All the divine powers gathered around Indra, drawn by his remarkable manliness. They bestowed wealth upon him and placed riches before the accomplished, for Indra supported six, established five, and surpassed all others—truly worthy of the highest praise. His heroic deeds were celebrated everywhere; by his unwavering resolve, he gained treasures, and his mighty, steadfast strength made all his actions deserving of admiration. Indra, in his generosity, enabled the swift and the strong to cross over obstacles; he granted hearing to Turvīta and Vayya, raised up the lowly, brought back those who were far, and made even the blind hear—such was his praiseworthiness. And so, his worshippers prayed, “O generous Indra, establish for us the gift of giving; your wealth is abundant and fit for us. Whatever splendid fame shines in the heavens, let us proclaim it greatly in the assembly, O mighty ones.” The priests, full of devotion, prepared the sacred Soma for Indra, pouring the exhilarating drink according to ritual measure, knowing that the hero delighted in the feast within his dwelling. “Offer it to the mighty one, for he desires it,” they urged. They remembered how Indra held back the waters and slew Vritra as one fells a tree; for such a hero, they brought offerings as he wished. They recalled his many victories: how he slew Dṛbhika, released the cows, and broke open Vala in the midspace like the wind. For these deeds, they adorned him with garments and offered Soma. For the slayer of Uraṇa, the conqueror of ninety-nine arms, and the subduer of Arbuda below, they brought Soma for his delight. For the destroyer of Svaśna, Śuṣṇa, Aśuṣa, Vyaṃsa, and the smiter of Pipru, Namuci, and Rudhikrā, they offered the intoxicating drink. Indra, who shattered a hundred cities of Śambara as one splits stones, and who destroyed a hundred and a thousand of Varchin, was honored with Soma. He, who seized a hundred and a thousand in the lap of the earth and struck down the warriors of Kutsa, Ayu, and Atithigva, was celebrated with offerings. The priests proclaimed, “When men long for success and perform the ritual, do it for Indra; offer Soma, purified by your hands, for the renowned Indra.” They prepared the ritual, raised the wood purified in the forest, and offered the exhilarating Soma to Indra, who delights in the drink. As they filled generous Indra with the milk of the cow and with Soma, they sensed his quiet presence—he who is ever eager for sacrifice. They honored the lord of heavenly wealth, the king of earth and all that is born upon it, filling him with Soma, that their work might be accomplished. Again, they prayed, “For us, O Lord, grant wealth for giving; establish your abundance, for your generosity is vast. Indra, whatever splendid fame stretches through the days, may we proclaim it greatly in the assembly, strong among men.” Now, the great and true deeds of Indra were declared: in the Trikadruka presses, he drank the Soma, and, exhilarated, slew the serpent. With his might, he propped up the sky, filled the two worlds, and expanded the midspace; he sustained and spread the earth, all by the power of Soma. Like a builder measuring a house, he measured out the eastern spaces with his strength. With his thunderbolt, he cut open the river channels, setting the waters free to flow on long paths. Indra moved through the world, overcoming obstacles, forging weapons in the kindled fire, and sending forth cows and horses with chariots—all in the exhilaration of Soma. He shook the vast earth with his might, making it pleasant and leading the unsatisfied to well-being; those who sought wealth stood forth for the generous one. With his strength, he stirred the Sindhu river, crushed the dawns with his thunderbolt, and divided the swift ones with his speed. Indra, knowing all, revealed the hidden waters of the young ones, appeared and stood forth, turning back the enemy, and held his ground against the foe. With the Angiras, he split the enclosure, opening the strongholds of the mountain and breaking artificial barriers. In a dream, he destroyed Cumuri and Dhuni, slew the Dasyu, and conquered fear, so that even the trembling found gold—such were the deeds Indra accomplished, exhilarated by Soma. The worshippers prayed, “Now, let your generous gift be granted to us, O Indra; let your reward be milked for us. Teach the praisers and let fortune come to us, so that we may speak greatly in the assembly, strong among men.” They offered the highest praise to Indra, the best of the true, as one offers fuel to the fire in sacrifice. Indra, unconquered, invigorating, ever youthful, was invoked for help. In him, nothing was lacking; all powers were gathered in his being. In his belly was Soma, in his body strength and greatness, in his hand the thunderbolt, and in his head wisdom. No earth could surpass his strength, nor ocean or mountain match his chariot; none could reach his thunderbolt when he sped forth with his swift horses across many leagues. All the mighty and worshipful ones brought their power to him, the Bull to be praised. They offered the oblation to him, most discerning, and invited Indra to drink the Soma with the radiance of a bull. The bull’s vessel flowed, a wave of honey, led by bulls for the Bull to drink; the priests were bulls, the stones were bulls, and they pressed the bull Soma for the Bull. His thunderbolt was a bull, his chariot a bull, his two bays bulls, his weapons bulls; Indra, the Bull, ruled over the exhilaration, satisfied with the bull Soma. Praise was brought to him at gatherings, as one brings a boat to the assembly. Indra, established in sacrifice by hymns, was asked to listen to the words of his worshippers, that they might draw forth his wealth as one draws water from a well. “From ancient distress, deliver us, as a cow her calf, eager for pasture; with your favor, O hundred-powered one, may we, with our wives, reach fullness like bulls.” They prayed for his generous gift, that it might ever yield a choice reward for the singer, and that he would not withhold his portion, so that they might speak greatly and heroically in the assembly. The Angiras sang a new hymn to Indra, for his ancient powers were now awakened. In the intoxication of Soma, he set in motion all the herds that had been held fast by force. Present was the hero who, at the first pressing, measured out his strength and surpassed greatness; who, in battle, protected his body and, with his might, released the sky from the head. Indra performed his first great deed at the beginning, setting his power in motion; with his chariot yoked with tawny steeds, he scattered the old ones, and the living moved together, each apart. Mastering all beings, he grew in strength and advanced in youthful vigor. Then, the fire stretched out the light between heaven and earth, and the shining ones spread the luminous realms. With his strength, he shattered the ancient mountains and made the flowing waters descend. He supported the earth with all its forms, and by his power, upheld the sky with its streams. Thus, the story of Indra flows—his strength, generosity, and heroic acts celebrated and remembered, his fame resounding through the heavens and among men.