In ancient times, those seeking victory and reward would call upon Indra, the mighty lord, whose power was unmatched in battles against the Vṛtras. When men struggled for cattle, it was Indra whom the fist-fighter turned to, for he alone held the strength to grant the prize. It was Indra who inspired poets in their quest for praise, and for Kutsa, he struck down the foe Śuṣṇa, rewarding the faithful worshipper. He severed the head of the lifeless one, performing a worthy deed for Atithigva. Indra would bring forth the chariot and the high-hearted warrior, and lead Daśadyu, the fighting bull, into battle. He aided Tugra on behalf of Vetasu and protected Tuji, the singer, from harm. With his might, Indra beheld thousands of gifts offered in praise. He struck down the Dāsa Śambara from his mountain stronghold and brought splendid aid to Divodāsa. Delighted by faith and the pressed Soma, Indra destroyed Cumuri to ensure the safety of his people. He shattered Raji, granting favor, and with his power struck down sixty thousand enemies at once. Those who were wise longed to attain Indra’s favor, to receive his greater benevolence and strength. For the heroes who praised him, Indra, the most mighty and descendant of Nahusha, granted triple protection. In their invocations for glory, people prayed to become Indra’s friends, honored by his greatness. They wished that Prātardana might possess the finest royal splendor, to be foremost in battle and the winner of wealth among the Vṛtras. People wondered: what had Indra done for the joy of the sacred drink, for the pleasure of its taste, for the friendship it brought? Did those who sat in council or in battle know Indra before, or only now, after his deeds? Truly, it was for the joy of the drink, for the delight of its taste, and for the bonds it forged, that Indra acted. Yet, whether in council or in battle, few could say if they had known him before, or only now, after witnessing his might. No one could know the full greatness of Indra’s might or the extent of his bounty. Of his new and old gifts, none had seen the limits of his power. His strength was renowned: by it, he slew the remnant of Varaśikha. Even his thunderbolt, when hurled, split the farthest reaches with a mighty sound. Indra pursued and slew the remnant of Varaśikha, even as the foe tried to return and resist. In the battle at Hariyūpīyā, he struck down the foremost half of the enemy in fear for Vṛcīvant. At Yavyāvat, three hundred armored Vṛcīvants fell under Indra’s arrows, their bowls broken, and they came to rest. Indra, whose cows were reddish and of good yield, let them wander freely. For Sṛñjaya, he gave away Turvaśa; for Vṛcīvant, he strove to win Daivavāta. Twice twenty chariot-fighters, with cows and brides, the generous lord and sovereign gave as gifts—the returning and resisting one gave this, the gift of the Parthavas, the southern share. The cows, bringers of good fortune, arrived and settled in the stable, their voices resounding. Let them be fruitful and of many forms, yielding abundant milk for Indra at every dawn. Indra provided for the sacrificer and the generous, freely giving and never withholding his own. Time and again, he increased the wealth of his worshippers, placing god-loved treasure in their unbroken store. These cows were never lost; no thief could harm them, nor could any enemy overpower them. With these cows, the gods were worshipped and offerings made, and the lord of cattle prospered. Neither near nor far-off predator could reach them; they never fell to those who set traps. They followed the wide-ranging, fearless one—the sacrificing mortal whose cows roamed freely. To the people, cows were fortune; cows were Indra himself, the first portion of Soma. With heart and mind, they desired Indra in the form of these cows. The cows made even the thin one thrive, the unlovely one handsome, and the home auspicious—their voices and fame resounded in every gathering. Full of offspring, grazing rich pastures, drinking pure waters, the cows flourished. May no thief or evil-wisher rule over them; may they escape the weapon of Rudra. Offerings were made among the cows, inquiries held among them, and in the seed of the bull and the strength of Indra, the people placed their hopes. For friendship, men chose Indra—great, ever coming to their aid, delighting in their company. He was the great giver, the wielder of the bolt; to him, the mighty one, men sacrificed for help. In his hand, eager for heroic deeds, were golden chariots, the reins strong, the stallions mighty and yoked. For splendor, Indra’s feet were swift; bold, bearing the bolt, powerful and skillful, he wore a fragrant garment, pleasing to behold. The golden one became the leader of men. The Soma was pressed, the meal cooked, grains prepared; the men, makers of hymns, recited praises, inspired by the gods. There was no end to Indra’s might; his greatness was not confined by heaven and earth. The sun filled all, moving swiftly, like a leader assembling his forces in the waters. Indra was easily invoked, exalted whether praised or unpraised, his tawny beard shining, his strength unequaled—he slew many foes and cast down the Dasyus. Ever more, Indra grew in strength; alone and undecaying, he dispensed treasures, expanding across heaven and earth, taking half of both worlds for himself. His lordship was unmatched—what he upheld, none could diminish. Day by day, the sun appeared, the dwellings were wide, and the wise one had established them. Even now, Indra made a path for the waters, leading them forth; the mountains, like those seated at a feast, could not stand firm before him. By his wisdom, the solid regions were opened. Truly, there was no god or mortal like Indra. He slew the serpent lying in the waters and released the rivers to flow to the sea. Indra divided the waters, parted barriers, shattered the mountains’ firmness. He became king of the moving peoples, generating together the sun, the sky, and the dawn. He alone, lord of riches, became master of wealth, holding the peoples in his two hands. In offspring, waters, sons, and the sun, the peoples uttered many words in his praise. Because of Indra’s might, all things on earth, even the immovable, trembled. The realms, the heavens and earth, the mountains and forests—all that was firm feared his birth. With Kutsa, Indra fought against Shushna and Kuyava in the contest for the cows; for ten generations, he divided the treasures of the sun and shattered the fortresses of thieves. Indra destroyed hundreds of forts of Shambara, the unconquerable Dasyu, and with his power brought riches to Divodāsa, who pressed Soma, and to Bharadvāja, who praised him. O mighty one of true strength, Indra was called to mount his chariot for great battle, to come on the path with new riches, and to make his praises heard among all peoples. For him, the mighty, the most powerful, the heroic, the strong, the wielder of the thunderbolt, Virapśin, new and most pleasing words were fashioned, honoring the ancient one whose deeds resound through all the worlds.