At the sacred hour of Soma pressing, the priests and worshippers called out to Indra, the mighty bull among gods. They invited him to come and partake in the sweetness of the freshly pressed Soma juice, that exhilarating draught prepared with devotion. Indra, honored and praised by many, was urged to delight in this offering, for he is the knower of firm resolves. The worshippers entreated him to drink, to let his spirit be gladdened and satisfied. They called upon Indra to preside over their inspired sacrifice, not alone but with all the gods, to lead the rite and surpass all others in the praise he received, for he is the lord of the people. The bright, pure streams of Soma, pressed with care, were sent forth to him, the true lord whose very dwelling is in the radiance of these libations. The priests implored Indra to take the Soma into his belly, for he is the most excellent, and the luminous streams of Soma are his by right. Indra, lover of song and of those who sing his praises, was invited to drink the Soma, to be delighted by its sweetness, for from him comes the fame and glory of the people. The undiminished powers, seeking strength, turned to Indra, the victorious one, for after drinking Soma, his might only increased. Whether near or far, the worshippers called to Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, asking him to accept their songs and approach their sacrifice. They invoked him from every distance, beseeching him to come whenever he was called, from the farthest reaches or the nearest place. Again, the call went out: “Come to us, Indra, eager for Soma, summoned for the drinking; approach, O wielder of the thunderbolt, with your two beloved bay steeds.” The priest, seated as officiant, had spread the sacred grass in proper order, and in the morning, the chariots were yoked. Prayers and praises rose up, bearing the offering of words; Indra was invited to sit upon the sacred grass and accept the sacrificial cake. The worshippers rejoiced with Indra in the libations and hymns, in the chants that rose to the heavens, for he is the slayer of Vṛtra and the lover of song. Their thoughts, like mothers seeking their calf, eagerly approached Indra, the lord of might, when Soma was drunk. They urged him to delight in the Soma for the sake of great wealth and bodily strength, praying that he would not abandon his praisers to want. With devotion, they offered oblations to Indra, asking for his graciousness and generosity. They begged that his beloved bay steeds would not carry him away from them, but that he would come near, self-sustaining, and find delight in their midst. The two long-haired attendants were asked to bring Indra on his pleasant chariot, that he might sit upon the sacred grass, anointed with ghee. “Come to our pressed Soma, Indra, rich in cows, with your two bays who are dear to you,” they sang. “Come to this exhilarating Soma, pressed and placed on the sacred grass with stones; may you perhaps be satisfied by it.” The inspired songs, born from the influence of Soma, called Indra for the drinking, and the hymns invoked him to come with praises. Indra was urged to receive the pressed Somas, he who possesses a hundred powers and commands swift horses. The worshippers acknowledged him as the winner of wealth, bold in contests and wise, and therefore sought his favor. They invited Indra to drink their Soma, rich in cows and barley, and to come with the bulls to the pressed juice. Even in his own dwelling, Soma was urged for Indra’s drinking, that his heart might be gladdened. The Kuśikas, as in times of old, invoked Indra for help in the drinking of the pressed Soma. They called him to the seat prepared for him, turning toward them, for after him the drink of Soma was ready in the highest heaven. Beloved friend, they asked him to release himself and approach the sacred grass, where those who carry the oblation called upon him. Traversing many peoples, Indra was invited to come with blessings and his two bays, for the thoughts of the worshippers, shaped by praise, called him as a friend. They asked him to come to their sacrifice, which grew through reverence, together with his bays, and be present at the shared feast of sweetness, where clarified butter was offered. His two strong, well-formed bays would bear him to the rite, and Indra, delighting in the pressing of the Soma, would listen to the praises of his companions. The worshippers wondered aloud: Would Indra make them protectors of the people, or kings, mighty in battle? Would he make them seers, those who have drunk the pressed Soma? Would he grant them a share of immortal wealth? They asked that his great bays, yoked and swift, bring Indra to the shared feast, coming from heaven, well-groomed and mighty. Indra was invited to drink the pressed Soma, brought by the swift hawk, by whose exhilaration he set the peoples in motion and broke through all enclosures. In contests, they called upon Indra, the generous one, the best among men in pursuit of prize, fierce and ready to help in battles, slayer of obstacles, and conqueror of wealth. “Let this Soma, pressed with the bays, be for you, O delightful one,” they prayed. “Accept it, Indra, and come to us with your bays; mount your golden chariot.” Indra, delighting in his bay steeds, was praised for making the dawn and the sun shine, for with his wisdom he increased all glories. He held up the sky, golden with the bays, and the earth, shining with their color. With the bays, he supported abundant food, and between them, the bay one moved. Born, the bay bull shone in all the realms, taking up the golden weapon—the thunderbolt—golden in his arms. With the bay-colored, bright, shining thunderbolt, covered in brilliance, Indra opened up the pressed Soma with the bays and stones, and with the bays, he shone forth in splendor. Thus, with reverence and yearning, the worshippers called, praised, and honored Indra, inviting him to their sacrifice, to partake of Soma, and to bestow his blessings upon them.