The tale begins with a vision of the cosmic cow, her hide dappled with spots, stepping forth into the world. She sits before her mother, drawing near her father, seeking him with yearning. Within the radiant domains, her father—the great bull—moves, his breath and vital airs animating all. From his being, he proclaims the light, shining forth in thirty abodes. Upon these realms, the bird of speech perches, responding to the summons of the dawns. In the sacred fire, offerings are made with clarified butter, seeking the destruction of the Yātudhānas and evil beings. Agni, the purifier, is invoked to burn away demons from afar, to keep them distant from our homes and to protect us. May Rudra guard the necks of the spirits, may fiends protect their backs, and let the Yātudhānas hear these words. The plants, in all their power, have joined with Yama, the lord of death. May Mitra and Varuṇa grant safety, driving away hostile fires and keeping us concealed from those who would harm us. Let all obstacles meet their end, each returning to its proper place. The people praise the dust that rises, yoked to the chariot of a new dawn, for it is the delightful and great glory of Indra. None dare challenge him; the bold are subdued by his might, as in times of old, Indra’s fame remains unconquered. May this most powerful lord grant us broad, shining wealth, radiant as tawny gold. With reverence, speech is sent forth to Agni, the bull among peoples, that he may lead us past our foes. Agni, with his sharp flame, drives away demons and shines beyond the farthest reaches, across the deserts. He sees all things with insight, beholding the worlds together, and was born on the far side of the vast expanse. May this bright Agni guide us safely beyond our enemies. From afar, may the blessings of Vaiśvānara reach us, and may Agni turn towards our praises. Let Vaiśvānara come to our sacrifice, accompanied and present in our hymns and offerings. He accepted the praise and hymns of the Angirases, and among them, may he grant us glory and sovereignty. We seek Vaiśvānara, the upholder of order, lord of the light of truth, and source of unfailing warmth. He has fulfilled all the seasons, releasing them as the master, while we, the offspring of sacrifice, rise up. In distant realms, Agni is the desire of what has been and what will be; the one sovereign shines forth alone. Then, the thousand-eyed one approaches, yoked to an oath as to a chariot, seeking the curser as a wolf tracks the lair of the unprotected. “Turn away from us, O oath,” he prays, “as fire consumes a pool; strike down the curser as lightning strikes a tree.” Whoever curses us, or whom we have cursed, or who curses us from a curse—let them fall to death, as a rotten branch falls to the dog. The brilliance that resides in the lion, the tiger, the spotted hyena, in the flashing fire, in the priest, and in the sun—may that divine, gracious power which bore Indra come to us, united with glory. She who dwells in the elephant, the two-tusked one, in gold, brightness, waters, cows, and men—the gracious goddess who bore Indra—may she come to us, united with radiance. She who is in the chariot, in wheels, in the bull, in strength, in the wind, in the rain, and in the might of Varuṇa—may she, the gracious goddess, come to us with radiance. She who is in the king, the drum, the measure of length, in the horse, strength, man, and skill—may she, the mother of Indra, come to us, united with radiance. May our offering and glory increase, inspired by Indra—of a thousandfold might, well-sustained and accomplished, spreading forth for long vision. Let us not increase the offering for the sake of seniority. To Indra, the glorious, with glories, we offer worship with reverence. Grant us, O Indra, a kingdom inspired by you; in your granting of glory, may we also be glorious. By glory, Indra was born, by glory Agni, by glory Soma; by the glory of all beings, may we too be glorious. May safety be granted to us from heaven and earth; may Soma and Savitṛ bestow safety; may the midspace be safe for us, and with the offerings of the Seven Sages, may safety be ours. For this village and the four directions, may Savitṛ grant strength and well-being; may Indra, without enemies, grant us safety, and let the anger of kings be turned elsewhere. Let there be no enemy below or above, behind or in front—O Indra, let us be free from foes on all sides. For mind, thought, understanding, intention, and awareness; for wisdom, hearing, and sight, we offer worship. For exhalation, inhalation, breath, and abundant nourishment, we offer to Sarasvatī of wide expanse. May the seers not abandon us—those divine, those who protect our bodies, those born of our own bodies. O immortals, join with mortals for our sake, granting us a span of life and a safe crossing for living. With gentle intent, we release anger from the heart, as one loosens a bowstring, that we may act together as friends, united in purpose. As friends, let us lay down anger, placing it beneath a stone, making it heavy no longer. We stand over anger with the heel and sole of the foot, so that no harsh words arise, and our minds may be brought together in harmony. Finally, we honor the sacred grass, free from anger and fit for good conduct. It is called the pacifier of anger, meant for one who seeks to dwell in peace, free from wrath. And so, through the grace of the gods, the power of sacrifice, the wisdom of the seers, and the pacification of anger, the world is blessed with safety, radiance, and glory.