Those who seek to harm us by offering to Jātavedas from the heights above, from the uppermost directions, let them be turned away—may Sūrya himself, as the priest, repel them. With a counter-charm, I strike them back. And those who attack from the middle regions, from all sides, offering to Jātavedas, may Brahman as the priest turn them away as well; again, I strike them back with my counter-charm. Now, let us contemplate the one whose mantra is mighty, who arose from the womb—immortal, powerful, ever-growing, of noble birth, unassailable, and radiant. Like Ahi and Trita the supporter, he upholds the three worlds. He it was who first established the cosmic laws, from which many forms are made. The supporter entered the womb first, understanding even the unspoken speech. He shed his form to become fire, flowing like molten gold, with the pure ones following their own nature. Here, the immortal names are established; may the garments of these clans enter us. When these two—being and non-being—advanced and reached the ancient crossing, standing firm, unaging, the poet and the mothers of the dry one, longing for the yoke, may you assign the lord for the offspring. Therefore, to you, great one of vast might, I offer homage. With poetry, I honor you, O poet. When the two come together, earth and sky expand the enclosing space. The poets have fashioned seven boundaries; of these, I call one to come near. The pillar of iron stands in the nest of likeness, amidst the expanse of paths and supports. I move among the immortals and the mighty, performing the vow of the Asura; the Asura spirit dwells in my body, delighting the wise. May Shakra place the treasure, or the giver of offerings attain what is sought through strength. The son invokes his father, the kshatriya, the eldest, seeking well-being and proper conduct. O Varuna, let me see your realms; I fashion forms from your established order. With one half, I fill with nourishment; with the other, you, O immortal one, increase in vigor. We strengthen our mighty friend, Varuna, son of Aditi, the powerful one. The poets have spoken these forms to him, the true-spoken lord of earth and heaven. This one is the eldest in the worlds, from whom the fierce and splendid sacrifice arises. Born suddenly, he drives away enemies; all powers rejoice in him. Growing in might, possessing great strength, he brings fear to the enemy for the servant. He protects and destroys; he is victorious, and all bow to him in the offerings. The wise fill him with abundant wisdom, for these powers arise again and again. Sweetest of the sweet, release delight—bring forth the honey, join it with the honeyed ones. Even if the sages praise you as victorious in wealth and battle, strengthen your firm body, O mighty one; let not the evil-minded or sorrowful harm you. With you, we are confident in battles, seeing many opportunities for victory. I urge your weapons with words and strengthen your powers with prayer. You place your presence in both the lower and higher realms, dwelling in the home; you establish the mother, the moving one, and bring forth many forms. Praise to the one of vast stature, of many paths, strong and the best among the accomplished. He displays his might and great strength, revealing the measure of the earth. These prayers, made in the vast heaven, are for Indra—the foremost, radiant lord of light. He rules the great lineage, the self-ruler; even the swift, all-colored ascetics belong to him. Thus, Atharvan, the great one of the vast heaven, spoke of his own body as Indra. The two sisters, the mothers, urge him on, increasing him with might and strength. May my radiance, O Agni, be present in the summons; may we, kindling you, flourish in body. May the four directions bow to me; with your guidance, may we win the battle. O Agni, drive away the anger of others; you are our protector, guard us on all sides. Let the hostile depart, let the evil-minded be subdued, their awakened thoughts scattered. May all the gods be present at my summons—Indra, the Maruts, Vishnu, Agni. May the wide atmosphere and broad world be mine; may the wind blow for my desire. May they sacrifice for me; may my wish be fulfilled, my mind be true. Let no sin come upon me; may all the gods protect me here. May the gods offer wealth to me; may blessings and divine invocation be mine. May the divine priests sit for me; may we be unharmed and strong in body. May the six divine guardians make us heroic; all the gods, rejoice here. Let not oppression or evil befall us; let not hateful wrongdoing come upon us. Three goddesses, grant us great protection—for our offspring and our bodies, grant abundance. May we not be deprived of children or bodies; Soma, king, may we not fall short before the hostile. Let the mighty one, invoked by many, grant wide-reaching protection in this offering. O Indra, delighting in horses, be gracious to our offspring; do not harm us, do not take us away. The establisher, ordainer, lord of beings—god Savitar, conqueror of hostility—may the Ādityas, Rudras, and the two Aśvins protect the sacrificer from misfortune. Let our rivals be turned away; with Indra and Agni, let us drive them off. The Ādityas, Rudras, and those who touch above have made the fierce, discerning king for us. We call upon Indra, victorious in cows, wealth, and horses. May he hear our sacrifice; may you, lover of horses, be our leader. Now, let us honor Kuṣṭha, destroyer of fever, born on the mountain, strongest among plants. Drive away the fever from here, O Kuṣṭha. Born on the mountain, offspring of the eagle, beyond the Himalaya, they come, knowing the destruction of fever and bringing wealth. The aśvattha tree, the divine abode, stands in the third heaven; there the gods found the essence of immortality—the Kuṣṭha plant. A golden ship, with golden bindings, moved in the sky; there the gods found the flower of immortality, the Kuṣṭha plant. Golden were the paths, golden the oars, golden the ships by which they brought forth the Kuṣṭha plant. Carry away this Kuṣṭha of mine, O plant—take it away, remove it, make it a remedy for me. Born among the gods, friend of Soma, set apart, be gracious to this one—for his breath, his life, his sight. Born in the north of the Himalaya, you are led to the eastern people; there the highest names of Kuṣṭha were distributed. The highest is the name of Kuṣṭha, the highest is the name of your father; destroy all disease and make the fever powerless.