In reverence and wisdom, the gods, together with Puramdhi, immortal and truthful, givers and helpers, singers of heaven’s glory, are invoked to accept this sacred hymn and utterance. Vasiṣṭha, the sage, honors these immortal deities who pervade all worlds, praying that today they grant wide shelter and everlasting protection filled with well-being. The story unfolds as a call to the gods of great renown—those who have created light and strengthened the crossing, wise in sacrifice, all-knowing, with Indra at their head, immortal and upholding truth. The Maruts, born of Indra and commanded by Varuṇa, have taken their share of the sun’s light; to their assembly, thoughts are offered, for these noble ones have generated the sacrifice for the mighty. Indra with the Vasus is invoked to protect life, Aditi with the Ādityas to grant shelter; Rudra with the Rudras is prayed to be gracious, and Tvaṣṭṛ with the goddesses to bring good fortune. The invocation extends to Aditi, Heaven and Earth, the great truth, Indra and Viṣṇu, the Maruts—the great light—calling upon the gods, the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, and Savitṛ of good counsel for help. Sarasvatī is sought for wisdom, Varuṇa for firm law, Pūṣan, Viṣṇu in greatness, Vāyu, the Aśvins—all immortal gods, makers of prayer, all-knowing—are prayed to grant shelter and threefold protection from harm. The sacrifice is called to be strong, as are those worthy of it, the gods themselves, and the offerings; strong too are Heaven and Earth, upholding truth, and Parjanya, the mighty singer. Agni and Soma, praised for strength, are called upon, as are those worshipped by the gods, to grant shelter, threefold protection, and safety. The royal ones, steadfast in their vows and radiant in heaven, adorned with sacrifices, are invoked. Agni, the Hotṛ, upholder of truth, freed the waters at the slaying of Vṛtra, unharmed and pure. Heaven and Earth, following law, generated the waters, plants, and trees, all worthy of sacrifice, while the gods spread the shining midspace for support and shaped their own forms. The Ṛbhus, upholders of heaven with skillful hands, the winds, Parjanya, the thunderers, are called. May the waters and plants carry forth these songs, and Bhaga, the giver, and the strong respond to the call. The ocean, rivers, regions, midspace, the one-footed offspring, the thunderer, the flood—all are invoked, and Ahi Budhnya is asked to listen, along with all the gods and noble ones. Descendants of Manu are called to seek divine favor, to lead the sacrifice on the right path. The Adityas, Rudras, Vasus—generous givers—are asked to inspire these hymns. The divine Hotars, first priests, are followed with good intent on the path of truth, seeking the lord of the field, the neighbor. All immortal gods are prayed to grant their gifts. The Vasishthas, like ancestors, compose speech; the gods, desiring praise, like seers, are invoked for well-being. As pleased kinsmen fulfill desires, the gods are asked to drive away misfortune. Vasiṣṭha again honors the immortal gods, who extend through all worlds, praying for wide protection and blessings. A new vision dawns: the Father found a lofty insight, seven-headed, born of truth. He generated a fourth, universal offspring, from whom arose the hymn of praise for Indra. Proclaiming truth, shining straight, sons of heaven, heroes of the Asura, uphold the wise one’s path—the Angirases—holding the first abode of sacrifice in mind. Like swans with their companions, speaking together and breaking stone enclosures, Brhaspati roared aloud; he sent forth a song, the wise one sang out high. Two opened, one remained beyond; the cows stood hidden at the barrier of untruth. Brhaspati, seeking light in darkness, brought forth the three dawns, uncovering them. Splitting the stronghold in the west, Brhaspati cut through three together from the ocean, thundering like the sky, discovering the dawn, the sun, the cows, and the light. Indra struck Vala, the guardian of the cows, with his roar, desiring butter-clad wealth, making the Panis weep and releasing the cows. With true, shining companions, Indra shattered the iron fortress with his powers. Brahmanaspati, with mighty bulls and chosen ones, distributed the wealth through the heat of sweat. With true minds, they sought the lord of the cows, striving with their thoughts. Brhaspati, with mutual praise, released the dawns with their own yokes. Exalting Brhaspati with auspicious thoughts, roaring like a lion in the assembly, he is honored as mighty and victorious in every contest. When he gained the all-formed prize, he made the upper realms of heaven resound. Exalting Brhaspati, the mighty, the diverse ones bore the light as their possession. True blessings for long life are sought, even for the singer helped by divine gifts. May all hostilities be left behind; may heaven and earth hear every request. Indra, by his greatness, thundered over the serpent’s head, slew the dragon, released the seven rivers, and with the gods, heaven and earth, protected all. Like birds rising up, protecting themselves, their voices resound. Born from the mountain, the roaring ones, exulting, the hymns approach Brhaspati. With cows, the Angirases led him like Bhaga to Aryaman. In the assembly, like a couple, Mitra unites; Brhaspati is invoked for strength in the contest. The sacrificial wives, honored guests, radiant and flawless, were driven out from the mountains by Brhaspati, as barley is winnowed from chaff. Pouring forth, he cast down the honeyed source of truth; the Sun hurled a flame from the sky. Brhaspati, lifting the cows from the stone, split the earth’s skin as water splits a covering. With light, he dispelled the darkness from the midspace, as wind drives a shepherd from the water. Brhaspati, searching, scattered Vala as wind scatters a cloud, and brought forth the cows. When Brhaspati, with fire’s heat and hymns, split the stronghold of greedy Vala, he seized what was encircled, as a tongue laps up, and revealed the hidden treasures of the dawns. Brhaspati alone knew the names of the singers hidden in their dwelling; like breaking the shell of a bird’s egg, he brought forth the dawns from the mountain by his power. They saw the honey, enclosed and guarded, like a helpless fish in water; Brhaspati, with a roar, broke it out as one shakes a ladle from a tree. He found the light, found the fire, drove away darkness with his hymn; Brhaspati, from the body of Vala the cow, seized the marrow as one takes the joint from a limb. As leaves are stripped from trees by frost, so Brhaspati, unpitying, stripped Vala of the cows; he made what was not to be repeated, as Sun and Dawn rise apart. As fathers adorn the sky with stars, like a dark horse with white markings, they set darkness in the night and light in the day; Brhaspati split the rock and revealed the cows. Thus, through the prayers, deeds, and wisdom of the gods and sages, light, truth, and abundance are brought forth, the barriers of darkness are shattered, and the world is blessed with protection, well-being, and divine gifts.