Day after day, the faithful gathered around Agni, the wise and mighty fire, steadfast and radiant, who destroys all that threatens the sacred order. With reverence, they circled him, honoring his unchanging presence. As the rituals unfolded, the officiant called out: “Rise up! Let us behold Indra’s share. Declare to us, O priest, whether the cooked offering has been presented or not.” If the offering was indeed ready, they invoked Indra to come forth, for the sun had reached its zenith in the sky. Indra’s companions, shining and powerful, surrounded him with treasures, much like householders honor the lord of their clan as he moves among them. The priests affirmed, “The offering is cooked in the vessel, well-prepared in the fire—this is the truest offering today. At this midday pressing of soma, drink, O Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, and rejoice in the many gifts bestowed upon you.” The kindled Agni blazed, and the two strong charioteers of heaven—the divine Aśvins—were summoned. For them, the sacrificial drink, heated and sweet as honey, was prepared. The singers called out to the Aśvins in the assembly, inviting them to partake. Now, the cows were milked for these mighty ones, and the skilled priests rejoiced in their creative acts. The sacrifice, pure and offered with svāhā, was poured into the cup of the Aśvins, fit for the gods to drink. Immortal beings, delighted, tasted this offering in turn from Gandharva. Ghee and milk, gathered from among the cows, was declared as the Aśvins’ portion. “O true lords of the assembly,” the priests sang, “drink the heated sacrificial draught of heaven.” Let the offering be poured for you, they prayed, let the self-offerer not fail you. The Adhvaryu, rich with milk, moves forward for your sake. “O Aśvins, drink the sweet milk drawn from the honeyed cow, the milk of the tawny cow. Approach at the lowing of the cow; pour her milk into the heated vessel.” Savitar, the worthy, revealed the sky, shining forth along the path of the dawns. They called upon the well-yielding cow, gentle and ready to be milked by skilled hands. “May Savitar bring us the best strength; let the heated vessel, unopposed, declare this for us.” The cow, mistress of riches, lowed for her calf and approached. “Let us milk this unharmed cow for the Aśvins; may she flourish for our great fortune.” Agni was welcomed as the house-lord and honored guest. “Come to our sacrifice, O wise one. Having overcome all adversaries, bring us food for the defeat of our enemies.” The prayers continued: “Strive, O Agni, for our great good fortune; may your highest glories be ours. Unite our households in harmony; stand firm against those who oppose us.” Blessings were invoked for the cow: “May she find good pasture, and may we share in her blessings. Eat the grass, O uninjured giver of all, and drink pure water as you go.” The priests spoke of the black one, called the mother of the reddish ones, and by the root of the divine sage, they pierced all obstacles. “We pierce the first, and the middle, and cut off the last, as one cuts a tuft of hair. With the speech of Tvaṣṭṛ, we dispel your jealousy and calm your anger.” To Agni, adorned by vow, they prayed: “Shine here always with a good mind. O Jātavedas, whom we all approach together, kindled and full of offspring, be ever present.” The waters, rich in offspring and brightness, pure and drinkable, were invoked for protection. “May no thief or evil-wisher seize you; may Rudra’s weapon stay far from you.” The waters, skilled, joyful, and united, were summoned to the cattle-pen, and ghee was poured as an offering. The prayers turned to healing: “Let those most flowing be more so than the less; let those with more sap be richer than the rest; let those that melt most easily surpass the others.” They invoked healing for all parts of the body—neck, sides, joints, and those that flow on their own. “Whoever suffers from itching, scabs, or skin disease, let all these be driven out. The bird-like skin disease that flies and enters a man—this is the remedy for the unhealed, for both the well and the wounded.” “We know your skin disease and its origin,” they declared. “How can you persist, when we make the offering in the house?” Then, Indra was invoked: “Bold Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, drink the soma at midday, become strong in battle, and grant us abundant wealth.” The Maruts, fierce and afflicting, were offered oblations: “May you, O Maruts, be on our side. If any mortal, with hostile intent, seeks to harm us, O Vasus, release us from deceit and destroy him with your heat. Shining Maruts, dwelling in spacious abodes, release us from the bonds of sin; set us free, O gladdening ones.” To Agni, they prayed: “I loosen your strap, harness, and binding; may you blaze unceasingly. O upholder of powers, I yoke you with divine prayer; shine for us with wealth and blessings; speak kindly to us, giver of offerings.” The new moon was honored: “That share which the gods made for you at the new moon—by that, protect our sacrifice, O all-encompassing one. Grant us wealth and noble offspring. I am this new moon; the virtuous dwell in me. In me, gods and Sādhyas, with Indra as chief, have assembled.” Night arrived, the gatherer of treasures, bringing strength and nourishment, mingling with riches. The priests offered to the new moon, who came with abundance like milk. “On the new moon, none but you has created all these forms, O all-pervading one. May our desires be fulfilled; may we become masters of wealth.” With the full moon rising, full behind and before, triumphant at her zenith, the people rejoiced with offerings on the summit of heaven. “We sacrifice to the bull, the vigorous full moon; may he grant us inexhaustible, ever-growing wealth. O Lord of creatures, none but you has created all these forms; fulfill our wishes and make us masters of wealth.” The full moon, first among nights to be worthy of sacrifice, surpassed all others; those who honored her with offerings, the virtuous, entered heaven’s bliss. Thus, with devotion and song, the people honored the gods, the sacred fire, the nourishing cows, the healing waters, the waxing and waning moons, and all the powers that sustain and bless the world.