In the beginning, before all creation, Brahman alone was born—the first, radiant one. From his brilliance, Vena spread forth, and the deep, unfathomable foundations of existence became his models. Out of both the existent and the non-existent, Brahman brought forth all offspring, setting the pattern for all that would be. There were those among the ancient ones who were once unattainable, who performed the very first deeds at the dawn of things. May these mighty forerunners not bring harm to our heroes now, for this was established in the earliest times. In the heavens, a thousand streams resounded together, their voices like honeyed tongues echoing through the sky. Their watchers—spies who never sleep—remain ever vigilant, observing every step, and binding the path with their constant gaze. Let us move in circles, driving forward to gain strength, breaking through all obstacles. You, O thirteenth month, house of Indra, bearer of victory’s name—press onward for our triumph. With this power, may we drive away our hostile ones—svāhā! O Soma and Rudras, you who wield sharp weapons and pointed spears, yet are gracious—come here, and grant us happiness. Again and again, with this invocation, may you remove the hostile ones—svāhā! O Soma and Rudras, sharp-weaponed, sharp-pointed, gracious—come and grant us happiness. Release us from evil and blame; accept our sacrifice, and place immortality among us. May all the missiles that come by eye, by mind, by speech, or by austerity—may all the intentions and thoughts of those who wish us harm—be turned back. Whoever, with eye, mind, thought, or intent, seeks to harm us—O Agni, turn back their intentions and thoughts—svāhā! You are the house of Indra; to you I surrender, to you I enter. You are all-encompassing, the all-man, all-soul, all-bodied—together with all that is mine, I join with you. You are Indra’s protection, his armor. To you I dedicate myself, to you I enter in, with all that is mine. Bring us forward, O powers, do not leave us behind in hostility. Do not let the right path be led away from us. Homage to the one who brings prosperity, to non-failure, and to the absence of enmity. To enmity itself, to the sacrificer, to the one who binds, I offer reverence and bow, praying that you do not cause my destruction or distress. May the destruction wrought by the gods, by day and by night, be averted from us. May we pass beyond enmity—homage to the absence of enmity. We seek Sarasvatī, Anumati, and Bhaga, calling upon them that we may speak words that are favored, sweet, and pleasing among the invocations to the gods. Whomever I seek today, with speech and mind yoked to Sarasvatī, may faith find him today—granted by tawny Soma. May neither destruction nor speech be taken from us. O Indra and Agni, bring us wealth. May all who wish to give today turn away enmity from us. Go far away, O unsuccessful one; we lead your weapon away from you. I know you—blinking, striking, O enmity. Even naked, you join with people in dreams; the mind of enmity, the intention of failure, and that of a man. To her who is great, of great pride, who shatters all hopes—to golden-haired Nirṛti, I offer homage. To the golden-hued, fortunate one, with golden palace and golden robe, vast and hostile, I offer homage. With fuel from Vaikaṅkata, let the offering be carried to the gods. O Agni, delight in it here; may all come to my invocation. O Indra, come to my call; hear my offering. Let these Indra-like helpers bow down my intention. With them, O Jātavedas, may we achieve strength and preserve our bodies. If any godless one, here or there, wishes to join the gods, may Agni not carry his offering, may the gods not accept his invocation—let this offering be mine alone. Let the Indra-like helpers run ahead, striking with Indra’s command. Break the ram as a wolf does, yet let him live—do not let his life slip away, even if he is bound. Whomever has been set up as priest for the removal of evil, O Indra, may that one be placed beneath you; I cast him down to death. If, in ancient times, the gods made prayers and armor for themselves, crafting protection for body and life, whatever they used—make all that flavorless for him. O Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, those whom he has driven away and those whom he will drive away—bring them back, just as you restore those people who have been scattered. Just as, Indra, having obtained the utterance, you made the lower place, so I make these people subordinate to the ever-abiding ones. Here, Indra, Vṛtra-slayer, strike them fiercely at the vital spot; here stand over them, for I am your devotee. We take hold of you, Indra; may we be in your good favor. Oblation to the sky. Oblation to the earth. Oblation to the atmosphere—twice. Oblation to the sky again. Oblation to the earth. The sun is my sight, the wind my breath, the atmosphere my self, and the earth my body. I am called Astṛta; this is who I am. I have established myself for the protection of heaven and earth.