In ancient times, the fortress of sacred power stood, filled with the presence of Brahma and his devoted students, radiant with their wisdom. Yet, Brahma, together with those seekers, departed from that mighty stronghold. Now, I bring forth this fortress for you—step inside, enter it fully, and may it grant you both protection and armor. Indra, the mighty wielder of strength, too, left that fortress behind. I lead it forth for you—enter, embrace it entirely, and let its shelter and armor be yours. The gods, immortal in their essence, departed from the fortress as well. I bring it forth for you—enter, enter it fully, and may it bestow upon you protection and armor. Prajapati, the lord of creatures, with all his beings, also departed from that fortress. I lead it forth for you—enter, enter it fully, and may it grant you both protection and armor. The great deities—Indra, Agni, Dhata, Savitar, Brihaspati, Soma the king, Varuna, the Ashvins, Yama, and Pushan—have removed man-made destruction. May their grace shield us from death. Whatever Prajapati, lord of beings, and Matarishva, master of the world, have fashioned for all creatures—wherever they dwell across the vast directions and regions—may all those countless armors become mine. Within your bodies, O gods, rulers of heaven, O embodied ones, lies the armor Indra crafted. May that armor protect us in every way. Heaven and earth themselves are my armor; the dawn is my armor, the sun is my armor. All the gods have woven my armor—may hostile forces never reach me. The sacred meters—Gayatri, Ushnih, Anushtubh, Brihati, Pankti, Trishtubh, and Jagati—stand as pillars of this protection. With the first five sections of the Angiras, svaha. To the sixth, svaha. To the seventh and eighth, svaha. To those with blue nails, svaha. To the green ones, svaha. To the small ones, svaha. To those who move about, svaha. To the first shells, svaha. To the second shells, svaha. Oblation to the third shells, svāhā. Oblation to the uppermost, svāhā. Oblation to the highest, svāhā. Oblation to the northern, svāhā. Oblation to the seers, svāhā. Oblation to the crested ones, svāhā. Oblation to the hosts, svāhā. Oblation to the great hosts, svāhā. Oblation to all the Angirases, to the wise hosts, svāhā. Oblation to the two with a thousand each, svāhā. Oblation to Brahman, svāhā. The powers gathered in Brahman are the eldest; Brahman first stretched out the heaven; among all beings, Brahman was born first—who, then, is worthy to contend with Brahman? Oblation to the Atharvans of four verses, svāhā. Oblation to those of five verses, svāhā. Oblation to those of six verses, svāhā. Oblation to those of seven verses, svāhā. Oblation to those of eight verses, svāhā. Oblation to those of nine verses, svāhā. Oblation to the ten-versed hymns, svāhā. Oblation to the eleven-versed hymns, svāhā. Oblation to the twelve-versed hymns, svāhā. Oblation to the thirteen-versed hymns, svāhā. Thus, through invocation, offering, and remembrance, the seeker stands protected, wrapped in the armor of the gods, the cosmos, and the sacred word.