With devotion and reverence, the ritual began, and sacred offerings were made to many powers: the small ones, those just less than a hymn, the red ones, and the radiant two Suns. The Vrātyas, the Prajāpatis, Viṣāsahya, and the Maṅgalikas each received their due, and above all, an oblation was offered to Brahman itself. For all powers gather first and foremost in Brahman, who stretched out the highest heaven at the very beginning. Among all beings, Brahman was the first to be born—who indeed could rival Brahman? Turning to the gods, the priest invoked that ancient potency by which the deities upheld Savitar the god, beseeching Brahmaṇaspati to surround the chosen one with sovereignty. May Indra, the mighty, be encompassed for long life and great dominion, so that old age may never overtake him and his sovereignty remain ever-vigilant. May his hearing also be protected, so he remains ever awake in perception, untouched by decline. The prayer continued, asking for brilliance to surround and protect, for old age and death to be driven far away, and for long life to be granted. Bṛhaspati, the wise, had bestowed a sacred garment, and Soma the king was to be clothed in it. Old age was commanded to depart and put on this garment instead, becoming a guardian of homes against all curses. May life be lived for a hundred autumns, renowned and prosperous, wrapped in abundant wealth. This garment, donned for well-being, now made the wearer a protector of the waters against curses. Again, the blessing was invoked: live a hundred autumns, divide lovely riches, and be renowned. In every union, every contest of strength, and every competition for reward, Indra was called as a steadfast friend and helper. Golden-hued and undecaying, blessed with good children, may all conquer old age and death through progeny—so declared Agni, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Savitar, and Indra in unison. With tireless mind, the foremost was yoked—the bearer who would carry upward to the farthest shore, letting the milker run forth. When gold, born of Agni, is placed among mortals as the immortal, the one who knows this is worthy. Whoever bears this gold is freed from old age and death. This gold, shining like the sun and sought by the ancient Manu with his offspring, is sent forth by the moon with brilliance; the bearer becomes long-lived. For long life, brilliance, vigor, and strength, the gold shines among people with its golden splendor. What King Varuṇa, Bṛhaspati, and Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, know—may that knowledge become your long life and your radiance. May the bull protect you with cows, the mighty one with steeds, Vāyu with the sacred utterance, and Indra with his powers. May Soma shield you with herbs, the Sun with the stars, the Moon—slayer of Vṛtra—from the waters, and the Wind with breath. Three are the heavens, three the earths, three the atmospheres, and four the oceans; the triple hymn and the triple waters are declared—may these protect you, threefold, with triple forces. Three heavens, three oceans, three shining ones, three realms of bliss; three of Mātariśvan, three of the Suns—all are appointed as your guardians. With ghee, Agni is anointed and increased; may neither Agni, nor the Moon, nor the Sun, nor breath be harmed by deceivers. May your breath, your downward breath, your very life-force be protected from harm, as the shining, all-knowing gods move with divine speed. By breath, Agni is joined; the Wind is united with breath; and with breath, the gods created the Sun, who faces all directions. Live, therefore, endowed with the life that grants longevity; do not die. Live with breath and self, untouched by the power of death. The treasure hidden by the gods and found by Indra through divine paths—the waters guard the gold with triple protections; may these shield you, threefold, with triple forces. The thirty-three gods and three beloved powers, guarded within the waters, now empower the gold placed in this amulet, so the wearer may perform heroic deeds. To the gods who are eleven in heaven, eleven in the atmosphere, and eleven on earth, offerings are made, and their acceptance is invoked. May we be freed from enemies before and behind; may Savitṛ protect on the right, the Lord of Power on the left. May the Ādityas protect from above, the fires from below; Indra and Agni from the front, the Aśvins grant shelter all around, Jātavedas protect from across, and the creators of beings be armor on every side. With all this, the amulet is bound for long life and brilliance; the sacred grass is tied for the defeat of rivals, for burning the hearts of enemies. Let the sacred grass scorch the minds of foes, hard to overcome as searing heat—burning and tormenting all who oppose. Thus, with offerings, prayers, and sacred acts, the blessings of the gods and the power of immortality are invoked, so that the wearer may live long, radiant, and victorious, upheld by divine guardians on every side.