In ancient times, seekers turned to Indra, the mighty lord whose gifts number in the thousands and beyond. With hymns, they called upon him, recognizing his power and abundance. Indra, in the dawn of creation, crossed the primordial ocean and established order. He generated offspring and became guardian of the world. As the bull Soma grew strong upon the pure slopes, his essence swelled within the vessel, and the stones resounded with his presence. The worshippers prayed for delight and favor from Vayu, Mitra, Varuna, the Maruts, all the gods, heaven and earth, and especially Soma, as they purified themselves. Soma, the mighty one, chose the gods as the embryo of the waters, bestowing strength upon Indra, the flowing one, and generating light within the sun. This immortal god, Soma, poured forth like a spreading branch, settled into the vessels. Praised by sages, he entered the waters, bestowing treasures upon those who worshipped him. Pavamana, the strong one, sought all desirable things, like a hero wielding his powers. Riding the chariot, he rushed forth, revealing his voice and his sound. Purified by the wise and those who uphold order, the tawny god was cleansed for the prize. Once made pure, Pavamana overcame all obstacles, proving himself invincible. He rushed across the sky, through the spaces filled with dust, his stream resounding and purifying. He spread out the untouched sky, moving through the dusty spaces, self-lawful and purifying. With ancient birth, pressed for the gods, the tawny one flowed through the purifier. Born of many rites, he generated lights, and pressed, he flowed with his stream. Subtle and swift, he went with thought, like a hero on rapid chariots, approaching Indra’s dwelling. Invoked by many for the great divine rite, he arrived where the immortals sat. Cleansed by the press-stones in the vessels, he spread abundant riches. Set in place, he was led along the path of purification as the rollers urged him forward. Advancing with golden beams, he became a steed with shining streams, lord of the rivers. He shook his horns, youthful bull of the herd, bearing manly strength and vigor. Swelling with riches, he crossed rough places and descended into resting-places. The tawny one was pressed by ten fingers for his journey, most exhilarating, bearing his own weapon. His bull-chariot was guarded by coverings, and he moved toward the thousandfold prize. The women of Trita pressed him with stones, preparing the drop for Indra to drink. Among men, he sat like a falcon in the settlements, moving as a lover to his beloved. The intoxicating juice revealed itself, child of heaven, the drop that entered the covering. The pressed tawny one rushed for drinking, roaring and seeking his beloved abode. Ten bright ones cleansed him, making him shine for exhilaration. Set in motion by men, the steed, lord of all-knowing minds, swiftly ran unhindered to its goal. Soma, pressed for the gods, flowed unceasingly through the purifier, entering all abodes. He shone forth, immortal in his womb, slayer of Vritra, most beloved by the gods. Roaring and urged by his kin in tenfold ways, he rushed toward the vessels. Pavamana illuminated the sun in the sky; in the purifier, exhilarating joy stirred. United with the radiant sun, he beamed with Vivasvat, master of speech and unassailable. Praised and purified, the sage delighted in the purifier, cleansing and striking down foes. Winning light, he was poured for Indra and Vayu, accomplishing skill in the purifier. Soma, bull and pressed, was led by men; knower of all, he moved through the woods, head of heaven. Pavamana, desiring cows, shone; golden-hued Indu, victorious in assemblies, was poured out. The powerful, golden one, purified, surged in the midspace; Indu, cleansing, sought Indra. Soma, purified, surged for the unassailable—godly, heroic, and dispeller of evil speech.