In the ancient dawn, the Gṛtsamadas sang hymns to the mighty Aśvins, beseeching them for strength as powerful as an elephant and unity as steadfast as the earth itself. Inspired by the divine twins, their songs became sharp and effective, like an axe honed upon a whetstone. The deeds of the Aśvins grew ever more wondrous, and the Gṛtsamadas, filled with devotion, invited all to celebrate these marvels in the assembly, confident and strong among men. Turning to Soma and Pūṣan, the seers recognized them as the originators of wealth, heaven, and earth, born to guard all worlds. The gods set them at the navel of immortality, the very center of existence. These two gods, upon their birth, rejoiced and drove away darkness, unwelcomed. Together with Indra, they revealed the ripe blessings among the cows. Soma and Pūṣan, with their seven-wheeled chariot, traversed all realms, guided by the mind and invigorated by five radiant rays. One made his dwelling high in the sky, while another resided upon the earth, and a third in the midspace. They bestowed manifold wealth and nourishment, establishing the navel of creation. One generated all the worlds, while the other moved, beholding everything. The seers called upon Soma and Pūṣan to support their insight, so that with their aid, all battles might be won. Pūṣan was invoked to invigorate the mind, the source of all riches, and Soma, lord of wealth, to grant prosperity. They prayed for Aditi’s protection, so that they might speak greatly in the assembly, as heroes. Vāyu, the swift god of the winds, was invited to arrive with his thousand-horsed chariots, accompanied by attendants, to partake of the Soma. The offering, bright and pure, was prepared for him, and he was called to the house of the Soma-presser. Indra and Vāyu, heroes among gods, were asked to come together to drink the Soma, accompanied by their retinue. Mitra and Varuṇa, upholders of cosmic order, were offered Soma pressed especially for them, and their invocation was heard. These two kings, without malice, sat in the highest, steadfast abode, supported by a thousand pillars. The Ādityas, lords of gifts, dwelled together in an unshaken place, pressed with clarified butter. The Ashvins, the Nāsatyas, were called to bring wealth in cows and horses, while the Rudras were asked to grant noble paths. None could overpower these mighty and generous gods—not the distant nor the near, nor any evil-minded mortal or enemy. The Ashvins were beseeched to grant radiant and beautiful wealth, and as lords of the chariot, to give wide space. Indra was praised for removing great fear, driving it away with firmness and wisdom. He showed mercy, letting harm pass and vanish behind, so that good fortune might be before the people. From all directions, Indra granted freedom from fear, conquering enemies with his wisdom. All the gods were invited to listen to the invocation and sit upon the sacred grass. A strong, honey-sweet offering was prepared for them in the rites of Śunahotra, and they were called to drink the desirable libation. Led by Indra and the Maruts, with Pūṣan as benefactor, all gods were summoned to hear the prayers. Sarasvati, most motherly and divine, was addressed with reverence. The Gṛtsamadas felt themselves unpraised and asked her, the river goddess, to grant them praise. In Sarasvati, all life spans were placed, and she was implored to delight in the rites of Śunahotra and grant offspring. She was asked to accept the prayers at the horse-rich sacrifice, the offerings lovingly presented among the gods. The youthful, gracious Sarasvati was chosen for the sacrifice, along with Agni, the bearer of offerings. Heaven and Earth were called upon to swiftly grant the sacrifice, touching the sky and reaching the gods. The worshipful gods were invited to sit upon the altar for the drinking of Soma that day. Amidst these sacred gatherings, the shrill-voiced bird raised its speech, proclaiming its birth like a boat upon the waters. The bird of good omen was asked to be auspicious, so that no being could overcome it. The seers prayed that neither eagle nor great-winged bird nor archer would strike it, and that it would follow the ancestral path, speaking words of blessing. The bird was called to cry out from the right side of the house, speaking auspiciously, so that neither thief nor ill-wisher would rule over the people. They wished to speak loudly in the assembly, strong among men. The singers praised the bird as it moved to the right, uttering both kinds of speech like the singers of the Sāma, following both the Gāyatra and the Triṣṭubh meters. The bird was likened to a singer of Sāma, a priest’s son proclaiming in sacrifices, and a stallion delighting in its foal. From every side, the bird was asked to speak auspiciously and grant what is good. Sitting silently, it was called to bestow favor, and when it flew and spoke with a shrill voice, the people wished to speak loudly in the assembly, strong among men. In the midst of these prayers, Agni was honored. He made himself the mighty fire for the worship of Soma, shining and leading the gods to the stone for peace. Agni was asked to accept the offering. The sacrifice was prepared with forward-facing reverence, and the song was allowed to grow. Honoring Agni with kindling and devotion, the wise ones sought the path for Gṛtsamada’s devotion, as commanded from heaven. Agni, wise and pure-minded, friend of heaven, established joy for the earth by his birth. The gods found the radiant one among the waters, hidden among his sisters. They caused the seven swift rivers to grow, and the shining, unreddened Agni was born in greatness. Like a newborn child, the gods mounted Agni, nurturing his origin. With radiant limbs, Agni stretched out the realm, purifying wisdom with the poets’ pure offerings. Wearing brilliance, he moved around the waters, measuring the vast, unfailing splendors of creation. Thus, through song and sacrifice, invocation and praise, the gods were honored, and the blessings of strength, unity, wisdom, and prosperity were sought for all realms and all beings.