In the sacred assembly, the devotees gathered with reverence, their hearts intent on honoring the gods. Yet, with humility, they acknowledged their own shortcomings: “O worshipful Ādityas, by the law of truth, release us from any fault here. If, in seeking to perform the sacrifice, we have failed in the proper conduct of the rite, forgive us.” With offerings rich in ghee, poured with the ladle, the sacrificers confessed, “Though we came with the will to perform, we have not always succeeded, O gods.” Turning inward, they implored, “Whatever sins we have committed, knowingly or unknowingly, you, all the gods together, release us from that. Whether awake or asleep, if I have erred, may both past and future free me, as the pressing stone releases the stalk. Cleanse me, O gods, as one released from the pressing stone, as one cleansed after bathing, as clarified butter purified by the strainer—so may I be freed from guilt.” They recalled the ancient ways, saying, “If, at the beginning, those who knew food but not knowledge bound us, as the Kārṣīvaṇas did, I offer this to King Vaivasvata. May our sacrificial food be sweet. Vaivasvata apportions the share, joining honeyed portion with honey. If what the mother desired did not come, or if the father erred, he withdrew. If guilt has come to us from mother, father, brother, or son, or from any ancestor, may all their intentions now be peaceful.” With Agni as witness, they prayed, “Whatever debt I have incurred and left unpaid, by which I walk under the power of Yama, may I be freed, O Agni, for you know all the bonds that are loosened. Here and now, we return this guilt; living among the living, we take it away. If I have incurred debt by eating another’s grain, may I be freed from that. May we be free from debt here, free elsewhere, and free in the third world—may we dwell, free from debt, in all the paths of the worlds of the gods and ancestors.” Reflecting on human frailty, they added, “Whatever sins we have committed with our hands, perhaps in seeking to win at dice, may the fierce Apsaras and Ugrajita today release us from debt. O fierce Apsaras, ruler of the realm, whatever gambling sins have been committed, release us from that; let neither debt nor debtor remain in Yama’s world. From whom I have taken a loan, whose wife I approach, whom I come to as a supplicant—may the gods make their words favorable, and may the Apsaras, wives of the gods, approve.” Again invoking Agni, they confessed, “Whatever debt I incur by gambling or by eating, I acknowledge. May Vaiśvānara, our lord, lead us to the world of the righteous. If there is any debt among the gods, Vaiśvānara knows all bonds that are loosened; may we be united with the cooked offering. May Vaiśvānara, the purifier, cleanse me as I approach the conflict with hope; whatever I have done unknowingly, may I expiate that offense.” They remembered their responsibilities to the world: “Whatever harm we have done to the midspace, to the earth, or to the sky, or to mother or father, may this Gārhapatya fire lead us away from that, guiding us to the world of the righteous. Earth is our mother, Aditi our birth-giver, the midspace our brother—let no curse befall us. Heaven is our father—may the ancestral portion be auspicious; having conquered death, may we not fall from the world. May we reach that heaven where friends of good heart and righteous deeds rejoice, having cast off disease, whole and unharmed, where we may see both parents and children.” They petitioned Varuṇa, “May Varuṇa’s fetters, upper and lower, be loosed from us; drive away evil dreams and misfortune, so we may reach the world of the righteous. Whatever binds us—wood, rope, earth, or words—may the Gārhapatya fire lead us away from that. May the blessed one rise in the assembly, bearing the name of deliverer; may the giver of immortality grant release from bondage. Break open, make a path, release the bonds, free the bound one; as an embryo slips from the womb, so may we pass along all paths.” With offerings, they invoked Viśvakarman, “This share I dedicate to you, O wise Viśvakarman, first-born of truth. What we have given, may we cross beyond old age, over the unbroken thread. Some cross over the stretched thread, those who have received the ancestral gift; others, unbound, give and bestow—may all who desire to give attain heaven. Let the faithful strive, let them join with this world; whatever is cooked and offered in the fire, may the couple take refuge together for its protection. With austerity I ascend to the great sacrifice, my mind united; O Agni, lead us beyond old age, that we may rejoice in the third heaven at the shared feast. Pure, purified, worthy women I seat separately in the hands of the priests; as I anoint you for your desire, may Indra with the Maruts grant that to me.” They honored the assembly, “This seat I give to you, O assembled ones, which Jātavedas has brought as a treasure; may the sacrificer follow with well-being—know him in the highest heaven. O gods assembled in the highest heaven, know him who knows the world here; may the sacrificer’s rites and gifts be fulfilled. The gods are ancestors, the ancestors are gods; who I am, that I am. I cook, I give; I sacrifice, I give what is given—do not reject me. O king, stand firm in heaven, let this stand firm there; know our fulfillment, and as a god, be gracious to us.” A small drop of water fell from the great sky, from the midspace, upon one of them. “With full strength and essence, O Agni, with sacred chants, sacrifices, and righteous deeds, I am sustained. If it has fallen from a tree, that is its fruit; if from the midspace, that is the wind itself. Wherever it has touched, may the waters drive away misfortune. Anointment, fragrance, prosperity, gold, and brilliance—let all these be mine, and a worthy son as well. Let all purifying things be spread over me; may misfortune, distress, and enmity not reach me.” They turned to the tree, “O tree, may you become strong of limb, our friend, a crossing, heroic. Bound with cows, be strengthened; may you stand firm, and may your victories be victorious. From heaven and earth, raised up, from the trees, gathered with strength; covered with the vigor of waters, wrapped with cows—offer Indra’s thunderbolt, the chariot, with oblation. The strength of Indra, the host of the Maruts, the embryo of Mitra, the navel of Varuṇa—may he, accepting our oblation, bring the chariot here and grasp the offerings.” Thus, with humility and devotion, the sacrificers acknowledged their faults, sought forgiveness, released debts, honored their ancestors, and praised the gods, so that, cleansed and freed, they might journey on all the paths of the worlds, guided by truth, into the company of the righteous.