Clothed in golden radiance, the cow stood by the sacred order, and as she did, the horse—transformed into the very ocean—mounted upon her. Then, in that hallowed moment, the blessed ones gathered: the cow herself, the generous bestower, and Svadhā, while Atharvan, consecrated and pure, sat upon the golden grass. The cow was honored as the mother of the king, the mother of Svadhā, and from her emerged the implements of sacrifice; from these, the very mind was born. A shining drop arose, pointing upward, set upon the summit of Brahman; from this, the cow herself was born, and with her, the Hotṛ priest. For the cow, songs were composed, and strength flowed from the Ushnih verses, falling under her sway. From the nourishing breast of Pajasa, the sacrifice took birth, and from the cow’s own breasts, rays of light were emitted. Movement arose from her thighs, power from her hips, the atri from her entrails, and from her belly, all plants grew forth. When the cow entered the belly of Varuna, beneath her own power, Brahma called out to her, for he knew her by her eye. All creation trembled within the 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. In the midst of conflict, one alone creates and rules; the sacrifices became his stars, and the vision of the strong was called Vasha. Vasha received the sacrifice and sustained the sun; within Vasha, the offering was clarified together with Brahman. Vasha is called immortality by some, death by others; all things—gods, humans, asuras, ancestors, and sages—became Vasha. Whoever knows this truth should receive Vasha, for thus the sacrifice yields all its fruits to the giver, never failing. Within, three tongues of Varuna blaze; among them, the one ruling the middle is Vasha, difficult to attain. The seed of Vasha became fourfold: the waters, immortality, sacrifice, and cattle. Vasha is heaven, Vasha is earth, Vasha is Vishnu, Prajapati; the Sadhyas and Vasus drank the milk of Vasha. Having drunk her milk, they worshipped the milk within Bradhna’s dwelling. Some milk Soma from her, others worship ghee; those who offer Vasha to the knower ascend to the third heaven. By giving Vasha to the Brahmans, one attains all worlds, for in her is established truth, Brahman, and austerity. The gods live by Vasha, as do humans; all creation is Vasha, for as long as the sun perceives, so long does Vasha endure. Then, Agni is invoked: “O Agni, be born! Aditi is your protector. She prepares this sacred Brahma-porridge for those who desire children. The seven sages, creators of beings, churn you here, together with offspring. Let the mighty friends kindle smoke, without deceit, and bring forth speech, for this Agni is the destroyer of armies, the hero by whom the gods overcame the demons.” Agni, born for great strength and for the cooking of the Brahma-porridge, is addressed as the knower of births. The seven sages generated him; may he grant wealth, heroic and abundant, and establish it firmly. “O Agni, kindled with fuel, bring the worshipful gods here. Pour the offering for them, O Jātavedas, and raise this one to the highest heaven.” The shares of the sacrifice are distributed: those of the gods, ancestors, and mortals. Agni is asked to know these shares and carry them to their recipients. “O Agni, mighty and victorious, press down and humble the enemies and rivals. May this measure, this boundary, and those like it make the offering-takers powerless. With nourishment, join together for great strength and rise to the highest heaven, to the world of the righteous.” The earth, as goddess, is asked to kindly receive the sacrificial skin, that the sacrificers may reach the world of the righteous. Stones are yoked for the skin, threads are pierced for the sacrificer, and those who oppose are struck down and cast away. The hands, strong and heroic, take up the stones; the gods have obtained the sacrifice. Three boons are chosen and granted, fulfilling prosperity. “This is your thought, this is your origin; let Aditi, son of heroes, receive you. Purify away the opposers, grant wealth with all heroes. All assembled, sit for stability and firmness; separate with worshipful praises. Surpassing all in beauty, may the enemy be placed in a lowly position.” A woman is called forth and told to return quickly, for the cow-pen is entered for bearing. The striving ones are to be taken by the worshipful; the wise and discerning are to leave the divided behind. The young women, shining, are called to rise; the woman is to seize strength, to become a good wife with offspring and progeny. The sacrifice leads her to the vessel, which she is urged to grasp. The portion of nourishment set aside by the wise and seers is to be brought forth. May the sacrifice be a path-finder and protector, rich in offspring, cattle, and heroes. Agni, pure and worshipful, enters, heating the offering with his radiance. The seers and gods, gathered, heat the portion with the seasons. Pure, cleansed women pour pure waters upon the pleasing offering. May abundant offspring and cattle come, and may the world of the righteous be attained through the cooked food. Purified by Brahman, cleansed with ghee, these grains are portions of Soma. Entering the waters, the great earth receives the offering, and, having cooked, the world of the righteous is attained. “Spread wide, O vast one, with great greatness, thousand-backed, in the world of the righteous. Grandfathers, fathers, and offspring—I have cooked fifteen portions for you. Thousand-backed, hundred-streamed, undiminished, Brahman-cooked, divine, and heavenly, I place them there with offspring. Let them rejoice for the offering and be gracious to me.” The altar is called to rise and increase with offspring, to drive away the demon, and to set the crossing for the sacrifice. Surpassing all in beauty, the enemy is placed in a lowly position, and the sacred work is fulfilled.