With reverence and purpose, the sacrificer began his sacred work, taking up each element of the rite with devotion and care. He declared, “For the sake of being, for harmony and non-hostility, I take you. May I reach the radiant world; may strongholds be established upon the earth. As I traverse the vast midspace, I seat you at the very navel of the earth, in the gentle lap of Aditi herself. O Agni, protect this offering.” Turning to the implements of purification, he addressed them: “You stand in the purifier, O sacred pair of Viṣṇu. By the impulse of Savitṛ, I purify you with an unbroken stream, with the rays of the sun. Divine waters, lead forth this sacrifice, lead the lord of sacrifice—well-formed and youthful—forward today.” He recalled the ancient alliance: “Indra chose you for the slaying of Vṛtra, and you chose Indra for that same deed. Now, you are sprinkled—pleasing to Agni, pleasing to Agni and Soma. Purify yourselves for the divine rite, for the worship of the gods; if any impurity clings to you, I purify it away.” He took up the sheltering implements: “You are shelter itself. All that is opposed, all adversaries, are driven away. You are the skin of the Ādityas; may Aditi recognize you. You are a stone, a pressing stone of broad base, fashioned from wood; may the Ādityas know your covering.” He honored the tools: “You are the body of Agni, the utterance of speech. For the gods’ favor, I take you. You are the great pressing stone, of wood. O Śamī, offer this oblation to the gods, well-offered. Come, O maker of offerings, come, come, come.” He invoked the rooster: “You are the rooster, honey-tongued; speak forth strength and nourishment. By you, may we overcome, gathering after gathering. Grown by rain, may rain recognize you. All that is opposed is driven away. May Vāyu separate you, and may Savitṛ, golden-handed, grasp you with an unbroken hand.” Next, he called for boldness: “You are boldness. O Agni, drive away from us, from Agni, the flesh-eater; expel him. Bring the worshipper of the gods. You are firm; make the earth firm. For the priesthood, for the nobility, for kinship, and for the slaying of the enemy, I place you.” He prayed for support: “O Agni, receive this prayer. Make firm the support of the midspace. You are the supporter; make firm the heaven. For all desires, I place you; be heaped up, well-heaped. By the austerity of the Bhṛgus and Aṅgirases, be heated.” He invoked protection: “You are protection. May the demon be cast away, may enemies be cast away. You are the skin of Aditi; may Aditi recognize you. You are Dhiṣaṇā, mountain-born; may the mountains recognize you. You are the pillar of the sky, Dhiṣaṇā, daughter of the mountain; may the mountain know you.” He offered grain: “You are grain; nourish the gods. For the breath, for the upward breath, for the pervading breath, I dedicate you. May Savitṛ, golden-handed, grant you a long, unbroken life. For sight, I dedicate you. You are the milk of the earths.” He mixed the offerings: “With the impulse of Savitṛ, with the arms of the Aśvins, with the hands of Pūṣan, I mix you. Together with the waters and the plants, with their juices, may the sweet and rich be mingled.” To the one to be generated, he united the offering: “This is for Agni, this is for Agni and Soma. For nourishment, I dedicate you. You are the hot drink, all-vital. May the lord of the sacrifice spread you wide. May Agni not harm your skin. May Savitṛ cook you on the highest heaven.” He calmed the offering: “Do not fear, do not be confused. The sacrifice is firmly established; may the sacrificer’s offspring be firmly established. For the third, the second, and the first, I dedicate you.” He placed the prepared offering: “With the impulse of Savitṛ, the arms of the Aśvins, and the hands of Pūṣan, I place you, ready for the gods. You are the right arm of Indra, with a thousand points, a hundred powers. You are Vāyu, sharp, the weapon against the foe.” He prayed to Earth: “O Earth, born for the gods, let me not harm your root, O plants. Go to the enclosure, to the cow-pen. May the sky rain for you. Bind, O Savitṛ, with a hundred snares, whoever hates us and whom we hate—let us not meet him.” He begged: “Let me not be slain, O Earth, from this place of sacrifice. Do not fall to the sky, let your drop not fall to the sky. Go to the enclosure, to the cow-pen. May the sky rain for you. Bind, O Savitṛ, with a hundred snares, whoever hates us and whom we hate—let us not meet him.” He encompassed the offering: “With the Gāyatrī metre, with the Triṣṭubh, with the Jagatī, I encompass you. You are subtle, auspicious, gentle, pleasant, full of strength and nourishment.” He recalled the ancient healing: “Long ago, the fierce poison was removed, and the earth made fit for beings. That which I spread with the moon and with offerings, the wise worship. Prepare the sprinkling vessels; you are the weapon against the foe.” He declared victory: “The demon and enemies are driven