With Bṛhaspati, the lord of sacred speech and wisdom, as our steadfast ally, we find ourselves filled with the highest vigor and strength. His presence is our assurance: no ill-wisher who seeks our harm may prevail against us. Guided by good thoughts, we cross over all evil that lies in our path. Bṛhaspati goes forth to battle like an unopposed, mighty bull, scorching the enemy in the midst of conflict. True to his promise, he brings down even the fiercest and most arrogant adversary. Should any, with godless intent and fierce ambition, seek to harm us or imagine themselves powerful enough to kill, we call upon Bṛhaspati: let not their blow reach us, nor their wrath overpower us. In every struggle, we invoke Bṛhaspati with reverence, for he is the one who comes to our aid and brings us wealth. Against all hostile assailants, he scatters their attacks as easily as chariots are broken apart. With his most blazing heat, he burns up the demons—those who set themselves against him, trusting vainly in their own strength. He reveals his praiseworthy power, utterly destroying the darkness that encircles us. When Bṛhaspati’s noble power shines forth among people, born of truth and blazing with energy, he bestows upon us splendid and varied wealth. Under his guidance, we are protected from thieves who plot against us and from enemies who, lacking food, covet our meals. The desires of the gods are fulfilled within the heart, and Bṛhaspati alone knows the secret of the sacred chant. Tvaṣṭṛ himself has fashioned wisdom for Bṛhaspati, wisdom that surpasses all beings. With this, even the debtor is freed, for Bṛhaspati destroys deceit and upholds truth. His glory is revealed in the ancient story: when the mountain parted and the herd of cows was released by the Aṅgiras, it was with Indra as his ally that Bṛhaspati drove away the darkness and opened the ocean’s waters. As the guide of our hymn, we call to Bṛhaspati: be attentive, inspire our offspring, and may all that is good, protected by the gods, be ours. May we speak mightily in the assembly and be victorious. From the very beginning, Bṛhaspati knows our offerings. With a new and mighty hymn, we serve him, hoping that, like a generous friend, he will fulfill our thoughts and desires. It was he who, with surpassing strength, broke through the unyielding and shattered the fortresses of the arrogant Śambara. Bṛhaspati cast down what could not be shaken and entered the rich mountain. This most divine deed among the gods could not be withstood by the firm or the fallen. With his song, he drove out darkness; with his chant, he split open Vala, revealing the light. By his strength, Bṛhaspati split the stone enclosure that held the honey-flowing stream, and all the seers who see the light drank of it, drawing from the abundant spring. Some worlds have always existed, and some are yet to come; the years of the gods are not limited by autumns. By his wisdom, Bṛhaspati has made many paths, each moving and wandering in its own way. Those who sought the hidden treasure of the Paṇis, placed far away in secret, turned back from falsehood, returned, and ascended into the light. The truthful, having turned from falsehood, stood firm on the great path. The wise, with their arms, kindled the fire upon the stone, casting away darkness and making all their companions friends. Wherever Bṛhaspati sends forth his swift, straight-flying, truth-strung arrow, there it surely reaches its mark. His keen-eyed arrows, born from the ear for vision, pierce as he wills. Bṛhaspati is the reconciler, the guide, the priest, the well-praised, the champion in battle. When he brings the prize with his thought, the giver of wealth, the sun shines forth, heating many paths. His earliest deeds are wide and mighty, glorious and wise—these treasures of the powerful are shared by all peoples and clans. In the lower stronghold, Bṛhaspati is all-pervading and wondrous, grown strong with power. He has spread himself wide among the gods and encompasses all things. All the truth of Indra and Bṛhaspati is present; not even the waters diminish their law. We invite Indra and Bṛhaspati to accept our offerings, yoked like two swift steeds. The eager fires listen in succession; the wise priest brings forth thought and wealth. Hating the fallen, he takes up the debt of service, and in the assembly, Bṛhaspati stands as the champion. His will becomes effective as he desires; his true intention accomplishes great deeds. He who released the cows divided the sky, rushing forth like a mighty stream in strength. We pray to Bṛhaspati: may we be lords of wealth, well-guided, possessing chariots, and long-lived. Grant us heroes among men, for if you, ruling by prayer, accept our invocation, all good things will be ours. O Bṛhaspati, guide this hymn, be aware of it, and inspire its offspring. May all that is good, protected by the gods, be ours; may we speak greatly in the assembly, strong in men. Kindling Agni, the skilled in prayer shines forth, conquering the hostile and receiving offerings. Born from the born, he advances, and whomever Bṛhaspati chooses as his companion, he sets forth with him. With heroes, he conquers heroes and overcomes the hostile; with cows, he spreads wealth, awakening by his own power. He increases both offspring and descendants of his chosen companion. Like the surge of a roaring river, swift and mighty, like a bull against the barren cow, he bellows with might. Like the advance of fire, unstoppable, any team Bṛhaspati harnesses, he makes victorious. To him, the divine ones pour forth offerings; with his powers, he is the first to reach the cows. Tireless in strength, he strikes with vigor, and whatever team he harnesses, he makes victorious. For him, all rivers flow together, unbroken, granting abundant shelter. Blessed by the favor of the gods, he prospers—whoever Bṛhaspati chooses, he makes victorious. Straight in praise, eager for the forest, subduing the unsubdued, Bṛhaspati approaches the godless. Generous, he divides the hard-to-win prize among the pious and the impious, distributing the offering. O hero, sacrifice and lead forth your thought; make your mind auspicious in the slaying of Vritra. Prepare the offering as you desire, for we seek the favor of Bṛhaspati. He who, through his people, his clan, his birth, with sons and men, wins wealth and riches, is the one who, with faith and offering, calls upon Bṛhaspati, the father of the gods. Whoever serves him with offerings rich in ghee, Bṛhaspati leads forward on the right path, making wide room, protecting from harm, and delivering even from sin. Now, with hymns rich in ghee, we offer our praise to the Ādityas, the ancient kings: may Mitra, Aryaman, Bhaga, Varuṇa, Dakṣa, and Aṃśa, all born of truth, hear us. May Mitra, Aryaman, and Varuṇa, the mighty ones, accept our praise today—the Ādityas, pure and purified, free from sin, blameless and unharmed. The Ādityas are vast and deep, unfailing and eager to bestow, seeing all. Within, they behold both the wicked and the good, and nothing, not even the highest matters, is hidden from these kings. They uphold the moving world and all creation, far-seeing and protective, observing the order and measuring out the debts. We pray to know your aid, O Ādityas, so that even in adversity Aryaman may be near. By your guidance, O Mitra and Varuṇa, may we avoid misfortune as one avoids a hidden pit.