In the beginning, before night had descended and as the day was being born, the binding one—Sleep—was first perceived. In the midst of slumber, Sleep arose, veiling her form even from those who heal. The great cow, seeking greatness, turned away from the mighty ones and returned to the gods. To this Sleep, the thirty-three gods, lords of the heavens, assigned dominion. Yet neither ancestors nor gods could fully comprehend this mystery, for Sleep moves among them, hidden, as the mutterer travels in between. Guided by Varuṇa’s wisdom, men and the Ādityas placed Sleep in Trita, so that it might be attained. Those who were wicked divided the cruel portion for themselves, but the good, remaining awake, found blessed life. Sleep, born from the mind of the one who suffers, is the delight in the highest bond. We know all your origins, O Sleep, we know you as the sovereign here. O glorious one, protect us and grant us fame; drive far away those who bear us ill will. As people join together a part, a hoof, or a debt, so we join together all evil dreams, O unlovely one. Kings, debtors, and lepers have all joined; all parts are united. Whatever evil dream is found among us, let it be expelled, O sinless one. O Dream, embryo of the wives of the gods, hand of Yama, auspicious vision—may whatever is mine and evil be driven away; let me not meet the face of the owl or the black bird. We recognize you, O Dream, for what you are; you are like a dream-horse, like a body-horse, and I send you 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 all that is of the gods or dear to the spirits be released from us like a necklace slipping away. Remove from us all evil dreams, all impurity, as one would remove nine gems; all evil dreams we drive away to the enemy. The offering of ghee, united with the gods, is increased over the course of a year by the act of sacrifice. May our hearing, sight, and breath remain whole and unbroken; may our lives and brilliance remain undiminished. Let breath come to us and call upon us; we invoke breath itself. Brilliance fills both earth and atmosphere, bestowed by Soma and Brihaspati. Heaven and earth have become gatherers of brilliance. Having received it, may we walk upon the earth with radiance. The cows, seeking fame, approach the lord of cattle; having taken fame, may we move forward upon the earth. Build a cattle-pen, for your leaders are men; sew armor, broad and strong. Construct sturdy iron fortresses ahead, and let not your well-formed drinking vessels be broken. With speech as the mouth, hearing as the ears, and mind as the offering, I dedicate my eye and the source of sacrifice. May the gods, well-disposed, come to this sacrifice, spread out by the All-Creator. Let all the priests of the gods, those worthy of sacrifice and share, come with their wives to this offering and rejoice in strength. You, Agni, are the guardian of vows among gods and mortals, ever worthy of praise in sacrifice. If we have transgressed your vows, O gods, knowingly or unknowingly, may Agni, who knows all, make us whole again, and Soma, who has entered the Brahman, restore us. We walk the path of the gods, striving to follow as best we can. Agni, the knower, is the sacrificer, the kindler, the priest; he arranges the seasons for the rite. Let speech remain in my mouth, breath in my nostrils, sight in my eyes, hearing in my ears. May my hair stay ungreyed, my teeth unbroken, and great strength fill my arms. Let vigor dwell in my thighs, swiftness in my shanks, and firmness in my feet. May all my limbs be uninjured and whole. May my body remain united and healthy, and may I attain the full span of life. Sit joyfully for me, O purifier, and fill me abundantly in the heavenly world. Make me dear among the gods, dear among kings, and beloved of all who see me, whether Shudra or Arya. Arise, O Brahmanaspati; awaken the gods with sacrifice. Increase our life, breath, offspring, cattle, fame, and devotion. O Agni, I have brought the kindling for the great Jatavedas; may he grant me faith and intelligence. With fuel and wood, O Jatavedas, we nourish you—so may you nourish us, with offspring and wealth. O Agni, whatever wood we offer, may it be auspicious for me; accept it, O youngest one. These offerings are yours; kindled, become kindling. Grant us long life and immortality to the teacher. The tawny, splendid one ascended to the sky with his flame. Those who would strike at you as you soar to heaven, cast them down with your might, O Jātavedas. The fierce one, blazing, ascended the sky, O Sun. Those cunning magicians and demons, who move about marked with iron snares—O Jātavedas, with your force, bind them. O thousand-rayed, O Vajra, destroy our rivals and protect us. May we see a hundred autumns. May we live a hundred autumns. May we awaken for a hundred autumns. May we thrive for a hundred autumns. May we be nourished for a hundred autumns. May we prosper for a hundred autumns. May we flourish for a hundred autumns. May we live even more than a hundred autumns. With the unbound and the bound, I open the way by means of magic; drawing out knowledge from both, we perform the sacred rites. Live, be alive; may I live the full span of my days.