In ancient days, the wise ones gathered and sang hymns to the gods, seeking their protection and blessings. They recognized that for those who practiced sorcery and evil, no good would come—neither in their coming nor their going. Instead, blessings and fame were reserved for the gentle cow, the nourishing milch-cow, and the valiant hero. These, the gods’ gracious aids, were pure and free from sin. Turning their hearts to the divine, the people prayed, “O gods, whatever evil—seen or hidden—lurks among us, whatever misdeeds may have been done, cast all of that far away from us. Let Trita, the bright one, obtain it instead, and let your sinless, gracious aids protect us.” They pleaded further, “If any evil dream has settled among our cows, among our people, or even among the daughters of the sky, carry it all away for Trita to receive, so that we may remain untouched by harm.” Even the ornaments of the sky—necklaces and garlands—were not exempt from their prayers. “O daughter of the sky, whatever evil dream is bound to these, we hand over to Trita, that he may obtain them, and your gracious, sinless aids may deliver us.” They sought the gods’ help for all that sustains life—food, strength, and the shares that all beings seek. “May your good aids, free from harm, carry away all evil dreams. As we set aside fragments and hooves, as we settle our debts, so may we set aside all evil dreams for attainment, with your gracious, sinless aids carrying them away.” With confidence, the people declared, “We have conquered, we have found our place, and we are blameless. O Dawn, whatever evil dream we once feared, let it vanish, carried away by your good, harm-free aids.” In their joy, the wise and self-reliant ones tasted the sweetness of life, knowing the path of abundance. Gods and mortals alike gathered and spoke of this sweetness, drawn together in harmony. Within the sacred Soma resided Aditi, the boundless one, moving forward with divine vigor. Accepting Indra’s friendship, Soma, like a herald, brought wealth in succession to the people. By drinking Soma, the worshippers felt immortal, as if they had come into the light and found the gods themselves. “Now, what can hostility do to us?” they asked. “What can the malice of mortals matter to us, O immortal Soma?” They implored Soma to be gracious, to be as a father to his son, as a wise friend to a companion, carrying the devotees across to long life. The drinkers of Soma, mighty and glorious, were compared to horses harnessed to a chariot, protecting the worshippers from loss of character and exhaustion. Soma shone forth like kindled fire, never diminishing their wealth, but moving always toward abundance and prosperity. With eager minds, the people partook of Soma’s pressed juice, as if receiving ancestral wealth, trusting Soma, the king, to carry them across to long life, just as the sun carries the days. They prayed for well-being, devoted to Soma’s command, and asked that skill and strength never fail them, nor that the noble one drive them away. Soma, guardian of their bodies, sat in every limb, all-seeing. If ever they transgressed his laws, they pleaded for forgiveness and well-being from their good friend and god. With generous hearts, they sought friendship with Soma, who would never harm them when enjoyed in reverence. For the Soma poured for them, they invoked Indra, that he might restore their lives. They wished that all hostile ones and diseases would depart, that Soma would ascend to them with help and lead them to renewed life. They remembered the drop of Soma that their fathers drank, the immortal entering the mortal heart. To this Soma, they offered oblations, seeking his gracious favor. United with the fathers, Soma stretched out to heaven and earth, and to this Indu they made offerings, desiring mastery of riches. “O gods,” they prayed, “declare yourselves our protectors. Let not sleep or slander rule over us. May we, ever dear to Soma, strong and eloquent, speak forth in the assembly.” Soma, the giver of all life, brought light to the peoples, and together with his aids, protected the worshippers from behind and before. Raising their voices, the people praised Indra, the generous lord, who granted singers abundant wealth, as if by the thousand. Indra advanced boldly, like one with a hundred followers, striking down obstacles for those who worshipped him. His gifts, rich and plentiful, flowed like streams from a mountain. To Indra, the pressed Soma flowed, strengthening the hero as offerings filled him like waters filling a lake. Invited to drink the sweetest, most delightful honey, Indra crossed over to the people, overcoming all with his might. Their hymns approached him swiftly, like horses with riders, and his gifts delighted the Kanvas, as cows give milk. With reverence, the people approached the mighty hero, the unfailing and abundant lord. Indra’s thoughts, like water pouring from a vessel, flowed forth. Whether in sacrifice or upon the earth, they called on him to come swiftly with his mighty companions. His horses, swift as the wind, encompassed all people and beheld the heavens. With these, the worshippers sought Indra’s favor, rich in cows, recalling how he protected the generous guest and guarded those blessed with wealth. Just as he had done for Kanva, Paktha, Gosarya, and Asana—bestowing cows and gold—so too did they call upon him. They sang of Shakra, the renowned and generous lord, praised by those who pressed and sang for desired wealth. Indra’s mighty deeds, difficult to overcome, were vast as mountains, and his riches flowed among the generous when delighted by Soma. As the pressed Soma flowed, the waters poured into the offering place, like milch cows to the worshipper. For the sinless and invoked, thoughts poured forth honey, and praises were set before the lord as the Soma streamed to him. They prayed for Soma to come with proper rites, like a horse delighting in its riders, and for the songs that delighted Indra to be praised in the city, as he chose the invocation. They proclaimed the glory of Indra, the mighty, fierce, discerning, and wealth-giving lord, who nourished the worshipper like water pouring from a vessel. Whether near or far, on earth or in heaven, they called Indra to harness his horses and come swiftly with his companions. His chariot-bearers, unwearied and stronger than the wind, struck down the enemies of men and encompassed the heavens. Thus, in reverence and devotion, the people sang and prayed, seeking the gods’ gracious aid, protection, and abundance in all their days.