With prayers for well-being and swift progress, the seekers called upon Indra, the mighty one who has bestowed countless blessings since ancient times. They implored him to lead them forward, to grant them fortune and offspring, and to make them receivers of abundant wealth. Desiring radiant prosperity, they sought Indra’s generous favor, wishing that their aspirations would expand like a fertile field, and that the Lord of Wealth would fulfill their desires with riches, even among the wealthy. They asked Indra to satisfy their longing with cows, horses, and shining gifts, spreading abundance far and wide. The wise Kuśikas, with devoted thoughts, offered their oblations to Indra, the sacred bearer. They beseeched him to break open all barriers, to let the cows and prizes flow to them, for Indra, the true and strong bull dwelling in heaven, is the Lord of Cattle and the giver of knowledge about the cows. In contests and competitions, they invoked Maghavan Indra, the foremost among men and the winner of prizes. Fierce and attentive in battle, he is the slayer of foes and the conqueror of wealth. In these sacred moments, the fire commands the daughter’s offspring, honoring the light of truth, as the father purifies the stream of the daughter, establishing it with a steadfast mind. The inheritance was not divided for the wife; rather, the embryo—the treasure of the giver—was created. When the mothers brought forth the fire, one served as the maker of good, another as the kindler. Thus, Agni was born, shining with the ladle, son of greatness, visible to the red one. This great embryo, born of the mighty, grew vast through the sacrifices offered with the swift horse. 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 pressed onward with firm resolve, guided by the seven sages who, with their minds, found all the paths of truth and entered with reverence. Saramā discovered the broken path through the mountain, the ancient way, accompanied by her kin. She led the way for the well-footed ones and, being the first to know, sang forth the sound. The most inspired went as a friend; the mountain released the embryo for the doer of good. The youthful hero arranged the offering, and immediately the Angiras shone forth. He who is ever existent serves as a model for those who came before; he knows all origins and slays the demon Śuṣṇa. He praised the paths of heaven, seeking cows and releasing the friend from blame. With longing for cows, they pressed forward in mind, composing hymns for immortality. Here is the abode of their abundance, by which they served the months with truth. Seeing their own, they rejoiced and approached; the ancient milkers of the seed gave forth milk, and the two worlds echoed with their sound. At the birth of the cows, the heroes were established in their stalls. Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, sat among the newborn with offerings and released the cows with hymns. For him, the desirable cow, broad and bearing ghee, gave sweet, honeyed milk. Even for the Father, a vast and radiant dwelling was made, proclaimed by the skilled ones; the mothers, supporting with their strength, measured upwards with force. When the great intelligence established the ever-growing, all-pervading one between heaven and earth, all harmonious and powerful songs gathered in him for Indra, unassailable. Seeking friendship with the mighty one, the slayer of Vṛtra, the people came to the great praise of the sun, asking for his protection and remembrance. Knowing the vast and splendid field, Indra distributed the chariot equally to his companions. Shining among men, he created together the sun, dawn, and fire for the journey. Even those who lagged behind, Indra, the all-pervading householder, set forth together, all shining. The poets purified the honey through filters, and with the passing days, fashioned gifts through their actions. After the darkness, the earth’s riches were revealed; both darkness and light are to be honored through the greatness of the sun. Around Indra’s greatness, his friends strive to encompass the desired and praiseworthy. Indra was invoked as the lord of true words and all speech, the bull and bestower of strength. The people called for his auspicious friendship and generous aid. Honoring Angiras with reverence, they composed a new hymn for the ancient one, asking him to drive away abundant, godless deceits and to secure their own prosperity. As the shining rains spread forth, they prayed for well-being and protection from dangers. Indra, as the charioteer, was asked to guard them from harm and to quickly grant them victory in cattle. The slayer of Vṛtra, protector of cattle, approached; within the darkness, he entered with the red lights and, through truth, opened all difficult places. Again, they called upon generous Indra in contests, the best among men, mighty and attentive, the slayer of Vṛtras and conqueror of riches. They invited Indra to drink the Soma at midday, delighting in the offering, with loosened hair and released steeds. They prepared the bright, churned Soma for his exhilaration, asking him to join with the Maruts and Rudras, growing strong in threefold measure. Those who increased Indra’s power—the Maruts—magnified his strength. At the midday pressing, Indra was invited to drink Soma with the Rudras and his troop. The Maruts, wise and honeyed hosts, were present when, at Indra’s urging, he discovered the joints of Vṛtra and struck at his vital spot. Like a man delighting in the pressing, Indra was called to drink Soma for ever-renewed strength. The swift-horsed one was invited to come with sacrifices and helpers, driving away the flowing waters. When Indra slew Vṛtra, he released the waters as racing steeds in the contest. With his weapon, he struck both the moving and the resting, driving away the godless from the gods. The people worshipped mighty Indra with reverence—the great, lofty, ageless, yet ever-youthful one—whose greatness neither heaven nor earth can contain. Indra’s deeds, manifold and well-performed, are not transgressed by the gods; he upheld the earth and heavens with wise intent, and created the sun and dawn. Indra’s greatness is true and without falsehood. Newly born, he drank the Soma at once. Neither the heavens nor the power of his strength, nor days, months, or years, can reach its limit. Newly born in the highest heaven, Indra drank the Soma for exhilaration; when he entered the realms of heaven and earth, he became the ancient one for the work of the seer. He struck down the serpent coiled around the waters, growing in might; even the sky could not match his greatness. With another’s support, he held the earth firm. For Indra, the sacrifice became an increaser, and the pressed Soma, dear to him, brought delight. By sacrifice, he supported the sacrifice and brought forth the thunderbolt to slay the serpent. By sacrifice and with help, men brought Indra near. They sought to draw his favor anew, for he has grown with ancient hymns, those of the middle time, and the new ones as well. Thus, the story of Indra’s greatness, his victories, and the devotion of his worshippers unfolds, ever shining, ever victorious.