In the age-old struggle between Indra and the Angirases, Sarama, the divine forerunner, discovered the hidden cattle for her offspring. At her side, Brihaspati struck the stone, splitting it open; from within, he revealed the cows, and the people rejoiced as the dawns broke forth in radiance. With sacred chants—the Suṣṭubh and Stoma—and accompanied by seven wise ones, the mighty Indra, joined by the sound of nine singers, shattered the rock. Together with the swift ones and the ten singers, Indra, powerful and roaring, broke open the stronghold of Vala. In praise with the Angirases, Indra, wondrous in his deeds, dispelled the darkness with the light of the Sun and the liberated cows. He spread out the earth’s surface and upheld the vast expanse of the sky, making it firm and unshaken. This most manifest deed of Indra shines forth, the most beautiful among his wondrous powers. At the sacred meeting place, the four rivers, rich with honeyed sweetness, overflowed in abundance. Twice, Indra opened the ancient, hidden enclosure with hymns sung by the eager ones. In those moments, Bhaga did not consider in the highest heaven, but the mighty ones upheld both earth and sky. Since ancient times, the vast earth and the diverse heavens have circled, ever renewed in their own forms. The dawns, both dark and red, move in shining and ever-changing array, each following the other in their eternal procession. The son, mindful of friendship from of old, upheld the world with strength and wisdom; among all, he placed the nourishing milk in both the black and red fertile ones. From the earliest times, the lowlands and heights, the winds, and the immortal beings have upheld the order of the cosmos with their might. Thousands, like devoted wives and sisters, tireless, honor the unaging one. In every age, the youthful ones, with reverence and new hymns, approach the wondrous Indra, longing for his wealth. Like radiant wives to their lord, the shining ones touch him with their strength and thought. O wondrous Indra, your riches, held in your hands since ancient times, never diminish nor are they exhausted. You are resplendent and wise, steadfast in your power—grant us skill, like your own, through your strength. For you, Indra, the hymn of Gotama is renewed; may our prayer be shaped for you, tawny-yoked one. With your might, O powerful one, guide us well; may you, wise and generous, swiftly come to us at dawn. Indra, by your power, you brought forth heaven and established the earth. With your force, you shattered even the mountains, causing the firmest to tremble as though loosened. When your two steeds are harnessed, the singer places the thunderbolt in your hands. With this weapon, O unconquered one, you have destroyed many enemy fortresses. True and bold in your deeds, you delight in offerings, heroic and strong. You struck down Śuṣṇa in the field, and, while still young, aided Kutsā, the shining one, in battle. Urged on by friends, O Indra, wielder of the bolt and mighty in action, you struck down Vṛtra. Eager for battle, you turned away the Dasyus, scattering them like loosened chaff. You are the destroyer of the hostile, even among the mighty mortals who are not favored. With your bolt, you have felled our foes as a woodcutter fells trees. Men call upon you, Indra, in contests for wealth and the pursuit of glory. May your power aid us in struggle and your favor never fail us in battle. In warfare, you shattered seven fortresses for Purukutsa with your bolt; as you did for Sudās, you scattered hostile bands, granting wide space for Pūru. You have filled these shining gifts for us, O Indra, as waters fill their courses. With these, you protect us on all sides; may your strength, like nourishment, flow for our well-being. For you, Indra, the Gotamas have composed these hymns, spoken with reverence for your steeds. Bring us splendid wealth; may the wise and generous one swiftly come to us at dawn. For the strong and gracious host, let the inspired one offer a noble hymn to the Maruts. Like flowing waters, the wise one arranges songs with skilled hands, manifest in the assemblies. Born lofty from the sky, the Maruts are the vigorous sons of Rudra—divine, unblemished, and mighty. Bright as the sun, steadfast and pure, they are swift as raindrops and fearsome in their appearance. Young, undying, and unaging, O Rudras, you have grown free from harm, like mountains. Even the firm realms of earth you shake, and by your might, you stir the heavens. With brilliant adornments, you display your splendor; shining ornaments rest on your chests, and weapons are fastened to your shoulders. By your own power, you were born together from the sky. Created by the Lord, the roaring, beneficent Maruts have grown strong like winds and lightning. Their heavenly streams pour forth, their showers fill the earth with nourishing waters. Generous givers, the Maruts pour out waters rich in ghee, manifest in the assemblies. Like racers in the rain, they lead the swift horse, milking the inexhaustible udder with their thunder. Mighty as buffaloes, skilled in magic, shining in brilliance, they are like steadfast mountains and swift to aid. Like wild beasts and elephants, they devour the forests when, in their redness, they unleash their power. Like roaring lions, the wise ones thunder; like spotted ones, all-knowing, they quicken the nights with their speckled spears, overcoming foes in battle. O Maruts, heroic and renowned among hosts, your radiance is manifest in your chariots, like lightning revealed, and your thought shines among your teams. All-knowing, united in will and riches, the Maruts set their arrows upon the bowstring, ever ready with unending power. With golden spears, nourished by milk, they hurl themselves like a path-clearing force against the mountains. Shining in vision, eager for offerings, their courses are fixed, their paths unwavering, their forms fierce. We praise with invocation the bright, pure, far-seeing Maruts, strong in the realm, swift in the expanse, united and powerful for glory. Now, those mortals supported by your strength, O Maruts, surpass others; those whom you aid win wealth with horses and men, attain wisdom, and prosper. Grant to the generous, O Maruts, unconquerable might in battle, wealth that brings praise and renown, so that we may flourish with many sons and descendants. Bestow upon us enduring, heroic, ever-victorious wealth, abundant and shining, so that the wise one may come to us early with blessings. Like a herdsman, he moves secretly, harnessed with reverence, bearing reverence. Together, the wise ones follow his footsteps; all the worshipful gods take their seat near him. The gods, according to the laws of truth, have become guardians; heaven, like a covering, encompasses earth. The waters, ever-growing, pure, and nourishing, in the womb of truth, have brought forth the well-born one. Like abundant nourishment, like the earth, like a mountain, like a support, like a shelter, like a bringer of happiness—so is he, the divine one, sustaining all.