The thousand-eyed one, Indra, set forth with resolve, harnessing the power of an oath to his chariot. With keen intent, he sought out the one who had cursed, tracking him as a wolf might pursue the lair of the unguarded. “Turn away from us, O Oath,” the people implored, “as fire consumes a stagnant pool; let the force of the oath strike down our curser as lightning shatters a tree.” They called upon the power of retribution: “Whoever curses us, or whom we have cursed, or any who hurl curses upon us—may they be cast down to death, as a rotten branch is thrown to the dogs.” In their prayers, they invoked the brilliance that shines in the lion, the tiger, and the spotted hyena, in the flashing fire, in the priest, and in the sun itself. “May that divine and gracious power, which brought forth mighty Indra, come to us, united with glory.” They honored the goddess present in the elephant, the two-tusked one, in gold and brightness, in the waters, in cows, and in men—she who bore Indra. “May she come to us, bearing radiance.” They recognized her also in the chariot and its wheels, in the bull and strength, in the wind and rain, and in the might of Varuṇa. “Let her gracious presence, the mother of Indra, unite with us in radiance.” She was present in the king, the drum, the measure of length, the horse, in strength, in man, and in skill. Always, they called upon her, the gracious goddess who bore Indra, to come with radiance. They prayed for the increase of glory and offering, inspired by Indra—of a thousandfold might, well-sustained and accomplished, spreading far and wide. “Let not the offering grow merely for the sake of seniority, but for true vision.” To Indra, the glorious, they offered worship with reverence, seeking his blessing: “Grant us, O Indra, a kingdom inspired by you; may we be glorious through your gift of glory.” For it is by glory that Indra, Agni, and Soma were born, and by the glory of all beings, they declared, “I am the most glorious.” Seeking well-being, they prayed, “May safety be with us from heaven and earth; may Soma and Savitṛ grant us safety; may the midspace be safe for us. With the offering of the Seven Sages, may safety abide with us.” For the village and all four directions, they invoked Savitṛ for strength and well-being, and Indra for protection without enemies. “Let the anger of kings turn elsewhere,” they pleaded, “let there be no foe from below, nor from above, nor from behind or before, O Indra.” They offered worship for mind, thought, understanding, intention, and awareness; for wisdom, hearing, and sight. For exhalation, inhalation, breath, and nourishment, they honored Sarasvatī of vast expanse. “May the seers not abandon us—the divine, the body-protecting, those born of our bodies. O immortals, join with mortals for our sake; grant us a span of life, a safe crossing for living.” Turning to harmony, they prayed, “Like loosening a bowstring, I release your anger from my heart, so that together, of one mind, we may act as friends.” They sought to lay down anger as if beneath a heavy stone, to act as companions. “I stand over your anger with my heel and foot, so that you may not speak against me; bring my mind under your control.” They honored the sacred grass, free from anger and fit for good conduct, calling it the pacifier of anger. With many roots, it stands in the ocean, arisen from the earth to pacify wrath. “We cast away your destructive weapon, we lead away your chief weapon, so that you may not speak against me; bring my mind under your control.” From sky and earth, from all that exists, the trees stand upright, dreaming as they remain; thus, may disease depart. “A hundred remedies are yours, a thousand gathered together; let the best, most excellent remedy, destroyer of disease, flow forth. You are the urine of Rudra, the navel of immortality; your name is Viṣāṇakā, arisen from the roots of the ancestors, destroyer of wind-borne affliction.” They addressed the evil mind: “Depart, evil mind! Why do you speak harmful things? I do not desire you. Go wander among trees and forests; let my mind dwell in homes and among cattle.” They drove out whatever was hostile, awake or asleep, asking Agni to remove all evil deeds far away. “O Indra, O Lord of Speech, even if we act wrongly, may the wise Āṅgirasas deliver us from misfortune and sin.” They pondered the nature of dreams: “You are neither living nor dead, O dream, the immortal embryo among the gods. Varuṇānī is your mother, Yama your father, and you are called Araru. We know your origin, O dream, son of divine mothers, agent of Yama, Antaka, Death itself. Protect us from evil dreams.” Just as parts are joined—a hoof or tendon—they united all evil dreams and led them away from the enemy. They prayed for Agni, the universal, the creator and bringer of happiness, to protect them at the morning pressing; may the purifier grant wealth, and may they live long, sharing food together. They called on all the gods, the Maruts, and Indra not to abandon them at the second pressing, that they may speak what is dear to the gods and be favored with long life. At the third pressing, the wise filled the cup with nectar; may the Saudhanvanā, shining and unaging, bring the most excellent offering. They grasped the implements of sacrifice: “You are a falcon, with the Gāyatrī meter; I grasp you. May you bring me prosperity at the upward path of the sacrifice. Svāhā!” “You are an Ṛbhu, with the Jagatī meter; I grasp you. May you bring me prosperity at the upward path of the sacrifice. Svāhā!” “You are a bull, with the Triṣṭubh meter; I grasp you. May you bring me prosperity at the upward path of the sacrifice. Svāhā!” They honored Agni, whose form no mortal can harm. “You are a monkey, consuming your own offspring, like a cow with her afterbirth. Like a ram, you are praised and called upon, when the upper and lower jaws devour; with your head, you strike the heads of the waters, consuming the fibers with your green flames.” The winged ones utter speech, the black ones cry out in the fields; they lead away the uppermost portion, many seeds are placed, resting upon the sun. Thus, through invocation, prayer, and offering, the seekers called upon the divine powers for protection, glory, healing, harmony, and prosperity, weaving their lives into the radiant tapestry of the gods.