In the quiet of contemplation, a seeker gazes upward, pondering the gods who dwell in the three luminous realms of heaven. “When is the right, and when the wrong?” he asks. “Where is the ancient offering made?” He reflects on the two worlds he knows—the realms of the seen and the unseen, the mortal and the divine. Longing fills his heart: “When shall we hold firm to the support of truth? When will Varuṇa grant us his vision? When shall we cross the splendid path of Aryaman, O Dūḍhya?” Again, the knowledge of these two worlds echoes within him. He remembers his past: “I am the one who, in former times, spoke at the ritual, recounting all that was. The wealthy do not hinder me, no more than a wolf thirsts for a deer. These two worlds are my inheritance.” Yet, he feels beset on all sides, as if rival wives press against him, burning with jealousy. Like a mouse gnawing at a tender root, so do his adversaries bite at him, and still, he claims: “These two worlds are mine.” He perceives seven radiant rays before him, and senses his navel, the center of being, stretched between here and there. Trita, the ancient one, knows this attainment and cries out for kinship. The possession of these two worlds is reaffirmed. He sees five mighty oxen standing in the midst of the great heaven—a sign of what must be spoken among the gods, who have gathered together. Again, he claims these two worlds as his own. He beholds beings with beautiful wings seated in the middle enclosure of heaven, blocking the paths as a wolf might cross over mighty waters. Yet, the two worlds remain his. A new, beneficial hymn is uttered by the gods, well-spoken and true. The rivers bear this truth forward, and the sun stretches out the real for all to see. The two worlds are his possession. He turns to Agni: “O Agni, your hymn among the gods is to be accepted. Lead us as a wise man leads his people. Guide us, for you know the gods best. These two worlds are mine.” Agni is established as the priest, leading as a man, wise among the gods, gladly receiving the offerings. The two worlds are his. The priest acts, and Varuṇa, knower of the path, is sought. With his heart, Varuṇa unfolds thought, and the new truth is born. The two worlds belong to the seeker. He speaks of the path the sun made in heaven—a path spoken of, never transgressed by the gods, unseen by mortals. These two worlds are his. He recalls Trita, placed in the well, calling for the gods’ help. Brihaspati heard and made the difficult path easy and wide. The two worlds are his. He remembers the reddish wolf who once saw him traveling the path, rising from a low place as a craftsman climbs from the back of a chariot. The two worlds are his. With the goad of resolve, he and his companions, empowered by Indra, advance in the assembly, all heroic. They pray: “May Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, Sindhu, Earth, and Heaven not harm us.” Now, with devotion, the seeker invokes Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni, the Maruts, Aditi, the Vasus, and all the generous ones. “Like a chariot freed from difficulty, O Vasus, deliver us from every distress.” He calls for the Adityas to bring universal protection, for the gods’ favor in overcoming foes. Again, he pleads: “Like a chariot freed from difficulty, O Vasus, deliver us from every distress.” He asks for the protection of the well-spoken fathers and the divine daughters, children of gods, grown in truth. “Like a chariot freed from difficulty, O Vasus, deliver us from every distress.” He seeks Narashansa, the giver of prizes, the provider of strength, the protector of heroes, and Pushan with blessings. “Like a chariot freed from difficulty, O Vasus, deliver us from every distress.” He turns to Brihaspati: “Always make our path easy; grant us happiness. What Manu desired, we seek. Like a chariot freed from difficulty, O Vasus, deliver us from every distress.” He remembers how the sage Kutsa called upon Indra, slayer of Vritra and lord of power, for help at Kāṭa. “O generous Vasus, deliver us from every distress as a chariot is freed from difficulty.” He prays that goddess Aditi, with the gods, protect them, and that the divine guardian shield them without delay. “Let Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, the river, the earth, and the sky not harm us.” The sacrifice approaches the favor of the gods. “O Adityas, be merciful. May your graciousness come near us and grant us the path to overcome hardship.” He prays the gods come with their aid, praised by the songs of the Angirasas. “Indra with his powers, the Maruts with their company, and Aditi with the Adityas, grant us protection.” He asks that Indra, Varuṇa, Agni, Aryaman, and Savitar grant their blessings, and that Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, the river, the earth, and the sky not harm them. He turns to Indra and Agni: “Your splendid chariot surveys all the worlds. Come together, stand firm, and drink the pressed Soma.” “As vast and deep as this entire world is, so is this Soma prepared for your delight, O Indra and Agni.” “You have made your names together auspicious, and together you are slayers of Vritra. Sit together and drink the strong Soma, you mighty ones.” “When the fires are kindled, the ladle ready, and the sacred grass spread, come, O Indra and Agni, for joy, surrounded by strong Soma.” “Whatever heroic deeds, forms, and mighty acts you have performed, and whatever ancient, auspicious friendships you hold—drink the pressed Soma with them.” “When I first chose you, I said: ‘This Soma is to be invoked by us with the lords.’ Come, trusting in that truth, and drink the pressed Soma.” “Whatever joy you have found in your home or in the king’s rite, come, you mighty ones, and drink the pressed Soma.” “Wherever you are—among the Yadus, Turvashas, Druhyus, Anus, or Purus—come, you mighty ones, and drink the pressed Soma.” “Wherever you are—on the lowest, middle, or highest earth—come and drink the pressed Soma.” “Wherever you are in the sky, on earth, among mountains, plants, or waters, come and drink the pressed Soma.” “Wherever you rejoice in the rising sun, in the midst of heaven, by your power, come and drink the pressed Soma.” “Thus, Indra and Agni, having drunk the pressed Soma, may you win all treasures for us. Let Mitra, Varuṇa, Aditi, the river, the earth, and the sky not harm us.” The seeker confides, “I seek to know, with my mind desiring wealth, O Indra and Agni, both what is manifest and what is hidden. There is no other delight for me as dear as you. For you, I have shaped a thought that brings strength.” He recalls their abundant giving, as heard from the wise and others. Therefore, with Soma pressed, he generates a new hymn of praise for Indra and Agni, his heart filled with devotion and hope.