In the vast expanse of the cosmos, the guardians and lords of every direction were revered with deep homage. To the east, Agni presided as lord, with Asita as the vigilant guardian and the Ādityas as swift arrows. All honor was offered to them, to their station, and to their weapons, with a solemn plea: that those who bear us hatred, and those whom we ourselves might hate, be cast into their consuming jaws. Turning to the south, Indra stood as lord, Tiraścīrājī as the steadfast guardian, and the noble Fathers as the arrows. They too received homage, and the same invocation was uttered, consigning all enmity into their keeping. In the west, Varuṇa ruled, with Pṛdāku as guardian and the Waters as the arrows, to whom reverence was paid. Again, those bound by hatred were offered into their jaws. To the north, Soma was lord, Svaja the guardian, and Lightning the arrow, each receiving honor and the charge to devour all that was hostile to us. At the fixed, central point, Viṣṇu presided, with Kalmāṣagrīva as guardian and the Herbs as arrows. The same homage and invocation were spoken, entrusting all enmity to their power. Above, in the upward direction, Bṛhaspati was lord, Śvitra the guardian, and Rain the arrow. To them, too, homage was given, and all who opposed us were cast into their jaws. Amidst these cosmic guardians, the tale of creation unfolded. From a single act of creation, she—the primal energy—came into being, in the place where cows, the sustainers of life, were first produced. There, the makers of all forms began their work. She was born where the yoke is restrained, and in her rage and brilliance, she could destroy cattle. When she turned fierce, devouring flesh and threatening the herds, it was said: let her be offered to the Brahman, so that she may become gentle and auspicious. Prayers arose for her to bring blessing to all: to men, to cattle, to horses, to the fields—may she grant prosperity, and may she not come with harm. There was a wish that nourishment and sap would dwell here, that wealth would increase a hundredfold, and that Night herself would nurture the cattle. Where friends of good heart and good deeds rejoice, free from disease, may Night journey to that world, bringing no harm to people or herds. Where good hearts and good deeds abound, where offerings are made to the sacred fire, may Night reach that place, leaving all unharmed. In the realm of kings and their assemblies, when the offerings and gifts were divided, the judges of Yama’s assembly presided. There, the white-footed one—given as a gift—was called upon to release the giver from the bonds of obligation. He who gave the white-footed one openly and with intention would find his desires fulfilled, his prosperity assured, and he would not fail, just as the great ocean never fails in water. The one who gave the white-footed one, undivided and measured with the world, would not be forced into a heaven where the weak pay tax to the strong. He who gave five cakes with the white-footed one, measured with the world, would live by giving in the undiminished world of the fathers, and in the undiminished world of the sun and the moon. The white-footed one would never fail him, just as two gods seated together are ever steadfast. A question arose: who gave, and to whom was it given? Desire gave for desire—desire is both giver and receiver, flowing into the ocean of longing. With desire, the gift was accepted, and the earth and the great atmosphere were invoked to accept it as well, with a prayer that the giver not be deprived by this act. In the world of people, the wish for unity and harmony was strong. A blessing was spoken: may you all be of one heart and one mind, free from enmity, loving one another as a cow loves her newborn calf. Let the son be devoted to the father, united in mind with the mother; let the wife speak gentle, peace-bringing words to her husband. Let brothers and sisters not hate one another, but be united in purpose and vow, speaking kindly always. May the sacred power by which the gods themselves are not divided, nor hate one another, be established in every home, bringing understanding among people. Let the wise elders remain united, striving together with one aim, each speaking kindly to the other. Let all share the same food and drink, yoked together as one. Let all worship Agni with united minds, like the spokes of a wheel around the hub. Thus, all are united in harmony, like the gods guarding the immortal, wishing for good minds in the evening and morning alike. A fervent prayer was raised to the gods: drive away old age, O Agni, drive away hostility, all sin, wasting disease, and shortened life. The purifying, mighty one was invoked to banish all harm. Let domestic animals be separated from the wild, and let thirst be far from us. May heaven and earth be apart from us, and the paths go in every direction, all harm driven away. Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine craftsman, joins the daughter to the husband, and thus the world is set forth. Agni holds together the breaths, the moon is joined with breath, and with breath, the gods set the sun in motion. Among all who live and give life, may breath sustain us; may we live and not die. With the sap of plants, with long and full lives, may we be preserved. May we stand under the nourishing rain of Parjanya, immortal, all sin and disease driven far away. At the dawn of all, Brahman was born first, before all things. From him, the shining one, the radiant hymn spread forth, and his deep foundations became the models of this world, the very womb of being and non-being. This ancestral domain was established for the first-born in all worlds, and so, for the first to bear, let this shining, inviting, and glorious heat be spread, as the foundation of all that is.