With eager hearts, the sages called upon the divine powers, longing for fulfillment as nourishing and generous as the ever-yielding cow. They invoked the victorious one, asking that his steps and voice reach all people, bringing blessings to every corner. Turning their devotion to Rākā, the easily-invoked and gracious goddess, they called for her presence. They prayed that she would attend to them, weaving their works together with an unbroken thread, and grant them a hero—one who would sing their praises a hundredfold. The sages sought Rākā’s fair favors—those gifts by which she bestows wealth upon her worshippers. They urged her to come to them that very day, showering abundant riches and good fortune. Their prayers then reached out to Sinīvālī, the broad-hipped goddess, sister of the gods. They offered her oblations, asking her to accept their offerings and to grant them children, to be gracious and generous. They honored Sinīvālī, describing her beautiful arms, lovely fingers, and her abundant, child-bearing form. To this mistress of the house, they presented their oblation with reverence. Their invocation gathered all these powers together: Sinīvālī, Rākā, Sarasvatī, Indrāṇī for aid, and Varuṇānī for well-being. Each was called upon for blessings and support. With deep respect, the sages then turned to Rudra, the father of the Maruts. They prayed for his favor, asking that he shield them from the sun’s harm, protect them in battle, and grant them many children and descendants. From Rudra, they requested his most healing remedies, hoping to live a hundred winters free from hatred, misfortune, and sickness. They pleaded for him to ward off all evil influences. Rudra, the best-born in splendor, the most powerful among the mighty, was asked to deliver them from sin, to grant well-being, and to drive away fear and harm. The sages hoped never to anger Rudra with their homage nor offend him with their praise. They sought his remedies, knowing him to be the best among healers. They sang hymns and offered oblations to Rudra—broad-bellied, easily-invoked, brown, and beautiful-cheeked—hoping for his favor. The bull Rudra, accompanied by the Maruts, delighted the worshippers. His ever-growing strength never abandoned them. Like the shadow of the sun, they desired always to seek his grace. They wondered where Rudra’s healing hand was—the one bringing remedies and water. They asked him to remove divine wrath and to look upon them with favor. To the brown, mighty, radiant one, they sent forth great praise, honoring the remover of stains and worshipping the fierce name of Rudra. They described Rudra’s firm limbs, manifold forms, fierce and brown, adorned with shining golden ornaments. He is lord over the world and all its abundance; none can surpass his sovereignty. Rudra was praised as the one worthy to bear arrows and a bow, worthy to wear a golden ornament, revered and of all forms, the giver of all blessings, unmatched in strength. The sages honored the renowned, youthful, cave-dwelling Rudra, fierce as a wild beast, formidable and mighty. They begged for his grace, that his hosts might turn elsewhere and not toward them. Even children bowed to their fathers as Rudra approached, recognizing him as the true giver of abundance and remedies. The Maruts, too, were invoked for their pure, auspicious, and joyful remedies—blessings chosen by Manu and the forefathers, and the joys of Rudra, which the worshippers desired. They prayed that Rudra’s weapon would pass them by, that his great wrath would avoid them, and that he would protect the generous and be gracious to their children and descendants. Thus, they called upon Rudra—brown, mighty, wise, and godly—who neither harms nor injures, asking him to hear their invocation and awaken, so they might speak powerfully in the assembly. The Maruts themselves were praised for their strength, pouring forth like fierce wild beasts, shining with energy, blazing like swift fires, and driving away darkness. Like the sky streaked with light or showers flashing with lightning, they brightened the horizon. The Maruts, adorned with golden ornaments, roared and drove their spotted steeds forward in unison, their purpose united. With their spotted horses, they traversed all worlds, companions of Mitra, ever youthful, swift in action, and steadfast in their ways. Their shining vision spread with fuel, cows, nourishing milk, travelers, and paths. United in purpose, like swans, the Maruts came to their sisters for the delight of honey. The sages invited the Maruts, united in purpose, to come as men come to praise at sacrifices, to nourish the cow at the udder like a horse, and to grant wisdom and strength to the worshippers. They asked the Maruts for the prize-winning chariot, for food for the singers, strength for the people, prosperity, safety, and unconquerable power. Whenever the Maruts, with golden breastplates, harnessed their horses to their chariots, they poured forth abundant sustenance for those who offered reverent oblations, like a cow nourishing her calf. If any fierce, hostile enemy arose, the sages called upon the radiant Maruts to protect them from harm, to turn away the threat, and to destroy the foe with their power and deeds. They marveled at the approach of the Maruts, recalling how they drew nourishing streams from the udder of Prishni, and how, ever youthful, they invigorated the aged and weak with triple strength. The sages invoked the mighty Maruts at Vishnu’s offering, seeking their favor, as they dwelled in the heights, crowned and radiant, present within sacred chants. Those ten-powered ones had first awakened the sacrifice, inspiring the worshippers at dawn, like the lovely Ushas, who filled the world with radiant light, shining with the brilliance of cows. With the earth and its red, shining adornments, the Rudras had grown strong in the abode of truth, moving swiftly with power, assuming splendid and beautiful forms, full of brightness. To these mighty protectors, the sages came with reverence and praise, invoking them as Trita had once done, to return and grant their aid. The Maruts were asked to carry the needy across distress, to free the worshippers from harm, and to let their favor approach like a cow to her calf, bringing joy and well-being. The narrative then turned to the offspring of the waters. The sages approached, eager for strength and eloquence, praying that their speech would be fruitful. They asked the children of the waters for favor, for they delighted in beautiful forms. They resolved to speak their well-crafted hymn from the heart, so the wise would know. By the greatness of the sun-born offspring of the waters, the noble one had created all worlds. Some rivers came together, others flowed apart, yet all filled the same channel. These pure, shining rivers surrounded the radiant offspring of the waters. The young women, shining, circled the youthful one, cleansing him. He, with bright flames and powerful streams, shone for the worshippers, the kindler, with clarified butter in the waters. Thus, through invocations and praise, the sages celebrated the nourishing, healing, and protective powers of the deities, seeking their blessings for abundance, strength, wisdom, and well-being, and honoring the wondrous workings of the divine in the world.