In the sacred ritual, the officiant approaches the offerings and speaks with reverence, invoking their power for strength and nourishment. He calls upon the winds, beseeching the divine Savitṛ to set them in motion for the most excellent work, asking that these unyoked ones flourish for Indra’s share—rich in offspring and free from disease or harm. He prays that neither thief nor malice may rule over them, and that they remain firm under the herdsman, protected and abundant, safeguarding the sacrificer’s cattle. He recognizes the offerings as purifiers of Vasu, identifying them with the sky and the earth, with the fire of Mātariśvan, all-pervading by the highest abode. He urges them to be steadfast, untouched by harm, and asks that the lord of sacrifice not injure them. Their purifying power is praised again: they are the purifier of Vasu with a hundred streams, with a thousand streams. The god Savitṛ is invoked to purify them thoroughly, and whatever desire has been drawn forth is acknowledged. The offerings are honored as the life, maker, and support of all. Indra’s share is assigned to them, along with Soma, and Viṣṇu is asked to protect the oblation. Turning to Agni, lord of vows, the priest declares his intention to observe the vow, seeking strength to accomplish it and its reward, moving from falsehood toward truth. He asks, “Who joins you?” and answers, “He joins you.” The joining is for a purpose, for work, for adornment. Protection is sought from all that is opposed, from adversaries who rise up. The priest calls upon Agni to burn away these adversaries and traverses the wide midspace. He addresses the yoke and its bearer, asking it to yoke those who yoke them, and praising it as the best carrier among the gods, most united, abundant, pleasing, and fit for divine offerings. To the unoffered, the place of offering, he asks for firmness and protection from harm. He invokes Viṣṇu to stride widely for the wind, to drive away opposition, and prays for the favor of the five. He takes what is pleasing for Agni, by the impulse of Savitṛ, the arms of the Aśvins, and the hands of Pūṣan, and dedicates it to Agni and Soma. For being and non-hostility, he takes the offering, wishing to attain the radiant world and establish strongholds on earth. Traversing the wide midspace, he seats the offering at the navel of the earth, in the lap of Aditi, asking Agni to protect the oblation. He purifies the offerings, standing in the purifier, invoking the two of Viṣṇu. By Savitṛ’s impulse, he purifies with an unbroken purifier and the sun’s rays. Divine waters are called to lead the sacrifice and the youthful lord of sacrifice. Indra’s choice for the slaying of Vṛtra is recalled, and the offerings are sprinkled for Agni and Soma, purifying themselves for the divine rite. Any impurity is cleansed. The offerings are shelter; opposition and adversaries are driven away. They are the skin of the Ādityas, and Aditi is asked to recognize them. They are stones, wooden pressing stones with broad bases, and the Ādityas are called to recognize their skin. The offerings are the body of Agni and the utterance of speech. For the favor of the gods, the pressing stone of wood is taken, and the oblation is offered to the gods, inviting the maker of oblations. The rooster, honey-tongued, is invoked to speak forth strength and nourishment. Through it, the priest hopes to overcome, gathering after gathering. Grown by rain, it is recognized by rain. Opposition and adversaries are driven away, and Vāyu is asked to separate them. Savitṛ, golden-handed, is called to grasp the offering with an unbroken hand. Boldness is invoked, and Agni is asked to drive away the flesh-eater, bringing the worshipper of the gods. The offering is firm, making the earth firm, and is placed for priesthood, nobility, kinship, and the slaying of the enemy. Agni is asked to receive the prayer and make firm the support of the midspace. The offering is placed for priesthood, nobility, kinship, and the slaying of the enemy, fulfilling all desires. The heap is to be well-heaped and heated by the austerity of the Bhṛgus and Aṅgirases. The offerings are protection; demons and enemies are cast away. They are the skin of Aditi, recognized by her, and Dhiṣaṇā, mountain-born, recognized by the mountains and as the pillar of the sky. Grain