With reverence and devotion, the sages raised their voices to magnify Rudra, the father of the world, who dwells both in the vast sky and within the sacred sacrifice. They honored him as the great and lofty one, ageless and gracious, calling upon his presence, inspired by the wisdom of ancient seers. To their hymns, the youthful and worshipful Maruts were summoned—invited to the singer’s praise and the place of longing. The Maruts, it was known, could uplift even the humble, and those who observed their ways followed the ancient path of the Angirases. The sages yearned for the divine to come forth like a vigilant herdsman, guarding his cattle—appearing for the hero, the mighty, the swift. He, in his splendor, would reach the summit of praise, just as rivers rise to the heights of speech. They recalled Viṣṇu, who, for the hard-pressed Manu, measured the earthly realms three times, and they prayed to find joy and shelter under his protection, with body and offspring flourishing when wealth is bestowed. They invoked Ahibudhnya with the waters, the Sun, the Mountain, and Savitṛ, asking these deities to grant them blessings. They prayed for wealth, inspired by the givers of riches—the plants, Bhaga, and Puraṃdhi—so that abundance might come to them. Their hope was for wealth resplendent with chariots, famed among men, rich in heroes, and great in truth. With such gifts, they wished to secure undying homes among people, to overcome the godless, to join the divine hosts, and partake of the blessings of the gods. With humility, they invoked Aditi, the divine mother, and sought mercy from Varuṇa, Mitra, and Agni. They called upon Aryaman, the most gracious, and the protecting gods—Savitṛ and Bhaga—yearning for their favor. The Sun, radiant and guiding, was asked to lead the ancestors to the ritual, bringing the great gods—those twice-born, upholders of truth, and worshipful, with tongues of fire. Heaven and Earth, the vast and sheltering pair, were called upon to grant protection, to provide a secure home, free from harm, as if carrying the people safely in their mighty chariot. The sons of Rudra—the Vasus, invincible—were invoked, whether among the young or the great, and in times of distress, the Maruts, the gods, were called for aid. The gods, on whom the two worlds depend, were remembered, and Pūṣan, the eager sacrificer, was praised for his efforts. When the Maruts responded to the call, the vast spaces themselves trembled as the path opened. To Indra, the beloved of song, the singer offered new hymns, hoping the mighty one would hear and grant riches, as befits one who is magnified by praise. The Waters, mothers of men and pure, were asked for well-being for offspring and children, for they are the best of physicians, creators of all that stands and moves, the very origin of the world. Savitṛ, the divine protector with golden hands, was invited to the worshipper, for he reveals the dawn and bestows treasures upon the devout. Agni, son of strength, was beseeched to be favorable in sacrifice, to grant companionship in battle, and to grant strength and help. The Nāsatyas, wise and swift, were called to rescue as they once freed Atri from great darkness, to deliver the people from distress into safety. The givers of wealth, radiant and full of vigor, were asked to bestow riches renowned among men; the divine and earthly powers, born of the cow, were invoked for favor and grace. Rudra and Sarasvatī, united, were petitioned for mercy, as were Viṣṇu, Vāyu, and the bountiful ones. Ṛbhukṣa, the arranger, Parjanya, and Vāta were asked to fill the people with nourishment. Savitṛ, Bhaga, and Dānu, son of the waters, were called for protection; Tvaṣṭṛ, with the divine generations, and Heaven and Earth, united with the gods and oceans, were asked to preserve and sustain. Ahibudhnya, the serpent of the deep, the one-footed, was invoked, along with Earth and Ocean, and all the gods upholding truth, that the prayers and hymns might bring their protection. Thus, the descendants of Bharadvāja honored the divine with thoughts and hymns, making the Hotars, the Vasus, and the invincible ones worthy of worship. In the sky, the great and unfailing eye of Mitra and Varuṇa rose—pure, shining, beloved, and beautiful, blazing forth like a golden ornament. The wise one, who knows the three assemblies of the gods and is born again and again, sees both the straight and the crooked among mortals; the sun, like Aryaman, surveys all. The sages praised the great guardians of truth—Aditi, Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryaman, Bhaga—whose thoughts never waver, and they spoke to these radiant bringers of prosperity. The Ādityas, unwavering destroyers of falsehood and generous lords, were approached with reverence, as true rulers of the sky and bestowers of great gifts. Heaven was honored as father, Earth as steadfast mother, and Agni as brother. The Vasus and all the Ādityas, together with Aditi, were asked for wide protection. The people prayed that neither wolf nor she-wolf, nor any worshipful one, would bring them harm or misfortune. The gods were their charioteers and guardians, upholding wise speech. They pleaded not to suffer for another’s offense, nor for any deed of the Vasus; for the all-gods rule over all, and they asked that enemies not harm their own. Homage was offered to the mighty, to him who upholds earth and sky, to the gods and their lord. Even in the face of committed offenses, forgiveness was sought with reverence. To the charioteers of truth, pure in wisdom and unwavering, dwelling in the home of truth, the sages bowed in homage; to all the far-seeing, great, and worshipful, they offered their respect. For these gods, of highest splendor, lead the people across difficulties—Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni—true in thought, steadfast in truth, kings by right. They called upon Indra, Earth, the nourishing land, Pūṣan, Bhaga, Aditi, and the five peoples, seeking their strong protection and guidance. As a priest, Bharadvāja sought the divine abode, attaining the favor of the gods; seated, the worshipper prospered, and the one desiring the wealth of the gods offered praise. Agni was implored to drive away the sinner, the foe, the thief, and the bringer of distress, to make the path easy for the good. The pressing stones, longing for Soma’s friendship, were called to strike down the greedy Paṇi, who was likened to a wolf. For the gods are generous, powerful, and victorious like Indra; the people prayed that their paths be made easy by the guardians of the home. They sought a path to well-being, free from harm, one that casts away all enemies and brings wealth. The sages recognized that neither day nor earth, nor sacrifice nor sacred grass, could alone reach the highest; only with the help of the mighty mountains could one succeed, while those who worshiped excessively were brought low. Whoever, the Maruts were told, thought themselves above the rest or sought to obstruct prayer, would face hardships and misfortunes, even the sky itself burning against the hater of prayer. To Soma, protector of prayer, they turned—if he is called the guardian against curses, then let him see when the people are reviled, and let him aim his scorching weapon at those who hate prayer. Thus, with devotion and wisdom, the sages wove their hymns, calling upon the divine hosts for protection, prosperity, and the triumph of truth.