The sages gathered in reverence, invoking the powers that sustain life and bestow prosperity. They called upon the well-yielding cow, gentle and generous, to come forth and be milked by skillful hands. With heartfelt prayers, they entreated Savitar, the divine inspirer, to grant them the finest strength, and with the heated vessel ready, they sought an unopposed and clear declaration of their intentions. The cow, mistress of riches, lowed softly, her heart yearning for her calf as she drew near. The sages resolved to milk this uninjured, auspicious cow as an offering to the Aśvins, wishing for her growth and their own great fortune. In their homes, Agni, the beloved house-lord and honored guest, was invited to their sacrifice. They praised his wisdom and asked him, victorious over all adversaries, to bring them nourishing foods, that these might secure victory over their enemies. They prayed that Agni would strive for their prosperity, sharing his supreme glories with them. They sought unity and harmony within their households and asked Agni to stand firm against formidable foes. They wished the cow blessed pastures, knowing that in her blessing lay their own. They encouraged her to graze freely, to drink pure water, and to thrive, for she was the giver of all. The sages recalled the lore: the black one is known as the mother of the reddish cows. By the root of the divine sage, they declared their power to pierce through all obstacles, severing the first, the middle, and finally the last, as one might cut a tuft of hair. With the speech of Tvaṣṭṛ, they dispelled jealousy and calmed all anger, bringing peace to troubled hearts. They honored the lord of vows, adorned by discipline, and urged him to shine ever with a noble mind. They approached Jātavedas, kindled and abundant, together as one, seeking blessings for all. Turning to the waters—pure, bright, and life-giving—they prayed these would remain free from thieves and ill-wishers, protected by Rudra’s mighty weapon. To the goddesses, skilled and joyful, bearing all names, they called: “Come with the gods into this cattle-pen, into this seat, and let ghee flow for us.” They wished for the most abundant streams to flow even more richly, for the sap-filled to be even more nourishing, for the easily melted to yield more readily. They invoked healing for all: from the neck, the sides, the joints, and those that flow of themselves, let all afflictions be driven out—whether it be itching, scabs, or any skin disease, even those lodged on the hump. The bird-like disease that flits and enters a man—they knew its nature and offered remedies both for the wounded and the well. Understanding the origin of these afflictions, they asked: how can such a disease endure when offerings are made in the home? They called upon Indra, bold slayer of Vṛtra, to drink the Soma, to gain strength at midday, and to grant them abundant wealth in the contest for riches. The Maruts, fierce and brilliant, were offered sacrifice. The sages pleaded: if any mortal harbored hostile intent, let the Maruts release them from deceitful snares and destroy the foe with their most potent heat. The Maruts, shining in their vast abodes, together with their human followers, were asked to free the supplicants from bonds of sin, to set them free with their power. They loosened all bindings, straps and harnesses, and prayed to Agni to blaze unceasingly. With divine prayer, Agni was yoked to uphold their powers, to shine forth with wealth and blessings, to speak kindly as the one who carries offerings to the gods. They remembered the portion the gods had gathered for them at the new moon, and by that power, they asked the all-encompassing one to protect their sacrifice, to grant them wealth and noble offspring. The new moon herself was invoked: “I am this new moon; the virtuous dwell in me; in me, gods and Sādhyas, with Indra at their head, have assembled.” Night descended as a gatherer of treasures, bringing strength and nourishment, mingling with riches. The sages offered oblations to the new moon, who, like a cow, milked out abundance and strength. They praised the new moon as the creator of all forms, the fulfiller of desires, and prayed to become masters of wealth. Then the full moon rose, full behind, full before, triumphant in the midst. Dwelling among the gods, she was honored with offerings, and the sages rejoiced with her on heaven’s summit. They sacrificed to the vigorous bull, the full moon, seeking inexhaustible, ever-growing wealth. They acknowledged the Lord of creatures as the creator of all forms, praying for their desires to be fulfilled and for mastery over wealth. The full moon, first among nights to be worthy of sacrifice, surpassed all others. Those who honored her with offerings entered heaven as the virtuous. The sages spoke of the two children who, by their magic, circled the ocean—one surveying all beings, the other arranging the seasons—ever new, ever reborn. The radiant moon, herald of days, came first with the dawn, distributing shares to the gods and granting long life. As a portion of Soma, lord of battles, the moon was called “not lacking,” and the sages prayed not to lack offspring or wealth. The moon was new, visible, whole, and complete, and so too did the sages wish to be—whole and complete with cows, horses, offspring, cattle, houses, and wealth. They prayed that any who bore them ill will, or whom they themselves disliked, might be filled up by the moon’s very breath, while they themselves would be filled with abundance. Those whom the gods, with Soma, caused to thrive, whom the immortals nourished, were blessed; and the sages prayed that Indra, Varuṇa, and Bṛhaspati would make them thrive as well. With hymns well-praised and rich in cattle, they sought auspicious riches, asking the gods to lead their sacrifice and let rivers of ghee, sweet with honey, flow forth. At the forefront, they received Agni, along with sovereignty, brilliance, and strength, placing within themselves offspring, life, and the very fire of Agni. They asked Agni to establish wealth for them, guarding it from destroyers, and to grant good control and unwearied growth to his worshippers. Agni, they remembered, had followed after all the Dawns, day after day, first among those who know beings. He had followed the rays of the Sun and entered heaven and earth, ever present, ever sustaining. Thus, with devotion and sacred rites, the sages wove their prayers and offerings, seeking harmony, abundance, healing, and the favor of the divine powers who watch over all.