He who moves within all beings, radiant and resplendent, draws in the breath and sends it forth again. This great buffalo, the mighty one, has revealed the heavens to sight. In thirty abodes he shines forth, his light pervading all, and to the swift-winged one—speech itself—he is ever present, dwelling among the luminous ones in every place. As birds take flight and vanish, so too do his rays depart at dusk; like stars that fade with the coming of night, they return to the sun, the all-seeing one. His signs are subtle, unseen by ordinary eyes, yet his rays spread among people everywhere, shining like little fires in the darkness. O Sun, you are the swift one, the all-seeing, the maker of light. You illumine all the shining realms and turn back the hosts of gods, men, and all the world, so that all may behold your rising. With pure vision, O Varuṇa, you see all people as they move about their lives. Each day, O Sun, you rise and measure the wide expanse of the sky with your rays, observing all births and happenings. You have yoked seven swift mares, daughters of the chariot, to carry you on your journey; self-yoked, they draw your shining chariot. Seven bright ones, with flaming hair, bear you, the all-seeing god, across the heavens. Thus, the path leads to the forested mountain, to the great ones. O bountiful Lord, know the way of praise; direct the powers of those who came before, O much-desiring one, Lord of strength. With these, for you, with blessings and sweet food, the radiant and wise Indra is invoked for strength, not for want. So, O Śakra, wielder of the bolt, come for wealth and vigor! Most mighty and generous to men, come, drink and rejoice. Be the lord of vigor, master of riches, most generous among the strong. Let Indra, the most bountiful and wise, guide us like the sun in brightness; let us praise him who knows. For Śakra, Indra, is master of that strength, the unconquered victor whom we call upon. May he scatter our haters, the great and the true. For the gaining of wealth we call upon Indra, the unconquered victor—may he scatter our haters again and again. For your former pressed Soma, O stone-armed one, for exhilaration, place your favor upon us, O gracious one. Fulfillment is praised, most mighty; truly, Śakra, accept this new gift. Let us speak of the hero who, as the slayer of Vṛtra, moves among men, who walks among the cows as a friend, gracious and without enmity. Now come the five purīṣa-steps: indeed, O Agni; indeed, O Indra; indeed, O Pūṣan; indeed, O gods. Om, indeed, O gods. Thus are the five purīṣa-steps; thus, the first half of the first uttara: Asita, Kāśyapa, or Devala. Gāyatrī. Soma, the purifier. O men, sing to the purifier, to Indu; the gods approach him. The Atharvāṇas approach you with sweet milk, O god, for the divine one. Purify for us, bringing welfare to the cow, to the people, to the charioteer, to the king, and to the plants. Kaśyapa, son of Marīci. Gāyatrī. Soma, the purifier. With flashing brilliance and resounding light, the bright Somas, the cow-headed ones, flow forth. Urged on by the priests, the invigorator advances to the prize, like victorious men taking their seats. May Soma, having prospered, come together for our well-being, O wise one; purify yourself for the vision of the sun. A hundred Vaikhānasa-sages, Gāyatrī, Soma, the purifier—for you, O sage, the streams of the invigorator have flowed forth like swift horses seeking fame. To the vessel flowing with honey, to the imperishable water, the hymns hasten. To the ocean the drops have gone, like cows to their stable; they have reached the womb of truth. Bharadvāja, son of Bṛhaspati. Gāyatrī. Agni. O Agni, come for the offering, praised, to receive the oblation; be seated as the Hotṛ on the sacred grass. You, whom the Angiras kindle with kindling sticks and ghee, O youngest, of great radiance—O god, you bring us wide renown, O great Agni, splendid heroism. Viśvāmitra, son of Gāthin, or Jamadagni. Gāyatrī. Mitra and Varuṇa. O Mitra and Varuṇa, pour out for us, with clarified butter, the abundance of cows; with honey, O wise ones, the realms. Wide-famed, strengthened by homage, by your greatness you rule over skill, with the longest and purest vows. Praising with Jamadagni, sit in the womb of truth; drink the Soma, grown by truth. Irīmbiṭhi, son of Kāṇva. Gāyatrī. Indra. Come hither, delighted, O Indra, drink this Soma; this sacred grass is my seat. O Indra, may your two tawny steeds yoked with the power of prayer bring you here; listen to our prayers. O Indra, drinker of Soma, we, the Soma-offerers, call upon you with the power of prayer when the Soma is pressed. O Indra and Agni, come here with words to the pressed Soma, most excellent in the sky; protect this offering, inspired by thought. O Indra and Agni, together with the singer, the conscious sacrifice advances; with this Soma, protect us.