In ancient times, there arose a dire threat—a sorceress who, with her curse, brought harm and madness, seeking to steal the very sap of life. The prayer was uttered that she, who sowed destruction, might consume her own offspring, turning her malice inward. Let the sorceress devour her son, her sister, and her niece; let all wild-haired witches destroy one another, so that those who plot evil may perish and enemies waste away. Amidst these dangers, the seekers turned to powerful protection: with the victorious amulet by which mighty Indra grew strong, they implored Brahmaṇaspati to grant them growth and sovereignty. Having overcome rivals and enemies, they sought to stand firm against all who contended with them, against any who wished them harm. Savitṛ the god had strengthened them, Soma had fortified them, and all beings had given their support, for the amulet was victorious. Let this amulet—overpowering, rival-destroying—be bound for sovereignty, for the defeat of adversaries. As the sun rose, their utterance emerged: may they become slayers of enemies, without rivals, destroyers of adversaries. May they be like bulls, rulers, conquerors of poison, shining among heroes and among all people. For the one who is protected, prayers were offered: may all the gods and Vasus guard him, may the Ādityas awaken for him. Let neither kin nor strangers bring upon him the death meant for men. The gods, ancestors, and sons were called to hear these words, offered for well-being, so that he might be carried safely to old age. All gods dwelling in heaven, earth, atmosphere, among plants, animals, and waters were invoked—grant him long life and vigor, let him escape a hundred deaths. Those whose offerings belong to the gods, whose regions are divided, their assembly-seats were appointed for him. To the four guardians of hope and the immortal overseers of existence, oblations were offered. The four gods, guardians of hope, were implored to release the people from snares of destruction and harm. They were worshipped with clarified butter, and the fourth guardian was asked to grant excellent existence. Prayers for well-being extended to mother and father, cows, the world, and all men—that all may be prosperous and auspicious, and that the sun may be seen as long as life endures. A profound teaching was proclaimed: O people, know this—the great Brahman speaks. There is nothing on earth or in heaven by which plants breathe; their abode is the atmosphere, as if for those weary and resting. The seat of this being is known to the wise creator, or perhaps not. When earth and sky are agitated and earth is measured, then always it is moist, like the waters of the ocean. All is enveloped by another, established upon another. Reverence was offered to heaven, the all-knowing, and to earth. The radiant waters were praised—golden-hued, pure, and bright—the waters in which Savitṛ and Agni were born, which bear Agni as their embryo. May these waters be auspicious and gentle. Among them, King Varuṇa moves, discerning truth and falsehood among people. The waters in which gods prepare their food in heaven, which exist in many forms in the atmosphere, were invoked for gentleness and auspiciousness. With auspicious sight may the waters look upon the supplicant, with auspicious touch may they touch the skin. Pure, radiant, and flowing with clarified butter are those waters—may they be gentle and auspicious. Honey-born Viru was sought, dug up with honey, and invoked to fill the people with honeyed sweetness. Honey was at the tip and root of the tongue; may their words be pleasing, may minds be drawn together. May their approach and departure be honey-sweet; with speech, may they become honeyed, seen as honeyed. They declared themselves of honey, more honeyed than honey, most honeyed among the honeyed, asking the forest not to break them off like a heavy branch. Around Viru was wrapped sweet cane, for those who come without hatred, so that women may desire them and men may not turn away. When the Daksha-born ones, with joyful minds, bound gold for the hundredfold-bannered one, this gold was bound for life, brilliance, strength, long years, for a hundred autumns. Neither demons nor spirits could withstand this, for it was the first-born might of the gods. Whoever bore the Daksha-born gold gained long life among the living. The radiance, light, vigor, and strength of the plants, their powers, were placed in the one who skillfully bore this gold, as Indra placed his powers. Having passed through months and seasons, filled with the essence of the year, Indra, Agni, and all the gods were invoked to approve the adornment. Vena beheld the supreme mystery, where all becomes one form. The speckled cow, giving birth, poured forth; those who knew the light approached the streams. The knower of immortality declared the secret dwelling—the Gandharva, who knows the highest place. Three steps were set in his secret; whoever knows them becomes the ancestor of ancestors. He is father, begetter, and kin; he knows all abodes and worlds, bears the name among the gods, and to him all worlds come together for inquiry. Swiftly he approaches, encompassing heaven and earth, the firstborn of immortality. Like speech in the speaker, he is established in the worlds—this is Agni. He encircles all worlds, the thread of immortality stretched for vision, where gods, delighting in immortality, were born together in a common womb. The celestial Gandharva, lord of beings, alone is worthy of reverence and praise among the tribes. To him the seeker comes with sacred utterance, offering reverence to the divine one whose seat is in heaven. Touched in heaven, radiant as the sun, swift as a horse, of divine might—the Gandharva, lord of beings, gracious and worthy of worship, is invoked to grant peace. Thus, through prayers, offerings, and sacred knowledge, the seekers sought protection, prosperity, sweetness, and immortality, revering the gods, the waters, the honey-born Viru, the Daksha-born gold, and the celestial Gandharva, weaving all existence into one harmonious, auspicious whole.