The gods were called to arise, each lord among them summoned to stand together in unity. “O friendly divine beings,” the invocation rang out, “having conquered this battle, stand firm in your rightful places.” Once more, the mighty ones were urged to rise up, to gather with their banners unfurled. Serpents, spirits, and demons alike were called to pursue the enemies, driving them away. Triṣandhi, the deity adorned with red banners at dawn, was invoked as the one who knows the sovereignty and rule of the gods. All beings—those in the midspace, in heaven, on earth, and among men—were called to hold Triṣandhi in their hearts, to attend upon the faithful and dispel evil words. The flesh-eaters, swift as the wind, were summoned to bind the enemies with the thunderbolt of Triṣandhi, armed with iron-faced, needle-faced, and hooked-faced weapons. Jātavedas, the Sun, the corpse, and the gathered multitude were asked to disappear, so that Triṣandhi’s army might be well-disposed and under control. The divine host was called to rise, to assemble with their army, for an offering was made to them: the beloved oblation of Triṣandhi. All four-footed and sharp-toothed creatures, those struck by arrows, were asked to join with Triṣandhi and his army in the work of sorcery against foes. The smoky-eyed one was invited to fly forth, the sharp-eared one to cry out, and with the victorious army of Triṣandhi, the red banners were to be raised high. Birds of the air, creatures who move in the spaces between earth and heaven, were summoned to descend. Wild beasts and flies were called to gather, and vultures to devour the corpses of the fallen. The alliance formed by Indra and Brāhmaṇa Bṛhaspati was invoked, the Indra-alliance by which the gods were called to conquer both here and beyond. Bṛhaspati, the Angirases, and the seers, skilled in sacred knowledge, had taken up the thunderbolt of Triṣandhi, the slayer of demons, as their weapon. With this power, even the Sun and Indra stood firm, for Triṣandhi had been apportioned by the gods for strength and might. Through the oblation, the gods had conquered all the worlds. Bṛhaspati and the Angirases poured out the thunderbolt—the slaying weapon of Triṣandhi—for the destruction of demons. Once more, Bṛhaspati and the Angirases poured forth this weapon for the defeat of evil. With that might, the army was anointed, and the enemies struck down. All gods who partake of the vaṣaṭ-offering were called to come, to be pleased, and to grant victory in every realm. The gods were asked to protect the great alliance, the very bond by which demons were first subdued. The wind was called to turn back the enemies’ arrows, Indra to shatter their arms, Āditya to destroy their weapons, and the Moon to lead them on a path of no return. If, in ancient times, the gods went forth with prayers as their armor and their bodies as shields, then all that they approached was to be rendered powerless. The flesh-eaters were to be followed, with Death as the priest, as Triṣandhi led the army onward to conquer the enemies and advance. Triṣandhi was asked to surround the enemies in darkness, so that among those who had not offered clarified butter, none would reach the supplicant. The sharp-footed one was to fall upon the enemies, pouring out confusion, so that the armies of the foes would be lost in the abyss. Let the enemies be deluded and destroyed again and again, struck down by the army. Whether armored or unarmored, riding chariots or not, all were to be ensnared and defeated. Those fallen, whether armored or not, were to be devoured by dogs on earth; those slain in battle, by vultures, hawks, and birds of prey. The hostile army, struck down, would lie as a heap of corpses, torn by jackals. The wounded, the crying, the fallen—let them be devoured by great birds, especially those who opposed the westward offering. The offering observed by the gods, irresistible, was to be the instrument by which Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, would strike down the foes with his triple-edged thunderbolt. Then, the hymn turned to the Earth herself: Truth, greatness, order, might, consecration, austerity, sacred knowledge, and sacrifice—these uphold the Earth. She, broad and steadfast, companion in all that has been and will be, was invoked to make a wide world for her children. The Earth, unconfined in her middle for humankind, with even and abundant slopes and valleys, bearer of countless, potent plants, was asked to spread out and grant riches. Upon her rest the ocean, rivers, and waters; upon her food and peoples have come into being; upon her the world moves and breathes. May she place us in the foremost and best place. Her four directions are the very Earth, she who bears all life in many forms. May she place us among cattle and food. On her, the people of old performed their deeds; on her, the gods overcame the demons. May she grant us the wealth, strength, and glory of cattle, horses, and offspring. Supporter of all, rich in treasures, firm foundation, golden-breasted, the seat of the world, bearer of universal fire—may the Earth, with Indra and the Bull among gods, grant us wealth. The sleepless gods protect her, the all-giving Earth, unfailing in her bounty, nourishing us with sweetness and splendor. In the beginning, the waters rested upon her in the ocean; the wise sought her with their thoughts; her heart in the highest heaven is veiled in truth and immortality. May she grant us strength and power in the highest realm. Upon her, the waters flow ever-moving, day and night, unfailing. May she, rich in streams, milk abundance for us and nourish us with splendor. The Aśvins measured her, Viṣṇu strode upon her, Indra made her unconquered for himself, lord of might. May our mother Earth pour out her milk for her child. Her mountains are the peaks, her snowy ranges and forests, all her variegated, dark, red, and steadfast forms. Protected by Indra, unconquered, unhurt, unbroken, I take my stand upon the Earth. Whatever is her middle, whatever her navel, all forms of strength that arise from her body—may she place us upon these, may she flow over us. Earth is the mother, I am the son of Earth; Parjanya is the father—may he fill us with abundance.