is honored, nourishing the gods. It is dedicated for breath—upward, pervading, and for sight. Savitṛ, golden-handed, is asked to grant a long, unbroken life. The offering is the milk of the earths. With Savitṛ’s impulse, the arms of the Aśvins, and Pūṣan’s hands, the offering is mixed, together with waters and plants, with their juices and rich, sweet ones. For the one to be generated, the offering is united. It is for Agni, for Agni and Soma, dedicated for nourishment. The hot drink, all-vital, is wide-spreading, and the lord of sacrifice is asked to spread it widely. Agni is asked not to harm its skin, and Savitṛ is invoked to cook it on the highest heaven. The priest reassures the offering, asking it not to fear or be confused. The sacrifice and the sacrificer’s offspring are firmly established. The offering is dedicated for the third, second, and first. With Savitṛ’s impulse, the arms of the Aśvins, and Pūṣan’s hands, the offering is placed, prepared for the gods. It is the right arm of Indra, with a thousand points and a hundred powers, and Vāyu, with sharp energy, the weapon against the foe. The earth is addressed, born for the gods, asking not to harm its root or the plants. The offering is sent to the enclosure, the cow-pen, and the sky is asked to rain. Savitṛ is invoked to bind, with a hundred snares, those who hate and whom we hate, so that they may not meet. Again, the earth is asked not to let the sacrificer be slain, and the offering is sent to the enclosure and cow-pen, with the same prayer for rain and binding of adversaries, and not to fall to the sky. With the Gāyatrī, Triṣṭubh, and Jagatī metres, the offering is encompassed, praised for its subtlety, auspiciousness, gentleness, pleasantness, strength, and nourishment. Long ago, the fierce poison was removed, making the earth fit for living beings. That which is spread with the moon and offerings is worshipped by the wise. The sprinkling vessels are prepared, and the offering is the weapon against the foe. Demons and enemies are driven and burned away. The offering, unsharpened and destroyer of rivals, is anointed for victory in battle, and the mare is likewise anointed for victory. The offering is the girdle for Aditi and the covering of Viṣṇu, dedicated for strength. With unerring sight, it is beheld as the tongue of Agni, friendly to the gods, present at every sacred place for every Yajus. With Savitṛ’s impulse, the offering is purified with the flawless strainer and the rays of the sun. It is brilliance, bright, immortal, the abode and name dear to the gods, the inviolable place of sacrifice. The black earth is addressed, best for the sacrificial pit, sprinkled to please Agni. The altar is sprinkled for the sacred grass, which is sprinkled for the ladles. The covering for Aditi and the post for Viṣṇu are spread, wool-soft, for the gods to sit upon. Svāhā is offered to the lord of the earth, the worlds, and beings. May Gandharva Viśvāvasu place the offering around for safety, as the enclosure of the sacrificer, with Agni invoked by Iḍā. The right arm of Indra is invoked for safety, and Mitra and Varuṇa are asked to place it to the north with firm law. Agni, radiant sage, is kindled as vītihotra, the great one at the sacrifice. The kindling is praised, and Sūrya is asked to protect it from any curse. The arms of Savitṛ are invoked, and the wool-soft offering is spread for the gods to sit upon. The Vasus, Rudras, and Ādityas are invited to sit. Ghṛtācī, the ladle, upabhṛt, and steadfast, is named and asked to sit with dear radiance. Steadfast, they sit in the womb of truth; Viṣṇu is called to protect them, the sacrifice, the lord of sacrifice, and the sacrificer. Agni, winner of strength, is anointed as he proceeds, victorious in strength. Salutation is given to the gods, svadhā to the ancestors, and good self-control is prayed for. The priest prays to bring clarified butter to the gods without spilling. With Viṣṇu’s stride, he asks not to overstep. Agni’s shadow is sought, rich in goods, as the station of Viṣṇu. Here, Indra’s heroic deed was performed, standing upright at the altar. Agni’s office as Hotṛ and messenger is acknowledged. Heaven and Earth are asked to protect him, as Sviṣṭakṛt, with ghee as oblation for the gods and for Indra. Light is joined with light, completing the sacred act.