The elders of the clan gathered in reverence, invoking the divine powers to bless the sacred rite of life and prosperity. With hearts full of devotion, they called upon Skanda, the vigorous one, urging him to place the embryo within the womb. “O Skanda, bull among bulls,” they intoned, “we lead you forth for the sake of offspring—let your strength fill this beginning.” Their prayers grew in fervor. “Expand, O you of the great chant,” they pleaded, “let your seed rest secure in the womb. May the gods, those drinkers of Soma, grant an unblemished son, one who carries the legacy of both lineages.” Turning to the divine shapers of fate, they invoked Dhātṛ, Tvaṣṭṛ, Savitṛ, and Prajāpati, asking each with gentle insistence: “O you of the best form, place a male child in this woman, that he may be born among the cows in the tenth month, strong and whole.” With the birth of life entrusted to the gods, the assembly prepared for the sacred ritual. “May the sacrificial formulas, the kindling sticks, and Agni, who knows all, unite you here in this rite,” they prayed. “May Savitṛ, knower of offspring, bind you to this sacrifice, mighty one, with the offering. May Indra, who delights in hymns, unite you with good harnessing and the sacred gifts.” The invocations continued, weaving together the powers of the cosmos: “Let the sacred formulas, the offerings, and the chosen ones, yoked with their wives, bring you together here. May the meters and the Maruts join you in the ritual, as a mother cherishes her son. Let Aditi, sprinkling the sacred grass, unite you with the offering. May Viṣṇu, with manifold forms of heat, and Tvaṣṭṛ, with many shapes, unite you well in this sacrifice. Let Bhaga grant you blessings, Soma nourish you, and Indra strengthen you, all with good harnessing and offerings.” They called upon the Aśvins and Bṛhaspati, asking them to come favorably, accompanied by the Brahman, and to increase the sacrifice with their sacred calls. “This rite is for the sun-realm, for the sacrificer, with the offering,” they declared. As the fire was kindled, its sticks stood upright, and Agni’s bright flames danced skyward—most radiant, beautiful, and protective, with many hands and offspring. Among all gods, Agni, the divine one, prepared the paths with honey and clarified butter, marking the sacrifice with sweetness and granting wishes. Savitṛ, too, encompassed the world with well-doing. With reverence, the desired fire was approached, and Agni’s greatness was celebrated in the visible ladles and the swift, delightful Vasus standing among the earth-givers. The divine doors, all the gods, upheld the sacred order of the householder, and the wide-ranging radiance of Agni was praised. The awakening dawns, together with the priests, were invoked to protect the sacrifice as guardians protect a ritual. The divine priests were asked to raise the sacrifice upward, and with Agni’s tongue, to praise the assembly for their well-being. The three goddesses—Idā, Sarasvatī, and mighty Bhāratī—were invited to sit upon the sacred grass, honored with praise. “May wondrous and abundant blessings be ours,” they prayed. “Let Tvaṣṭṛ distribute wealth and prosperity among us.” To the Lord of the Forest, they made a gentle plea: “Release what you hold, and by your power, let Agni, appeased, carry our offering to the gods.” Agni, Jātavedas, was called to perform the rite with the sacred svāhā, that Indra and all the gods might accept the oblation. Then, the ritual measured out nine vital breaths, each with its own essence, for long life and a hundred autumns. Three were green, three silver, three iron, and three established by austerity. The assembly invoked Agni, Sūrya, Candra, Earth, Waters, Sky, Atmosphere, the intermediate directions, and the quarters, along with the seasons united with their periods, to carry them across with this triple measure. They prayed for three forms of nourishment to come—milk and ghee from Pūṣan, abundance of food, men, and cattle—to abide in their midst. The Ādityas were asked to anoint the chosen one with wealth, and Agni to make him grow. Indra was called to send him forth with strength, and the triple measure of nourishment was wished to settle within him. Protection was sought from all sides: “May the green one of the earth shield you; may Agni, bearer of all, support you with iron; may the herbs, united with silver, grant you skill and a cheerful mind. This gold, born in three ways, is your offspring—one part dearest to Agni, one fallen to Soma, and one the seed of the Waters. This triple gold is for your life.” They invoked the triple lifespan of Jamadagni and Kaśyapa, the threefold vision of immortality, conferring three lifespans upon the blessed one. The three shining ones, united in one syllable, became mighty, driving away death with immortality and removing all evils. Finally, they called for ancient protection: “May the green one of the sky guard you from above, the silver one from the middle, the iron one from below. These three ancient protections of the gods surround you. Bearing them, shining, may you stand superior to your foes.” Thus, with the powers of creation, protection, and nourishment invoked, the assembly entrusted the future to the gods, secure in the blessings of the eternal order.