In the ancient days, the gods appointed Agni as the esteemed bearer of offerings, cherished and revered among humankind. When a devotee approaches Agni with praise, he bestows divine, glorious, and timeless gifts upon them. Turning to Indra, the lord of treasures and riches, people grasp his right hand in hope, for he is known as the vigilant guardian of cattle. They implore him, the mighty hero, to grant splendid and powerful wealth. Indra, with his own weapon and strength, guides with wisdom, upholds the fourfold ocean, and supports prosperity of every kind. He is celebrated, worthy of proclamation, and again the people ask him for splendid, mighty wealth. Indra’s prayer is noble, divine, vast, deep, and firmly established. He is a renowned seer, strong and a crusher of foes, and the people seek from him splendid, mighty wealth. With banners raised, heroic and most powerful, Indra shines with skill, slays enemies, breaks fortresses, and remains true. The devotees request of him again: grant us splendid, mighty wealth. Indra’s gifts come with horses and chariots, with heroes in thousands and hundreds, with victorious troops that bring the light of triumph. The people call upon him for splendid, mighty wealth. They also turn to the wise Bṛhaspati, the seven-mouthed, inspired Aṅgiras, venerating him with prayer for the same bounty. The singers send forth their hymns as messengers to Indra, seeking his favor. These songs, heartfelt and mindful, ask him, the mighty one, for splendid, abundant wealth. Whatever is sought from Indra, he is asked to grant—a great, unsurpassed dwelling among people, praised by heaven and earth together. Indra himself declares: “I am the ancient lord of riches, ever winning treasures for the enduring. People call upon me as a father; I distribute food to the worshiper.” He is the barrier, the strength of Atharvan, who begot cows for Trita and bestowed manliness upon the noble, not the foe, and gave clans to Dadhichi and Mātariśvan. For Indra, Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned the iron thunderbolt, and the gods placed their power in him. His visage is as unconquerable as the sun’s, and by his deeds and actions, the gods honor him. He bestows wealth—cows, horses, gold—abundant and shining, heaping thousands upon the devotee when the Soma-offering and hymns have pleased him. Indra has never been defeated nor yielded to death. Those who press Soma are encouraged to seek him for wealth, and Pūru, his faithful friend, never fails in friendship. Indra has overcome those who, eager for horses, prepared the thunderbolt for battle; he struck down the hostile, the strong, the arrogant, and those who would not bow. He stands alone, contending with many; two or three are no match for him. Like a thresher, he strikes down numerous enemies, and wonders why those who are not Indra revile him. He brought food to the Guṅgus and Atithigvas, sustained the people as the slayer of Vṛtra, and was heard in the great Vṛtra-slaying against Parṇaya and Karañja. Indra promises that those who bow to him will gain food and strength, form friendship with the cow-giver, and, when honored in assemblies, he brings forth what is praiseworthy and worthy of hymns. Soma, though unseen and not openly appearing, makes Indra manifest—the bull with sharp horns, eager for battle, stands bound within, with his two hands. Indra does not violate the ordinances of the Ādityas, Vasus, or Rudras; he is the god among gods. May they fashion him for prosperity, unconquered, undefeated, and unassailable. He gives to the singer the ancient wealth, creates prayers that bring increase, inspires sacrificers, and is a witness in every contest. The gods have named him Indra, and all creatures of heaven, earth, and waters recognize him. He has yoked the two swift, strong bays and given the thunderbolt to the mighty. With his might, Indra destroyed Atka for the sage, aided Kutsa with his powers, smote Śuṣṇa, restrained Vadhryaśva, and did not give the Aryan name to the Dasyu. Like a father for his son, he aided Vetasu for his wish, subdued Tugra for Kutsa and Smadibha, and inspired the sacrificer and king, winning contests for those who do not withhold the beloved. Indra subdued Mṛgaya for Śrutarvan, made the humble Vesha bow, and subdued Paḍgṛbhi for Savyā. Like the slayer of Vṛtra, he destroyed the Dāsa Navavāstva and Bṛhadratha, and cast down those who sought to exalt themselves among men, sending them beyond the shining expanse of the sky. He moves around the sun with swift horses, carried by impelling ones. When the pressing stone calls to him, he brings down the Dāsa to be struck and subdued. He is the sevenfold Nahusha, most powerful among the Nahushas. With his might, he made Turvasha and Yadu proclaim his greatness, subdued another mighty one, and overcame ninety-nine of the arrogant. As a bull, Indra held back the seven flowing streams upon the earth and their courses. Wise in action, he crosses the waters and seeks the path for Manu’s descendants with knowledge. He supported those streams when even Tvaṣṭṛ could not uphold them—the precious milk of cows, the sweet honey, and the Soma pressed and pure. Thus, Indra, bountiful and true in his gifts, has excelled among men by his heroic deeds. All these, O Harivaḥ, full of power, praise his glory with their own strength. To the mighty one who delights in offerings, to Viśvānarā, the all-encompassing, the song is raised. Indra’s great strength, fame, and heroic power are honored by earth and heaven. He alone, praised by noble friendship, is the helper of men. In all tasks, contests, and battles, Indra, the strong hero, is delighted. Indra is sought by those who desire his favor and benevolence, who strive for his strength and lordship, and seek him in the waters, the best of riches, and manly vigor. Through prayer, Indra becomes great; he is worthy of worship at all sacrifices, foremost in all gatherings, and his counsel is supreme among all peoples. Let the greater, the sacrificers, protect the people, who know Indra’s vast measure. Ageless and ever-growing, all these libations are prepared for him. The vessel is set, the rite established, the hymn, prayer, and exalted speech offered for his favor. Priests, wise and devoted, compose hymns for Indra during the pressing and for the giving of wealth, minds set on his favor, following the path to the joy of pressed Soma. That great, ancient embryo was there, by which Agni entered the waters. Agni, Jātavedas, alone among the gods, saw all forms of his own body in many ways. And the question arises: Who has seen me, which god is he, who has beheld my forms in many ways? Where do Mitra and Varuṇa dwell, where are all the kindling fires of Agni, the divine? Thus, through praise, prayer, and sacrifice, the gods are honored, their deeds remembered, and their gifts sought, as the ancient songs flow forth in reverence and devotion.