He who truly understands the nature of Breath becomes a leader among the wise, mastering his own vital energies. Yet, even as he restrains the breath, he does not ultimately hold it back; he surpasses the lifespan of other creatures. But this too is not the final truth—for he does not outlive all beings, for at last, before such a victory, Breath itself abandons him to the inevitability of old age. Therefore, homage is offered to Breath, the mighty force by which all things are governed, the lord of all beings, the foundation upon which the universe stands. Reverence is given to Breath as the thunderer, as the one who roars, as the flash of lightning, as the nourishing rain. When Breath, with the voice of thunder, stirs the plants, they awaken, they flourish, and new life bursts forth in abundance. When, at the appointed season, Breath calls to the plants, all creation is gladdened and whatever dwells upon the earth rejoices. When Breath pours rain upon the wide earth, the cattle leap with joy, and in this, a promise of greatness is felt for all. The herbs, now richly watered, rise up together with Breath; truly, life is our dearest companion—may all that grows be fragrant for us. Homage is paid to Breath as it arrives and as it departs, as it stands and as it sits; in every aspect, Breath is honored. Homage to Breath as it moves inward and outward, as it is drawn in and released—at every turn, we offer our reverence. O Breath, grant us that most beloved and cherished form of yours, and whatever remedy you possess—let it be ours for the sake of life. Breath follows the offspring as a loving father follows his beloved son; Breath is truly lord over all—over what breathes and what does not. Breath is death, and Breath is disease; even the gods worship Breath, for it is Breath that raises the truth-speaker to the highest world. Breath is sovereign and guide; all beings pay homage to it. Breath is called the sun and the moon, Breath is known as Prajapati, the lord of creation. Breath and expiration are likened to rice and barley—the essentials of life; in barley, Breath resides, while rice is the form of expiration. Now, the student of sacred knowledge journeys through earth and heaven; in him, the minds of the gods are united. He upholds both earth and sky, and with the power of austerity, he sustains his teacher. The ancestors, the divine beings, and all the gods follow the student; the Gandharvas, thirty-three in number and six thousand more, are drawn to him—his austerity nourishes the gods. When the teacher initiates the student, he makes him as a fetus within himself, carrying him for three nights; at birth, the gods gather to witness the event. The kindling-stick the student carries is the earth; the second is the sky, and the atmosphere is filled with fuel. With his kindling-stick, girdle, and diligent effort, the student supports the worlds through his austerity. The student, firstborn of Brahman and clad in the sacred garment, rises through austerity; from him sprang the Brahmin, Brahman the eldest, and all the gods, along with immortality. Kindled with the fire-stick, donning black garments, consecrated, and with long hair, the student swiftly traverses from this world to the farthest ocean, holding the worlds in his grasp in a single moment. The student, in generating sacred knowledge, brings forth the waters, the world, Prajapati, the supreme lord, and the sovereign. Entering the womb of immortality as an embryo, he becomes Indra and conquers the demons. The teacher has fashioned both earth and sky, vast and deep; the student, through austerity, preserves them, and in him the gods unite in mind. As a humble beggar, the student first claims earth and sky; he worships with the kindling-stick, and upon these all the worlds are set. Two treasures—one near, one far, hidden in the highest heaven—are placed within the Brahmin; the student, through austerity, protects them, and the knower of Brahman claims them as his own. There are two fires: one rising here, the other from the earth, meeting in the mid-region of the sky. Their steadfast rays rest upon them, and the student, by his discipline, stands firm upon these. The fire roars, thunders, glows red with white-tipped flames and far-reaching tongues, seizing the earth; the student sows the seed on its summit, and thus the four directions of the earth are enlivened. The student places the kindling in fire, in the sun, the moon, the wind, and in the waters; their flames move apart yet mingle, and from them come ghee, rain, and water—gifts for humankind. The teacher is death, Varuṇa, Soma, the plants, and milk; the clouds are beings, and by these, this world of light endures. At home, the teacher prepares pure ghee; as Varuṇa, whatever he desires among creatures, the student, as a friend, offers to his own self. The teacher is the student; the student is Prajāpati. Prajāpati shines forth, and the sovereign becomes Indra, the master. Through the discipline and austerity of the student, the king protects his realm. The teacher, seeking a worthy pupil, relies on the discipline of the student. By this same discipline, a maiden finds her youthful husband; the bull seeks grass, and the horse desires fodder. By discipline and austerity, the gods overcame death; by such discipline, Indra brought the world of light to the gods. From the student are born the plants, the past and the future, day and night, the trees, the year, and the seasons. All animals—of earth and heaven, wild and tame, winged and wingless—spring from the student. All beings of Prajāpati carry their own breath within; all these, filled and sustained by the student, are protected by Brahman. This is the highest of the gods—shining, unapproachable. From it were born the gods and all immortals, together with the Brāhmaṇa; Brahman is the eldest. The student bears the radiant Brahman; in him all the gods are gathered. He generates the in-breath and out-breath, the diffused breath, speech, mind, heart, Brahman, and wisdom—he is the vessel of all that is sacred and vital.