The sages, with hearts full of longing and reverence, called upon the divine powers, seeking gifts for themselves—gifts of wealth and victory in all contests. They invoked the bestower of riches, the one whom all seek, the unassailable lord of every treasure, before whom even the mighty bow. With hope, they prayed that he might show them his favor in this very moment. In gratitude for his immense bounty, the worshippers lifted their voices in praise, seeking to win his grace. Through sacrifices and hymns, they honored him, not for themselves alone but for all people, and with reverent voices they invoked the Maruts—the storm gods. These Maruts, with their thunderous paths that can even shake the mountains, were invited to accept the offerings, to bestow their mighty favor at the sacred fire. Turning to Indra, the most powerful, they pleaded for protection: “Shatter the schemes of those who wish us harm. Bring us wealth that is rightly ours, inspire our minds towards the highest thoughts.” They remembered Indra as the best and most generous provider, fierce and splendid, active in right speech, ever victorious and supportive—the foremost in all contests. They reflected on the contests won and the prizes claimed, wishing that anyone who, not being a god, had seized the prize might come forward, so that, like a famed horse-lover, he might, by his will, take up the radiance due to him. They recounted the vast wealth bestowed: sixty thousand horses, twenty hundred camels, a thousand dark cattle, ten of three-colored cows, and ten thousand more cows. Ten swift, dark prize-winning horses, strong and victorious, turned the wheel of fortune with their might. Among the generous, the name of Kānīta shone bright—famed for lavish gifts, he gave a golden chariot, becoming the most renowned benefactor. The worshippers called upon Vāyu, god of the wind, to come to their great family, to join their festivities and glory, for they had made many offerings to him, continuing their acts of devotion. They honored the one who brought wealth, who came with horses at dawn, who drank the pure, shining Soma pressed for giving. They praised the one who, even by himself, gave splendid gifts for the sake of praise, for the Nahusha, for good deeds, for the wise and the better. In the glorious hymn, they saw Vāyu radiant, clad in butter, driven by horses, chariots, and even by dogs. To the generous and beloved, sixty thousand seats awaited—seats for horses and stallions. Like cows returning to their herd, the barren ones too came to the worshipper. In the assembly, when the one with a hundred camels raised his voice, among the white horses there were twenty hundred. Viprastarukṣa, strong and generous, gave a hundred slaves, as strong as the hero Balbūthu. All these people delighted in Vāyu, and the guardians of Indra and the gods rejoiced. Then, a noble and great woman, adorned with gold, gained mastery over the horses and was led away in honor. The worshippers turned to Varuṇa and Mitra, the mighty Ādityas, seeking their great help for the devotee. They prayed for protection from all harm, that no misfortune or sin might befall them, relying on the gracious aids of the Ādityas. With humility, they asked the gods, who know all faults, to remove all offenses, to shelter them as birds spread their wings over their young. All-knowing and all-protecting, the Ādityas were invoked to cover the worshippers with their shelter, so that they might be free from sin. The wise ones, who have received dwelling and life from the gods, acknowledged the Ādityas as the true lords of wealth and of the whole mind. They pleaded with the divine charioteer to drive away all evils and hardships, as one steers a chariot, so that they might dwell in the protection of Indra and the shelter of the Ādityas, free from sin. Those who lived by the gift of the gods were truly blameless, for the Ādityas had granted them their gracious aids. No sharp weapon, no blow, not even the heaviest force could harm those protected by the Ādityas, for their shelter was strong and sinless. With the gods as their armor, the people fought their battles, confident that the great ones would keep them from sin and protect even the youngest child. They invoked Aditi, mother of Mitra, Aryaman, and Varuṇa, to protect them as a mother protects her children, granting them wide shelter. Whatever refuge and freedom from harm the gods possessed, they asked that it be bestowed upon them. The Ādityas were their guides, leading them safely across the waters of life, as one would lead horses. They knew that no good would come to those who practiced sorcery, but for the cow, the milch-cow, and the hero, there was goodness and fame. They entrusted all open or hidden evil, every misdeed, to Trita, the bright one, to carry away. Even the evil dreams, whether among the cows, among the people, or among the daughters of the sky, they asked the gods to remove for Trita to obtain. Whether it was a necklace or a garland, or any evil dream, all was handed over to Trita by the worshippers, so the gods’ good aids could carry these away. For food, strength, and the desired share, they asked that all evil dreams be taken away, so that only good would remain. As they set aside a fragment, a hoof, or settled a debt, so too did they set aside all evil dreams, trusting the gods’ good aids to remove them. Having conquered, having found their place, having become blameless, they greeted the Dawn, asking that whatever evil dream had troubled them might vanish. The wise, self-reliant ones had tasted the sweetness of life, knowing the path to abundance. All gods and mortals, speaking of this sweetness, gathered around Soma, for within him was Aditi, the boundless, moving with divine vigor. Accepting Indra’s friendship, Soma, like a herald, brought wealth in succession. By drinking the Soma, the worshippers declared, “We have become immortal; we have come into the light and found the gods. What now can hostility do to us? What harm can the malice of mortals do to the immortal?” Thus, in the shelter and blessing of the gods, the worshippers found victory, abundance, and peace.