As the sages gathered at dawn, their hearts full of reverence, they invoked the presence and protection of the divine. Just as Mitra, Varuṇa, and Rudra are ever mindful of those who honor them, so too did the worshippers pray that all the gods together would watch over them with care. Turning their thoughts to Rudra, the lord of song and wisdom, healer with water and herbs, they sought his favor. They praised his brilliance, shining like the sun and gleaming like gold, the best among the gods and a true treasure. They prayed that Rudra would grant them peace and prosperity—blessings for the ploughman and the shepherd, for men and women, and for all their cattle. With devotion, they called upon Soma, asking him to bestow wealth among their people, granting them great fame and heroic strength. They pleaded that neither the hostility of Soma nor the harm of enemies would touch them, inviting Indu to share in the prize of their offerings. They reflected on Soma’s immortal offspring, dwelling in the far realm of truth, crowned at the head and navel—Soma alone knows and adorns them in that sacred abode. As the dawns broke, the sages turned to Agni, radiant with the light of Vivasvat. They called upon Jātavedas, the knower of all births, to bring the gods to the worshipper, awakened by the touch of the morning. Agni, beloved messenger and carrier of offerings, charioteer of sacrifices, was invoked alongside the Aśvins and the dawn to grant heroic strength and lasting fame. The worshippers chose Agni as their messenger that day—the generous and radiant one, beloved by all, his banners of smoke rising gloriously in the dawn. As the best and youngest guest, well-invoked and cherished by the faithful, Agni was praised for bringing the gods to their assembly. They honored Agni, the immortal protector, wise and fit for worship, carrier of offerings, and asked him to be well-disposed to the singer and to bring forth food and long life for the sake of Praskaṇva, so that the divine assembly might be honored. Agni, the knower of all and the Hotar, was kindled by the people; the wise invoked him to bring the gods swiftly to their midst. At each dawn, the Kaṇvas pressed Soma and kindled Agni, the bringer of offerings, together with Savitar, Uṣas, the Aśvins, and Bhaga, as the night faded away. Agni, lord of rituals and messenger among people, was called to awaken at dawn and bring the gods—the seers of the sun—to drink Soma. Blazing forth before the dawns, Agni, all-seeing and shining, protected the gatherings as chief priest and human priest at the sacrifices. The worshippers appointed him as the accomplisher of the sacrifice, as Hotar and officiant, remembering Manu and thinking of Agni as the wise, ancient, and immortal messenger. When Agni, friend of the gods and chief priest, carried their messages, his flames shone like the roaring waves of a river. They called upon Agni to hear them with attentive ears, together with the gods and his companions, inviting Mitra and Aryaman, who travel at dawn, to sit on the sacred grass at the sacrifice. The generous Maruts, whose tongues are fire and who uphold cosmic order, were also invoked to hear their hymn, while Varuṇa, firm in his vow, was invited to drink Soma along with the Aśvins and Uṣas. The worshippers recognized Agni as the embodiment of the Vasus, Rudras, and Ādityas, and asked him to worship the self-lawful assembly, the human-born, with offerings dripping with ghee. Attentive to the worshipper, Agni, wise and red-horsed, lover of song, was asked to bring the thirty-three gods to their assembly. Like Priyamedha, Atri, and Virūpa, the great-vowed Angiras, the worshippers called upon Agni to hear Praskaṇva’s call for great help, for Agni was the king of rituals, his flame shining brightly. Their invocations, offered with ghee, were sent forth so that Agni might hear and help the sons of Kaṇva. Agni, most famed and beloved by many, was called by the people in every tribe to carry their offerings. As Hotar and officiant, bestower of wealth, and most renowned among the divine hosts, Agni was established by the wise, ever attentive to their prayers. With pressed Soma and abundant oblation, the wise approached Agni, bringing their offerings for the mortal worshipper. They prayed that those who travel at dawn, powerful and radiant, would partake of Soma, and that Agni would seat the divine assembly on the sacred grass. Agni was asked to bring the divine assembly with his invocations and to drink the Soma beyond the day. As a new dawn shone forth, beloved of the sky, the worshippers raised a lofty hymn to the Ashvins. They praised the wondrous twins, children of the river, bestowers of wealth, who know riches through wisdom. Their praises echoed on the summits of the ancient earth as the Ashvins’ chariot was set in motion. With offerings, the lover of the waters—the purifier, protector of the people—was satisfied. The Ashvins, supports of thoughts and wise in speech, were invited to drink the Soma with strength. The worshippers thanked the Ashvins for filling them with light and driving away darkness, asking for food and sustenance. They called to the Ashvins to come with the ship of thoughts and carry them across, to yoke their chariot and speed to their aid. The Ashvins’ oar was as broad as the sky, their chariot poised at the ford of the rivers, yoked by the wisdom of the drops. At the place of the rivers, where the drops of Kanva awaited, the worshippers wondered: where do the Ashvins seek their own hidden place? Thus, in the gentle light of dawn, with hearts full of longing and praise, the sages invoked the gods—Mitra, Varuṇa, Rudra, Soma, Agni, the Ashvins, and all the divine hosts—seeking their favor, blessings, and presence in the sacred rites that sustain the world.