Hear now the tale as sung in the ancient hymns of the Rigveda, woven with reverence and longing for the divine. The sage begins his invocation, calling upon all the worshipful gods to listen—heaven and earth, and the children born of the waters. He offers his hymn with a hope that his words may not be scattered or lost, but may find fulfillment in the favor of the gods. He prays that all those mighty beings, whether born of earth or sky, who dwell in the watery realms, may grant life and light to mortals, opening wide the paths before them. He invokes Agni, the fire-god, and Parjanya, the lord of rain, to support his prayer. He asks that they be easily invoked and well-praised, that one may provide nourishment and the other offspring, and together grant abundant, life-giving riches. Upon the sacred grass, with Agni kindled, the sage offers his hymn with great reverence, inviting the gods to rejoice in the offering made in this assembly. Turning his mind to Pūṣan, the Lord of the Path, the sage harnesses Pūṣan to his thoughts as one would yoke a chariot for victory. He entreats Pūṣan, noble and generous, to lead to them the heroic and skillful master of the house, one who is gracious. With compassion, Pūṣan is asked to encourage even the miser to give, to turn the heart of the ungenerous toward liberality. The sage calls upon Pūṣan to clear the paths for the gaining of strength, to scatter foes and strike them down, so that the strong thoughts of the worshippers may succeed. He prays that the wise deity surround the misers with confusion, using his power to make them yield. Pūṣan is asked to strike the miser, to seek out what is dear within his heart and make him open his hands. With wisdom and the goad of discipline, Pūṣan is invoked to pierce the heart of the miser, to stir and shake him, so that generosity may flow. The radiant Pūṣan, with his cattle-driving staff that brings wealth, is entreated for favor. The worshippers seek wisdom in gaining cattle, strength in horses, and prosperity among men. Pūṣan is asked to lead the people to one who knows, who instructs rightly and says, “This is it.” May they go together with Pūṣan to the house of the master, the one who commands and guides. The sage proclaims that Pūṣan’s wheel never breaks, nor does his axle fall away; his goad is never worn out. Those who offer to Pūṣan with oblation please him, and he is the first to find wealth. May Pūṣan follow and protect their cattle, guard their paths, and grant them strength. He is called to come after their herds, especially for those who press the Soma and sing his praise. The sage prays that none may go astray, be harmed, or left behind on the journey, and that Pūṣan may come to them with safety. They seek Pūṣan, the all-hearing, the knower of the way, the lord of wealth. Under his rule, may they never wander from the path, for they are his devoted praisers. May Pūṣan place his right hand over them from afar, and may what was lost be restored. The sage then calls to the sons of Vimuco, and Napāt Āghṛṇi, inviting them to unite with the worshippers and to be the charioteers of truth. They seek the most skilled charioteer, the matted-haired lord of great wealth, as a friend for riches. Āghṛṇi, the generous stream of wealth, is asked to bring abundance, being a friend to the wise. Pūṣan is praised as the provider of new horses, the vigorous one, and the sun is called the lover. The sage speaks to the mother in longing, asking the sun, the lover, to hear their prayer, and acknowledges Indra’s brother as his friend. The drivers place Pūṣan in the chariot, those who bear the glory of the people, and they carry the god with honor. The sage declares that whoever directs Pūṣan as “karambha” does not truly acknowledge him. Yet Pūṣan is the most skilled charioteer, a true companion, and a good lord; with him, Indra slays foes. The sun placed the golden wheel upon the spotted cow, and the skilled charioteer set it down. Whatever is spoken to Pūṣan, the much-praised and wondrous one, the wise deity is asked to accomplish those thoughts. They pray for success in seeking the cow, for prosperous attainment, for Pūṣan’s renown is far-reaching. His blessing is sought for wealth, both for today and for all tomorrows. Indra and Pūṣan are invoked together for friendship and well-being, for the gaining of strength. One desires the pressed Soma juice for drinking, another desires karambha. Goats are the sacred fires of one, horses are gathered for another, and with these two, the foe is vanquished. When Indra led forth the mighty and vigorous waters, Pūṣan was his companion, steadfast and true. Thus, the hymn closes, the prayer rising on the sacred fire, the paths cleared, the cattle guarded, and the hearts of men turned toward generosity and truth, under the guiding hand of Pūṣan and the favor of the gods.