She is the sacred path of sacrifice, radiant with milk-white eyes, her very breath the essence of Svadhā, dwelling in her own vast greatness. This cow, the beloved wife of Parjanya, comes before the gods, bearing the power of Brahman. Within her, Agni has entered and Soma dwells; Parjanya has blessed her with a nourishing udder, and lightning itself is her shining breast. In the beginning, she first milked forth the waters, then the fertile earth, and then, as the third, she nourished the people—holding within her the gifts of food and milk. When the Ādityas invoked her, she stood guard over the seasons, and Indra made her drink a thousand vessels of Soma. When the great bull, called by the Anūci and Indramā, summoned her, the mighty slayer of Vṛtra, in his anger, took her milk. Thus, when the lord of wealth, angered, took her milk, it was hidden away, guarded in three vessels in the sky. In those three vessels, the goddess cow received the Soma, in the place where Atharvan, consecrated, sat upon the golden grass. There, she united with Soma and all the sacred paths, standing in the midst of the cosmic ocean, surrounded by Gandharvas and Kalis. She joined with the wind and all the birds, and danced in the ocean, bearing the Ṛc and Sāman hymns. She came together with the sun and all vision, crossing the ocean with auspicious lights. Clad in gold, she stood by the cosmic order, and the horse became the ocean and mounted upon her. Then, the blessed ones gathered—the cow, the bestower, and Svadhā—where Atharvan sat upon the golden grass. The cow is the mother of the king, the mother of Svadhā; from her arose the sacrificial implement, and from that, the mind was born. A shining drop arose, set on the summit of Brahman; from there, the cow was born, and from there, the Hotṛ priest came forth. Songs arose for her, and from the Ushnih hymns came strength under her sway. From the breast of Pajasa, the sacrifice was born, and from her own breasts, the rays of light. From her thighs came movement, from her hips, power; from her entrails arose the atri, and from her belly, the plants. When she entered the belly of Varuna, under her own power, Brahma called to her, for he knew her eye. All trembled in the cosmic womb, both the one being born and the one giving birth. She gave birth, and they named her Vasha, prepared by the Brahmans, for he is her kin. He alone creates in battle and is the master here; the sacrifices became his stars, and the vision of the mighty became Vasha. Vasha received the sacrifice and sustained the sun; within Vasha, the offering was clarified together with Brahman. Vasha is called immortality, but is also worshipped as death; all this became Vasha—gods, humans, asuras, ancestors, and sages. Whoever knows this truth should receive Vasha, for the sacrifice then yields all its fruits to the giver, unfailing. Within, three tongues of Varuna blaze, shining; among them, the one ruling in the middle is Vasha, difficult to receive. The seed of Vasha became fourfold: the waters, immortality as the fourth, the sacrifice as the fourth, and cattle as the fourth. Vasha is heaven, Vasha is earth, Vasha is Vishnu and Prajapati; the Sadhyas and Vasus drank the milk of Vasha. Having drunk her milk, the Sadhyas and Vasus worship the milk found in Bradhna’s dwelling. Some milk Soma from her, others worship ghee; those who give Vasha to the knower ascend to the third heaven. By giving Vasha to the Brahmans, one attains all worlds, for truth is established in her, as well as Brahman and austerity. The gods and humans live by Vasha; indeed, all is Vasha, as long as the sun perceives. Now, O Agni, be born, with Aditi as your protector. She prepares this sacred Brahma-porridge for those who desire children, while the seven sages, creators of beings, churn you here together with offspring. Let the mighty friends make smoke without deceit, bringing forth speech; this Agni is the destroyer of armies, heroic, by whom the gods overcame the demons. O Agni, you were born for great strength, for preparing the Brahma-porridge, O knower of births. The seven sages, creators of beings, generated you; grant to her wealth, all-heroic, and establish it. O Agni, kindled with fuel, bring here the worshipful gods. Pour the offering for them, O Jātavedas, and raise this one to the highest heaven. The portion that was set in threefold manner for you before—of the gods, ancestors, and mortals—know those shares; I distribute them for you. He who is of the gods, let him carry this. O Agni, mighty, victorious, and overcoming, press down and humble the enemies and rivals. May this measure, this boundary, and those of the same kind, make the offering-takers powerless. Together with those of the same kind, with nourishment, join for great strength. Rise upward to the highest heaven, to the world called the heavenly realm. Let this great earth, the goddess, kindly receive the skin, being well-disposed, so that we may reach the world of the righteous. Yoke the two stones together for the skin, pierce the threads for the sacrificer. Strike down and cast away those who oppose, who lift up offspring, who carry upward. Take the two stones, heroic hands, for the gods have obtained the sacrifice for you, O worshipful one. You choose three boons, striving; I fulfill those prosperities for you here. This is your thought, this is your origin; let Aditi, son of heroes, receive you. Purify away those who oppose, and grant to her wealth with all heroes.