The Ashvins, divine twins, joined with Soma and Namuci the Asura, gathered in sacred companionship with Sarasvatī. Together, they drank deeply of the life-giving Soma, their energies united in purpose, all lending their aid to mighty Indra in his endeavors. Like loving parents protecting their child, the Ashvins watched over Indra, sheltering him with their wisdom and powers. Sarasvatī, too, drank the Soma with Maghavan—Indra—her vibrant energies strengthening him. In this gathering, horses, bulls, oxen, cows, and sheep, released and offered in sacrifice, were consecrated to the wise creator, the one who delights in Soma. With a heart full of devotion, a lovely thought was composed for Agni, the divine fire. For Agni, the offering was prepared, as clarified butter fills the ladle and Soma fills the cup. The supplicants prayed for wealth—strength abundant in heroes, renowned, and great in glory. Through their energy, the Ashvins bestowed sight; Sarasvatī, through breath, gave vitality; speech granted strength to Indra, and for him, the senses were established. The Ashvins were invoked to come, bringing riches full of cattle and horses, while the Rudras, leaders of men, were called to approach with sovereignty. For those blessed with such might and wealth, neither outsider nor insider, nor any with hostile intent, nor any mortal enemy, could overpower them. The Ashvins were entreated to bring wealth shining like tawny gold, opening the paths for all. Sarasvatī, pure, rich in horses, and abundant, was called to graciously accept the sacrifice—she who is wise and wealthy. Inspirer of noble words, awakener of good thoughts, Sarasvatī established the sacrifice. Great and flowing, she awakened understanding, shining forth and illuminating all thoughts. Indra, of brilliant radiance, was invited to partake in the pressed libations, the pure offerings filtered with skill and ready for him. He was called, inspired by prayer and invoked by the wise, to approach the hymns of the worshippers and the pressed Soma. Swiftly, the tawny-haired Indra was urged to come to the hymns, to place the longing of the people in the pressed Soma. The Ashvins were called to drink the honeyed Soma together with Sarasvatī, and Indra, mighty slayer of Vṛtra, was invited to accept the Soma drink. In this sacred atmosphere, Varuṇa was invoked: “Hear this invocation, O Varuṇa, and be gracious today; those who lack protection have turned to you.” With prayer and praise, the sacrificer sought Varuṇa with offerings, pleading for his grace and attentiveness, begging that he not take away their life. Agni, knowing Varuṇa’s will, was asked to protect the people from the god’s wrath, to drive away all hatred, shining brightly as the most fit for sacrifice. Agni was entreated to be the nearest protector at the dawn, to propitiate Varuṇa, to bring him near, to be gracious and easy to invoke. Then, Aditi, the great mother of the righteous and spouse of truth, was invoked for help—she of mighty rule, undeceiving, wide-expanding, giving good shelter and excellent guidance. The people prayed to ascend the well-constructed earth and flawless sky, guided by Aditi, to reach the divine, radiant, sinless, unsullied boat for their well-being. They wished to ascend the good boat, unsullied and sinless, with a hundred oars, for their welfare. Mitrā and Varuṇa were called to pour forth abundance—cows with ghee—to sweeten the realms with honey. Their arms were beseeched for protection, for abundance, for renown among people, and for their invocation to be heard. The swift ones, devoted to the gods, were asked to bring happiness in the offerings, to drive away serpent, wolf, and demons, and to ward off all disease. In every contest, the swift ones were prayed to protect, and in wealth, the wise immortals were asked to know the truth. They were invited to drink the honey, rejoice, be satisfied, and proceed by the paths of the gods. Agni, kindled and well-kindled with fuel, worthy of choice, was joined by the Gāyatrī meter, threefold strength, the cow, and the vital power. The guardian of the body, pure in vow, and Sarasvatī, with the Uṣṇih meter, twofold strength, the cow, and the vital power, were present. Agni, to be praised with Iḍā, Soma the immortal, the Anuṣṭup meter, fivefold strength, the cow, and the vital power, all joined in. Agni, with a splendid seat, accompanied by Pūṣan, immortal, with the Bṛhatī meter, threefold calf, the cow, and the vital power, was invoked. The great divine directions, Bṛhaspati the priest, the Paṅkti meter, fourth strength, the cow, and the vital power, were included. The dawns, youthful and beautiful, and all the immortal gods, with the Triṣṭup meter, sixth strength, the cow, and the vital power, took their place. The two divine Hotṛs, healers, united with Indra, the Jagatī meter, strength, the bull, the cow, and the vital power, were invoked. The three goddesses—Iḍā, Sarasvatī, Bhāratī—the Maruts, the clans, the Virāṭ meter, seventh strength, the cow as a milch-cow, and the vital power, were present. Tvaṣṭṛ the shaper, Indra and Agni, increasers of nourishment, the Dvipadā meter, strength, the bull, the cow as a bull, and the vital power, were gathered. The vanaspati, as pacifier, Savitṛ bestowing fortune, the Kakubh meter, eighth strength, the cow as a heifer, and the vital power, were invoked. Varuṇa, with good rule, was asked to make the sacrifice successful with ‘svāhā’, to make the remedy; the Aticchandā meter, great bull, the cow, and the vital power, joined in. With the season of spring, the gods, the Vasus, praised with the threefold hymn, with the brilliance of the Rathantara, the oblation, Indra, and the vital power, were celebrated. With summer, the gods, the Rudras, were praised in the fifteenth hymn; with great glory, they gave strength, offered oblation to Indra, and bestowed vitality. With the rainy season, the Ādityas were praised in the seventeenth hymn; with manifold and universal might, they gave oblation to Indra and bestowed vitality. Thus, with devotion and reverence, the gods were invoked, the offerings made, and the blessings of strength, vitality, and abundance sought from the divine.