Hear now the sacred tale as revealed in these ancient verses. When the threat of serpents and their venom loomed over the people, a remedy was prepared—powerful enough to counter the evil of both native and foreign serpents. By the might of Indra, the lord of the thunderbolt, the serpent’s power was broken, and Paidva rendered it harmless. In gratitude, Paidva was honored, steadfast in his dwelling, while the venomous destroyers, though once shining with deadly force, now sat subdued and powerless. Indra, the wielder of the bolt, struck down their life-force and poison, and with him, those invoking his strength also struck. The venomous and long-living serpents, once feared, were now slain, the destroyers crushed. With sacred implements—ladle for the black one, darbha grass for the white—each was rendered harmless. High in the mountains, a Kirāta maiden, accompanied by her companions, dug out the healing remedy with golden spades from the slopes. The young healer, spotted and unconquered, arrived—his power paralyzing both native and foreign serpents, as well as the scorpions. Indra, together with Mitra, Varuṇa, the Wind, and Parjanya, made the serpents powerless. The destroyers, the venomous, the black one, the ten-fanged—Indra subdued them all. He struck down the first great begetter among the serpents, discerning which among them possessed the vital essence and which were devoid of it. Like a cluster of berries, he seized their heads together, and, crossing to the river’s midst, expelled the poison from their midst. Thus, the rivers were invoked to carry away the poison of all serpents—those slain, defeated, crushed, and scattered. Among the plants, the finest was chosen, just as one selects the most fertile fields; as a skilled driver guides his horse, so too was the poison urged to depart. Whatever poison might be found in fire, in the sun, in the earth, or in the plants—let all such venom, whether called kāndā or kanaknaka, be gone. Reverence was offered to all beings born of fire, plants, serpents, waters, and lightning—paying homage to the manifold and great serpents. To Taudī and Ghṛtācī, the destroyers of poison, their step was set below, subduing the venom. From every limb, from the very heart, the poison was driven out, its downward force expelled. Far away the poison fled, eastward it vanished; Agni burned it up, Soma carried it away, and the poison followed the fang into immortality. Now, invoking the strength, might, power, and heroism of Indra, the people sought victory and union. By the unions of prayer, sovereignty, Indra, Soma, and the waters, strength was yoked for triumph. All beings and the waters themselves were called to stand in support. The divine waters, radiant and pure, were invoked as the portion of Agni, Indra, Soma, Varuṇa, Mitra and Varuṇa together, Yama, the Ancestors, and Savitṛ. By the ordinance of Prajāpati, these divine essences were established in the world, bestowing brilliance and radiance. Among the waters, whatever was cherished—the portion, the wave, the calf, the bull, the Golden Embryo (Hiraṇyagarbha), the stone, the speckled one, the celestial one, the fire—each was honored and offered intention, with nothing withheld. By these intentions, those who harbored enmity or ill will were surpassed, struck down, and cast aside through prayer, action, and will. To the waters, a plea was made: to protect from all wrongs and sins, whether done knowingly or unknowingly. And at last, the waters were sent forth to the ocean, returning to their source—unharmed, free from all harm, so that nothing would be lost. Thus, through the strength of gods and the sanctity of the waters, the venom was conquered, brilliance bestowed, and protection ensured for all.