In the sacred gatherings, the devotees called upon Indra, wishing for their assemblies to be abundant and filled with rich rewards, so that they might rejoice together. They prayed for Indra, the bold and mighty, to come to those who praise him, bringing his strength like the axle to the wheel, ensuring the smooth progress of their rituals and celebrations. Whenever the singers expressed their desires, Indra, known as the Hundred-Powered, fulfilled them unfailingly, protecting his worshippers with his formidable powers. He had always triumphed over those who swelled with pride, the boastful, and those hostile to wealth. Possessing a golden chariot and sharp weapons, Indra was invoked as the giver and provider, the one who could grant blessings to his followers. The Ashvins, wondrous twin deities, were also called to the horse-bearing one, urged to bring their strength along with cows and gold. Their chariot, yoked alike for both, moved upon the ocean, signifying their swift and miraculous journeys. They set the wheel of their chariot upon the head of Night, while another wheel circled around the sky, marking the passage of time and the cycles of the cosmos. Dawn, beloved of all mortals, was praised next. The devotees wondered which mortal had truly enjoyed her presence, for she was immortal and radiant. They called to her from near and far, likening her to a splendid red horse, and invited her, the daughter of the sky, to come with her prizes and bestow wealth upon them. Then, the worship turned to Agni, the sacred fire. Agni was honored as the first Angiras, the sage among gods, a gracious friend. By his ordinance, the wise Maruts with shining forms were born. He was the foremost Angiras, most skilled, encompassing the ordinance of the gods. Vast and wise, Agni extended to all the worlds, born of two mothers and lying in many places for those who sought him. Agni first appeared for Mātariśvan and was manifest for Vivasvat with good purpose. The two worlds trembled at his priestly office, for he bore the burden of ritual, unaging and a great treasure. He brought the sky for Manu and for Pururavas, the doer of good, showing even more skill. When released from the jaws of his fathers, he was led forth first and again another time. As the bull, Agni increased strength, his uplifted flame worthy of praise. He knew the offering and the vaṣaṭ-call, summoning the people at the beginning of each lifetime. He protected the man who walked the path of righteousness in the assembly, defeating the greater with the lesser, and winning the hero’s prize even in scanty wealth. Agni placed mortals in the highest immortality for fame, day by day. For those who thirsted for both kinds of birth, he brought joy and led them forth to the sun. He made his worshippers praisers, winners of wealth and glory, helping them prosper in new deeds. Heaven and Earth, along with the gods, were invoked to protect them. Ever wakeful, Agni sat at the lap of the forefathers among the gods, blameless. He was mindful of the body and the wise singer, bestowing all wealth upon them. He was their wisdom, their father, their youth, and they were his kin. Riches, abundant and a thousandfold, were hoped to gather to him, the guardian of the ordinance, with heroic men. Agni was made first for the home by the gods, as lord of the people of Manu and chief of the clan of Nahusha. He was the provider of sustenance for humanity and enforcer of order, just as a son is born from his own father. The devotees prayed for Agni’s divine protections, asking him to shield their bodies, offspring, descendants, and cattle, keeping watch without blinking and upholding his law. Agni was the inner guardian for those who offered sacrifice, free from harm, four-eyed and blazing. He carried the offerings for the generous and blameless, accepting even the song of the singer with his mind. For those who praised widely, Agni brought splendid wealth and the highest good won by his power. Even for the oppressed, he was called the father of help, leading to maturity and showing the paths of wisdom. He protected on all sides the diligent man, as a coat of armor woven around him. Those who made Agni’s dwelling pleasant with sweet butter and sacrificed with living faith attained the highest heaven. Agni was asked to consider this refuge and path, being the helper, father, wisdom of the good, support, and inspirer of mortals. Like Manu and the Angirases, Agni was called to come pure, as in the house of Yayāti of old, to bring the divine assembly, seat them on the sacred grass, and enjoy the dear offering. With their prayer, they wished Agni to grow strong, that their power done for him be known, and for him to lead them forward to wealth, bringing them together with his favor, rich in strength. The story then turned to the heroic deeds of Indra. The singer proclaimed Indra’s first great act: he struck down the serpent, released the waters, split open the sides, and shattered the mountains. Indra struck the serpent lying on the mountain, using the thunderbolt fashioned for him by Tvaṣṭṛ. The waters, like swift-flowing cows, rushed straight to the sea. Longing for strength, Indra chose Soma, and during the threefold Soma-pressing, he drank the pressed juice. Then, taking up the bolt as his weapon, he struck down the firstborn of the serpents. When Indra struck down these cunning serpents, their magic was shattered. From them, the sun was born and the dawn arose, and the enemy did not wish to contend any longer. Indra struck Vṛtra, the great obstacle and restrainer, with his mighty bolt, delivering a great blow. Like branches cut with an axe, the serpent was cut apart and lay scattered upon the earth. Indra advanced like a fierce fighter, wild with pride, a great hero strong in battle. No one could withstand his attack, and breaking through, he crushed his enemy. Footless and handless, Vṛtra fought against Indra, but the bolt was set upon his shoulder and struck him. The castrated bull, desiring to be equal, lay scattered in many places. Like a broken dam, the waters flowed over him, moving on. Vṛtra had enclosed them with his might, but deprived of his strength, he became powerless. The lower part became Vṛtra’s offspring; Indra struck down his upper part with the bolt. The son, holding the sunlight, remained above, while Dānu lay below like a cow with her calf. Among the fixed places, in the midst of the stakes, Vṛtra’s body was laid down. The hidden part of Vṛtra the waters moved around, and the enemy of Indra lay in deep darkness. The wives of the Dasa and the guardians of the serpent stood restrained; the waters, like cows for the merchant, were withheld. When the hidden opening of the waters was closed, Indra struck Vṛtra and released it. The flood became swift as a horse when Indra alone confronted it. He conquered the cows, released Soma, and sent forth the seven rivers to flow, fulfilling his heroic task and restoring abundance to the world.