From the earliest times, the sevenfold Hotar blazed forth, shining in the lap of his mother, nourished at her udder. Ever wakeful, this bountiful one—Agni—never closed his eyes, but day after day kept his vigil since his birth from the belly of the mighty. Armed against all who would oppose, like the advancing Maruts, he was the first-born of the sacred order, known by all. The radiant prayers of the Kuśikas set him forth, and in every home, Agni was kindled anew. On this day, as in all sacrifices, the wise Hotar was chosen with devotion. The faithful called him near, bringing their firmest offerings and their deepest understanding, inviting him to approach the sacred Soma. Agni’s friends, those who love Soma, longed for him. They pressed the Soma, prepared the gifts, and endured the curses of men. Yet apart from Indra, none could claim true wisdom. Not even the farthest realms lay beyond Indra’s reach; summoned, the Lord of the Bay Steeds arrived with his swift horses. For this strong bull, libations were poured, stones pressed, and the fire was kindled. Indra, with his beautiful beard, generous and mighty, leader of great hosts and powerful in deeds, sometimes seemed restrained among mortals. Then, all wondered: where, O bull, are your heroic powers? Yet it was Indra alone who shook what none else could move, roaming the world, slaying Vṛtras. Heaven, earth, and mountains stood firm by his law, as if measured by his rod. By his fame alone, Indra shattered strongholds, known as the slayer of Vṛtra. The two vast worlds themselves seemed to rest in his generous grasp. His bay steeds were unleashed down the slopes, his thunderbolt sent forth to crush foes. From every direction, he struck down the wicked, making truth prevail and destroying falsehood. Those to whom Indra granted life thrived—even the unoffered portion became their household share. His favor, rich in ghee, brought a thousandfold bounty to those he blessed. Indra, much-invoked, crushed the mighty and the oppressors, confounding the enemy. Against the swelling Vṛtra, he struck down the footless foe with his might. Through Indra’s songs, the earth was established as a vast, boundless dwelling. The bull propped up the sky and midspace, and at his command, the waters flowed forth. Even Valā, the pen of cows, could not withstand him; fearing the slayer, Valā withdrew. Indra smoothed the paths, released the cows, and the singers praised him. Alone, Indra filled both earth and sky, spreading them wide. From the midspace, he brought wealth, yoked chariots, and prizes to his devotees. The sun did not violate its appointed course; day by day, the bay steeds were harnessed. When they joined upon the path, Indra released what was his, riding with his horses. Longing for the dawns, the radiant one’s followers beheld his wondrous face at nightfall. All recognized Indra’s greatness and his many good deeds. A great light was set in the hearts of all, and the cow, full and ripe, moved forth. All sweet nourishment gathered in the dusky one, when Indra placed the sap for food. Indra was called to make strongholds firm, to provide for the sacrifice, for the praisers, for his friends. The ill-minded and armed enemies were to be slain by the slayer of foes. The sound of battle resounded; Indra was invoked to strike down the devouring, burning one, to split and destroy the demon below. Indra was urged to uproot the demon from its roots, to cut through its very center and listen closely to the prayers. With the heat of his weapon, he made the lurking, crawling one flee—enemy of the brahman, vanquished by Indra’s burning might. For well-being, Indra was called to lead his people forth with swift steeds, as he had bestowed many ancient blessings. May his followers receive great wealth, fortune, and offspring by his grace. Indra was invoked to bring radiant fortune, to expand the desires of his devotees like a broad field, and to fulfill them with riches among the wealthy. He was asked to satisfy desires with cows and horses, with shining gifts, spreading abundance wide. The wise Kuśikas made their offerings to Indra, bearer of the sacred. They prayed for the enclosures to be broken open, for the cows and prizes to reach them, and for knowledge of the cows to be granted by the true and mighty bull dwelling in heaven. In every contest, Maghavan Indra was called—the foremost, the winner of prizes, fierce and attentive in battle, slayer of foes, conqueror of wealth. The fire, Agni, commanded the daughter’s offspring, honoring the light of truth with his knowledge. Where the father cleansed the daughter’s stream, he established it with a strong mind. The inheritance was not divided for the wife; instead, the embryo, the treasure of the giver, was created. When the mothers gave birth to fire, one became the maker of good, another the kindler. Agni was born, shining with the ladle, son of greatness, visible to the red one. The great embryo, born of the mighty, grew vast through the swift horse’s sacrifices. Victorious ones approached the contest, bringing forth great light and dispelling darkness. The dawns, recognizing him, advanced to meet him, and Indra became the sole lord of the cows. The wise, being firm, pressed onward, guided by the seven sages. They found all paths of truth and entered with reverence. Saramā discovered the broken mountain path, the ancient way, accompanied by her kin. She led the well-footed ones, singing forth the sound as the first knower. The most inspired went as a friend, and the mountain released the embryo for the doer of good. The youthful hero arranged the offering, and the Angiras shone forth immediately. He who is ever existent became the model for the former, knowing all origins and slaying Śuṣṇa. For the seekers of cows, he praised the paths of heaven, releasing the friend from blame. Longing for cows, they pressed forward with their minds, composing hymns for immortality. This was the abode of their abundance, by which they served the months with truth. Seeing, they rejoiced, approaching their own; the ancient ones, milkers of the seed, gave forth milk. The two worlds echoed with their sound; at birth, the cows established the heroes in their stalls. Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, sat among the newborn with offerings, releasing the cows with hymns. For him, the broad, ghee-bearing, desirable cow gave sweet, honeyed milk. Even for the Father, a vast and radiant dwelling was made, proclaimed by the skilled, while the mothers sat supporting, measuring upwards with force. When the great intelligence established the ever-growing, all-pervading one between heaven and earth, blameless, harmonious songs gathered there for Indra, unassailable. The devotees sought Indra’s friendship, calling on the slayer of Vṛtra and his advancing bands. They came to the great praise of the sun, seeking his protection and remembrance. Knowing the vast, many-splendored field, he divided it, distributing the chariot equally among his companions. Indra, shining among men, generated together the sun, dawn, and fire to illuminate the path.