With songs of praise and heartfelt longing, the sages and worshippers called upon mighty Indra, seeking his heroic aid. They yearned for his favor, knowing that he, the king, perceives the wealth and fortunes of both sides in every contest. With reverence, they implored him to grant a great and abundant treasure, vast and enduring. They invoked Indra, the indomitable bull, accompanied by the Maruts, ever-growing and unconquerable, the divine ruler of all. In every need, they turned to this mighty one, the strong supporter, seeking his help in all endeavors. To Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, they prayed: subdue those who think themselves great among people, and grant us victory on earth, in our offspring, in our cattle, and in the life-giving waters. With his companions, Indra was invoked to make his devotees superior to their enemies’ enemies. O hero, the sages prayed, strike down all adversaries and let us rejoice in the wealth you bestow. As heaven stands firm above the earth, so does wealth stand among people in battle by Indra’s might. They asked him, O son of strength, to grant them a thousandfold treasure, wide and victorious, just as he overcame Vritra. For Indra alone, all the power of heaven was established among the gods. With Vishnu as his ally, he slew the serpent Vritra, who had enveloped the waters. Through sacred hymns, Indra became greater than the great, more powerful than the powerful. He shattered all the ancient fortresses and became king of the sweet Soma. For the wise Dasoni, Indra broke open the hundred enclosures of the Panis at the call of the hymn. With his weapons, he destroyed the tricks of the dry, waterless Shushna, leaving nothing of the foe. He cast away all great hostilities, and when Shushna fell at the blow of his thunderbolt, he made the path wide for the charioteer Kutsa in the contest for the Sun. Like a falcon, exhilarated and full of Soma, Indra struck off the head of the Dasa Namuci. He protected the submissive and the yielding, granting them blessings and prosperity. He shattered the strongholds of Pipru the magician with his might, granting to Rijishvan, the generous worshipper, an unassailable gift. Indra, ever gracious, delivered Vetasu, Dashamaya, Dashoni, and Tutujin. He released Tugra, the ever-young, for shining forth, as a mother sets her child free to grow. Bearing the thunderbolt, slayer of Vritra, he subdued foes without resistance. His steeds stood ready, yoked by words, carrying lofty Indra. The Purus, with their sacrifices, praised Indra, seeking his ever-new favor. They remembered how he shattered the seven fortresses of the Dasa Shambara for Purukutsa, granting them shelter through the seasons. From ancient times, Indra had been mighty, granting wide space to Ushana Kavi, and giving to the great father his own descendant, unsurpassed and not to be overtaken. Indra, the shaker, set free the trembling waters, letting them flow like streams. When he crossed the sea, he brought Turvasha and Yadu safely across. In every battle, Indra was victorious; he scattered the Cumuri and Dhuni who lay sleeping. Shining, he was offered Soma, and the sacrificer, though fearful, praised him with songs and oblations. The offerings and prayers of the poet called upon Indra, the most bountiful, the hero. Thoughts placed upon the chariot, ever-young and unfading, brought wealth and abundance through sacred speech. The sages praised Indra, who knows all, eloquent and grown strong through hymns, whose greatness fills the sky and earth. He alone, the best, extended skill and intelligence, making it manifest with the sun. Mortals, longing for immortality, wondered when they would not transgress his law, for he is self-sustaining. They asked: where is the Indra who accomplished such deeds? Among which peoples does he move? Which sacrifice pleases his mind? Which hymn and which priest win his favor? Indra’s ancient friends, ever-victorious, born before, became eager for him. Whether from the middle times, the new, or even the youngest, all sought his remembrance. Those who came later followed after Indra’s ancient glories. The worshippers praised him as much as they knew, honoring the great bearer of prayer. Against Indra, the strength of the Rakshasas arose. The sages urged him to stand firm in his great birth, to drive them away with his ancient friendship and thunderbolt. They begged Indra to hear the prayer of the new singer, for he had always been the helper of their fathers in the highest heaven, ever well-invoked at the sacrifice. They called upon Varuna, Mitra, Indra, and the Maruts for aid, as well as Pūshan, Vishnu, Agni, Purandhi, Savitar, the plants, and the mountains. Many singers, worthy of sacrifice, honored Indra with hymns, for there was no other immortal like him. They asked him to come near to their speech, with all the sons of strength, those whose tongues are Agni, upholders of truth, who made Manu chief among people. Indra was invoked to be their leader, knowing the good and difficult paths, guiding them with tireless, far-reaching helpers to the prize. He alone was to be invoked by all peoples—Indra, the bull, strong, true, and powerful, rich in many forms. The forefathers, the Navagvas and the seven sages, seeking victory, praised him with true thoughts and never missed the mark. They praised Indra, lord of riches, of many heroes and men, unwearied, ageless, and full of light, asking him to bring delight. They wondered what share and strength was his, as the much-invoked, rich in gifts, destroyer of the Asura. She who questions Indra, the bolt-wielder, standing on his chariot, now sings his praise with a trembling voice, seeking the path to the prize from the mighty giver of riches. Indra, grown by his own power, swift as thought, self-strong with the mountain, could even strike down the unshaken; his own force broke apart the firm, the bold, the shining. To him, the most powerful, ancient, and ever-new, the worshippers directed their thoughts, surrounding him with praise, seeking safe passage and victory over all difficulties. For the people, Indra was asked to make the earthly and heavenly realms shine, as well as the spaces between. He was invoked to burn with his radiance on all sides, destroying those who hate prayer and those barren of the earth. As king of the heavenly and earthly peoples, with a fierce gaze, Indra was called to take up his bolt and strike down all unaging powers and illusions. The worshippers asked Indra to come with undiminished welfare, for victory over enemies, with his great and unfailing strength—with which he had subdued both Dasa and Aryan foes and the hostile Nahusha. They called upon him, wise and much-invoked, to come with his hosts and all his gifts, with those whom neither godless nor god can surpass, to the place of sacrifice. Thus, with reverence, longing, and praise, the people honored Indra, the mighty, the ancient, and ever-new, seeking his favor, his guidance, and his victorious strength for all their battles, their prosperity, and their journey through life.