In the presence of the gods, a person lay at the threshold between life and death. With voices united in compassion, the priests and loved ones invoked the divine powers, praying, “Let this person remain here among the gods; let him not journey to the other world. With strength multiplied a thousandfold, we lift him away from the grasp of death.” They called forth the vital forces, beseeching life itself to return: “May you be filled, kept far from death; let the nourishing airs and sustenance breathe anew into you. Let not the wild-haired one, nor the wailing messenger of evil, seize you from our midst.” With gentle hands and words of power, they declared, “We have brought you back; we have found you and you have returned, renewed. All your limbs, your sight, your very life—we restore them to you.” As the ritual continued, light seemed to dawn, darkness receded from the afflicted one, and the assembly proclaimed, “The light has arisen, the darkness has departed from you. We cast away from you death, destruction, and disease.” A draught of immortality was offered, and they urged him, “Take hold of this elixir; let old age, though it may bite, not cut you down. We bring back your breath and your life; do not go into the realm of darkness, do not vanish away.” Drawing him near to the living, they said, “Come to the light, to the company of those who breathe. We lead you back for a hundred autumns. Releasing you from the nooses of death and misfortune, we set before you a long span of life.” They invoked the elements: “From the wind, we restore your breath; from the sun, your sight. We anchor your mind within you; may you know with your limbs, and speak with your tongue.” With every breath, his strength was rekindled, as fire is kindled among all creatures. They saluted Death, offering respect, and entreated, “Let this one live, let him not die; we send him forth with breath. We prepare a remedy for him—O Death, do not slay this man.” Calling upon the living, the undying, and the healing plants—those that endure and protect—they gathered all forces for his safety. “Speak over him,” they prayed to Death, “do not seize him; let him remain among his own. O Bhava and Śarva, be gracious, grant protection, remove misfortune, and bestow long life.” Again, they invoked Death directly: “O Death, speak kindly over him, have mercy; let him rise up unharmed in every limb, well-hearing, full of vigor, living a hundred years, enjoying life with his own self.” They prayed for divine protection: “May the weapon of the gods turn away from you; we carry you beyond the dust, even beyond death. We set the fire-eater, the devourer of flesh, far from you, and place a protective band around you.” Against the impassable path of death, they wove an armor of sacred utterance. “We establish for you the breaths of life, expiration, old age, death, long life, and well-being. We drive away all the messengers of Yama, sent by Vaivasvata as they roam.” Hostility, destruction, and all malevolent beings were cast far away, driven into darkness, while from Agni, the knower of all births, they sought the breath of immortality and long life. “Just as the immortal, joined with companions, does not perish, so we make this for you; may it prosper for you.” They invoked blessings from Heaven and Earth: “May they be auspicious for you, free from distress, full of splendor. May the Sun shine favorably upon you; may the wind blow well for your heart. May the divine, milk-giving waters flow auspiciously around you.” Healing plants from the lower to the upper earth were summoned for protection, and the two Adityas—the Sun and the Moon—were called to watch over him. Even his garments and their touch were made auspicious, and when the razor touched his hair and beard, it was with a prayer for beauty and preservation of life. “May rice and barley, strong and full of vigor, be auspicious for you; may they drive away disease and release you from harm. Whatever you eat or drink—grain, milk, or any food—we make it all free from poison.” By day and night, they encircled him, praying for protection from enemies and those who wish him harm. They assigned to him a long life—hundreds and thousands of years, spanning many ages—with the consent of Indra, Agni, and all the gods. For every season—autumn, winter, spring, summer—they encircled him, wishing that the years in which plants grow would be pleasant for him. “Death is lord of bipeds and quadrupeds, but from that death, the herdsman, we lift you up; do not fear him.” They reassured him, “Unharmed, you will not die; do not be afraid. For in this place, none die nor fall to darkness. All indeed live here—the white, the horse, the man, the beast—where this sacred act is performed, this band for the sake of life.” Protection was invoked against those of equal age, sorcery, and kin; they prayed he be undying, immortal, surpassing in life, with his vital breaths anchored within. “Let those hundred forms of death, those obstacles, pass by; may the gods release you from them, from the fire of Vaiśvānara.” They called upon Agni, the powerful remedy, the destroyer of disease and demons, whose name is Pūtu-dru. Approaching Agni, the swift, demon-slaying friend, they entreated, “Guard us by day and night from harm.” To Jātavedas, Agni kindled with offerings, they prayed, “With your fangless flame, touch the sorcerers; with your tongue, seize the evil spirits, devour the flesh-eaters, and cast them into the rainless region. Place both jaws, fierce and sharp, above and below; move through the sky with your roars, and strike down the sorcerers.” Agni was invoked to break the skin of the sorcerer, to destroy him with fierce flame, to cut apart his limbs and scatter the flesh-eater. Wherever the sorcerer might be—standing, moving, or flying in the sky—Agni was called to strike him down with his weapon. With sacrifice and word as weapons, with stones as missiles, Agni was asked to pierce the sorcerers’ hearts and break their arms. “Drive away those who have arisen and those yet to rise; with your flames, destroy the shining ones first, and let the devourers devour the devourers.” Finally, Agni was called to reveal those who strive with evil, to seize them with his kindled flame, and to blind the sorcerer to the sight of men. Thus, through sacred utterance, ritual, and the invocation of all the powers—gods, elements, and healing forces—the afflicted one was drawn back from the threshold, surrounded by protection, restored to life, and shielded from all harm.