In a household shadowed by restless energies, it was declared that those who were agitated and all who practiced sorcery should be confined to the lowest part of the house, far from the heart of daily life. There, let them lie, separated from those who seek peace. To guard against their influence, a prayer was offered: “Let the lord of beings drive out these constant foes, and let mighty Indra be ever watchful. May Indra himself, seated at the very foundation of the house, stand sentinel, wielding his thunderbolt to protect all within.” No matter what form these foes took—whether they were among the cultivators, sent by other men, or born from the Dasyus—the wish was for their power to be broken and for them to perish. The speaker proclaimed, “I have encircled their dwellings as the day surrounds the forest; in battle I have overcome them. Let these persistent adversaries be destroyed.” Turning inward, the seeker addressed the breath, the vital force within: “Just as heaven and earth remain unafraid and unharmed, so too, O my breath, be fearless. As day and night, sun and moon, remain untouched by fear or injury, let my breath be steadfast. As priestly and royal powers, as truth and falsehood, as the past and the future—all endure without fear—so, O my breath, do not be afraid.” Seeking protection for the very essence of life, the prayer continued: “May my in-breath and out-breath not fall into the grasp of death—svāhā. Heaven and earth, having heard my plea, do not let me fall—svāhā. O radiant Sun, with your all-seeing eye, protect me—svāhā. O Agni Vaiśvānara, with all the gods, shield me—svāhā. O all-supporting one, uphold me with every support—svāhā.” Then, invoking the powers that sustain life, the seeker called out: “You are vigor—grant me vigor—svāhā. You are strength—grant me strength—svāhā. You are power—grant me power—svāhā. You are life—grant me life—svāhā. You are hearing—grant me hearing—svāhā. You are sight—grant me sight—svāhā. You are protection—grant me protection—svāhā.” The prayer turned to the removal of obstacles: “You are the destroyer of enemies—grant me the repelling of enemies—svāhā. You are the destroyer and expeller of rivals—grant me this—svāhā. You are the destroyer and expeller of demons—grant me this—svāhā. You are the destroyer and expeller of persistent foes—grant me this—svāhā.” The invocations then called upon the elemental powers to act against hatred and enmity. To Agni, the fire god, it was said: “Agni, with your heat, burn him who hates us and whom we hate. With your seizure, seize him. With your flame, scorch him. With your blaze, burn him. With your brilliance, make him powerless.” To Vāyu, lord of the winds, the same plea was offered: “Vāyu, with your heat, burn him who hates us and whom we hate. With your seizure, seize him. With your flame, scorch him. With your blaze, burn him. With your brilliance, make him powerless.” And finally, to Sūrya, the radiant Sun, the prayer continued: “Sūrya, with your heat, burn him who hates us and whom we hate. With your seizure, seize him. With your flame, scorch him. With your blaze, burn him.” Through all these invocations and prayers, the seeker sought protection, strength, and victory over all that was harmful, invoking the guardianship of the gods and the enduring power of the universe, so that the breath of life would remain fearless, unharmed, and ever-vital.