He, the mysterious Vrātya, took on many forms and moved through the worlds, each time revealing a portion of his boundless nature. First, he became Agni, the sacred fire, and moved among men. As he passed through, he uttered the call “svāhā,” the invocation of offering, and made the sound of food. By this call and this sound, he consumed nourishment—so it is for one who truly knows. Then, he transformed into Bṛhaspati, the lord of sacred speech, and journeyed toward the upward direction. There, his voice rang out with “vaṣaṭ,” another sacred cry, again accompanied by the sound of food. By uttering “vaṣaṭ” and the sound of food, he partook of nourishment—this is the knowledge of the wise. Next, he became Īśāna, the sovereign, and mingled among the gods. His call was “manyu,” the voice of force and will, and still the sound of food followed. By “manyu” and the sound of food, he ate—such is the secret of those who understand. He then assumed the form of Prajāpati, the lord of creatures, and moved among all living beings. His utterance was the breath itself, always with the sound of food, and by breath and that sound, he found sustenance—so knows the knower. At last, he became Parameṣṭhin, the supreme one, and moved through all the innermost realms. His utterance was Brahman, the infinite, and again the sound of food was present. By Brahman and that sound, he ate—thus is the mystery revealed to those who perceive it. This Vrātya, the wondrous one, possesses seven prāṇas, seven apānas, and seven vyānas—currents of life and energy. His first prāṇa is named Ūrdhva and is Agni, the fire. The second, Prauḍha, is Āditya, the sun. The third, Abhyūḍha, is the Moon. The fourth, Vibhū, is Pavamāna, the purifier. The fifth, Yoni, is the Waters. The sixth, Priya, is the cattle. The seventh, Aparimita, is all creatures. His seven apānas, the downward breaths, are each wondrous as well. The first is the Full Moon. The second is the Aṣṭakā, a sacred day. The third is Sāmāvāsyā, the new moon. The fourth is Faith itself. The fifth sole is consecration, the sixth is sacrifice, and the seventh sole is gifts. His seven vyānas, the circulating breaths, pervade all. The first is this earth; the second is the midspace; the third is the sky. The fourth is the stars, the fifth the seasons, the sixth the periods of time, and the seventh is the year itself. The gods move around a common purpose, and the seasons follow the year as they do the Vrātya. When they enter the sun, at new moon and full moon, that offering alone is their immortality. Of this Vrātya, the sun is his right eye, the moon his left. His right ear is Agni, his left is Pavamāna. Day and night are his nostrils, Diti and Aditi are the plates of his skull, and the year is his head. By day, the Vrātya faces west; by night, he faces east. Homage to the Vrātya. Now, the bull of the waters is released, and so too are the divine fires. Forces break, surround, crush, and utterly destroy. The Vrātya is the destroyer, the mind-stealer, the digger, the burner, the self-corrupting, the body-corrupting. Darkness is sent forth—but may it not envelop me.