Even from afar, the seekers called out to Indra, the wide-hearing one, even if he seemed not to listen. They pleaded that, should he hear their call and act with resolve, he would become their helper and the nearest of all. They acknowledged, too, that if, in their wanderings, they had neglected him in any way, they asked Indra, knower of cattle, to remember them with compassion. To Indra, lord of might, they declared their devotion, likening themselves to a living branch bound to a mighty tree, and they placed him in the seat of honor. They urged one another to sing hymns to Indra, whose manifold strength is unmatched—no one invokes him in battle in vain. At the pressing of the Soma, they poured out the sacred, exhilarating drink for him, inviting him, the bull, to partake and be satisfied. They prayed that neither the foolish nor the hostile would overpower Indra, nor those who mocked him bring him down, nor haters of prayer subdue him. Surrounded by the guardians of cattle, they wished to delight him with great bounty, hoping he would drink as a tawny beast drinks deeply at a lake. The deeds of Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, both ancient and new, had been proclaimed far and wide. They resolved to declare these mighty acts in their gatherings. They remembered how Indra drank the Soma pressed by Kadru, and there, the thousandfold-strong one displayed his manly power. They recalled the true deed he performed for Turvaśa and Yadu, a memorable act that brought peace to Turvaṇa. They praised Indra, the swift one among people, the giver of wealth, rich in cattle, proclaiming his generosity as the same for all. Like a craftsman at the sacrifices, Indra, the increaser of Tugra's strength, was present at the Soma pressing. He who cut through the three-peaked, broad mountain, making a path for the cows to go forth, was remembered for his wondrous deeds. They prayed that whatever Indra intended or held in mind, whether delighted or about to act, he would not do anything that might harm them. Even the smallest of his deeds was known throughout the land, and they wished that his mind would incline to help them. They acknowledged that all glorious praises and renowned deeds belonged to Indra, especially when he showed them mercy. Humbly, they asked Indra not to strike them for a single offense, nor for two or three, nor even for many, beseeching him not to slay them. They recognized that those who opposed Indra were fearful of his overwhelming power, while they themselves endured, trusting in the undying one. They prayed that they might not suffer the ruin of a friend or the loss of a son, asking the lord of riches to turn his mind away from such misfortunes. They wondered who among men was the steadfast friend who spoke as a true friend, and who, having abandoned, sought to harm them. They remembered how, at the pressing of Soma, Indra had acquired much wealth, moving about like a dog-slayer in hidden places. They described how they took hold of his two bay steeds, yoked with speech to a beautiful chariot, whenever he granted gifts to the singers. They entreated Indra to break apart all hatreds, to drive away and destroy hostilities, and to bring them the wealth they desired. They asked that whatever was hidden—fallen, firmly placed, or concealed in stone—Indra would reveal and bring to them. All mankind, they said, knew of Indra's abundant gifts; they prayed for that desirable wealth. With Indra as their leader, rich in gifts, they became upholders of the steeds. They knew him, the stone-armed one, as the true giver of sustenance and riches. Poets sang of his greatness with inspired words, praising the hundred-powered one. They declared that mortals protected by the Maruts, Aryaman, and Mitra from falsehood were truly well-guided. The one who possessed wealth of cows and horses, heroic strength, and prospered with the support of the Ādityas, always enjoyed much-desired riches. They invoked Indra, mighty in giving, the powerful and fearless lord of wealth. In him, they said, were all aids and protections together; they wished for the seven steeds to bring Indra swiftly to the Soma-pressing for exhilaration. They praised the exhilarating draught of Soma, most excellent and unconquerable in battles, which Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, had taken with the skilled. Indra, unconquerable and all-protecting, renowned in contests and victorious in battles, was invoked to come to their Soma-pressing as the treasure-giver, so that they might reach the cattle-rich enclosure. As in former times, they asked Indra to grant them cattle, horses, and chariots for their great festival. They confessed that they could not find the end of Indra’s bounty; always, the generous one had helped their thoughts with prizes. They hailed Indra, tall and renowned, the friend who knows all generations. All people, united, called upon this powerful, eager Indra. May Maghavan, the slayer of Vṛtra, the ever-generous, be their protector in contests for wealth, standing before them. And so, with voices raised, they sang their praise to heroic, wise Indra, delighting in Soma, whose name was renowned and whose might was celebrated, as was most fitting.