As the ancient prayer unfolds, it begins with a reverent salutation to Kāma, the force of desire. Kāma’s greatness is proclaimed: he is as vast as heaven and earth, as far-reaching as the waters, as pervasive as Agni’s flames. In every direction, in every crossway, and in every shining region of the sky, Kāma’s power surpasses all. Even among the countless beetles, insects, kurūras, and tree-serpents that exist, Kāma is greater, mighty, and all-conquering. He is superior to the blinking of an eye, to stillness, and even to the immense ocean. Not even the wind, nor fire, nor sun, nor moon can attain to him. To Kāma, destroyer of all, the mighty one, repeated homage is offered. Yet, among Kāma’s many forms, the auspicious and gracious ones are sought: those by which truth comes forth when he chooses. The prayer invites these forms to enter among the people, bringing goodness, and asks that the thoughts of the wicked be driven away. The narrative then turns to the all-encompassing hall—a sacred space, measured and bounded, where what is bound can be loosened and set free. Every snare and knot within the hall, every binding force, is addressed. Like Bṛhaspati with speech, these bindings are loosened; like Indra with his weapon, obstacles are overcome. The hall’s bamboos, fastenings, breath, grass, and wings—all that is bound—are released. Even the bindings of the mind’s wife, the clasp of embrace, and the contents of baskets pierced for pleasure are freed, ensuring harmony within. The hall is honored as the seat of the gods, the offering place, the fire hall, the assembly, and the seat of the wives. Its axle, yoke, thousand-eyed crossbeam—all that is bound and declared by the Brahman—are loosened. Those who receive and measure the hall, especially the mind’s wife, are blessed to live long and grow old together. The prayer asks that no one be sent to the other world, and that every limb and joint, firmly bound and adorned, be set free. The hall’s origin is traced to Prajāpati, the supreme lord, who joined together the trees and established the hall for offspring. Homage is offered to him, to the giver, to the lord of the hall, to Agni who moves, and to the person who receives the hall. All creatures born in the hall—cows, horses, and more—are honored, and their bonds are loosened in the hall rich in offspring and progeny. The hall covers men possessing fire, together with cattle, and again, the bonds are loosened. The shelter is taken hold of, stretching between heaven and earth, spanning the atmosphere and domain of dust, forming a womb for the auspicious ones. The shelter, rich in nourishment and milk, established upon the earth, bearing all food, is entreated not to harm its receiver. Covered with grass, bearing fruit, clothed like the night, the shelter is the world’s resting place, standing measured upon the earth like an elephant’s footprints. The iṭa’s bindings are loosened and filled up, with Mitra releasing what Varuna has bound in the morning. The shelter is established by Brahman, measured by sages, and protected by Indra and Agni, the immortal seat of Soma. Within the nest upon the nest, within the vessel the vessel is placed, and there a mortal is born, from whom all creation arises. The shelter, wife of the mind, lies as the embryo of fire, with wings of many kinds—two, four, six, eight, ten, measured. Facing west, the shelter is approached unharmed, and fire and inner waters are the first doors of truth. Pure waters are brought forth, free from disease and destroyers of sickness. The houses are entered together with immortality and Agni. The prayer asks that the shelter not bind with a heavy burden, but be light, carried wherever desired like a bride. Homage is then offered to the shelter’s greatness in every direction—east, south, west, north, fixed, upward, and all directions—with svāhā to the gods and divine ones. The story concludes with the praise of the powerful, thousandfold bull, rich in milk, bearing all forms within his breasts. He grants goodness to the giver and instructs the sacrificer, weaving the thread as the offspring of Brihaspati. The mighty one, foremost among the waters, who became an image for all, like the divine earth, is invoked as the father of calves and lord of cows, to grant abundance a thousandfold. The ancient, strong bull, full of milk, bears the body of treasure. Agni, knower of all births, is called to carry him, offered along paths fit for the gods, to Indra. Thus, the sacred narrative weaves together reverence for desire, the hall, the shelter, and the bull, invoking blessings, freedom, and abundance for all.