As the sacred ritual was about to begin, the priest prepared himself with reverence. He gathered his senses—speech, hearing, and mind—and offered them as the very eye, the beginning, and the mouth of the sacrifice. With devotion, he invited the gods, hoping they would come, well-disposed, to the sacrifice laid out by the Maker of all. In this sanctified atmosphere, the focus shifted to Agni, the divine fire. The priest prayed for Agni to approach with goodwill and support, and for a maiden to arrive, bringing fortune. He wished her to be favored in her choices, in the assemblies, and in moments of joy, so that happiness would fill her marriage. Blessings were invoked from Soma and the power of sacred utterance, with Aryaman and Bhaga gathering their favor. By the truth of the divine Creator, the priest solemnly declared the marriage. He called upon Agni to grant the woman a worthy husband, for Soma the king would bestow her with fortune. May she bear sons, become a queen, and shine with good fortune as she entered her new home. He recalled how, just as the donkey—dear to Maghavan—became pleasing and gentle among wild animals, so too should this woman, favored by Bhaga, become dear to her husband, never causing him offense. The priest encouraged her to climb into the boat of Bhaga, ever full and ever moving, so she might approach her destined suitor. He called upon the lord of wealth to make the suitor eager and to ensure all was favorable for their meeting. Tokens of the union were presented: gold, an amulet, a bull, and the favor of Bhaga—these were given to the husband, so the suitor would know her. He prayed that Savitṛ and her husband would lead her, and that the sacred herb would unite her with her spouse. As the rituals continued, the priest turned his prayers toward protection and victory. He invoked Agni, the all-knowing, to confront their enemies, burning up curses and hostility. He called upon Jātavedas to bewilder hostile armies and render their hands powerless. The fierce Maruts were summoned to slay and aid, for Agni, as their wise messenger, would confront all threats. Maghavan and Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, were asked to burn and destroy the opposing armies. Indra was entreated to hurl his thunderbolt, driven by his steeds, to strike down enemies near and far, confusing their minds everywhere. By the power of Agni and Vāta, Indra was asked to scatter and destroy adversaries, bewildering their armies, while the Maruts struck with strength and Agni took away their sight, sending the defeated away. The prayers intensified, inviting Agni, the wise messenger, to burn away all curses and hostility. Jātavedas was asked to confuse the minds of others, making them powerless. Agni would bewilder whatever thoughts lay in the hearts of foes, blowing away their dwellings and dispersing them entirely. Indra was called on to bewilder their minds, using the force of Agni and Vāta to scatter adversaries, confusing their intentions and driving away whatever lay in their hearts. The priest implored Agni to seize the minds of enemies, bewilder them, and depart from their bodies, burning them with anguish and striking them with darkness. Any army of the Maruts belonging to others, coming with strength against them, was to be struck with darkness and deception, so that none among them would recognize another. With the approach of dawn, Agni was urged to awaken the sleeper and shine widely across the heavens. The all-knowing Maruts were called to harness Agni and lead him with reverence to the offering. Even from afar, the ruddy ones were to stir Indra and the sage to move in friendship, as the gods established the Gāyatrī, Bṛhatī, and Sāutrāmaṇī hymns for him. King Varuṇa was asked to summon from the waters, Soma from the mountains, and Indra from the settlements, so that, like a falcon, they might descend among the people. The falcon was to carry the offering from distant fields, unobstructed and swift, while the Aśvins made the path easy and those of the same lineage entered together. All peoples were to summon the priest, friends to call him forth, for Indra, Agni, and all the gods had established safety among the people. Any born to dispute this call or show hostility was to be made powerless by Indra and brought forward. The priest then called upon the new king to take up the kingdom with strength and brilliance, to rule as the sole lord, reigning supreme. All directions were to summon him, and he was to become worthy of reverence. The peoples and the five divine regions were to choose him for kingship, and he was to settle on the summit of the kingdom, distributing wealth without harshness. He prayed that the offerings, together with their kin, would approach the new king, and that Agni, the swift messenger, would accompany them. The king’s wife and children were to be of good mind, and tribute was to be brought before him in abundance. The Aśvins, Mitra, Varuṇa, all the gods, and the Maruts were asked to call the king first. The king was encouraged to set his mind on acquiring wealth, so that he might distribute riches among his people. He was urged to run forth from the farthest distances, with Heaven and Earth auspicious for him, as King Varuṇa called him forth. Indra was invited to move among men, standing with the wise and with Varuṇa, called to the assembly, worshipping the gods, and arranging the peoples. The many-formed and varied paths of prosperity had made the king great, and all were to unite and call him, so that the mighty one, well-disposed, would be under his control. Finally, the priest brought forth the powerful leaf-jewel, a talisman of strength, to strike down rivals. He prayed that the vigor of the gods, the milk and brilliance of the plants, would strengthen him unfailingly. Sovereignty was invoked to reside in him through the leaf-jewel, granting steadfastness and eminence among the people. He recalled that the gods had once hidden this jewel in the tree, dear to them, and now he prayed for it to be bestowed with long life. The leaf of Soma, strong and mighty, given by Indra and preserved by Varuṇa, was to shine greatly for a hundred autumns. The priest asked that the leaf-jewel protect him from harm and his enemies, making him superior by Aryaman’s favor and agreement. He prayed that all skilled people—chariot-makers, smiths, thinkers—would be subject to him, and that kings, their appointed leaders, charioteers, and village chiefs would likewise come under his influence, on all sides. Thus, with these prayers and blessings, the ritual was completed—securing fortune in marriage, victory in battle, unity among the people, and strength for the king and his realm.