Long ago, our forefathers—the Navagvas and the seven sages—sought victory and turned their thoughts and praises to Indra, the mighty one who dwells upon the mountain. With unwavering minds and true words, they honored him, never missing the mark in their devotion. Today, we too praise Indra, the lord of abundant riches, the leader of many heroes and men, whose strength is ever-renewed, who is ageless and radiant. O Hariva, bring Indra’s delight to us, for he is tireless and full of light. To you, O Indra, I speak: if those who praised you in ancient times ever brought you joy, what is your share, what is your strength, O much-invoked, generous one, destroyer of the Asura? Even she who questions Indra, standing upon his chariot and wielding the thunderbolt, now trembles and sings his praises, seeking to approach the strong one to find the path to the prize. By his own power, swift as thought and self-sustained, Indra stands firm as a mountain. Yet even the unshaken can be struck down by his force; his strength breaks apart the bold and the shining. To Indra—the most powerful, ancient yet ever-new—we direct our thoughts and surround him with praise, that he may grant us safe passage and overcome all obstacles. For the people, Indra makes the realms of earth and heaven shine, and the spaces between. With his radiance, he burns on all sides, consuming those who despise prayer and those barren of the earth. He is king of the heavenly people and the earthly world, his gaze fierce. O Indra, take up your thunderbolt in your right hand and strike down all unaging powers and illusions. Come, Indra, bring us undiminished welfare and victory over enemies with your great, unfailing strength—the strength with which you subdued the Dasa and Aryan foes, and the hostile Nahusha. Come to us, much-invoked and wise, with your hosts and all your gifts, O worthy of sacrifice. Come with those whom neither the godless nor the gods themselves can surpass; come to our pressing-stone, O Indra. You, Indra, are praised in the pressed Soma, in hymns, in songs, and in recited verse. Whether you come yoked with your two bay steeds, O generous one, bearing the thunderbolt in your arms, you are honored. Whether in the highest heaven, you aid in the slaying of Vritra or in heroic battles, or when you made the Dasyus flee in terror and the hostile tremble at your might, your deeds are celebrated. May Indra, the strong one, protector and supporter of the singer, drink the pressed Soma. May he make space for the hero and grant wealth to those who praise him. He comes to the pressings with his two tawny steeds, bearing the bolt, drinking Soma, bestowing cows. He hears the call, bringing the hymn with praise, making the hero strong and powerful. All that we do, we declare to Indra, our helper from above. In the pressed Soma, we praise him with song, singing hymns that increase as they should. You, Indra, have made the hymns the means of increase; thus far, we have discerned with our thoughts. In the pressed Soma, O Soma-drinker, we perform the acts and fill your stores with sacrifice. Be mindful of us, O Indra, accepting our offering. Drink the Soma, roaring like a bull, and sit upon this sacred grass. Make wide the space for those who seek you. Be delighted, mighty one, as these sacrifices reach you; let these invocations come to us. To you, Indra, belong these wise and fitting thoughts. O friends, as at the pressings, fill Indra—the generous giver—with Soma. Who knows if he will be with us in battle? For Indra, in the pressed Soma, never fails to help. Here, Indra has rejoiced in the pressed Soma among the Bharadvājas, the generous lord, the wise singer, the giver of all kinds of wealth. Indra, the bull, is exhilarated by praise and hymns. He delights in the Soma, eager for the pressed juice. The generous Maghavan is glorified among men with hymns, the heaven-strong king, the unfailing support of songs. He is the active hero, noble and wise, the hearer of invocation, the wide-protector, the wealth-giver, praised for his deeds, who grants the prize to those who praise him in assembly. Like the axle of a great chariot, his greatness has expanded across the two worlds. O much-invoked Indra, your many aids have spread out like the branches of a tree. Your powers are like those branches, full of strength, moving like streams of cows, strong and unbroken like the cords of calves, O generous one. One thing happens today, another tomorrow; Indra acts swiftly at every moment. May Mitra, Varuṇa, Pūṣan, and Aryaman keep watch over our wealth. By you, the waters, like those from the mountain’s summit, are set in motion with hymns and sacrifices. With these well-praised songs, they speed like horses to the contest, O singer-loved one. Neither years nor months wear Indra down, nor do heaven or earth diminish him. Even as he grows old, his body increases; praised with hymns and songs, he is to be celebrated. He does not bow to the weak or the firm, nor yield to the enemy’s praise. Even the immovable mountains tremble before Indra; in the deep places, he finds a path. With your deep and wide might, O foe-smasher, drive forward the prizes, O Soma-drinker. Stand upright with your protection, undefeated one, at dawn and at night’s breaking, for our safety. Come to our aid, be present for help; from here or there, O Indra, protect us from harm. Guard us at home and in the wilderness; may we, with a hundred powers, live bravely. Whatever help is nearest or farthest, or in between, O mighty Indra, by all these come to our aid in the slaying of Vṛtra, with these prizes, O great and fierce one. With these, drive away the hostile and opposing, undefeated one; shatter the wrath of the foe, O Indra. Overcome all hostile hosts, scatter the Dasyus, and bring the Arya people across. Indra, whether kin or stranger, near or far, the envious have joined together. You break their strength; strike down the mighty and turn them away. The strong one conquers the strong with his own body and strength. Whether among children, cattle, offspring, or in the waters, you make the two worlds resound, your voice is heard in the fields. No strong man, no swift one, no bold one, no warrior thinking himself mighty has ever conquered you, Indra. None can withstand you; you surpass all that are born. When the wise call upon you in the assembly, you stretch apart those who contend, whether in the slaying of Vṛtra, in great battle, or in the gathering of men. Then, Indra, when you come, the peoples rejoice. Be our protector and guardian. May the truthful and noble ones, O Indra, place our leaders at the front. All your powers have been given for your greatness and for the slaying of Vṛtra. Your strength, your might, your worship, O Indra, all your heroism is with you, together with the gods. Thus, O Indra, bring us victory over our rivals in every contest. May the goddesses, in their striving, be satisfied. May we, the Bharadvājas, praising you, know wealth by your favor, O Indra, even now. Hear us, Indra! We call upon you, eager for the great prize of strength. When the peoples assemble for the hero’s reward, grant us, O mighty one, your protection on this day.