Knowing the measure of strength, steadfast and heroic, mighty and swift, enduring and fierce, Indra was born surpassing all in valor and power, the very embodiment of strength. He was called to ascend his victorious chariot, the bringer of cattle and wealth. Indra, breaker of enclosures and finder of cattle, thunder-armed and triumphant, crushed all obstacles with his power. His companions were urged to emulate his kinship, to strive together with him, united in purpose. Indra, the hero with a hundredfold might, plunged forcefully into barriers, impossible to displace, destroyer of armies, unconquerable in battle. With such a champion, may our own army be protected in the struggle. Let Indra lead the way, Brihaspati be the guiding right hand, sacrifice the very foundation, and Soma the vanguard; among the divine hosts, let the Maruts guide those destined for victory. The mighty cry of Indra resounded, joined by the king Varuna, the Adityas, and the fierce Maruts—those great-minded ones who move the worlds. Let the victorious shout of the gods rise up, echoing through the heavens. "O Maghavan," they called, "raise up the weapons, raise the minds of our warriors, raise the steeds, O slayer of Vritra, and let the triumphant chariots resound." Let Indra be with our banners in the assembly; let our arrows fly victorious and our heroes stand supreme. "O gods, protect us as we make our offerings," they prayed. Enticing the minds of the enemy, take their limbs and depart—go forth and burn their hearts with inner flames, so that blindness and darkness envelop those who oppose us. Released by prayer, the arrow was bid to fly, striking down the enemy and sparing none. "Go forth, be victorious, O men! May Indra grant you protection; let your arms be fierce and invincible as you are." As the rival army of the Maruts approached, striving with power, darkness and confusion were cast upon them so they would not recognize one another. Where arrows flew and youths rushed forward like shafts, there Indra, Brihaspati, and Aditi were invoked for protection—may their guardianship never fail. Armor was set upon the vital parts, Soma the king enveloped the warriors with immortality, Varuna broadened their path, and the gods rejoiced in their victory. "O Agni," they prayed, "lead him upward with the upper offering of ghee; grant him wealth and offspring, make him abundant." Indra was invoked to lead his devotee across, to make him master among his kin, radiant with divine light, and sharing in the portion of the gods. Wherever the offering was made, Agni was asked to increase the householder; the gods, with Brahmanaspati, gave their blessing. "May all the gods raise you up, O Agni, with their thoughts; may you, radiant and auspicious, bring us abundant blessings." The five divine directions, the goddesses, were called upon to protect the sacrifice, to repel harm and evil intent, to bestow wealth and grant the lordship of sacrifice—upon the increase of wealth, the sacrifice is established. When Agni was kindled, the worshipper sought to be magnified, worthy of praise and hymns, embracing the heated Gharma as the gods themselves did for strength. For the divine supporter and enjoyer, endowed with splendor and a hundredfold wealth, the gods, having embraced the sacrifice, approached; the priests stood among the gods for the gods. The clarified offering, appeased and ready, was offered for worship—the fourth sacrifice, the place of oblation, from where words and blessings flow graciously. The sun's tawny-haired ray, Savitar, rose in front, ever shining; Pūṣan moved forth, knowing and seeing all worlds, the sure protector. The measurer sat in the midst of heaven, filling earth, sky, and atmosphere, beholding all things, shining with ghee, between the earlier and later lights. The bull, the ocean, the ruddy eagle, entered the womb of the eastern father; placed in the middle of heaven, the speckled stone, he strode, protecting the ends of space. All hymns magnified Indra, whose domain is the ocean, the best of charioteers, the true lord of prizes, the supreme master. Let the invocation of the gods proceed to the sacrifice, let the invocation of favor be offered, and let Agni, the god, go to the gods at the sacrifice. With the upraised hand, the source of vigor was seized; with the downward hand, may Indra cast down all rivals. The gods increased both the up-grasp and the down-grasp with sacred utterance; then, O Indra and Agni, scatter those who are hostile. "Ascend to heaven with Agni, bearing the offering in your hands; having reached the back of the sky, go to the light, united with the gods." Go forth along the eastern direction, O wise one, as Agni before Agni, shining in all quarters, spreading your light, granting strength to bipeds and quadrupeds. From earth, ascend to the atmosphere, from the atmosphere to heaven; from the summit of the celestial vault, reach the light of heaven. Those who go to the light do not look back; they ascend to heaven and earth, those wise ones who have spread the all-supporting sacrifice. Agni, the foremost among worshippers, the eye of gods and mortals, leads the sacrificers—united with the Bhṛgus, they go to the light with well-being. Night and dawn, though different in form, are of one mind, nurturing the single child together; heaven and earth, the golden one, shines within, and the gods, givers of wealth, uphold Agni. O Agni, thousand-eyed, with a hundred heads, a hundred breaths, a thousand vital airs—you are lord of a thousandfold wealth. To you, worship is offered for strength. You are the splendid-winged Garutman; settle upon the earth's back, fill the midspace with your radiance, illumine the heavens, and with your brilliance make the directions firm. With offerings, O Agni of beautiful form, sit in the proper place at the front; in this sacred seat and the higher one, let all the gods and the worshipper be seated. The bright favor of Savitar was chosen, the universal blessing, which Kanva milked from the great cow, abundant with a thousand streams of milk. Agni was worshipped in his highest birth, with hymns in the lower seat; from the womb from which he arose, he was honored, and when kindled, the offerings were brought. Shining forth, Agni was called to blaze before all with unfailing, youthful vigor; to him, ever, the prizes came.