In the sacred rite, a prayer rises to Agni, the fire god, that he, once appeased and praised, be driven away from his flesh-eating aspect and guided along the ancestral paths. Let him not return by the ways of the gods, but remain here, awakened among the ancestors, a gentle presence for those who have gone before. The pure and radiant ones are kindled together for well-being, their brightness shining forth, purifying all. When Agni is kindled, his light leaves behind all enmity and impurity, advancing forward and purifying again with his brilliance. Agni, the bright god, ascends to the heights of heaven. Released from impurity, may we too be freed from harm and misfortune. In the shining presence of Agni, enmities are washed away; we become worthy of sacrifice, purified, and pray that he carries us beyond to a long life. The bright, shining ones, the destroyer, and the voiceless—all these, in their wisdom, drive disease far away, casting it to a distant place. If the flesh-eating Agni, born of a person, is present among our horses, heroes, cows, or goats, we drive him away. From other men, from cows, from horses, we send away this flesh-eating Agni, who arises for the sake of life. In Agni, the gods themselves once purified, and men too found cleansing. Anointed with clarified butter, Agni is invited to ascend to heaven. When kindled and invoked, Agni is asked not to depart, but to shine here among us, so that we may see the sun by day. We pray for grace in every place—whether in the lead, the reed, the bright fire, the uncut branch, the headpiece, or the support. Having removed impurity from the head and strengthened the crown, cleansing with the boundless river, we become pure and fit for sacrifice. Then, a prayer is offered to Death: "Go beyond, O Death, follow the path that is other than the one leading to the gods. I speak to you who have sight and hearing—may many heroes be with you." The living turn away from the dead, and today, the invocation of the gods brings auspiciousness. We come forward for dance and laughter, strong and ready to speak in the assembly. A boundary is set for the living, that the other may not cross over for this purpose. May the living dwell a hundred autumns, many in number, with a mountain placed between themselves and death. Rise up, choosing old age as your portion; stand firm in order. May the builder, with good offspring and harmony, lead your life to long years. As days proceed in order, as seasons move together in their time, so may the latter never abandon the former. Thus, O Creator, arrange their lifespans. The stony river is to be crossed—let us take hold together, be strong, and cross over, O friends. Here, we leave behind those who are evil; without sickness, let us reach the further shore with our prizes. Rise up, cross over, O friends; the stony river flows. Here, we abandon the inauspicious; with the auspicious, we cross to the further shore, victorious. Embracing the radiance of the universal gods, pure and shining, we pass over the footprints of evil and rejoice for a hundred winters. Crossing by the northern paths, filled with air, leaving behind the lower ways, the sages, thrice seven in number, repelled death by stepping over with their feet. Those who step over the place of death establish longer life; sitting together, they drive death from the assembly, so that, alive, they may speak in the gathering. Let the women, not widowed, good wives, touch themselves with ointment and clarified butter; without tears, without sickness, rich in treasures, let them ascend first to the womb of birth. With offerings, these two are set apart; with sacred utterance, they are arranged. The ancestral portion is made undiminished for the fathers; with long life, the living are released together. The fire placed in the hearts of our fathers, immortal among mortals—may we receive that god within ourselves, causing no harm to him, nor he to us. Having removed the flesh-eaters from the household fire, O departed ones, to the right side—make what is dear to the fathers, to the self, and to the priests, dear. Taking the twofold share of wealth, Agni consumes what is left; the fire of the eldest son, if not freed from flesh-eating, brings loss. Whatever is ploughed, won, or gained with wealth does not belong to the mortal if the flesh-eater is not removed. He becomes unfit for sacrifice, his splendor is destroyed, and he cannot partake of the offering; he cuts off the field’s produce and the cow’s milk, who follows the flesh-eater. Again and again, with greedy desires, mortals speak of distress; the wise, knowing the flesh-eaters, keep them away from the fire. When a woman's husband dies, houses are to be reclaimed and rebuilt; the knower of the sacred word should approach, who removes the flesh-eater. Whatever impurity or evil we have committed, may the waters cleanse us from that, and from what is near the fire. The waters, rising from below, flow northward, carrying forth creatures by divine paths; upon the back of the bull-like mountain, the ancient rivers move anew. "O Agni, drive away the flesh-eater, the devourer of flesh; bring the offering to the gods." If the flesh-eater has entered in, if he has followed, having made them two tigers, the one is removed, leaving the auspicious one. Within is the enclosure of the gods; outside is the boundary of men. Agni, the householder’s fire, stands between both. "O Agni, carry away the life of the living, let the dead go to the world of the ancestors; O well-established householder’s fire, having driven away the enemy, grant him the better path." "O Agni, enduring all rivals, place their strength and wealth among us." Take hold of this Indra-fire, let it carry you away from harm and blame; with it, strike down the arrow that falls, and may Rudra’s protection guard us. Take hold of this bull, this raft; let it carry you away from harm and blame. Ascend this boat of Savitar—by six broad paths may we cross over safely. He seeks day and night, bearing the home, standing firm as a bridge, heroic; bearing the healthy, cheerful bed, may you become fragrant for us like a yoke. Thus, in this sacred rite, the boundaries between life and death, purity and impurity, are set and guarded, with Agni as the radiant guide, carrying prayers, offerings, and the hopes of the living to the gods and ancestors alike.