Listen now to the story of the mighty Indra and the radiant Agni, as sung in the ancient hymns. Indra, the generous and powerful, speaks: “I bestow upon the singer the wealth of old, and from my inspiration, the prayer that brings abundance arises. I am the one who stirs the sacrificer’s heart and stand as witness in every contest. The gods themselves have named me Indra, and all beings of heaven, earth, and water know me. I have yoked my swift, strong horses and armed the mighty with the thunderbolt. With my strength, I destroyed Atka for the sage, aided Kutsa, and vanquished Śuṣṇa. I restrained Vadhryaśva, who denied the Aryan name to the Dasyu. Like a father helps his son, I granted Vetasu his wish, subdued Tugra for Kutsa and Smadibha, and inspired both sacrificer and king when I claimed victory for the generous. For Śrutarvan, I subdued Mṛgaya when he sought my aid; I humbled Vesha and overcame Paḍgṛbhi for Savyā. Like the slayer of Vṛtra, I destroyed the Dāsa Navavāstva and Bṛhadratha. Those who sought to exalt themselves among men, I cast far beyond the shining sky. Swift as the sun’s chariot, I move with my impelling horses. When the pressing stone calls out to me during sacrifice, I bring down the Dāsa to be struck and subdued. I am the sevenfold Nahusha, mightiest among them; I made Turvasha and Yadu proclaim my greatness, subdued the powerful, and overcame ninety-nine of the arrogant. As the bull, I held back the seven flowing streams upon their courses. Wise in action, I cross the waters, seeking the path for Manu’s descendants. I supported the streams when even Tvaṣṭṛ could not; I revealed the milk hidden in the cows’ udders, the sweet honey, the pure Soma. Thus, O gods, Indra the bountiful, true in his gifts, excels among men by his heroic deeds. All these, O Harivaḥ, praise your glory with their strength. Raise your song now to the mighty one who delights in offerings, to Viśvānarā, the all-encompassing, to Indra, whose strength and fame are honored by earth and heaven. He alone, praised by noble friendship, is Indra, the helper of men. In all tasks, contests, and battles, O strong one, you, the hero, are delighted. Who are those, O Indra, who seek your favor and desire your blessings? Who strive for your strength, for lordship, who search for you in the waters, in riches, in vigor? Through prayer, you are great; you are worthy of worship in every sacrifice, foremost among all, your counsel supreme. Let the sacrificers protect us; all peoples know your vast measure. This ageless, ever-growing one receives all the libations I have prepared. O son of strength, you have accepted these offerings; the vessel is set, the rite established, the hymn and prayer exalted for you. Priests, wise ones, compose hymns for you at the pressing and for wealth, their minds set on your favor, seeking the joy of the pressed Soma. Now, listen to Agni’s tale. In the beginning, there was the great, ancient embryo by which you, O Agni Jātavedas, entered the waters. Alone among the gods, you beheld all your many forms. Who has seen me, which god knows my many forms? Where do Mitra and Varuṇa dwell, and where are all the kindling fires of Agni? We have seen you, Jātavedas, in many forms—entering waters and plants. Yama, radiant, recognized you shining beyond the ten regions. Fearing Varuṇa, I withdrew from the priesthood; the gods did not unite me there. My forms are in many places, but I did not understand this purpose. Come, O Manu, desiring sacrifice, lead Agni from darkness along the right path; make the ways easy for the gods and bring the offerings with a kind mind. The earlier brothers of Agni pursued this path, like charioteers; thus, out of fear, O Varuṇa, I have come far away, like one not swift among the unvictorious. We make your life ageless, O Agni, so that, harnessed, you do not perish. Then, well-disposed, you carry the offering portion to the gods. Grant me the portions of the offerings, strong and full, with ghee, the essence of waters and plants; may the gods grant you long life, O Agni. May your offerings, O Agni, be strong and full, the whole sacrifice yours, and all four directions bow to you. Now the gods instruct the chosen Hotar, seated for the rite: “Tell me my rightful share, so that by your path I may carry your oblation.” As Hotar, I have taken my seat for sacrifice, supported by all gods and Maruts. Day by day, O Aśvins, your priest becomes the offerer; the offering is made to you. Every Hotar is brought to Yama; he ponders what the gods approve. Day by day, month by month, the gods have established the carrier of the oblation. The gods made me the unwearied carrier, moving through hardships; Agni arranges our sacrifice, fivefold, threefold, with seven threads. May I obtain for you immortality and heroic strength, O gods, making a wide path for you; may I place Indra’s thunderbolt in your arms, so you win all battles. Three hundred and three thousand gods, and thirty-nine more, worshipped Agni; they anointed him with ghee, spread the sacred grass, and seated him as the Hotar. He whom we desired in our mind has come—wise in sacrifice, skilled in the rite. May he, most worthy, grant us divine favor, for he who is present is not distant. Let the Hotar take his seat; let the offerings be known; let us worship the gods with clarified butter. Today, O gods, you have made our invocation successful; we have found the tongue of the sacrifice, the hidden one. He has come, bearing life, clothed in fragrance; today, you have made our invocation auspicious. Let me utter the first word, by which the gods overcame the Asuras. Nourished by strength, the worshipful ones, the five peoples, accept my offering. May the five peoples—those born of cows and those worshipful—accept my offering. May earth, midspace, and heaven protect us from harm. Weave the thread, following the radiance of the sky; guard the luminous paths of thought; spin without breaking, O waters, protect us; be like Manu, generate the divine race. Unhitch the yoke, O Soma-rich ones, loosen the straps, untie the reins, and smooth them out. Carry the eight-wheeled chariot all around, by which the gods brought their beloved near. Thus ends the tale of Indra’s might and Agni’s radiant service, of sacrifice and offering, of the gods’ favor and the world’s protection, as sung in the ancient hymns.