In the vastness of the cosmos, two wondrous children moved—one journeying forward and back by their magical power, the other circling the great ocean. Together, they played their eternal game: one watched over all beings, while the other arranged the turning of the seasons. Thus, you, radiant moon, are ever born anew, ever young, ever rising again and again. Herald of the days, you appear with the first light of dawn, distributing the shares to the gods and bestowing long life upon mortals. You are a portion of Soma, the lord of battles, and your very name means “not lacking.” Therefore, may we, too, not be lacking—in offspring, in wealth, in all that sustains life. You are the new moon, the visible one, the whole and complete. As you are full, so may we be made whole and prosperous, with cows, horses, children, cattle, homes, and abundance. If any bear enmity toward us, or we toward them, may you, O moon, fill them with your breath, and fill us with prosperity—cows, horses, offspring, cattle, homes, and wealth. May those whom the gods and Soma nourish, whom the immortals sustain, flourish; and may Indra, Varuṇa, and Bṛhaspati, the world’s guardians, grant us the same thriving fortune. Let us offer a hymn well-praised, one that brings cattle and auspicious riches. O gods, lead this sacrifice for us; let streams of ghee, sweet as honey, flow forth in abundance. At the forefront, we welcome Agni, along with sovereignty, brilliance, and strength. In ourselves, we place offspring, in ourselves, we place life—Svāhā!—in ourselves, Agni. Here, Agni, establish wealth for us. Let not the destroyers of old intent take you away. With sovereignty, may you have good control, and may your devotee, untiring, prosper for you. Agni followed after all the Dawns, day by day, the first Knower-of-beings. He pursued the rays of the Sun, followed the Dawns, and entered both heaven and earth. Agni shone forth before all the Dawns; day after day, he was the first Knower-of-beings. He spread the sun’s rays in many ways, extending over heaven and earth. Ghee is yours, Agni, in the heavenly seat; with ghee, Manu kindled you today. Let the divine Daughters of the Sky bring you ghee; let the cows yield ghee for you, Agni. In the waters, O King Varuṇa, is your golden, measured abode. From there, O king of firm vows, release all bonds. From bond to bond, O Varuṇa, set us free. When we call, “O waters, O Varuṇa,” then, O Varuṇa, release us. Lift from us, Varuṇa, the highest snare, loosen the lowest, and untie the middle. Then, O Āditya, under your law, may we, free from sin, belong to Aditi. Release from us, Varuṇa, all snares—those above, those below, those of your making. Drive away evil dreams and misfortune from us, and may we then reach the world of the righteous. Jātavedas, immortal, glorious Agni, unassailable upholder of sovereignty—shine here! Release all illnesses among men and protect our lives today with blessings. Indra, you were born with strength and power, bull among peoples. You have driven away the hostile, unfriendly folk and made wide space for the gods. Like a fearsome beast roaming the mountains, let Indra come from afar. Let him fit the sharp arrow to the bow, strike down enemies, and scatter foes. Let us call upon Tārkṣya, that strong one yoked by the gods, bearer of might, overcomer of chariots, with unbroken wheel, swift in battle, to bring us well-being. Indra the protector, Indra the helper, Indra ever-invoked, Indra the hero—at every call we invoke mighty Indra, much-invoked. May Indra, the generous, grant us well-being. He who is Rudra in Agni, who dwells within the waters, who has entered the plants and herbs, who has shaped all these worlds—to that Rudra, to Agni, we offer homage. Depart, O enemy, for you are an enemy; poison, do not mingle with poison, do not unite with poison. Depart from him like a snake; strike him. We have sought the heavenly waters; with their essence we are mixed. May the milk-rich Agni come; do not release him, but grant him radiance. O Agni, release to us radiance, offspring, and long life. May the gods, Indra, and the sages know my lightning. Let these waters carry away what is harmful and impure—whatever deceit, falsehood, or curse has been uttered. You are fuel, you are kindling, you are brightness. Place that brightness in us. Cut away, as in ancient times, what is hidden like a vow; subdue the strength of the servant. We divide what he has gathered, with Indra’s wealth. We weaken your shining brilliance with Varuṇa’s vow. As the curse departs, as women are freed from misfortune, as the knotted root of the Shankura is loosened—so let what is stretched be released, and what is raised be laid down. May Indra, the wise, self-sufficient, all-knowing, be gracious to us with his aid. May he drive away hatred and grant us fearlessness; may we be lords of heroic strength. May Indra, wise and self-sufficient, drive away hatred even from our own kin. May we be in the good favor and happy mind of the worshipful one. With Indra’s wrath, let us overcome the hostile, striking down adversaries without resistance. With steadfast offering, we lead Soma with steadfastness, so that Indra may unite all peoples in harmony. His two grey, wandering, greedy ones soared like the sky; shining and resplendent, they shine forth from the heart. I alone rose up, like two weary cows resting, like two birds calling, like two wolves howling. Piercing and striking, and also joining together, yet I do not approach his member—whoever here, woman or man, has seized it. The cows settled in their dwelling; the birds fell into their nest. The mountains stood in their place; I stood in the wolf’s abode. As today, in this sacrifice, we have chosen you, O wise Hotar, come here. Come to the sacrifice, to Soma, with firmness and strength. O Indra, lead us with mind, with cows, with the noble, with the tawny ones, with well-being. With prayer, with what is divine, with the favor of the worshipful gods, lead us onward.