In the sacred ritual, the devotee begins with heartfelt invocations, recognizing the divine as the very milk of the great ones, the source of brilliance and vision. With reverence, he asks, “Grant me brilliance; grant me sight,” acknowledging the divine as the pupil of Vṛtra’s eye. He seeks purification from the lord of consciousness, the lord of speech, and the god Savitṛ, praying to be cleansed through the pure, unbroken filter of the sun’s rays. He appeals to the lord of the filter to grant him the pure desires of the heart. Turning to the gods, he approaches them at the sacrifice, seeking their favor and blessings. He offers svāhā, the sacred exclamation, from the mind, from heaven and earth, from the atmosphere, and from the wind, weaving the worlds together in the ritual. For intention, wisdom, consecration, austerity, Sarasvatī, Pūṣan, and the divine waters, he offers oblations to Agni and Bṛhaspati, invoking heaven, earth, and the vast atmosphere. He prays that every mortal may seek friendship with the divine leader, striving for wealth and glory for prosperity. The devotee acknowledges the art of Ṛc and Sāman, holding them firmly, beseeching them not to abandon the sacrifice. Recognizing them as shelter, he asks for protection and offers homage, pleading not to be harmed. He invokes the strength of Aṅgiras, the wool-yielder, asking for that strength to be placed within him. He recognizes the binding of Soma, the shelter of Viṣṇu, the womb of Indra, and prays for the field to be fruitful and the tree to stand upright, protecting him from harm and adversity. Agni, the priest and sacrificial fire, along with the sacred tree, are called to establish the vow. Divine insight, gracious and auspicious, is invoked for success and brilliance. The gods born of mind, skilled in wisdom and will, are asked to protect and guard the ritual. He prays to the waters to be sweet, nourishing, and easy to serve, wishing for health, freedom from disease, and innocence from these immortal, truth-upholding waters. He releases the waters, not the offspring, inviting sin-removers to enter and be born of the earth. Agni is asked to keep watch and grant vigor, protecting and awakening the devotee. He prays for his mind, life, breath, self, sight, and hearing to return, seeking Vaiśvānara Agni’s unassailable protection against misfortune. Agni is praised as the guardian of vows among gods and mortals, worthy of sacrifices. The devotee asks Savitṛ to grant wealth and fulfill desires. He recognizes the radiant form and brilliance, chosen with devotion for Viṣṇu, and asks that it shine forth. He seeks to enter the mechanism of the divine body, acknowledging the bright one, the moon, the immortal, the Vaiśvadeva. The devotee recognizes consciousness, mind, wisdom, skill, the warrior, the fit-for-sacrifice, Aditi, and the two-headed one, praying for auspicious growth in the east and west. Mitra is asked to bind to the path, Pūṣan to protect on the road, and Indra to oversee. Family approval is sought—from mother, father, brother, womb-mate, companion, and herd-mate. The goddess is invited to go to the god, with Rudra guiding her to Indra and Soma for well-being, and the friend of Soma is asked to return. He acknowledges Vasvi, Aditi, Aditya, Rudra, and Chandra, praying for Bṛhaspati’s favor and Rudra’s approach with the Vasus. Touching the head of the Adityas in the divine sacrifice, he recognizes them as the ghee-filled step of earth and Iḍā, inviting them to dwell with him as kin, the source of wealth, and prays not to be separated from it. Through wisdom, skill, and shining vision, he joins with the goddess, asking not to lose his life, self, or belonging, and prays to see her hero in her presence. He assigns shares of the Gāyatrī, Triṣṭubh, and Jagatī meters to Soma, seeking sovereignty over the meters, and asks the skilled ones to seek out the divine brilliance. He praises Savitṛ—the wise, true, treasure-holder, beloved, inspired sage—whose lofty thought and radiance shine forth. For the offspring, he prays, “Let them breathe after you, and you after them.” He purchases the bright one with brightness, the moon with the moon, the immortal with immortality. The cow is united, the moons are with him; he recognizes the body of austerity and the color of Prajāpati, purchased with the supreme beast, and prays to nourish a thousandfold abundance. He invites Mitra as a good friend, asks the radiant one to enter Indra’s wide space, and prays for protection from the shining, flaming, dexterous-handed fire, the Soma-purchasers. He asks Agni to drive away evil conduct and rise up with life and immortality. He seeks the path to well-being, free from harm, where all foes are warded off and wealth is gained. Recognizing the skin of the Adityas, he asks it to sit always with them. The bull is seen propping up the sky, measuring the atmosphere and earth, while the sovereign sits among all worlds, fulfilling the ordinances of Varuṇa. Varuṇa stretches the atmosphere in the forests, places strength among horses, milk among cows, resolve in hearts, fire among villages, the sun in the sky, and Soma in the mountains. The devotee ascends to the eye of the sun, the pupil of Agni’s eye, journeying with the shining, wise ones. He yokes two oxen, inspired by sacred knowledge, to go to the house of the sacrificer for well-being. The Lord of Speech is asked to move forth to all abodes, hidden from those who encircle or block, wolves, and evil-doers. He becomes a hawk, flying to the house of the sacrificer, marking the accomplishment. Homage is paid to the eye of Mitra and Varuṇa, and the great god, worshipping truth and praising Sūrya, the far-seeing, god-born sign, son of heaven. He acknowledges the support, pillar, and seat of truth for Varuṇa, asking to sit in that seat. He prays that all abodes worshipped with oblation may encompass Soma, asking Soma to be strong and move forth among difficult places. He recognizes the body of Agni and Soma for Viṣṇu, hospitality for the guest, appointing for the eagle and bearer of Soma, and for Agni, for the increase of wealth, all for Viṣṇu. He acknowledges the origin of Agni, the two vigorous ones, Urvaśī, life, Purūravas, and churns them with the Gāyatrī, Triṣṭubh, and Jagatī metres. He prays that both be of one mind, conscious, unstained, not harming the sacrifice or its lord, and asks Jātavedas to be auspicious. Within Agni, Agni moves, the son of seers, protector from curses, invoked gently at the sacrifice, carrying oblation to the gods without fail. For approach, surrounding, body protection, Śākvara, and power, he takes up invincible strength, unconquered among gods, protector from curses, seeking the true path and praying not to be placed among the pale ones. Thus, the ritual unfolds, weaving together prayers, offerings, and invocations, seeking purity, strength, wisdom, protection, and abundance, all in reverence to the divine forces that sustain and guide the cosmos.