In ancient times, when the forces of chaos threatened the world, the mighty waters themselves held back Vritra, restraining his overwhelming power. Just as they did, so now, with Agni and with Vaisvanara, I invoke their strength to ward off illness and protect you. Indra, the great bull of heaven, stands as the powerful guardian above, while here on earth, another bull reigns. May you become the single, unmatched bull among all that exists. The ocean is lord of all flowing streams, Agni is master of the earth, and the moon is sovereign among the stars—may you rise as the single bull above them all. You are the sovereign of the gods, the leader of men, sharing in the divine portion; let your supremacy shine forth as the one bull. I have brought you forth from the depths within; stand firm and unmoving. May all people desire your presence, and may your rule never falter. Remain here, do not depart, stand solid like a mountain; let your rule be upheld here, as Indra himself stands steady and unwavering. Indra upheld this firmness with steadfast offerings; to him, Soma declared its virtue, and Brahmanaspati confirmed it. Heaven is firm, earth is firm, and all the world stands firm; the mountains are steadfast, and the king of the people is resolute. Your king Varuna is firm, and so is the god Brihaspati; may Indra and Agni together uphold your rule with unwavering strength. As the unshaken one, strike down your enemies, subdue those hostile to you; may all directions unite in purpose, and may your assembly be established firmly. From Soma, strength was given, an excellent head; from that, and from what arises from it, we burn away the burdens within your heart. We burn away what troubles your heart and mind; just as wind disperses smoke, let whatever weighs upon your mind depart from me. For my sake, may Mitra and Varuna, and the goddess Sarasvati, and the middle space of earth, both ends, be united. Whatever arrow Rudra has loosed against your limbs or heart, today, O twin-born one, we drive away that disease. Whatever hundreds of darts afflict your limbs, we call them out and render them powerless, deprived of their venom. Homage to you, Rudra; homage to the opposed, to the released, to the fallen. With eightfold and sixfold mixtures, barley has been prepared; by this, may the stains upon your body be washed away and flow off to the west. The wind blows downward, the sun burns downward, and the unmilked cow gives milk downward—may your impurity also be carried downward. Waters are healing, waters drive away disease, waters are the remedy for all; may those waters bring you healing. Become swift as the wind, O steed, yoked and ready; go forth with Indra’s urging, swift as thought. Let the Maruts, all-knowing, yoke you; may Tvashtar place speed in your feet for battle. Your swiftness, O horse, lies hidden in secret—whether in the eagle, in the wind, or moving around; with that strength, O powerful one, win the contest and surpass your rivals in the race. May your own form, O steed, lead your body; may favor come to us and protection to you. May the god, unhurried, measure out great support for you, as the light in the sky measures its own. Yama, Death, Aghamāra, Nirṛti, Babhru, Sharva, Astā, and Nīlaśikhaṇḍa—the hosts of divine beings have arisen; may they keep our heroes safe from harm. With mind, with offerings, with ghee, I honor Sharva, Astra, and King Bhava; I bow and make reverence to them—may they lead the harm-bringers away from us. Protect us from harm-bringers, from slaughter, O all gods, O Maruts, all-knowing; Agni and Soma, Varuṇa of pure skill, may we find favor with Vāta and Parjanya. May your minds, your vows, your intentions be united; even those divided, I bring into unity. With my mind, I take hold of your minds; let my thought enter your thoughts. I make your hearts subject to me; follow my path as you go. Heaven and earth are woven into me, and the goddess Sarasvatī; Indra and Agni are woven into me—may Sarasvatī grant me success in this. The holy fig tree is the dwelling of the gods, the third in the boundless sky; there, the gods found the healing kuṣṭha, the vision of immortality. A golden ship, bound with gold, moved across the sky; there, the gods found the flower of immortality, the healing kuṣṭha. It is the embryo of plants, the embryo of snowy mountains, the embryo of all that exists—make this a healing remedy for me. You herbs, queens of Soma, many and far-seeing, born of Bṛhaspati—may you release us from harm. May they release me from curses, from Varuṇa’s bond, from Yama’s fetter, from every divine offense. Whatever, by eye, mind, or speech, we have done while awake or asleep—may Soma cleanse all that from us by his own power. The sacrifice is victorious, Agni is victorious, Soma is victorious, Indra is victorious. May I overcome all battles as they arise; let us perform the Agnihotra, this offering. May Mitra and Varuna, wise and possessing offspring, grant strength here, pouring forth sweetness. Drive misfortune far away; even if a wrong has been done, release us from it. Rejoice in this mighty hero, Indra, O friends; join together in his strength. He conquers in battle, wins cattle, wields the thunderbolt, is victorious in contests, and crushes foes with his power. Indra is victorious; let none else prevail. He is the supreme king among kings, to be praised, honored, approached, and worshipped here. Indra, you are the supreme king, renowned; you are the great overpowering force among people. You rule over these divine clans; may your royal power, endowed with life, remain undecaying. From the east, you are king, Indra; from the north, you are the slayer of Vritra, the destroyer of enemies. Wherever the streams flow, there is your victory; from the south, O bull, you approach the offering. Thus, the world stands firm and protected, blessed by the gods, cleansed by the waters, strengthened by the herbs, united in mind and purpose, and victorious through sacrifice and the power of Indra.