With purpose and intent, we harness the force of darkness and send it forth against those who bear us hatred, and whom we too cannot abide. Standing at the very edge of the waters, we release this power, casting it onward to the vast ocean. To any who harbor fire within the waters, we dispatch the destroyer, the relentless digger, the corrupter of the body, to act against them. He who is fire, entered into the waters—this is his domain; whatever among you is most dreadful, that is he. Let him act with the might of Indra, sprinkling his power. O waters, drive away our enemies, carry them far from us. Bear away our guilt, O waters; take with you our evil dreams as you flow. With a benevolent gaze, look upon us, O waters; with gentle touch, let your coolness meet our skin. We call upon the kindly fires that dwell within you, O waters—may the goddesses grant us strength and brilliance. Let my speech be free from harm, full of vigor and sweetness. May my words be sweet, may I utter only what is pleasing and true. The guardian is summoned for me, the protector is summoned to stand by my side. May my ears be well-hearing, may they receive only auspicious words and sacred verses. Let good and attentive hearing never abandon me; may the eagle’s ever-shining eye remain with me. You are the altar of the sages, the sacred place of offering—homage to the divine altar. May I be the head of riches, the foremost among equals. Let no injury befall me, let no harm come near; may my head and my sense of right remain unscathed. May I not lose the wide one and the ladle, nor the supporter and the support. Let release and the moist stone not be lost to me, nor the moist giver and Mātariśvan. Bṛhaspati is my very soul, renowned among men, a delight to the heart. My heart is free from distress; I am vast, like a pasture for cattle, like an ocean, established in the law. May I be the navel of riches, the center among equals. You are a seat, a vessel, immortal among mortals. Let my breath not depart from me; let my outgoing breath not leave me and go away. May the sun guard the day, Agni the earth, Vāyu the atmosphere, Yama among men, Sarasvatī among earthly beings. Let my breath and outgoing breath not be lost; do not cast me out among people. May all auspicious dawns and dusks, all waters, all assemblies be enjoyed. You are Śakvarī, you are cattle; let not Mitra and Varuṇa depart from me. May my breath and outgoing breath remain; may Agni grant me skill. We know your origin, O sleep: you are the son of Yama, the agent, the ender, you are death. Thus we know you, O sleep—protect us from evil dreams. We know your origin, O sleep: you are the son of Nirṛti, the agent of Yama, the ender, you are death. Thus we know you, O sleep—protect us from evil dreams. We know your origin, O sleep: you are the son of Abhūti, the agent of Yama, the ender, you are death. Thus we know you, O sleep—protect us from evil dreams. We know your origin, O sleep: you are the son of Nirbhūti, the agent of Yama, the ender, you are death. Thus we know you, O sleep—protect us from evil dreams. We know your origin, O dream: you are the child of defeat, the agent of Yama, the Ender, you are Death. Thus, O dream, we recognize you; protect us from evil dreams. We know your origin, O dream: you are the child of the offspring of the gods, the agent of Yama, the Ender, you are Death. Thus, O dream, we recognize you; protect us from evil dreams. Today we have conquered, today we have found our seat, today we are free from guilt. Whatever evil dream made us afraid—let it vanish away. Carry away from us what is hateful, carry away from us what is cursed. To those whom we hate and who hate us, let this be sent. Let the goddess Dawn, in harmony with the goddess of speech, and the goddess of speech, in harmony with Dawn, be present. May the lord of Dawn agree with the lord of speech, and the lord of speech with the lord of Dawn, so that all may be in accord and auspiciousness may prevail.