Hear, then, the sacred account as revealed in these venerable verses. All things in the sacrifice are pervaded by Brahman. Brahman alone is the Hotṛ, the priest who invokes; Brahman is itself the very sacrifice, and by Brahman are the sacred chants measured and set. From Brahman is born the Adhvaryu, the priest who performs the rites, and within Brahman the oblation itself is hidden. The ladles filled with ghee are Brahman; through Brahman the altar is established. Brahman is the very essence of the sacrifice, and those who prepare the oblation are but forms of Brahman. All these are offered to the Pacifier, with the utterance, “svāhā.” Turning to the gods, a prayer rises to the remover of sin, a plea for pure thought and for good favor to be bestowed upon the well-knotted one. The sacrificer calls to Indra to accept the offering and fulfill the desires of the devotee. The remover of sin is honored, the foremost among those fit for sacrifice, radiant and first in the rituals. To the offspring of the waters, the Aśvins, the wise call with insight, seeking their strength and power. A longing arises in the heart: “May Agni, the fire, lead me to the realm where the knowers of Brahman dwell, those who walk with consecration and austerity. May Agni grant me wisdom. To Agni, svāhā.” In the same spirit, the devotee prays: “May Vāyu, the wind, lead me there and grant me breath. To Vāyu, svāhā. May Sūrya, the sun, lead me there and grant me sight. To Sūrya, svāhā. May Candra, the moon, lead me there and grant me mind. To Candra, svāhā. May Soma, the nourishing one, lead me there and grant me sustenance. To Soma, svāhā. May Indra lead me there and grant me strength. To Indra, svāhā. May the Waters lead me there, granting that immortality may dwell with me. To the Waters, svāhā. May Brahmā lead me there and bestow upon me the knowledge of Brahman. To Brahman, svāhā.” Now, the sacred ointment is praised: “You are the crossing over of life, the sage’s remedy. O ointment, you bring peace; grant peace to the waters and make us fearless.” The ointment is invoked to drive out all diseases—jaundice, limb-breaking, and all spreading afflictions—from every limb. Born of the earth, auspicious and sustaining, the ointment is asked to grant long life, skill in charioteering, and freedom from harm. Breath is invoked to protect breath, and Nirṛti is beseeched to release all from the bonds of destruction. The ointment is praised as the embryo of the river and the blossom of lightning. Wind is breath, the sun is sight, and the rain of heaven brings nourishment. The divine ointment, three-crested, is invoked for protection on all sides, surpassing all other herbs of field and mountain. It is asked to drive away disease from the middle, the sides, and above, expelling and destroying all illness completely. A prayer is offered to King Varuṇa: “Often a man speaks falsehood; O thousand-powered one, release us from every misfortune.” For whatever has been said, “Waters are not to be harmed,” and for every invocation to Varuṇa, the prayer is repeated: “Release us from every misfortune.” May Mitra and Varuṇa follow the ointment, and after having followed it far, may they return again for enjoyment. The ointment is entreated to remove harmful spells as debts repay debts, whether such spells are performed or not, to let them leave the house. The ointment is called the eye of the charm, the remover of evil, and is asked to listen. Whatever evil dream may be among the people, among the cows, or within the house, let the remover of evil, the beloved one, release all from harm. The ointment, grown from the strength and vigor of the waters, born of Agni, of Jātavedas, and mountain-born, is invoked for auspiciousness. The fourfold ointment is tied, making all directions fearless. The recipient is urged to stand firm as the sun, and may all peoples bring tribute. The devotee is instructed to wear, make, bathe with, and drink with one gem each, so that the fourfold ointment may protect from the bonds of the four Nirṛtis. Each god is invoked for protection. May Agni, with his fiery power, protect for breath, inspiration and expiration, life, brilliance, vigor, energy, well-being, and prosperity—svāhā. May Indra with his strength, Soma with his gentleness, Bhaga with his favor, and the Maruts with their hosts, each protect for breath, life, and all auspicious qualities—svāhā. Prajāpati himself first binds the untied one for strength; the devotee binds it for life, brilliance, vigor, and power, that the untied one may protect. May the untied one stand upright, ever protective, unharmed by traders or sorcerers; as Indra shakes off enemies, so may all adversaries be driven away. A hundred have struck and slain, but have not overcome; Indra has placed sight, breath, and strength within. The untied one is clothed with Indra’s armor, who is overlord of the gods; may all the gods lead again, and may the untied one protect. Within the amulet are a hundred powers, a thousand breaths; let it stand firm as a tiger against all enemies. May any who would strike be struck instead; may the amulet protect. Anointed with ghee, sweet with honey, rich with milk, filled with a thousand breaths, of a hundred origins, giver of vigor, auspicious, joyful, and strong—the milk-rich amulet is invoked for protection. As the superior, unrivaled, destroyer of rivals, ruler over its kind, so may Savitar make the amulet; may it protect. At last, as night approaches, she spreads across the earth with her radiant lights, standing in the great abodes of heaven, her darkness now unfurled. Thus flows the sacred tale, woven from the Atharva Veda’s wisdom, invoking the unity of all things in Brahman, the protection and blessing of the gods, and the power of sacred remedies to guard and sustain life.