With reverence, the sages began their invocation, recognizing the mighty powers behind all things. They spoke of the arrow, whose father is Varuna, endowed with a hundred powers. By Varuna’s grace, they prayed for well-being in the body, wishing that anything harmful be expelled, settling outside like a child. Again, they acknowledged Chandra, the moon, as the father of the arrow, also hundred-powered, and sought his blessing for bodily health, desiring that all impurities be released as a child expels waste. Then, they honored Surya, the sun, the third father of the arrow, and invoked his strength for welfare, repeating their prayer for the body’s purity, that whatever needs to be expelled may fall outside, as a child does. Turning their focus to healing, the sages addressed whatever might be held within, whether in the entrails of cows or in the bladder. They prayed that all urine be released outside, as a child, freeing the body of all impurities. They spoke of breaking open the urethra, likening it to breaking the barrier of a dwelling, so that urine may flow freely, as it does in a child. The opening of the bladder, they said, is pierced like the depths of the ocean, again wishing for all urine to be released outside, in childlike ease. Just as an arrow, shot from a bow, falls away over the plain, so too should urine be released, as a child, freeing the body of all. The scene shifted to the sisters of sacrifice, who walked the paths, filtering milk mixed with honey. Their ritual was gentle, harmonious. The sages prayed that the powers binding the Sun to the sky, or those by which the Sun abides, would not harm their sacrifice. They invoked the divine Waters, from which their cattle drank, offering prayers to the rivers. In the waters, they knew, lay ambrosia and medicine; by praising the waters, they hoped to become swift as horses and strong as cattle. With devotion, they addressed the Waters: “You are the bringers of happiness. Grant us nourishment and strength for great vision in battle.” They wished to partake of the most auspicious essence of the Waters, as loving mothers share with their children. Approaching the Waters in humility, they asked to be generated anew, to be granted increase. The Waters, mistresses of treasures and sustainers of peoples, were implored for healing. The sages continued: “May the divine Waters bring us happiness and blessings for drinking; may their streams flow with well-being for us.” Within the Waters, Soma spoke to them, declaring, “All medicines are within us, and Agni, the bringer of all blessings.” They prayed for the Waters to fill them with healing and protection, so they might see the Sun for a long time. They wished happiness from river waters, from streams, from those drawn by digging or brought in jars, and from rains, hoping all would be auspicious. Next, they called upon Agni: “Bring here the sorcerer and the fiend who hates us, as we praise you. You, O god, are praised and have become the slayer of the enemy.” Jātavedas, lord of clarified butter and dwelling in the body, was asked to consume the sorcerer of Taulasa and scatter the fiends. Let all who hate them, fiends and poisoners alike, be scattered, and let Agni and Indra accept their offering. Agni was called to take the lead, and mighty Indra to drive away the enemy, challenging every sorcerer to come forward and declare themselves. They wished to witness Agni’s power, asking him to reveal the fiends. With Agni scorching all before them, let the fiends come and confess. Agni, born for their purpose, was to be their messenger, scattering the fiends. Agni was called to bring forth the bound fiends, so Indra, with his thunderbolt, could cut off their heads. The sages then turned to the Yātudhānas, wishing their oblation would carry them away as a river bears off its foam. Whoever had made this a woman or a man, let them be among those who praise. The one who praises had arrived and was welcomed. Having gained mastery, Bṛhaspati was invoked, and Agni and Soma were asked to strike apart the foes. Soma-drinker was called to destroy the offspring of the Yātudhāna and lead them away, making the one who praises fall from the highest to the lowest. Where Agni knew their origins, hidden among the true ones, he was asked to destroy them a hundredfold, growing strong through prayer. On the wealth before them, the Vasus—Indra, Pūṣan, Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni—were called to sustain it. The Ādityas and all the gods were invoked to uphold it in the highest light. The gods were asked to place light in this direction, whether Sun, Agni, or gold. Let rivals be beneath them, and let this one be raised to the highest heaven. With the power that nourished Indra, with highest prayer, Jātaveda and Agni were asked to increase this one, placing him in the foremost rank among his kin. Sacrifice and radiance, wealth and prosperity, and thoughts were granted by Agni; let rivals be beneath them, and let this one rise to the highest heaven. Then, the lord of the gods shone forth, for the commands of true Varuṇa, the king, were sovereign. Through prayer, seeking favor, the sages led this one from the wrath of the mighty. They offered salutations to the night, hoping to appease Varuṇa’s wrath, recognizing his discernment of all wrongdoing. A thousand acts of devotion were offered together, wishing that this one live a hundred autumns. If falsehood or evil had been uttered, they sought release from Varuṇa, the king of true law. They also sought release from Vaiśvānara and the great depths, urging the mighty one to speak among his kin, declare prayer, and perform for them. Finally, Pūṣan was called to utter ‘vaṣaṭ’ in the pressing, Aryaman to officiate, and the creator to arrange. The righteous-born women were to move forth, crossing the stages and pressing onward. In four directions of the sky and four of the earth, the gods had gathered the embryo, wrapping it for the pressing. Thus, through prayer, invocation, and ritual, the sages sought purity, healing, protection, and the favor of the divine, ensuring that all powers—of Waters, Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, and the gods—were called upon to sustain, uplift, and bless their lives and sacrifices.