Listen, then, to the sacred unfolding of Virāj, the cosmic order and sovereign power, as revealed through these ancient verses. The year itself was envisioned as a mighty chariot, its seat the half-year, with the shining deities blazing at its fore like fires. Indra, the king of gods, formed the left shaft, while the Moon was the charioteer guiding its course. From this chariot, the command was given: “Go forth, conquer, surpass, unite, and be victorious—svāhā!” May victory belong to the worthy, and may adversaries be subdued, especially with the power of the blue-red one. But questions arose in the minds of seekers: Whence were these two—this duality—born? What is that half, and from what world or part of the earth did they spring? The two calves of Virāj emerged from the primordial waters; yet, who was it that milked them? Great indeed was the one who made the very waters cry out, who shaped the womb with three bends, and who, in the form of the wish-fulfilling calf Virāj, concealed his own forms. Three great entities exist, and a fourth divides their speech; only the wise, through sacred knowledge and austerity, perceive that unity in which all is yoked. Surrounding the great one, the Sāman hymns are arrayed—five above the sixth. From the great one comes the great, yet from where is the great meter measured? It is measured by the measure itself, set above the mother’s measure. Māyā, the power of illusion, is born from Māyā, with Mātalī encircling her. Upon the likeness of Vaiśvānara, the universal fire, heaven pressed down upon both worlds, restrained by Agni. From the sixth, the hymns arise, proceeding toward the sixth day. Thus, six questions were put to Kaśyapa, the seer, for he was fit to yoke what must be yoked. Virāj is called the father of Brahman—may a share of that be granted among friends. That which, once fallen, is followed by all sacrifices as they approach her—by whose vow and impulse the mysterious yakṣa moves—she is Virāj, known to the seers in the highest heaven. Though she is without breath, she moves with the breath of the breathing; Virāj, the sovereign, follows in her wake. All examine her, some behold her beauty, some do not. Who, then, knows the duality of Virāj? Who knows her seasons, her order, her steps, or the number of times she has been milked? Who knows her abode or the number of her dawns? She is the first among them all, moving amidst them, having entered within. Great indeed are her powers; she, the bride, has prevailed and is the mother of nine generations. During the waxing phase of the moon, the Dawns shine forth, moving together into one womb. The wife of the Sun journeys with them, knowing, adorned with signs, ageless and rich in seed. Three have come along the path of truth; three hot seasons have come with the seed—one brings forth offspring, one brings strength, and one protects the realm of the gods. Agni and Soma established her as the fourth, as the two wings of sacrifice, arranging the stallions. The meters—Gāyatrī, Triṣṭubh, Jagatī, Anuṣṭubh, and Bṛhatī—bear sound for the sacrificer. There are five dawnings, five milkings, the cow of five names, and five seasons following after five. The five directions are arranged with the fifteenth, all with one head, encompassing the one world. Six beings are born, the firstborn of truth; six are the Sāman hymns, six days they carry, following the sixfold connection—Sāma upon Sāma. The heavens and earth are said to be six, and so are the wide spaces. There are six cold seasons and six hot months; which one is in excess, O season? Seven swans, the sages, have settled down; seven meters, and after them, seven initiations. There are seven offerings, seven kindling sticks, seven sweet things, and seven seasons; seven clarified butters have encompassed the being—these are the seven vultures, so it is told. Seven meters, each with four more, are established one upon another. How do the chants stand among them, and how are they placed within the stomas? How did the Gāyatrī meter extend threefold? How is the Triṣṭubh arranged with fifteen? How does the Jagatī with thirty-three, the Anuṣṭubh, and the Ekaviṃśa? Eight beings are born, the firstborn of truth; eight are Indra’s divine priests. Aditi is the eightfold womb, mother of eight sons, and the eighth night receives the offering. Thus, considering this as the better way, one comes to the assembly, seeking friendship. A single will, auspicious in resolve, may the wise one move among all. Eight are for Indra, six for Yama, seven for the seers—sevenfold; waters, humans, and plants—these five have been sprinkled upon them. The cow yielded her first sweet essence solely for Indra. Then, in fourfold ways, she satisfied the gods, humans, asuras, and seers. But who is the cow? Who is the one seer? What is the abode? What are the wishes? What is the wonder on earth, the single form, the one doer—who indeed is he? One is the cow, one the seer, one the abode, one the wish; the wonder on earth, the single form of the doer, is not surpassed. In the beginning, Virāj alone existed. When she was born, she divided all things, thinking, “This indeed will become.” She moved forth and entered the household fire; whoever knows this becomes a true householder. She stepped into the āhavanīya fire; whoever knows this, the gods come to his invocation, and he becomes dear to them. She entered the southern fire; for him who knows, the sacrificial fee is proper, and he is fit for hospitality. She entered the assembly; whoever knows this, the assembly seeks him, and he becomes foremost there. She entered the council, and he who knows becomes its leader. She entered the consultation, and he who knows becomes foremost in counsel. She then stood in the midspace, having advanced in fourfold manner. The gods and men saw her and said, “She alone knows that by which we both subsist; let us call her here.” So they called out to her: “Come, O nourishment! Come, O inherent power! Come, O fair speech! Come, O one rich in refreshment!” Of her, Indra became the calf, uttering the Gāyatrī, moving about, never wandering away. Thus, the mystery and greatness of Virāj, the sovereign cosmic order, was established—pervading all, nourishing all, and binding all worlds and beings in her wondrous, eternal embrace.