With devotion and earnestness, a seeker turns to the divine powers that pervade the universe, invoking their protection and blessings. First, with a heart full of prayer, they entreat that their very breath—the sacred flow of inhalation and exhalation—might not be drawn into the realm of death. This plea is offered up with the sacred utterance “svāhā,” sealing the supplication. The seeker then calls upon the vastness of heaven and earth, asking that these great cosmic beings, having heard this prayer, not let them fall from grace or life. Again, “svāhā” sanctifies the request. Turning to the radiant Sun, the devotee implores, “O Sun, with your all-seeing eye, protect me,” affirming the prayer with “svāhā.” The next invocation is to Agni Vaiśvānara, the universal fire, beseeching him, along with all the assembled gods, to offer their protection—“svāhā.” The prayer continues to the All-supporting One, the very foundation of existence, asking for protection through all means of support—“svāhā.” The seeker’s heart turns to the sources of strength and vitality in the cosmos: “You are vigor; grant me vigor—svāhā. You are strength; bestow strength upon me—svāhā.” They continue, “You are power; give me power—svāhā. You are life itself; grant me life—svāhā. You are hearing; let me have hearing—svāhā. You are sight; let me have sight—svāhā. You are protection; grant me protection—svāhā.” Next, the devotee seeks defense against adversaries: “You are the destroyer of enemies; grant me the power to repel enemies—svāhā. You are the destroyer and expeller of rivals; may my rivals be removed—svāhā. You are the destroyer and expeller of enemies; let this be granted—svāhā. You are the destroyer and expeller of demons; let them be driven away from me—svāhā. You are the destroyer and expeller of persistent foes; let even the stubborn enemies be expelled—svāhā.” With the prayers for protection uttered, the seeker now calls upon the mighty Agni, the god of fire, to act against those who harbor hatred: “Agni, with your heat, burn him who hates us and whom we hate. With your power to seize, seize him who hates us and whom we hate. With your flame, scorch him; with your blaze, burn him; and with your brilliance, render him powerless.” The same supplication is offered to Vāyu, the wind god: “Vāyu, with your heat, burn him who hates us and whom we hate. With your power to seize, seize him; with your flame, scorch him; with your blaze, burn him; and with your brilliance, make him powerless.” The prayer is then directed to Sūrya, the Sun: “Sūrya, with your heat, burn him who hates us and whom we hate. With your power to seize, seize him; with your flame, scorch him; with your blaze, burn him. O Sun, with your radiance, overpower the radiance of him who hates us, or whom we hate.” Turning to the Moon, the seeker asks for the lunar power to act: “O Moon, with your heat, strike with heat him who hates us, or whom we hate. With your power to seize, seize him; with your flame, flame against him; with your burning, burn him; and with your radiance, render powerless the radiance of him who hates us, or whom we hate.” Finally, the devotee appeals to the Waters, the life-giving and purifying streams: “O Waters, with your heat, strike with heat him who hates us, or whom we hate. With your power to seize, seize him; with your flame, flame against him; and with your burning, burn him who hates us, or whom we hate.” Thus, the seeker’s prayers flow from the preservation of their own life and senses, through the invocation of strength and protection, to the calling upon the cosmic powers to shield them from all harm and to subdue all enmity. Each plea is offered with reverence, trusting in the grace and might of the gods who uphold the universe.