Listen to the sacred tale as revealed in the Atharva Veda, where the Vrātya, the mysterious and revered wanderer, stands as the keeper of profound knowledge and cosmic order. It is said that if one, without the permission of a learned Vrātya, dares to offer ritual sacrifices, such a person does not know the path of the ancestors nor the path of the gods. Among the divine beings, he becomes the most virile of those whose offerings remain unaccepted. For him, in this world, no true abode remains, for he has acted without being properly released by a Vrātya who possesses this knowledge. But for those who understand, a different path unfolds. If one who knows thus welcomes a Vrātya as a guest and allows him to stay in his house for a single night, he thereby secures for himself all the blessed worlds upon the earth. Should the Vrātya stay a second night, all the blessed worlds in the atmosphere become his. If the Vrātya is hosted for a third night, all the blessed worlds in heaven are gained. With a fourth night, the most blessed of all worlds is secured. And if the Vrātya is welcomed for countless nights, then all countless blessed worlds are granted to the host. Yet, if a non-Vrātya, bearing the name 'Vrātyabru,' comes as a guest, the householder faces a subtle choice: one should draw him in, and yet not draw him in. For this deity, water is asked; let this deity dwell; the host surrounds and will continue to surround this deity. For him, in that very deity, the offering is made, by one who knows thus. Now, let us follow the Vrātya’s wondrous journey through the directions and realms. When he moved toward the east, he became a troop of wind, making the mind the eater of food; and by mind as the eater of food, one eats—who knows thus. When he moved southward, he became Indra, making strength the eater of food; by strength, one eats. In moving westward, he became King Varuṇa, making the waters the eaters of food; by waters, one eats. When he moved northward, as King Soma with the Seven Sages, he made the offering the eater of food; by offering, one eats. When he moved toward the fixed direction, he became Viṣṇu, making Virāj the eater of food; by Virāj, one eats. Among animals, he became Rudra, making the plants the eaters of food; by plants, one eats. Among the ancestors, he became King Yama, making the form of Svadhā the eater of food; by Svadhā, one eats. Having become Agni, he moved among men, uttering 'svāhā,' making the sound of food; by 'svāhā' and the sound, one eats. As Bṛhaspati, he moved upward, uttering 'vaṣaṭ,' making the sound of food; by 'vaṣaṭ' and the sound, one eats. As Īśāna, he moved among the gods, uttering 'manyu,' making the sound of food; by 'manyu' and the sound, one eats. As Prajāpati, he moved among the creatures, uttering the breath, making the sound of food; by breath and sound, one eats. As Parameṣṭhin, he moved among all the inner regions, uttering Brahman, making the sound of food; by Brahman and sound, one eats. Of that Vrātya, it is known there are seven prāṇas, seven apānas, and seven vyānas. His first prāṇa, named Ūrdhva, is Agni. The second, Prauḍha, is Āditya. The third, Abhyūḍha, is the Moon. The fourth, Vibhū, is Pavamāna. The fifth, Yoni, is the Waters. The sixth, Priya, is the cattle. The seventh, Aparimita, is all creatures. The first apāna of his is the Full Moon. The second is the Aṣṭakā. The third is the Sāmāvāsyā. The fourth is Faith. The fifth sole of his is consecration. The sixth sole is sacrifice. Thus, the Vrātya embodies the cosmic forces, the cycles of time, and the sacred powers that sustain the worlds, and those who know and honor him are granted the blessings of all realms.