In the beginning, Prajāpati, Anumati, and Sinīvālī, with their divine wisdom, arranged the cosmic order, setting the feminine principle apart and establishing the masculine in its proper place. Thus, balance was woven into creation. Journeying through the world, I moved like the sun encircling the sky, reaching even the birthplace of serpents. Day and night, I invoked all that had been destroyed to shield you from poison’s harm. I called upon the knowledge held by the Brāhmaṇas, the Ṛṣis, and the gods of old—knowledge of what was, what is, and what will be—to protect you from venom. With sweetness, I filled the rivers, the mountains, and the hills; honey flowed for Paruṣṇī and Śīpālā, and I prayed for peace—peace for us all, peace for the very heart. I bowed in reverence to the slayers of gods, to the slayers of kings, and to those who slay among mortals. To you, Death, I offered homage. I honored you as lord of speech, as master of distant utterance; to your good mind, Death, I paid homage, and even to your evil mind, I offered respect. I bowed to the yātudhānas and to the medicines, to Death at the roots, and to the Brāhmaṇas as well. I called for the destruction of all that wastes the bones and flesh, all heart-disease, and every affliction called balāsa, driving them from the limbs and joints. Like uprooting a plant, I removed balāsa from the sufferer, cutting its bindings and roots. Let balāsa fly away from here as a young bird departs, let it flee far, this destroyer of strength. I sought the highest of herbs, the very support of trees, wishing for that strength to be ours against any who might attack. Whether foes are kin or strangers, may I stand above them all, tall as the greatest trees. As Soma is supreme among plants and the best of offerings, so may I be exalted among trees, like the tala and asha. In preparing your porridge, I gathered all your juices—the harmful and the harmless, the potent and the mild. Your father is Vihahla, your mother Madavati; you, who harm yourself, who are your own enemy, I address. I called upon Tauvilika, Velaya, Ayamailaba, Ailayit, Babhru, and Babhrukarna: depart, vanish! You are known as Alasala in the east, Silanjala in the north, and Nilagalasala. Just as this vast earth receives the embryo of all beings, so may your embryo be held firm and brought forth at the right time. As the earth supports the trees, the mountains, the hills, and the settled world, so may your embryo be steadfast, to be born in due season. I sought to extinguish the bands of jealousy—the first, the foremost, and the one that follows after—the fire of heart-burning grief. As the earth covers the dead with a mind untroubled, so may my mind, free from envy, cover over the dead feeling of jealousy. Whatever restless thoughts are lodged in your heart, I release you from jealousy, as heat is released from a burning thing. May the divine beings purify me, may people purify me with their thoughts, and all creatures cleanse me. Let the purifying one wash me for resolve, for skill, for life, and for unharmed well-being. With the help of Savitar, with the purifier and the pressing, may we be made pure for clear sight. He who burns like fire, who comes with force and departs wailing like a drunkard, may that lawless one seek another. Homage to the one who first harmed. I offer homage to Rudra, to the first harmer, to King Varuna the radiant, to the sky, to the earth, and to the plants. To the one who scorches and makes all forms green—to the ruddy, the tawny, the wild one—I offer homage. Amid the three earths, the ground stands highest, and from their skin I have gathered potent medicine. You are the best among medicines, the most excellent of herbs, as Soma is among nights and Varuna among gods. Radiant and unconquered, you desire to nourish and indeed you nourish. You strengthen the hair and promote its growth. Dark-flowing and tawny, splendid-winged and clad in water, the waters rise to the sky. Returning from the seat of order, they first spread out the earth with ghee. O waters, make the herbs full of milk and auspicious as you move; O Maruts with golden breasts, fill us with strength and goodwill, pouring honey for humankind. The Maruts have lifted up the rain, filling all dwellings. It moves as a girl weaves at her spindle, as a wife for her husband. The waters have flowed day and night; I call upon the divine waters with noble intent. Active and ready, the waters release themselves for guidance, acting swiftly for our benefit. By the impulse of divine Savitar, may humans perform their work, and may waters and herbs be auspicious for us. From the Himalayas, the sacred waters flow and meet in the river. From them, the divine waters have granted me the medicine that shines within the heart.