious things, of herds and sons and treasures vast. Those who do honor Thee with right and truth do find in Thee a friend most true and strong. Be with us always in our hour of need.
The lightning flashes at Thy touch; the thunder rolls at Thy command. The storm doth follow where Thou leadest; the rains do fall when Thou dost will it. All nature bows before Thee, Lord of all that moves and lives.
We praise Thee, Indra, for Thy strength that knows no peer among the gods. We praise Thee for Thy generosity, Thy justice, and Thy endless might. Accept this hymn as token of our faith; be our defender and our friend.
In heaven's halls Thy throne doth shine eternal and supreme. The immortal gods do gather 'round and sing Thy praise in never-ending song. But mortals too do feel Thy power; to us Thou comest when we call with hearts made pure and true.
Thus hath the singer raised his voice in hymn to Thee, O mighty Indra, king of gods and slayer of the dragon-foe. Hear us and grant unto us all good things—wealth and victory and life most long and blessed beneath Thy watchful gaze.
Colophon
This hymn is drawn from the Śākala recension of the Rigveda, composed approximately 1700–1100 BCE. This is a Good Works Translation produced by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, translated independently from the Sanskrit. Reference translations consulted during original translation are to be documented during audit.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: ṛgveda VIII.96
Sanskrit source text from the Aufrecht edition (1877) via GRETIL (Van Nooten & Holland input). Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
asmā uṣāsa ātiranta yāmam indrāya naktam ūrmyāḥ suvācaḥ |
asmā āpo mātaraḥ sapta tasthur nṛbhyas tarāya sindhavaḥ supārāḥ || 1 ||
atividdhā vithureṇā cid astrā triḥ sapta sānu saṁhitā girīṇām |
na tad devo na martyas tuturyād yāni pravṛddho vṛṣabhaś cakāra || 2 ||
indrasya vajra āyaso nimiśla indrasya bāhvor bhūyiṣṭham ojaḥ |
śīrṣann indrasya kratavo nireka āsann eṣanta śrutyā upāke || 3 ||
manye tvā yajñiyaṁ yajñiyānām manye tvā cyavanam acyutānām |
manye tvā satvanām indra ketum manye tvā vṛṣabhaṁ carṣaṇīnām || 4 ||
ā yad vajram bāhvor indra dhatse madacyutam ahaye hantavā u |
pra parvatā anavanta pra gāvaḥ pra brahmāṇo abhinakṣanta indram || 5 ||
tam u ṣṭavāma ya imā jajāna viśvā jātāny avarāṇy asmāt |
indreṇa mitraṁ didhiṣema gīrbhir upo namobhir vṛṣabhaṁ viśema || 6 ||
vṛtrasya tvā śvasathād īṣamāṇā viśve devā ajahur ye sakhāyaḥ |
marudbhir indra sakhyaṁ te astv athemā viśvāḥ pṛtanā jayāsi || 7 ||
triḥ ṣaṣṭis tvā maruto vāvṛdhānā usrā iva rāśayo yajñiyāsaḥ |
upa tvemaḥ kṛdhi no bhāgadheyaṁ śuṣmaṁ ta enā haviṣā vidhema || 8 ||
tigmam āyudham marutām anīkaṁ kas ta indra prati vajraṁ dadharṣa |
anāyudhāso asurā adevāś cakreṇa tām̐ apa vapa ṛjīṣin || 9 ||
maha ugrāya tavase suvṛktim preraya śivatamāya paśvaḥ |
girvāhase gira indrāya pūrvīr dhehi tanve kuvid aṅga vedat || 10 ||
ukthavāhase vibhve manīṣāṁ druṇā na pāram īrayā nadīnām |
ni spṛśa dhiyā tanvi śrutasya juṣṭatarasya kuvid aṅga vedat || 11 ||
tad viviḍḍhi yat ta indro jujoṣat stuhi suṣṭutiṁ namasā vivāsa |
upa bhūṣa jaritar mā ruvaṇyaḥ śrāvayā vācaṁ kuvid aṅga vedat || 12 ||
ava drapso aṁśumatīm atiṣṭhad iyānaḥ kṛṣṇo daśabhiḥ sahasraiḥ |
āvat tam indraḥ śacyā dhamantam apa snehitīr nṛmaṇā adhatta || 13 ||
drapsam apaśyaṁ viṣuṇe carantam upahvare nadyo aṁśumatyāḥ |
nabho na kṛṣṇam avatasthivāṁsam iṣyāmi vo vṛṣaṇo yudhyatājau || 14 ||
adha drapso aṁśumatyā upasthe 'dhārayat tanvaṁ titviṣāṇaḥ |
viśo adevīr abhy ā3carantīr bṛhaspatinā yujendraḥ sasāhe || 15 ||
tvaṁ ha tyat saptabhyo jāyamāno 'śatrubhyo abhavaḥ śatrur indra |
gūḻhe dyāvāpṛthivī anv avindo vibhumadbhyo bhuvanebhyo raṇaṁ dhāḥ || 16 ||
tvaṁ ha tyad apratimānam ojo vajreṇa vajrin dhṛṣito jaghantha |
tvaṁ śuṣṇasyāvātiro vadhatrais tvaṁ gā indra śacyed avindaḥ || 17 ||
tvaṁ ha tyad vṛṣabha carṣaṇīnāṁ ghano vṛtrāṇāṁ taviṣo babhūtha |
tvaṁ sindhūm̐r asṛjas tastabhānān tvam apo ajayo dāsapatnīḥ || 18 ||
sa sukratū raṇitā yaḥ suteṣv anuttamanyur yo aheva revān |
ya eka in nary apāṁsi kartā sa vṛtrahā pratīd anyam āhuḥ || 19 ||
sa vṛtrahendraś carṣaṇīdhṛt taṁ suṣṭutyā havyaṁ huvema |
sa prāvitā maghavā no 'dhivaktā sa vājasya śravasyasya dātā || 20 ||
sa vṛtrahendra ṛbhukṣāḥ sadyo jajñāno havyo babhūva |
kṛṇvann apāṁsi naryā purūṇi somo na pīto havyaḥ sakhibhyaḥ || 21 ||
Source Colophon
Sanskrit text of the Rigveda, Śākala recension. The standard scholarly edition is the Bombay Oriental (Vishva Bandhu, 5 vols., 1963–66). IAST transliteration available from GRETIL (Göttingen Register of Electronic Texts in Indian Languages) and Vedaweb (University of Cologne). Both sources are open access. IAST transliteration from the Aufrecht edition (1877) via GRETIL (Van Nooten & Holland input, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
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