Indra and Soma, revered as the lords of all that is good and the vigilant guardians of cattle, are invoked by the faithful to grant fruitfulness to their prayers. As sovereign rulers, they are asked to bless those who honor them, ensuring prosperity and abundance. Indra, mighty and exhilarating, grew in strength for the sake of power and joy, renowned as the slayer of Vṛtra and champion among men. In times of great battle, people call upon him, seeking his favor for victory in contests and striving for his blessing to achieve success. Indra is recognized as a heroic leader, generous beyond measure, even to the humble. He bestows wealth on the worshipper who presses the Soma, rewarding devotion with abundance. When warriors are roused and the prize is set before the bold, Indra is urged to harness his exhilarating steeds. The faithful ask: whom will you strike down, whom will you enrich? May Indra choose to enrich us. The cows, gentle and spotted, drink the overflowing honeyed sweetness, joining with mighty Indra in rejoicing over their strength. In their radiance and wealth, they follow the sovereignty of the sun. These same cows press the Soma, preparing for Indra the thunderbolt and arrow, their wealth shining under the sun’s rule. The wise, with reverence, serve Indra’s might, performing his ancient rites to please him, always flourishing under the sun’s dominion. The Soma, pressed for exhilaration, skilled in the waters and dwelling on mountains, settles into its destined place like an eagle returning to its nest. This pure one, flawless and driven by the wind of the gods, is washed in the waters and pressed by men. The cows sweeten him with their milk, and, like a horse adorned at the yoke, he becomes the juice of sweetness, a source of immortality in the sacred gathering. “O Lord of strength,” the worshippers call, “shine forth with great fame, inspirer of our devotion. Open the middle vessel for us.” They entreat Soma, the skillful one, to speak forth from the vessel, blazing like fire among the people, to flow down like rain from heaven, bringing forth streams for the winning of cattle and for insight. The child of the great ones, Soma, breathes forth, stirring the brightness of truth, becoming beloved by all, holding all together in unity. Soma approaches the stone of Trita, finding the hidden place, and, with the seven abodes of sacrifice, reaches the beloved. With Trita’s three supports, Soma moves along the backs, measuring the course with well-contrived yokes. Flowing for strength, purified by the filter and pressed out, Soma grows even sweeter with honey, offered to Indra, Vishnu, and all the gods. Cleansed by the thoughts of the faithful, the tawny one passes through the filter without deceit. Like mothers with a newborn calf, the purified Soma courses on, embracing both heaven and earth with his great power, releasing all coverings by his might. The invigorating drop of Soma flows, rich in strength and abundant for the cows, seeking might for Indra’s exhilaration. He strikes down demons, drives away hostility, and clears a wide path as king of the people. Blended with honey and strained through the filter, the drop flows, milked from the stone, delighting in Indra’s friendship and stirring exhilaration. Purifying himself with sacred vows, Soma fills the gods with his own essence. Clad in truth, he upholds the laws, watched over by ten fingers on the unshaken summit. To Agni, the undying radiant god, the faithful kindle the sacred fire, praying that his most glorious battle may shine forth and bring the heavenly portion to the singers. With hymns and offerings, Agni, lord of shining light and carrier of offerings, is called upon to bring nourishment to the singers. Both ladles are filled for him, and the worshippers hope that their hymns will satisfy the mighty lord, bringing further nourishment. The Sāman is sung for Indra, the inspired, the great, the mighty, the wise creator of prayer and the one most worthy of praise. Indra, all-conquering, made the sun shine, the universal maker and god, the great one. The gods, shining with radiance, swiftly move to the realm of light, and Indra enters into friendship with them. Soma is pressed for Indra, the most mighty, and the worshippers invite him to come with strength, filling his power as the sun fills the sky with rays. Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, stands upon his chariot, his two bays yoked by prayer. The stone, with its fire, is invoked to incline Indra’s mind toward the worshippers. His two bays carry him, whose might none can withstand, to the well-praised songs of seers and the sacrifices of men. The radiant Soma, delight of the sacrifice, beloved and sweet, flows forth—the father of the gods and creator of riches. He bestows treasures, worthy of praise and full of joy, the exhilarating and powerful essence. Resounding, the vigorous Soma rushes to the vessel, lord of heaven, with a hundred streams and keen discernment. The tawny one sits in the dwellings of Mitra, purified by rivers, a bull among the streams. Foremost among rivers, Soma rushes forth, foremost in speech among the cows, and foremost in strength, winning great wealth, well-armed and accompanied by those who press him. The swift, strong, bull-like Somas flow for wealth in cattle and horses, shining with heroic vigor. Purified by the hands of those who live by truth, the shining Somas flow between two hands along an unchanging channel. May all divine and earthly treasures, and those of the midspace, flow for the worshipper with the Somas. Soma is called to purify himself with divine power in the filter, and to enter Indra’s hosts as the mighty drop. He is urged to speak forth, mighty and abundant, and to take his appointed seat. The sweet juice has been milked—the streams of the pressed, inspired one—and the waters flow for the wise. The great rivers move toward Soma, the great one, especially when he is clothed with the cows, completing the sacred cycle of offering, purification, and divine blessing.