In a time when the forces of good and evil contended for dominion, the sages raised their voices in fervent prayer to Indra and Soma, the mighty guardians of righteousness. They implored these deities to cast the evildoers into a pit of darkness, a place without support or hope, so that none may rise again. They called upon Indra and Soma to unleash their wrath—powerful and unyielding—so that it would prevail over those who wished harm. The sages beseeched Indra and Soma to send forth a blow from the heavens and destruction from the earth, targeting the evil-wishers. They asked the gods to draw forth the radiant light from the mountains, a brilliance capable of destroying the swelling demon. With stones heated by Agni, and sharp, ageless weapons, the gods were called to strike down the devourer, sending them silently to their doom. Their prayers sought to surround Indra and Soma on all sides, like a swift horse racing across the field. The offerings were presented to the gods as priests, and the sages prayed that, like wise kings, Indra and Soma would grant them wisdom through their acceptance of these prayers. With victorious allies, Indra and Soma were asked to remember to slay the deceivers, the demons, and the breakers, ensuring that the evil-doer would find no easy path and that the foe could never assail the righteous. If anyone watched the sages with an evil mind or spoke false words against them, the prayers called upon Indra to ensure such a person would be swept away, lost among the false, unable to speak with authority. Those who consorted with the destroyer of ripeness or corrupted what was good with their own offerings were to be handed over by Soma to the serpent or placed in the lap of destruction. Agni was invoked to protect the essence of the sages—whether horses, cattle, or their own bodies—from those who coveted it. The enemy, the thief, and the stealer were to wander lost, diminished in body and offspring. Such adversaries would be cast down to the lowest of the three earths, their glory withered, whether they sought to harm by day or night. Discernment was praised as the gift for those who seek understanding. Truth and falsehood contend in speech, and Soma was called upon to protect what is true and righteous, striking down what is false. Soma does not harm the innocent or the just ruler; instead, he strikes down the demon and the liar, both defeated under Indra’s might. If the sage were a false god or had vainly invoked the gods, they asked Agni what he begrudged them. Those who spoke deceitfully should join with destruction. The prayer continued: if the sage were a sorcerer or had harmed another’s spirit, let him perish; but let separation and loss befall whoever falsely accuses him of sorcery. Indra was called to strike down those who falsely call the sage a sorcerer or claim to be a demon, casting them to the lowest place among all beings. The night-creeping demon, hiding her harmful form like a mongoose, was to fall into a bottomless pit, crushed by stones. The Maruts were summoned to scatter and crush the demons, those who become birds and fly by night, and those who intrude among the gods at sacrifice. Indra, Soma, and Shakra were called upon to roll down the stone from heaven, striking the demons from every direction with the mountain. The flesh-eaters, who sought to harm Indra and attack the innocent, were to be struck by Indra’s thunderbolt, falling upon the sorcerers. Indra became the destroyer of sorcerers and the expeller of those who steal the offering, breaking the demons as an axe breaks the forest. The owl-demon, screech-owl demon, flesh-eater, cuckoo-demon, eagle-demon, and vulture-demon were all to be crushed by Indra as with a stone. The prayers sought protection from the demon, the reed-demon, and the ambiguous paired ones, asking the earth, midspace, and sky to shield them from harm. Indra was called to strike down both the male sorcerer and the woman who deceives with magic, and to ensure the crooked-necked, root-gods perished, never seeing the sun rise. Indra and Soma were asked to be ever watchful, letting their weapon and thunderbolt fall upon the demons and sorcerers. Then, the sages spoke of a protective amulet, heroic and auspicious, bound for the hero. Endowed with valor, it was a destroyer of rivals and a guardian. This jewel, powerful and victorious, enabled the hero to advance and defeat adversaries. With it, Indra slew Vṛtra, the wise one overcame the Asuras, conquered heaven and earth, and subdued all four directions. This Srāktya jewel was a turning amulet, mighty and sovereign, guarding from every side. Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Savitṛ, and Indra declared the power of this jewel, and the gods, as priests, were asked to defeat hostile actions with protective charms. These gods concealed heaven and earth and called forth the sun, defeating hostile actions. Those who made the Srāktya jewel their armor ascended to the sky like the sun, sovereign and able to drive away hostile actions. With the Srāktya jewel and the wisdom of the sage, all armies were conquered, and the demons crushed and slain. Hostile actions from the Āṅgirases, the Asuras, self-made or brought by others, were sent far away, beyond ninety ships. The gods were called to bind this jewel as armor: Indra, Viṣṇu, Savitṛ, Rudra, Agni, Prajāpati, Parameṣṭhī, Virāṭ, Vaiśvānara, and all the sages. The jewel was foremost among plants, unyielding like a tiger among creatures, a wild beast among animals. The ultimate defender was sought and found. Whoever bore this jewel became tiger, lion, bull, and tormentor of rivals. Neither Apsarases, Gandharvas, nor mortals could harm the bearer; he shone in all directions. Kaśyapa created and established the jewel; Indra, fearless among men, wore it and conquered. The gods made the thousand-powered jewel as armor. Whoever sought to harm the bearer with hostile actions, consecrations, or sacrifices would be struck down by Indra’s thunderbolt. This mighty, victorious jewel was a turning charm, protecting offspring and wealth, a guardian auspicious in every way. The prayers concluded: let there be no rival from below, above, or behind. Indra, place the light before us, O hero, and let us be free from all adversaries. Thus, the sages’ prayers and charms formed a shield around the righteous, invoking the gods to drive away evil and bestow wisdom, valor, and protection on those who walk the path of truth.