With hearts full of devotion, the seekers gathered, their voices rising in prayer to Agni: “Agni, come to us, speak on our behalf, and look upon us with kindness. Bestow your favor, O lord of the people, for you are the giver of wealth.” Their supplications did not end there; they called upon the other deities as well: “Let Aryaman grant us favor, let Bhaga, and let Bṛhaspati be gracious. May the goddesses, gentle and benevolent, shower us with wealth.” Their hymns reached out to the heavens: “We seek the help of King Soma, and we sing to Agni, Āditya, Viṣṇu, Sūrya, and Bṛhaspati, the priest.” The prayers continued, “Agni, together with the other sacred fires, increase the strength of our prayers and sacrifices. Urge wealth to come to us, so that we may give and receive generously.” They invoked Indra and Vāyu, who respond swiftly to the call: “May all people regard us with goodwill in the assembly. Let the giver and the seeker of gifts both be favorable to us.” They urged Aryaman, Bṛhaspati, Indra, Vāta, Viṣṇu, Sarasvatī, and Savitṛ, the bestower of strength, to grant their blessings. “At the outpouring of strength, let us be united, and may all the worlds dwell within us. May the wise inspire the generous to give, and grant us wealth rich in heroes.” Their desires encompassed the whole earth: “May the five regions yield their bounty for us, and the broad earth give according to her strength. May our minds and hearts attain all that we wish for.” They prayed for eloquence and brilliance: “May my speech be as abundant as a herd of cows, and may you grant me radiance. Let Vāyu protect us on all sides, and Tvaṣṭṛ bestow prosperity.” The worshippers offered to every form of fire: “To those fires in the waters, in obstacles, in people, in stones, and in plants and trees—we make this offering.” They honored the fire present in Soma, in cows, in birds, in wild animals, in every biped and quadruped. “To all those fires, this offering is made.” They remembered the fire that rides with Indra on his chariot, the god Vaiśvānara, the all-conquering one, invoked in battles. “To that victorious fire, this offering is made.” They honored the god who fulfills all desires, who gives and receives, wise, mighty, and unconquered. The Hotar, recognized by the thirteen worlds and the five races of men for brilliance, fame, and eloquence, was invoked. “To all those fires, this offering is made—whether for cooked food, clarified butter, the one who shares Soma, the wise, the eldest Vaiśvānara.” They addressed the fires that move through heaven, earth, and the atmosphere, that follow the lightning, that dwell in the directions and in the wind. “To all those fires, this offering is made.” With reverence, they invoked Savitṛ with golden hands, Indra, Bṛhaspati, Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni, all the gods, and the Aṅgirasas, asking, “May they pacify this flesh-eating Agni.” Their prayers sought to calm the fierce Agni, the flesh-eater, the seeker of people, the all-conquering one. “May he be appeased.” They found solace in the power of the mountains bearing Soma, the waters, the wide rivers, the wind, Parjanya, and Agni—all of whom have pacified the flesh-eater. Their prayers turned to radiance and fame: “May the elephant-like radiance and great fame that arise from your bodies, O Ādityas, spread forth. May all the gods, united with Aditi, grant this to me.” They called upon Mitra, Varuṇa, Indra, and Rudra, and all the universal givers, to grant them radiance. They remembered the radiance by which the elephant became resplendent, by which the king among men and in the waters shone, and by which the gods first attained their divinity. “By that, O Agni, make me radiant today.” They prayed to Jātavedas: “Whatever radiance grows great for you at the offering, as brilliant as the sun and the mighty elephant, may the Aśvins, adorned with lotus garlands, grant me that same radiance.” They wished for their vigor and strength to extend as far as the four directions, as far as vision reaches, empowered by the radiance of the elephant’s hand. “Among animals, the elephant is the strongest; with a portion of his radiance, I anoint myself.” Seeking protection, they chanted, “By which you became strong, with that power we drive away harm, setting it far away from you.” They prayed for fertility: “May a male embryo enter your womb, like an arrow into a quiver; may a heroic son be born, your ten-month child. Give birth to a son, and may more sons follow. Be the mother of sons, those born and those yet to come.” They invoked the auspicious seeds generated by the bulls, seeking a son and wishing the mother to be fruitful as a cow. “I give you the power to conceive; may an embryo enter your womb. Bear a son who brings you joy, and be a loving mother to him.” They recognized the divine origins of life: “Heaven is the father, earth the mother, and the ocean the root of plants—may the divine herbs grant you the knowledge of a son.” Turning to abundance, they called upon the milky herbs: “May my speech be as nourishing as milk, and among those full of milk, may I bring forth thousands of blessings.” They acknowledged the milky grain, abundant and divine, and invoked its maker, even in the house of those who do not sacrifice. They prayed for the five regions and the five peoples of men, asking that rain, like a river, bring abundance and plenty. “From the unfailing fountain of a hundred and a thousand streams, may our grain be equally plentiful and unfailing.” They gathered with a hundred hands and scattered with a thousand, wishing for abundance in all their deeds. They spoke of the three measures of the Gandharvas and the four of the housewives, choosing the most abundant portion for anointing. They invoked Upoha and Samūha, the gatherers, and Prajāpati, asking them to bring unfailing plenty. Finally, they turned to the mysteries of desire: “Let the goad prod you—do not remain lying on your bed. With the dreadful arrow of desire, I pierce your heart.” They described the arrow: tipped with leaves, barbed with longing, sprouting intention, and aimed with precision. “May desire pierce your heart.” Thus, with prayers, offerings, and invocations, the seekers called upon the gods, the elements, and the powers of nature, seeking favor, wealth, radiance, fertility, abundance, and the fulfillment of heartfelt desires.