In days of old, among the sacred gatherings, there lived those who flourished with wealth—abundant cows and horses, heroic strength, and prosperity—sustained by the grace of the Ādityas. Such riches, so dearly desired, were ever theirs. In these assemblies, the people invoked Indra, the mighty and fearless lord of wealth, renowned for his generosity and power. They called upon him, for in Indra resided every aid and all protection; his presence was sought at the Soma-pressing, where the seven steeds would bring him forth for exhilaration. The exhilarating draught prepared for Indra, most excellent and unconquerable in battle, was offered—the same draught he took with the skilled, the slayer of Vṛtra. Indra, undefeated and all-protecting, famous in contests and victorious in battles, was entreated to come to the Soma-pressing, bringing treasures and guiding the people to the cattle-rich enclosure. Just as he had done in former times, they prayed for cattle, horses, and chariots for their great festival. The worshippers marveled at Indra’s boundless bounty, for they could not find its end. Always, he aided their thoughts with prizes; he, the stone-armed hero, was tall and renowned, the friend who knew all generations. All men, united, called upon Indra, the eager and powerful one. They wished for Maghavan, the slayer of Vṛtra and ever-generous, to stand as their protector in contests for wealth. With voices raised, they sang praise to Indra, the heroic and wise, who delighted in Soma, whose name was celebrated and whose might was famed. They implored him, the much-invoked, to grant gifts for their persons—wealth and victory in contests, for he was the bestower of riches. Among all treasures, Indra was the unassailable lord; even the mighty were subject to his form, and they sought his favor. For his great bounty, the people sang praises to Indra, offering sacrifices and hymns for all, invoking the Maruts with reverence and voice. The Maruts, whose roaring paths could cause mountains to fall, accepted the sacrifice and bestowed mighty favor at the offering. Indra, the most powerful, was called upon to shatter the schemes of the malicious, to bring fitting wealth and inspire the highest thought. He was the best provider, fierce and splendid, active in right speech, victorious, mighty, and foremost in contests. They wished for him to come forth, even if someone, not a god, had seized the prize, so that Indra, horse-loving and widely famed, might reclaim the radiance by his own will. The riches were vast: sixty thousand horses, twenty hundred camels, ten hundreds of dark cattle, ten of three-colored, and ten thousand cows. Ten dark, swift, prize-winning horses, strong and victorious, turned the wheel with their might. The generous and renowned Kānīta, rich in gifts, bestowed a golden chariot, becoming the greatest benefactor and most renowned. Vāyu, too, was invited for the great family, for festivity and glory, for many offerings had been made to him—great offerings, even now. The wealth carried with horses, three times seven of the dawns, and the pressed, pure Somas were prepared for giving, purified with shining clarity. One, even by himself, gave a splendid gift for praise and good deeds, for the Nahusha, for the wise and the better. In the glorious hymn, Vāyu shone, clad in butter, driven by horses, chariots, and dogs. For the generous, sixty thousand seats of horses and stallions were readied. Like cows returning to the herd, the barren ones came to the worshipper. In the assembly, when one with a hundred camels shouted, among the white horses there were twenty hundreds. A hundred slaves, strong as Balbūthu, were given by Viprastarukṣa; these people delighted in Vāyu, and the guardians of Indra and the gods rejoiced. A noble woman, adorned with gold, gained mastery over horses and was led away, facing forward. Turning to the mighty Ādityas—Varuṇa, Mitra—the worshippers acknowledged their great help. They prayed for protection from harm, asking that no misfortune or sin befall them, seeking the gracious aids of the Ādityas. Knowing all faults, the Ādityas were asked to remove offenses, granting shelter like wings above, as birds, so that the people might be free from sin. Their shelter was sought, spread over the people like wings, all-knowing and all-protecting, covering them from sin. From the Ādityas, the wise ones had obtained dwelling and life; they were lords of wealth and of the whole mind, granting gracious aids free from sin. The charioteer was called upon to drive away all evils and hardships as one would a chariot, so that the people might dwell in the protection of Indra and the shelter of the Ādityas, free from sin. Those protected by the gods, living by their gift, were truly blameless, for the Ādityas had granted this. No sharp weapon, no blow, nor anything heavy could harm the one upon whom the Ādityas spread their shelter, free from sin. With the gods, the people felt armored for battle; the great ones kept them from sin and protected even the child. Aditi, like a mother, was invoked to protect widely, granting shelter as the mother of Mitra, Aryaman, and Varuṇa. The worshippers prayed for whatever shelter, refuge, good, freedom from harm, and triple protection the gods possessed, that it might be bestowed upon them. Finally, the Ādityas were asked, as guides on the shore, to lead the people to a good crossing, as one would lead horses, granting their gracious aids, free from sin. Thus, the people called upon Indra, Vāyu, the Maruts, and the Ādityas, offering praise, gifts, and sacrifices, seeking their protection, bounty, and favor for themselves and all generations.