Long ago, Time itself gave birth to all that has been and all that will be, as a parent brings forth a child. From Time arose the sacred Ṛc verses, and from Time was born the Yajus. Time established the order of sacrifice, ensuring the gods received their undiminishing share. Within Time are set the Gandharvas and Apsarases, and all the worlds find their place in Time’s embrace. In Time stand the god Aṅgiras and Atharvan; this world and the highest world, the blessed realms and their foundations, all are upheld by Time. Having conquered all worlds through Brahman, Time, the supreme god, moves onward, ever victorious. Night after night, like a faithful horse bearing its rider, stands ready to support the one who journeys ceaselessly. Rejoicing in wealth and food, the prayer is made: may we not, O Agni, suffer harm in our dwelling. The arrow of the Wind, rich in wealth, is invoked—let it remain with the Wind, and may favor be granted. Again, the wish is repeated: rejoicing in wealth and food, may we not, O Agni, suffer harm in our dwelling. Evening by evening, may Agni, the lord of the house, be with us; morning by morning, may he grant us a good mind. O giver of wealth, bestow riches upon us; may those who kindle you prosper in body. Morning by morning, may Agni be ours; evening by evening, may he grant us a good mind. O giver of wealth, bestow riches; may we, your kindlers, thrive for a hundred winters. Let me not become one who eats what is burnt behind. Homage is offered to the food-giver, to the lord of food, to Rudra, to Agni. The assembly is invoked for protection, and its members are asked to safeguard the gathering. Indra, much-invoked, pervades all life; day by day, bearing the measured portion, Agni stands like a horse with fodder, ever ready. From the world of Yama, Sleep arises, delighting and uniting mortals. Alone, Sleep journeys with her chariot, measuring out rest in the womb of the mighty one. In the beginning, the binding one saw Sleep before night, at the birth of the day; then, in the midst of sleep, she arose, hiding her form from the healers. The great cow turned from the mighty ones to the gods, desiring greatness. To that sleep, the thirty-three gods, lords of heaven, assigned lordship. Neither the ancestors nor the gods know this mystery, where the mutterer moves between. Men and Ādityas, instructed by Varuṇa, placed sleep in Trita for attainment. He whose cruel portion the wicked divided, the good, with sleeplessness, obtained blessed life. Sleep is the delight in the highest bond, born from the mind of the one who suffers. All generations of Sleep are known; Sleep is the lord here. A plea is made: O glorious one, protect us for fame, and drive far away those who hate. As a part is joined, as a hoof is joined, as a debt is joined, so are all evil dreams joined together, O unlovely one. Kings, debtors, lepers, and parts have joined; whatever evil dream is among us, let it be driven out, O sinless one. O embryo of the wives of the gods, O hand of Yama, O auspicious dream, may all that is evil and mine be driven away; let me not encounter the owl or the black bird. The dream is recognized; it is like a dream-horse, like a body-horse, and is driven away. Cast away from us, from our cattle, and from our house, whatever evil dream, whatever belongs to the gods, whatever is dear to the spirits. Let that which belongs to the gods and is dear to the spirits be released from us like a necklace. Remove from us all evil dreams, all impurity, as nine gems are removed; all evil dreams are driven away to the enemy. The offering of ghee, united with the gods, is increased for a year by the oblation. May hearing, sight, and breath remain unbroken; may we not be cut off from life or brilliance. Let breath come to us, let breath call upon us. Breath is invoked. Brilliance has taken hold of earth and atmosphere; Soma and Brihaspati bestow brilliance. Heaven and earth have become gatherers of brilliance; having taken brilliance, may we move upon the earth. The cows, seeking fame, approach the lord of cattle; having taken fame, may we move along the earth. Build a cattle-pen, for your leaders are men; sew armor, broad and thick. Build strong iron fortresses ahead; let not your well-formed drinking vessels be broken. With speech as the mouth, hearing as the ears, and mind, the eye and the source of sacrifice are offered. May the gods, well-disposed, come to this sacrifice spread by the All-Creator. Those who are priests of the gods, those fit for sacrifice, to whom the offering and share are given—may all those gods, together with their wives, come to this sacrifice and rejoice in strength. Agni is the guardian of vows among gods and mortals, worthy of praise in sacrifices. If vows have been transgressed, knowingly or unknowingly, may Agni, who knows all, restore us, and Soma, who has entered Brahman, make us whole. The path of the gods is followed; whatever can be done, is striven for. Agni, the knower, is the sacrificer, the kindler, the priest; he arranges the seasons for ritual. Let speech be in the mouth, breath in the nostrils, sight in the eyes, hearing in the ears. Let hair remain ungreyed, teeth unbroken, and strength be great in the arms. Let vigor be in the thighs, swiftness in the shanks, and firmness in the feet. May all limbs be unharmed and whole. May body be united with body; may full length of life be obtained. Sit happily, O purifier, and fill abundantly in the heavenly world. Make me dear among the gods, dear among kings, dear to all who see, both Shudra and Arya. Arise, O Brahmanaspati; awaken the gods with sacrifice. Increase life, breath, offspring, cattle, fame, and the worshiper. Agni is kindled for the great Jatavedas. May Jatavedas grant faith and intelligence. With kindling and fuel, Jatavedas is increased, and so may he increase us with offspring and wealth. Whatever kinds of wood are placed upon Agni, may all be auspicious; may he accept them, O youngest one. The offerings are for Agni; kindled, he becomes kindling. Grant long life and immortality to the teacher. The tawny, splendid one ascended the sky with his flame. Those who strike at him as he soars to heaven are cast down by his might, O Jātavedas. The fierce one, blazing, ascended the sky—O Sun. Those demons, cunning magicians, who move about marked with iron snares—Jātavedas, with your force, bind them. O thousand-rayed, O Vajra, destroy the rivals and protect us. Thus, through the cycles of Time, the order of sacrifice, the guardianship of Agni, the mystery of Sleep, the banishing of evil dreams, the invocation of breath and brilliance, the building of strength and protection, and the ascent of the radiant ones, the prayers and rituals uphold the worlds and grant prosperity, fame, and safety to those who worship reverently.