May Indra, mighty and resplendent, accompanied by the Maruts, stand as my guardian in this direction. Into his presence I step, seeking his refuge and entering his fortress of protection. I entrust myself to him, praying that he may shield and watch over me—svāhā. From the fixed direction, may Prajāpati, the lord of all creatures, bestow his guardianship upon me, together with progeny, support, and unwavering firmness. Into his domain I step, taking shelter in his fortress, trusting in his watchful care—svāhā. And from above, may Bṛhaspati, joined by all the gods, offer his protection. I enter that path, that refuge, that stronghold, entrusting myself to his vigilance and guardianship—svāhā. In every direction, the gods are invoked for protection. In the east, may Agni, rich in treasures, be sought for you by the Māghāyavas who come from that quarter. In the midspace, may Vāyu, master of the winds, be sought for you by those who approach from this direction. To the south, may Soma, accompanied by Rudra, be invoked for you by those Māghāyavas who come from there. From another direction, may Varuṇa, with the Ādityas, be sought for you. In the west, may Sūrya, shining with Heaven and Earth, be sought for you by those who approach from that side. From yet another direction, may the Waters, abundant with plants, be sought for you; in the north, may Viśvakarman, creator and craftsman, accompanied by the Seven Sages, be invoked for you. Again, may Indra with the Maruts be sought for you by those Māghāyavas who come from this direction. May Prajāpati, with his offspring, be invoked for you from the fixed direction. And from above, may Bṛhaspati, together with all the gods, be sought for you by those Māghāyavas who attack from the upward direction. The fortresses of the gods become your refuge. Mitra has ascended from the earth; I lead you to that stronghold—enter it fully, so it may grant you shelter and armor. Vāyu has ascended through the midspace; I guide you to that stronghold—enter it fully, for your shelter and armor. Sūrya has ascended from the sky; I lead you to that stronghold—enter it, and may it give you shelter and armor. The Moon, adorned with stars, has ascended; I lead you to that stronghold—enter it completely for protection and armor. Soma, with the plants, has ascended; I guide you to that stronghold—enter, and may it shelter you. Sacrifice, with its gifts, has ascended; I bring you to that stronghold—enter it fully for your protection. The ocean, with all its rivers, has ascended; I lead you to that stronghold—enter it, and may it provide you both shelter and armor. Brahma, together with the students of sacred knowledge, has departed from that fortress; I lead it forth for you—enter it, enter it fully, and may it grant you protection and armor. Indra, by his strength, has departed from that fortress; I lead it forth for you—enter it fully for protection and armor. The gods, by their immortality, have departed from that fortress; I lead it forth for you—enter it, and may it shield you. Prajāpati, with his creatures, has departed from that fortress; I lead it forth for you—enter it, and may it grant you protection and armor. The powers of destruction made by men have been removed by Indra, Agni, Dhata, Savitar, Bṛhaspati, Soma the king, Varuṇa, the Ashvins, Yama, and Pūṣan—may they protect us from death. Whatever Prajāpati, lord of beings, and Mātariśvan, the master of the world, have fashioned for the creatures—wherever they dwell in all directions—may all those many armors be mine. Whatever is within your bodies, O gods, rulers of heaven, O embodied ones; whatever armor Indra has fashioned, may that shield us in every way. Heaven and earth are my armor; the dawn is my armor; the sun is my armor; all the gods have made my armor—may no hostile force reach me. The sacred metres—Gāyatrī, Uṣṇih, Anuṣṭubh, Bṛhatī, Paṅkti, Triṣṭubh, and Jagatī—are invoked. With the first five sections of the Angiras, svāhā. To the sixth, svāhā. To the seventh and eighth, svāhā. To those with blue nails, svāhā. To the green ones, svāhā. To the small ones, svāhā. To those who move about, svāhā. To the first shells, svāhā. To the second shells, svāhā. Oblation to the third shells, svāhā. Oblation to the uppermost, svāhā. Thus, surrounded on all sides by the guardianship of the gods, armored by their strength, and sheltered within their fortresses, one stands protected, upheld by sacred utterance and divine favor.