and burned away. You are unsharpened, destroyer of rivals; I anoint you for victory in battle, O mare.” He took up the girdle: “You are the girdle for Aditi, the covering of Viṣṇu. For strength, I dedicate you. With unerring sight, I behold you. You are the tongue of Agni, friendly to the gods; be with me at every sacred place, for every Yajus.” He purified: “With the impulse of Savitṛ, I purify you with the flawless strainer, with the rays of the sun. You are brilliance, bright, immortal, the abode and name dear to the gods, the inviolable place of sacrifice.” He honored the altar: “You are black, best for the sacrificial pit; I sprinkle you, pleasing to Agni. You are the altar, pleasing to the sacred grass. You are the sacred grass, pleasing to the ladles.” He spread the seat: “You are the covering for Aditi, the post for Viṣṇu. I spread you, wool-soft, for the gods to sit upon. Svāhā to the lord of the earth, the worlds, and beings.” He invoked the Gandharva: “May Viśvāvasu place you for the safety of all, as the enclosure of the sacrificer; Agni, invoked by Iḍā. May Mitra and Varuṇa place you to the north, with firm law, for safety.” He kindled Agni: “We kindle you, O radiant sage, as the vītihotra, the great one at the sacrifice.” He honored the kindling: “You are the kindling; may Sūrya protect you from any curse. You are the arms of Savitṛ. I spread you, wool-soft, for the gods to sit upon. May the Vasus, Rudras, and Ādityas sit with you.” He honored Ghṛtācī: “You are Ghṛtācī, the ladle, the upabhṛt, the steadfast—always sit here with your dear radiance, O beloved. Steadfast, they sat in the womb of truth; O Viṣṇu, protect them, the sacrifice, the lord of sacrifice, and me.” He anointed Agni: “Agni, winner of strength, I anoint you, victorious, as you proceed. Salutations to the gods, svadhā to the ancestors. May I possess good self-control.” He prayed for success: “Today, may I bring clarified butter to the gods without spilling. With your stride, O Viṣṇu, may I not overstep. O Agni, may I stand in your shadow, rich in goods; you are the station of Viṣṇu. Here Indra performed his heroic deed and stood upright at the altar.” He recognized Agni’s offices: “Agni, yours is the office of the Hotṛ, the duty of messenger. May Heaven and Earth protect you. May they, as Sviṣṭakṛt, with ghee for the gods and Indra, protect you. Light is joined with light.” He prayed for Indra’s power: “May Indra place his power in me; may the generous one grant us wealth. May our blessings be true. Called upon, may Earth, our mother, approach me. Agni, from the Agnīdh, svāhā.” He called upon Heaven: “May Heaven, our father, approach me. Agni, from the Agnīdh, svāhā. I accept you at the impulse of Savitṛ, with the Aśvins’ arms, with Pūṣan’s hands. Agni, I taste you with the tongue.” He entrusted the sacrifice: “This sacrifice, O Savitṛ, they declare to Bṛhaspati, to Brahman. By it, protect the sacrifice, the lord of the sacrifice, and me.” He wished for enjoyment: “May the light of the mind enjoy the ghee; may Bṛhaspati extend this sacrifice. May the sacrifice be unharmed; may the All-gods rejoice here. Om, proceed.” He blessed Agni: “This is your kindling, O Agni; by it, grow and be filled. May we too grow and be filled. Agni, winner of strength, I anoint you, victorious, as you move.” He affirmed prosperity: “I do not reject the prosperity of Agni and Soma; may I not drive it away by my action. Agni and Soma, drive away those who hate us, and whom we hate; by the act of strength, I drive them away. I do not reject the prosperity of Indra and Agni; may I not drive it away by my action. Indra and Agni, drive away those who hate us, and whom we hate; by the act of strength, I drive them away.” He invoked the deities: “For the Vasus, you; for the Rudras, you; for the Ādityas, you. May Heaven and Earth join together. May Mitra and Varuṇa water you with rain. May the birds fly forth, shaking their wings. Go, O Pṛṣatī chariots of the Maruts; become the spotted cow, go to heaven, and from there bring us rain. O Agni, guardian of sight, protect my sight.” He sought Agni’s favor: “O Agni, whom you have surrounded with your hands, hiding the enclosure, that favor I bring to you with devotion; let no one else deprive you of it. The beloved path of Agni has been drunk.” He praised the offerings: “The portions flow together, great and placed on the sacred grass, and the gods are the enclosers. All the gods praise this speech; sit on this barhis and rejoice. Svāhā to the enclosure.” At last, he addressed the ladles: “You two are Ghṛtācī, yoked at the yoke; drink, be in good favor, place good favor in me. With reverence and salutation, approach; stand firm in the auspicious part of the sacrifice, and stand firm in my auspicious part.” Thus, through invocation, purification, offering, and prayer, the sacrificer wove together the sacred elements, seeking harmony, protection, nourishment, and blessing for himself, the gods, and all beings.