Agni, the ever-watchful guardian, stands vigilant through the night. To him the hymns are drawn, seeking his presence; to him the sacred chants ascend, yearning for his light. Even Soma, the sacred elixir, approaches Agni with words of friendship, declaring, “I dwell with you in kinship.” As dawn breaks, the divine light knows the secrets of the sky. Radiant beams scatter the darkness, throwing open the barriers of the heavens and driving away every earthly obstacle. The sun, wise as a mother guiding her calves, spreads her rays, dispelling the night. Rivers, gleaming and resounding, flow forth, while the firmament stands unwavering, a pillar set high above. At this moment, the ancient mountain stirs; it opens wide at the song of creation, echoing with the birth of the great ones. Heaven fulfills its purpose, earth resounds, and the mountain’s secret is revealed. With words and hymns pleasing to the gods, the wise call upon Indra and Agni for aid, and with skillful praise, they invoke the Maruts, the storm gods. Let us, then, seek wisdom today—casting out all evil, aspiring to greatness. Let us drive away hatred, burning it to ashes, and proceed toward the sacrificer with pure hearts. Together, let us conceive the inspired thought that once led our mother to the cows’ stall, that empowered Manu to overcome the many-colored foe, and enabled the merchant to discover hidden treasure. In ancient times, the Navagvas, after ten months of effort, pressed on with devotion and praised the mountain. Saramā, seeking truth, found the lost cows, and the Angirases, through their deeds, fulfilled the divine will. When Saramā shone with her power, all the gods took notice; the Angirases moved with the cows, their fountain of inspiration in the highest realm, for Saramā, by the path of truth, had found the cows. The sun, yoked with seven radiant horses, sets forth, measuring the field of the sky with his long course. Like a swift hawk, he flies straight; the young sage glows as he moves among the cows. Mounted, the sun shines bright, harnessed to green-backed steeds, while the wise, like a boat upon water, lift him up, and the listening waters draw near. For you, O gods, I have placed my inspired thought in the radiant waters, by which the Navagvas completed their ten months. By this thought, may the gods protect us; by this thought, may we cross beyond distress. Like a wise horse, I place the harness upon the helpful one, neither binding nor loosening it, but guiding it straight along the known path. May Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra, and all the assembled gods—Maruts, Viṣṇu, the Aśvins, Rudra, Pūṣan, Bhaga, Sarasvatī—be pleased and come forth. I call upon Indra and Agni, Mitra and Varuṇa, Aditi, the Sun, Earth, Sky, Maruts, Mountains, Waters, Viṣṇu, Pūṣan, Bṛhaspati, Bhaga, and Savitar for their help and blessing. May Viṣṇu and the unobstructed Vāta grant us wealth; may Soma bring happiness; may the Ṛbhus, Aśvins, Tvaṣṭṛ, and Vibhvan favor us with riches. Let the host of Maruts come; let the worshipful one from heaven sit among us. May Bṛhaspati, Pūṣan, Yama, Varuṇa, Mitra, and Aryaman grant us their protection. May the generous mountains and guardian rivers shield us; may Bhaga bring strength and help; may wide-ranging Aditi hear our call. May the radiant wives of the gods bestow upon us success and victory; those who dwell on earth and rule the waters, may these gracious goddesses protect us. Let the goddesses—Indrāṇī, Agnāyī, Aśvinī, Rāk, Varuṇānī—mothers of order, hear our prayers and come to us. At dawn, the great mother ascends the sky, proclaiming her presence and awakening her daughter. The youthful one, full of thought, calls to the fathers in their abode, bringing forth the day. Swiftly, the deities move, striving toward the navel of immortality, their endless paths crossing the heavens and earth together. The bull, the ocean, the radiant, splendid-winged one, enters the womb of the ancient father. Placed in the midst of heaven, the spotted stone stretches to the ends of all realms. Four bear it for safety, ten nurture the embryo for movement, while his highest cows, threefold, wander at the edges of heaven. As people move about this dwelling, the rivers and waters pause in stillness. Two bear the mother, others are twin-born, moving with their kin. The waters, like mothers weaving garments for their son, spread out their thoughts for him. With joy, the mighty ones approach the meeting place, the brides traveling the path of heaven. May this be auspicious for us, O Mitra, Varuṇa, and Agni. May we gain depth and a firm foundation. Homage to the great heaven and its seat. We direct our thoughts to the beloved abode, the mighty, the glorious, the great. When the wondrous one stretches out the waters from the sky, he chooses and arranges them. The heroic ones have extended the path across all realms; the waters gather, some withdraw, and the divine people cross over with their ancestors. With stones, days, and nights, the wondrous one wields the strongest bolt. Whether a hundred roll in his house, they turn day and night together. His course, sharp as an axe’s edge, is set against the foe; his might is manifest, and with a companion, he bestows treasure upon the offerer. With his four-faced tongue, he moves swiftly, adorned in beauty, while Varuṇa restrains the adversary. We do not fully know his strength, from whom Bhaga and Savitṛ grant the prize. Today, I seek for you the god Savitṛ and Bhaga, the distributor of wealth. May you two, generous ones, turn toward us; may the Aśvins, as friends, come every day. Knowing the path of the mighty, let us praise Savitṛ with hymns, approach with reverence, and speak to him who bestows treasures. With their bounty, Pūṣan, Bhaga, Aditi, Vasta, and Uṣas grant gifts; Indra, Viṣṇu, Varuṇa, Mitra, and Agni bring forth auspicious days. May Savitṛ, free from harm, grant us protection; may the rivers flow their course. As I, priest of the rite, speak to you, may we become lords of wealth and prize-winning treasures. To those who offer praise to the Vasus, to Mitra and Varuṇa, may you grant us a better path. With the favor of Heaven and Earth, may we rejoice. Let every mortal seek the friendship of the divine Guide. Let all strive for wealth, choose glory, and desire prosperity. Those whom the divine Guide leads—may we share in their wealth, joining with those truly united. May he grant us favor among men, guests, and wives; may he drive far away all enmity and those who walk hostile paths.