The ritual began with the sacred vessel brimming with Soma, flowing forth like a wave of honey. Strong priests, likened to powerful bulls, gathered around, their pressing stones also called bulls, as they prepared this divine drink—Soma—for the mighty Bull, Indra himself. Even the implements and chariot of Indra were extolled as bulls, his thunderbolt, his team of steeds, and his very weapons, all sharing in this strength and vigor. The exhilaration of the ritual was Indra’s domain, and the priests called upon him to be satisfied with the Soma, pressed and offered with devotion. With reverent voices, they approached Indra in their assemblies, singing his praises as one might bring a boat to a gathering, their hymns establishing him firmly in the heart of the sacrifice. They prayed that he might listen and grant his wealth, as water is drawn from a deep well. They beseeched him to deliver them from ancient troubles, as a cow rescues her calf, yearning for the open pasture, and with his hundredfold power, to lead them and their families to fullness and strength. The priests sought his generous gifts, hoping his bounty would ever yield the finest rewards for those who sang his glory. They prayed that Indra would not withhold his portion from the devoted, so they might speak heroically and greatly in the assembly. A new hymn was raised for Indra, for his ancient powers were awakened, recalling the time when, intoxicated with Soma, he set free all the herds long held captive by force. They called upon him, the hero who first measured his strength at the pressing, who protected himself in battle and, with his might, released the sky from the grasp of the demon. In those early days, Indra performed his first great deed, setting his power in motion. With his chariot drawn by tawny steeds, he scattered the ancient ones, and the living beings moved apart, each in their own realms. Mastering all beings, Indra grew in strength and youthful vigor; then, Agni stretched the light between heaven and earth, and the shining gods spread the luminous realms. Indra shattered the ancient mountains with his strength, making the flowing waters descend to earth. He supported the world with all its forms and upheld the sky with its streaming rivers. With arms made strong by his father, Indra was ever ready for great deeds, laying low the enemy and opening paths with his thunderbolt, ever victorious. As a loving child sits with its parents, so the priests called upon Bhaga to share in the common seat, asking for clear understanding and a share in the bounty that brings no harm. They invoked Indra as their benefactor, seeking his gifts and strength, praying he would not abandon them, but make them possessors of wealth. Again, they pleaded for his generous gifts, that his bounty would never fail the singer, and that they might speak mightily and heroically in the assembly. At dawn, a new chariot was yoked for Indra, splendid with four yokes, three seats, seven reins, and ten wheels, shining for men and swift with offerings and thoughts. For Indra, the first, second, and third pressing were prepared; he was the priest for men, and as generations followed, the mighty bull joined with them all. The priests called for Indra’s two bay steeds to be yoked for the journey, offering new hymns and fresh words, beseeching that none restrain him, for many inspired priests and worshippers sought his presence. They invited him to come with two, four, six, eight, or ten bays to drink the Soma, never to be held back from the contest. They called for him to come with twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, even seventy splendid steeds, and finally with eighty, ninety, or a hundred bays, for Soma had been poured for him at the rites of the Shunahotras, for his exhilaration. The priests asked Indra to come for their hymn, to yoke all his bays, to rejoice in this pressing of Soma. They prayed that their friendship with Indra would remain unbroken, that the daughter of his bounty would grant them gifts, and that, seeking life, they would find shelter in the eldest’s protection, embraced again and again. They asked that Indra’s generous bounty be granted as a special gift to the worshipper, that fortune would not fail them, and that they might speak mightily in the assembly, heroes all. For the exhilarating, pressed, flowing Soma, in which Indra, growing strong in the highest heaven, established his dwelling, the priests, devoted to the sacred utterance, rejoiced. Drinking this sweet Soma, Indra, with his thunderbolt, split the serpent who had covered the waters, so that the rivers, like birds seeking their sisters, rushed forth and their courses were set in motion. Indra set the waters flowing after slaying the serpent, sending them to the ocean. He generated the sun, made days and nights, and established the workings of time. Unconquered, Indra gave many gifts to Manu, and for the worshipper he slew the foe, surpassing all rivals in the contest for the sun. For the one who presses Soma, Indra gives the sun, removes harm from mortals who praise him, and brings wealth, whether hidden or manifest, to the seeker, favoring him with a share. He shattered Shushna, the dry one, and Kuyava for Sārathya and Kutsa. For Divodāsa, Indra destroyed ninety-nine cities of Shambara. Thus, the priests, striving for fame, praised Indra as he deserved, hoping to attain the seventh stream and to bow before the generous giver, the destroyer of foes. The Gritsamadas fashioned their hymn for Indra, as craftsmen their works, devoted to sacred utterance, seeking his favor, strength, prosperity, and graciousness. Again, they prayed that Indra’s generous bounty would be granted as a special gift to the worshipper, that fortune would not fail, and that they might speak mightily in the assembly, heroes all. “We are your companions, Indra,” the priests declared. “Know us. We bring you the chariot as warriors, wise and shining in thought, longing for your protection, O lord of men.” Indra, with his aid and power, was invoked to protect the people, to defend the worshipper as a wise leader from any attacker. They called Indra, young and invoked, to be their friend and gracious protector, he who draws near the praiser, the patient, the cook, and the singer of hymns. They praised and glorified Indra, in whom the strong have rejoiced since ancient times, for he fulfills the desire for wealth for those who offer new prayers. He, favoring the songs of the Angirases, eager for praise, sought the path and stole the dawns with the sun, shattering even the ancient things with his might. Renowned among gods, Indra stood exalted, most formidable among beings, self-sustaining, bringing down the head of the proud, beloved, challenging Dasa. He, the slayer of Vritra, destroyer of black wombs, scattered the Dasa peoples, created wide lands for Manu, and brought blessings to the worshipper. To mighty Indra was strength given, with the gods, in the contest for riches. When he set his thunderbolt upon his arms, he slew the foes and broke the iron fortresses. Thus, the story of Indra’s might, generosity, and the devotion of his worshippers was woven, hymn after hymn, pressing after pressing, in the sacred assemblies of the seers.