From the heights of heaven and the depths of the ocean, a wondrous conch was born—a golden treasure, carried by the river’s flow, radiant and precious. This conch, jewel of the waters, is said to guide and protect, helping beings cross the uncertain currents of life. Again, from the ocean’s womb emerged the shining jewel, and from the slayer of Vritra—the dazzling sun—another birth took place. These luminous ones, born of water and fire, shield all beings from the weapons of gods and demons, guarding every direction. Among the golden-born, one stands unique, sprung from Soma, the nectar of immortality. This one is seen upon the chariot, glowing in the quiver, ever-bright; it carries souls across the river of life, granting longevity. The slender, divine bone—crafted by the gods—moves naturally in the waters, and it is bound for life, brilliance, strength, and a hundred autumns. May this slender one always protect. In the beginning, the mighty Bull upheld the earth and sky, supporting the broad expanse of the atmosphere and the six directions. He entered all the worlds, sustaining them. Indra is this Bull, guardian of cattle, who measures the paths with his triple wheel and, through his vows, milks the past, the future, and all the worlds. Born among men, Indra moves within as the heated Gharma, glowing and burning. Let him remain in noble homes, where good offspring dwell, refraining from what is not his to consume or to milk, in wisdom. The Anaḍuha, the cow not to be milked, yields the world of good deeds. The purifying one fills him from the front; rain is his stream, the Maruts his udder, sacrifice his milk, and the fee his milking. If one’s lord is not the master of sacrifice, if the sacrifice is not his own, if there is neither giver nor receiver, yet he conquers, supports, and does all—tell us of that Gharma, striving whether four-footed or not. It was by this that the gods ascended to heaven, leaving their bodies behind and reaching the navel of immortality. By the vow and austerity of Gharma, may we too reach the world of good deeds. Indra in form, Agni as carrier, Prajapati supreme, and Virāj—all entered the universal fire, the Vaiśvānara, and the Anaḍuha; thus, all was made firm and upheld. In the center of the Anaḍuha is placed the carrier, stretching from east to west. He who knows the seven milking places of the Anaḍuha, in their proper order, gains progeny and the world, as the seven seers once knew. With their feet they pressed, with their shanks they dug out food; through toil, both Anaḍuha and ploughman approach the sap. Twelve nights are called the vow of Prajapati; whoever knows that Brahman, knows the vow of the Anaḍuha. It is milked in the evening, morning, and midday, all around. Whoever knows the proper times, knows them well. You are the healer: of the broken, the cut, the injured. Let the undeceiving one bring true healing. Whatever is hurt, shattered, or crushed in your body, may the Creator, with good fortune, unite and bind together once more, part by part. Let marrow join with marrow, joint with joint, flesh and bone regrow and knit together. Even hair and skin, let them be restored, and O healing herb, unite that which is cut. Rise up—step forth, run ahead! The chariot is well-wheeled, well-yoked, and steady. Stand upright and strong. If, having fallen from the axle, it was broken, or if a stone struck and smashed it, let the Ribhus, master artisans, unite joint with joint as they do with the chariot. The gods themselves have set down and raised up again; they have made whole and revived. Two winds, O Wind, come from the distant shore of the river: let one bring skill, the other drive away harm. O Wind, bring healing and sweep away all that is harmful, for you are the universal healer, messenger of the gods. May the gods, the hosts of the Maruts, and all beings protect this man, keeping him free from harm. I come to you with blessings and means of safety, bringing strength, fierce and powerful, driving away disease. This hand is blessed, a universal healer and auspicious touch. With both hands, ten-fingered, and with the tongue that leads speech, we touch you, bringing health. From the heat of Agni, the unborn one was born, seeing his begetter at the beginning. With him, the gods first attained divinity and the pure ones grew strong. Advance with Agni to the highest heaven, bearing the leaders in your hands; touch the summit of heaven and go together with the gods. From the earth’s surface, one ascends to the midspace, then to heaven, and from the summit of heaven to the radiant world. Those who seek heaven do not look back; they ascend to the two worlds. The wise, who have spread the all-supporting sacrifice, ascend. Agni, go forth, first among gods, the eye of gods and men; let those who worship, united with the Bhrigus, attain heaven and prosper. I have consumed the unborn with milk and ghee, the divine, great-winged, abundant milk; with this, we shall reach the world of the righteous, ascending to the highest heaven. Lift the fivefold rice with the five fingers and the ladle; place the head of the unborn in the east, the right side in the south. Place the ashes in the west, the left side in the north; the back upward, the foundation in its place, and the center in the midspace. Pour the cooked unborn with clarified butter, cover with skin, complete in all limbs and forms; let him rise to the highest heaven, standing in all four directions with his feet. Finally, let the regions of the sky arise, let the cloud-bearing winds go forth, and let the mighty, roaring, cloud-born waters satisfy the earth, renewing all that lives.