He who offers to Viṣṇu, the ancient yet ever-youthful creator, the one of noble birth, and proclaims the greatness of this mighty one from the very beginning, truly attains lasting fame—fame that is worthy of being harnessed for further deeds. The singers, as in days of old, nurture Viṣṇu as the very embryo of truth through their hymns. Knowing his name, they declare it with reverence, seeking his immense favor. Viṣṇu’s power is shared by the king Varuṇa, the swift Aśvins, and the wise Maruts. As a steadfast friend, Viṣṇu upholds supreme skill and, tireless, fills the sacred enclosure with his presence. More skillful than all, Viṣṇu apportions the divine share to Indra, the doer of great deeds. The creator sets Aryaman in the threefold seat and bestows upon the worshiper a share in the cosmic order. As Agni awakens and the sun rises, the radiant dawns blaze forth. The Aśvins yoke their chariot for the journey, and Savitar, the divine inspirer, sets all beings in their places. When the vigorous Aśvins harness their chariot, they shower their devotees with strength, with ghee and honey as blessings. May our hymn inspire them in battles, so that, favored by these heroes, we may win riches. Let the chariot of the Aśvins, swift and honey-bearing, drawn by powerful steeds, approach, well-praised by us. May the generous one, whose chariot is three-yoked, bring us all prosperity and grant well-being to both bipeds and quadrupeds. With your honeyed whip, O Aśvins, bring us nourishment and sweet food. Guide us safely, remove our misfortunes, drive away hatred, and remain our constant companions. You, mighty Aśvins, have placed the embryo in living beings and are present throughout all the worlds. You have kindled Agni, as well as the plants and trees. You are indeed healers, possessing potent remedies, and skillful charioteers. You establish power for all who worship you with offerings and with mind. O generous Rudras, rich in strength and abundant in wealth, grant us your favor as we invoke you. When Aucathya calls upon you, O wondrous ones, you come swiftly to aid. Who will worship you for this favor, O givers of wealth, when you approach the dwelling of the cow with reverence? Grant us splendid gifts, moving with desire as swiftly as thought. When your chariot is yoked for Tugra’s son, it is set in the midst of the waters. May I find shelter in your protection, like a hero fleeing swiftly from pursuit. Let the praise of Aucathya reach you, O mighty ones. Let not the three-winged bird drain me dry; let not the envious one, eager for ten, harm me, nor the one ensnared consume the earth. Let not the motherly rivers swallow me, nor the Dāsas, if they have bound me tightly. When the head of the Dāsa is struck by Traitana, his own chest and shoulders are broken. Dīrghatamas, son of Mamata, has served through the tenth cycle; as the ascetic of the waters, he becomes the charioteer of the inspired ones. I praise the vast earth and sky, made strong through sacrifice and truth, in the assemblies, with understanding. You, divine sons of gods, together with the gods, have achieved great powers by wisdom. I contemplate the mind of the father, not hostile, and the great self-power of the mother with these invocations. The two, rich in seed, made the earth vast, with immortal paths for their offspring. Those sons, skillful and wise, the two mothers bore for ancient insight; in the law of the standing and the moving, they preserve the true, undivided path of the son. Those magicians, of good understanding, measured out the world, being of one womb, paired and dwelling together. Ever new, the wise ones, with bright insight, weave the thread in heaven within the ocean. That favor of Savitar, most excellent, we desire today in the god’s impulse. For us, O Heaven and Earth, grant wealth with understanding—rich in goods and a hundred herds. For you, Heaven and Earth, beneficent to all, upholders of order and wisdom, bear the expanse. Well-born Dhiṣaṇā, you move between, god and goddess, by law and the pure Sun. Wide in extent, mighty, ever active, father and mother protect the worlds. With firm might, wondrous, the two regions, as a father, established them with forms. That fire, the son of the two parents, the purifier and wise one, purifies the worlds by his power. Both the cow Pṛśni and the bull, rich in seed, always yield his bright milk. He is the least among the gods, among the helpers, who generated the two worlds, beneficent to all. He measured out the regions for wise action, upholding the hymn with ancient supports. You, Heaven and Earth, mighty ones, grant us great glory and power, by which you ever spread out the peoples. May you bestow strength and vigor upon us. Who is the best, who is the youngest, who has not come? Who is sent as messenger, what shall we say? We do not blame the vessel, of great lineage; O Agni, brother, let us praise the prosperity of the wood. The gods said, “Make one vessel into four,” and so you came. If you, Saudhanvanas, do this, together with the gods you shall become worthy of sacrifice. When you spoke to Agni, the messenger, saying, “Let us make a horse, a chariot, a cow, a youth,” these deeds, brothers, we have performed for you. Having done so, the Ṛbhus asked, “Where is the messenger today, who has not come?” When he declared the vessels made four, Tvaṣṭṛ entered among the goddesses. “Let us slay them,” Tvaṣṭṛ said, when those who drink for the gods did not honor the vessel. Others make new names at the pressing; others touch them with the names of maidens. Indra yoked the two bays, the Aśvins their chariot, Bṛhaspati approached the all-formed. Ṛbhu, Vibhvan, and Vāja, the gods, came skillfully to apportion the sacrificial share. With their thought, they fashioned a cow from a hide, making the old young again. The Saudhanvanas shaped a horse from a horse; having yoked the chariot, they came to the gods. “Drink this water,” they said, “or rather, drink this pressed soma.” If you, Saudhanvanas, desire that, then rejoice in the third pressing. “Let there be more water,” said one; “Let there be more fire,” said another; “Let the vessel be distributed among many,” said a third. Speaking rightly, they filled the vessels. One carries away the water from the cow’s thigh; one cuts the flesh, filled for the dog; one alone removes the dung. What indeed did the parents do for their sons? When they led out, they made grass for us; when they brought back, water, with their own skill. That which is in the house of the mysterious one, let not you, O Ribhus, follow that today. When, closing in, you circled the worlds, where indeed did those parents sit or go? He cursed the one who took the whole hand; whoever spoke out, speak forth to him. Sleeping, the Ribhus asked, “O mysterious one, who has awakened us?” The ram spoke to the dog, the awakener: “This has been revealed today after a year.” By day, the Maruts go; on earth, Agni; this wind moves through the midspace. Varuṇa travels with the waters, with the oceans—ever desiring you, O sons of strength.