When the time came for the mighty Indra to face his greatest foe, Tvashtar, the divine craftsman, forged for him a wondrous weapon: the thunderbolt, vast and formidable, bristling with a thousand spikes and adorned with a hundred keen edges. Armed with this celestial bolt, Indra confronted the fierce and relentless serpent, Vritra, and crushed him utterly. In this great endeavor, the Maruts, storm gods united in purpose, swelled Indra’s strength and prepared the sacred offering for him. Pūshan and Vishnu traversed the three realms, bringing forth the exhilarating drink to invigorate Indra, the slayer of Vritra. With his power renewed, Indra released the pent-up torrents—the mighty rivers and the gathered waters—sending forth waves that coursed freely, opening the path for the streams and guiding the waters all the way to the ocean. Having accomplished these wondrous deeds, Indra stood as the great, unconquered hero, companion of all strength. With his own weapons and thunderbolt, we praise him, offering new hymns and seeking his help. We pray: Grant us, O Indra, glory, strength, and wealth; bestow brilliance upon the wise, and to Bharadvāja give leaders and heroes. May you, Indra, be our protector in heaven. With your favor, may we win the prize, rejoicing in victory over a hundred foes, blessed with strong sons and the gods’ approval. Let us praise Indra, the supreme in strength, the unconquered and enduring, invoked by many, the bull among men. He is the fierce and swift warrior, leader of men, who shakes all with his great power, stirring the people like a mighty wind, and alone becoming the champion of the tribes. You alone, O unconquered Indra, struck down the Dasyu, shielding the Arya and their peoples. Is this your true strength, or is there yet more? Your power, O mighty-born, is steadfast and forceful, swifter than the swift. Your fierce strength grows ever greater, your resolve ever more unyielding. Let us cherish that ancient friendship with you, as the valorous Angirases did before us. You shattered the fortresses of the unyielding, breaking all defenses of those who opposed us. You are to be invoked with prayers, O mighty one, the lordly doer in the great battle against Vritra. Wielding your thunderbolt, you have brought prosperity to our offspring and descendants, and have triumphed in battle. Through your greatness, you have surpassed the origin of men, excelling with an immortal name. By your glory, might, and wealth, you are the foremost among heroes, dwelling among humankind. You, who neither confuse nor deceive, have subdued Cumuri and Dhuni, and have cast down Pipru, Sambara, and Shushna, destroying their fortresses for Cyautna, even now. Rise up, Indra, and mount your chariot drawn by your two bay steeds, to slay Vritra again. Grasp your thunderbolt in your right hand, and with all your manifold powers, be exhilarated. Like fire consuming dry wood, let your weapon, O Indra, burn up the demon, like a terrible lightning bolt. With deep and lofty force, you have shattered and driven away evil, subduing the wicked. Come, Indra, by a thousand paths, bringing wealth, glory, and abundant prizes. Come, O son of strength, for you are the lord of battle. Your greatness, ever-glorious and mighty, has spread across heaven and earth. No enemy or rival exists for you, O Indra, of manifold powers and strength. Let your deeds today match those when you aided Kutsa, Ayu, and Atithigva, casting down thousands and leading Turvayana to victory. After you, O god, even the gods themselves rejoice, for you are the wisest of the wise. Where you make a path for the oppressed and for your people, you are praised. Heaven and earth themselves follow after your power, O Indra, and the immortal gods strive to keep pace with you. Do as you wish, O Indra, and create new praise through our sacrifices. Great indeed is Indra, giver to men, lord of peoples, of double height, his strength never diminished. For us, he has accomplished heroic deeds, broad and vast, performed by the doers of good. May Dhiṣaṇā exalt Indra alone for our gain—lofty, ageless, ever young, and shining with might, who has grown ever stronger in these battles. Let your broad, all-encompassing hands, O Indra, grant us fame. Like a herdsman with his cattle, may Indra and Agni increase our strength in battle. Let us now invoke that Indra whom the worthy and blameless singers praised before us, seeking victory as they did. Firm in his vow, giver of wealth, grown strong with Soma, Indra possesses much good fortune. The paths of riches flow to him as rivers to the ocean. Bring to us, O mighty Indra, your most powerful strength—overwhelming and fierce. Grant us, O Hariva, all glories and manly powers for our delight. Let your exhilaration, victorious in battle, shine upon us, O Indra, so that with your help we may protect our offspring and descendants and live on. Bring us the virile vigor, the wealth-bringing, shining, and skillful power by which we may overcome our enemies in battle, defeating both kin and strangers with your aid. Let your vigor, O bull, flow to us from every direction—behind, above, below, and in front. Let it gather from all sides, O Indra, and grant us glory that brings light. With your heroic aid, may we win your favor through our songs of praise. You, king, see the wealth on both sides; grant us a great and abundant treasure. We call upon Indra, the bull, accompanied by the Maruts, ever-growing and unconquerable, the divine ruler. For every help, we invoke that mighty supporter. O wielder of the bolt, subdue for us those who think themselves great. We call upon you for victory on earth, in offspring, cattle, and waters. With your companions, O much-invoked one, may we be superior to our enemies. O hero, may we, with your aid, rejoice in great wealth, having struck down all adversaries. O Indra, as heaven stands firm above the earth, so, by your might, wealth stands among people in battles. Grant us, O son of strength, the thousandfold treasure, vast and victorious over Vritra. For you alone, O Indra, all the power of heaven was established among the gods. With Vishnu as your ally, you slew the serpent Vritra, who had enveloped the waters. Indra, ever-great, became stronger than the strong, more powerful than the powerful, through the sacred hymn. He became king of the sweet Soma when he shattered all the ancient fortresses. For the wise Dasoni, you broke open the hundred enclosures of the Panis at the call of the hymn; with your weapons you destroyed the tricks of the dry, waterless Shushna, leaving nothing of the foe. You cast away all great hostilities, O Indra, when Shushna fell beneath your thunderbolt. You widened the path for the charioteer, for Kutsa, in the contest for the Sun. Like a falcon, exhilarated with Soma, you struck off the head of the Dasa Namuci, protecting the submissive and yielding with blessings and prosperity. Thus, the glorious deeds of Indra are sung—protector, champion, and giver of strength and wealth, ever victorious, ever praised by those who seek his favor.