In ancient times, a seeker approached the sacred plant, recognizing her as the very pupil of the divine bird—she who, weary like a bride carried home, had mounted the wide earth. The thousand-eyed god, ever watchful, entrusted this plant into the seeker’s right hand, granting the vision to perceive all: both the humble servant and the noble lord. The seeker called upon the plant, “Reveal your true forms! Do not hide yourself. And you, O thousand-eyed one, gaze upon all that is here.” With this sacred power, the seeker implored, “Show me the sorceresses, show me the sorcerers, reveal all the demons—for this purpose I take you, O plant.” The plant was the eye of Kaśyapa and the four-eyed Śunī, and the seeker prayed, “Let not the demon hide, as the sun moves openly in the sky.” “Guard me,” the seeker continued, “from those who seize from above and the sorcerers who encircle. With this vision, let me see all—servant and noble alike. Whoever flies through the midspace, whoever glides beyond the sky, whoever claims mastery over the earth—reveal those demons to us.” As dawn broke, the cows arrived, bringing good fortune. They entered the enclosure and bellowed, promising prosperity. “May these cows be prolific, of many forms, and yield abundant milk for Indra, as did the ancient dawns,” the people prayed. Indra, the generous, favored the sacrificer and the one who praised him, ever increasing their wealth and filling their storehouses with undivided, divine riches. These cows, protected by the gods, were neither lost nor harmed by thief or enemy. With them, the worshipper honored the deities and prospered as lord of cattle. No worm or insect reached them, nor did poison approach; they roamed widely and fearlessly for the mortal sacrificer. “Cows are fortune, cows are Indra,” they proclaimed. “May I desire cows, the first portion of Soma. These cows, O people, are Indra’s; with heart and mind, I long for Indra.” The cows made even the lean thrive and the unlovely beautiful. They brought auspiciousness to the home, spoke words of blessing, and their fame shone in assemblies. Prolific, shining, pure, they drank clear waters and wandered without fear; may neither thief nor slanderer rule over them, and may Rudra’s missile turn away. The people then prayed to Indra, “Increase this kshatriya for us; make him the sole bull among the people. Drive away his enemies, let him win every contest.” Indra was asked to grant him a share in the village, among horses and cows, a settled portion denied to his adversaries. “Let him stand highest among rulers; crush all his foes, O Indra.” “Let him be lord among the wealthy, chief of the people, their king. Place great splendors in him, and deprive his enemy of glory. Heaven and Earth, yield abundant riches to him as milch-cows yield warm milk. May this king be dear to Indra, to cows, to plants, and to all cattle.” The priests yoked the victorious Indra in the north, by whom men win and are not defeated. “Make him the sole bull among men, foremost among kings,” they chanted. “You are higher, O king; your rivals are below. As Indra’s friend, live long; subdue your enemies, bring in the offerings.” With the lion’s form, consume all threats; with the tiger’s form, drive away your foes. As the sole bull, Indra’s friend, may you live long and bring in the food. Turning their hearts to Agni, the first and wise, the Pāñcajanya, whom all kindle in their homes, the people sought his favor. “May Agni, entering every household, release us from sin.” As Jātavedas, who carries the offering and arranges the sacrifice with understanding, may he bring the gods’ favor and free us from wrongdoing. They called upon Agni, the destroyer of demons, the increaser of sacrifice, the one offered with ghee. “Release us from sin,” they prayed. To Agni, Jātavedas, well-born and all-pervading Vaiśvānara, carrier of offerings, they called. By Agni’s power, the seers kindled their strength, the mighty subdued demons, and Indra conquered the Paṇis with fire. By Agni, the gods found immortality, made the sweet plants, and attained the sun. In his domain shines all that is born and yet to be born. To that Agni, praised and sought for help, they called, “Release us from sin.” Then, with reverence, they honored Indra, ever victorious, the slayer of Vṛtra. Their hymns reached him who comes to the call of the worshipper and does good. “May he release us from sin.” Indra, mighty among the mighty, strong-armed, who shattered the Dānavas, conquered the rivers, and freed the cows, was invoked to release them from sin. Indra, the bull among men, knower of light, to whom the stones proclaim manliness and whose sacrifice delights the seven priests, was praised. To him belonged the strong, the bulls, the sprinklers; to him the singers of light devoted themselves, and for him pure Soma was pressed. His favor was sought by the Soma-offerers, invoked as the archer in battle, in whom the hymn found rest and strength. Indra, first born for mighty deeds, whose power was recognized from the beginning, by whom the thunderbolt struck down the serpent, led armies in battle, united the strong and the weak. “Indra, whom I praise and call, release us from sin.” The people then honored the deeds of Vāyu and Savitṛ, guardians of all paths and protectors of the worlds. “May you both release us from sin.” Their measured distances set the boundaries of the worlds, and the space between earth and sky was filled by them; none could surpass their approach. At the command of the radiant Savitṛ, people settled; when he rose and set, all moved according to his will. Vāyu and Savitṛ protected the worlds. “Drive away all evil and demons, destroy the sorcerers, bestow strength and vigor—release us from sin.” “May Savitṛ and Vāyu grant us wealth and abundance, skill and good fortune for our bodies; remove all misfortune from here—release us from sin.” Thus, the seekers and worshippers, with reverent hearts, invoked the gods, honored the sacred cows, and sought the protection and blessings of the divine, that they might live in prosperity, free from sin, and in harmony with the world and its hidden powers.