The wise know that for each deity, there are sacred mantras to be remembered and recited. For Vināyaka, the mantra “ānūnam” is cherished; for Durgā, it is “jātavedase sunavāma.” When worshipping Āditya, the prescribed mantra is “pratnasya retasa,” and this is also offered for Ākāśa. To honor Vāyu, one should use the mantra “krāṇā śiśurmahīnāṃ.” For the twin Aśvins, the mantra “eṣo uṣā apūrvyā” is recited, and when offering the full oblation to the head, one chants “diva.” After these offerings, the consecration is performed: the sacrificer, facing east or north, is blessed with the consecration mantra, accompanied by the sounds of musical instruments and auspicious songs, and a full pot is used at the ritual’s close. The sacrificer, with flawless limbs and adorned in golden garlands and ornaments, is then ritually bathed by four Brahmins, as is proper, O Brahman. During this sacred bathing, prayers are offered: “May Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśvara, Vāsudeva, Lord of the Universe, together with Saṃkarṣaṇa, the mighty Pradyumna, and Aniruddha, grant you victory and consecrate you.” The guardians of the directions—Ākhaṇḍala, Agni, Bhagavān, Yama, Nirṛti, Varuṇa, Pavana, Kubera—along with Śiva, Brahmā, Śeṣa, and all the lokapālas, are invoked for protection. It is also prayed that fame, fortune, fortitude, intelligence, nourishment, faith, action, thought, wisdom, modesty, beauty, peace, satisfaction, and progress—the mothers, the very wives of Dharma—assemble and consecrate the sacrificer. The planets—Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu—are invoked to anoint him, having been properly propitiated. The blessings are sought not only from gods, but from all beings: gods, demons, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, serpents, sages, ascetics, cows, and divine mothers are all called to anoint the sacrificer. The wives of gods, trees, elephants, demons, hosts of apsaras, all weapons and arms, kings, and vehicles are also invoked to bless and anoint him. Even the medicinal herbs, jewels, divisions of time, rivers, seas, mountains, sacred places, clouds, and streams are called upon to anoint the sacrificer for the fulfillment of every desire and purpose. Clad in white garments and anointed with white fragrances, the sacrificer is then bathed by eminent Brahmins with all manner of herbs and scents. Together with his wife and attentive priests, he worships with gifts and devotion, free from distraction. He makes specific offerings to the planets: a tawny cow and a conch to the Sun; a red draught animal to the Moon; a humped bull to Mars; gold to Mercury; yellow garments to Jupiter; a white horse to the demon-guru; and a black cow to Saturn, the son of the Sun. To Rahu, he gives iron; to Ketu, an excellent goat. All these gifts should be equal in value and made in gold. Alternatively, he may give cows adorned with gold to all, or simply gold, or whatever pleases the guru, ensuring that every gift is offered with the proper mantra. Each gift is honored with reverent words: “O tawny cow, worshipped by all the gods, you are Rohini, divine and sacred; grant me peace. O conch, most auspicious among the auspicious, bringer of good fortune, held by Viṣṇu, grant me peace. O Dharma, in the form of a bull, bringer of joy and abode of the eight forms, grant me peace. You, the embryo of Hiranyagarbha, the golden seed of fire, giver of endless virtuous fruits—grant me peace. Because the pair of yellow garments is dear to Vāsudeva and I have given them, O Viṣṇu, grant me peace. O Viṣṇu, in the form of a horse, born of nectar, always bearing the Moon and Sun, grant me peace. O cow resembling Keśava, you are the earth itself, always removing all sins; grant me peace. All labors and implements belong to you; grant me peace. You are established in every sacrifice and are always the vehicle of Agni; grant me peace. The fourteen worlds reside in the limbs of cows—may prosperity be mine in this world and the next. Just as the bed of Keśava is never empty, may my own bed never be empty, in every birth. As all the gods are established in all jewels, may I gain jewels by the giving of gems. No other gift equals even a sixteenth part of the gift of land—may peace arise from this giving.” Thus, the sacrificer is urged to worship with devotion, avoiding miserliness, offering streams of jewels, gold, garments, incense, garlands, and ointments. Whoever worships the planets in this manner attains all desires and, after death, is honored in heaven. If any planet causes suffering or if the worshipper has little wealth, special effort should be made to honor that planet, though the others should also be respected. It is taught that planets, cows, kings, and especially Brahmins, when worshipped, return that worship; when disrespected, they bring harm. Just as armor protects against arrows, so does peace shield against divine afflictions. Therefore, anyone seeking prosperity should never perform rites without proper gifts; a complete offering satisfies even one recipient. This perpetual offering of ten thousand oblations is established in the nine-planet sacrifice, as well as in marriage, festivals, and installation rituals. For unobstructed results and to avert distress in wondrous matters, this ten-thousand oblation is prescribed. The wise also know of the hundred-thousand oblation, which grants all desires, is dear to the ancestors, and bestows directly the fruits of both enjoyment and liberation.