In the beginning, the Red One emerged—radiant and resplendent—becoming Time itself, the first to arise, known as Prajapati. He became the very mouth of sacrifice, bearing the sacred songs upon which the world depends. This Red One transformed into the world itself, surpassing even the heavens. With his far-reaching rays, he moves ceaselessly over the earth and the ocean, illuminating all with his presence. The Red One, lord of heaven, moves in every direction, a guardian who protects the heavens, the vast ocean, the earth, and all beings who dwell within them. Rising each day, the bright and mighty one, tireless and wondrous, shines forth, creating two forms as he ascends. Wind-borne, he pours his radiance over as many worlds as exist, his wisdom and strength unfathomable. Yet, as he journeys, he is struck from all sides, encircled and beset, likened to a buffalo measured by the passage of day and night. We, striving to keep pace, call upon the Sun—he who knows all paths and dwells in the sacred region—to guide us. This buffalo, offspring of Earth, never lags behind. His gaze, undeceived, encompasses all, seeing everything with clarity, leading with good guidance, and ever worthy of sacrifice. May he hear our words. His greatness encircles the earth and the ocean, shining with a radiance that surrounds the sky and the midspace. He sees all, guides well, and is fit for our offerings—may he listen to what we declare. When Agni is awakened among people through kindling, he stretches forth the dawn like a cow, and the swift rays, rising up, hasten to the summit of heaven. He who generated these heavens and earth, who, having fashioned the expanse, encompasses all the worlds; in whom the six directions and the flying sun are contained—this god, when angered, is offended by one who overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. From him the winds blow in due season, from him the oceans overflow. To this god we pray: O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and diminish the bonds of the Brahmin-slayer; release him from his fetters. He who causes death and grants life, from whom all beings draw their breath and live—of this god, when angered, the offense is the same: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and loosen the bonds, release him from his chains. He who satisfies heaven and earth with his breath, who fills the belly of the ocean with his exhalation—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. In him are established Virāj, Parameṣṭhin, Prajāpati, Agni Vaiśvānara, together with the Paṅkti. He who takes the breath and radiance of another—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. In him are set the six broad directions, the five regions, the four waters, and the three syllables of sacrifice. When angry, he looks between heaven and earth—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. He became the eater and lord of food, the master of speech, the one who is and will be, lord of all beings—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. He who measured out the thirteenth month, composed of thirty parts, by days and nights—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. The black-going, golden-winged, excellent birds, clothed in waters, fly up to heaven and return from the seat of truth—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. That shining one, O Kaśyapa, that radiant orb, full and resplendent, in which the seven Suns are set together—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. Bṛhat follows him in front, Rathantara receives him from behind; clothed in light, he sits steadfast in his seat—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. Bṛhat was one wing, Rathantara the other, both strong and aligned; that Rohita the gods generated—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. He becomes Varuṇa, Agni in the evening; Mitra at the rising of dawn. Becoming Savitṛ, he moves through the midspace; becoming Indra, he blazes in the midst of heaven—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. A thousand days are the wings of that swift swan flying to heaven; bearing all the gods in his breast, seeing all, he journeys through all worlds—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. This is that god, with a thousand roots, rough-barked and red, who generated the entire world—of this god, when angered, this is the offense: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. O Rohita, shake off, drive away, and release the bonds. The tawny horses bear the radiant one, who shines in the sky with brilliance; his upright rays burn the heavens, and below, he gleams with golden banners. This is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. By whom the green ones carry the Adityas, by whose sacrifice many attain wisdom; the one light that shines in many forms—this is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. Seven harness the chariot with a single wheel; one horse, with seven names, draws it. The wheel has three naves, unaging and unbroken, upon which all worlds are established. This is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. The fierce fire, yoked eightfold, bears onward—the father of the gods, the creator of thoughts. Measuring the thread of truth with his mind, Mātariśvan moves through all directions. This is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. All directions follow the straight thread, within the Gāyatrī, in the womb of immortality. This is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. Three dawns descend, three dawns rise, three are the regions of the sky, and three are the heavens. We know your triple birth, O Agni; we know the three origins of the gods. This is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. He, being born, spread out the earth with his wool and placed the atmosphere upon the ocean. This is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. You, Agni, are established by acts and signs; as the shining one, kindled, you appear in the sky. What did the Maruts, sons of Pṛśni, praise when the gods begot the Red One? This is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. He who gives self, who gives strength, whom all worship, whose command the gods obey, who rules over both bipeds and quadrupeds—this is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. With one foot, he strides beyond the bipeds; with two feet, he approaches the three-footed from behind; with four feet, he circles among the bipeds, observing the line, standing in the row. This is the offense against that god when angered: whoever overcomes a learned Brahmin who knows thus. Stir, O Red One, drive away, and release the bonds. The white one, son of black night, the calf, was born. He rises into the sky, and the Red One has risen. He goes forth, the Impeller, to the summit of heaven, having spoken below. With his rays, he covers the sky; the great Indra comes, enveloped in his brilliance. He is the supporter, arranger, and wind, raised up in the sky. He is Aryaman, Varuṇa, Rudra, and the great god himself. He is Agni, he is the Sun, he is the great Yama. To him, the calves approach, ten yoked together, each with a single head. They extend themselves westward and forward, when he rises and shines forth, heralding the dawn and bringing light to all the worlds.