In the sacred gathering, the priests began their invocation, turning first to Agni, the seer and purifier, the priest of all five peoples. With reverence, they welcomed him, inviting him to his radiant seat, prepared especially for his brilliance. To Agni, they offered the seat, acknowledging his splendor. Then, their thoughts turned to mighty Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt. They prayed that Indra would grant them sixteenfold protection, destroying all evil and any who harbored hatred against them. They received the seat for Mahendra, dedicating it to his greatness. With songs of praise, the assembly called out to Indra, the lover of offerings, the upholder of truth, the one who delights in the sacred drink. Their voices rose together, yearning for his presence, just as cows call longingly to their calf in the stalls. Turning again to Agni, they sang of all that is most excellent, offering up their best words to the radiant one. From Agni, as from a mighty source, arise wealth and strength. The priests invited Agni to approach, promising to speak many words to him, wishing that with each libation he would grow ever stronger. They prayed that the seasons themselves would spread their sacrifice, the months would protect their offering, and the year would uphold their rites, ensuring the safety of their progeny. They recalled the birth of the sage at the foot of the mountains, at the confluence of rivers, born from wisdom. Agni’s own birth, they remembered, was set high in heaven and on earth, born from the sacred drink. They beseeched him for mighty protection and lasting fame. The offering was then dedicated to Indra, worthy of worship, to Varuna, and to the Maruts, that these gods might grant them wide space in the world. Through these acts, the priests aspired to attain all noble powers among men, striving always for the highest. They prayed for prosperity—with heroes, with cattle, with horses, with all forms of nourishment, both bipeds and quadrupeds. They asked the gods to guide their sacrifice in harmony with the turning of the seasons. Agni was called to bring forth the wives of the gods, shining ones, and Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine craftsman, for the drinking of Soma. The goddesses were invoked to praise the sacrifice, and Neṣṭṛ, the priest, was invited to drink according to the season, for he is the holder of treasures. The giver of wealth was called upon to desire the offering and to stand forth, while Neṣṭṛ was urged to seek with the seasons. The Soma, pressed and pure, was offered to Indra with a gracious mind, inviting him to drink the best, to sit on the sacred grass and accept the offering into his belly. All the well-invoked gods were invited to come, to sit on the sacred grass, to delight in the offering. Tvaṣṭṛ, with the gods and their offspring, was asked to rejoice in the joyful assembly. The Soma was pressed to flow sweetly and with delight, its stream dedicated for Indra to drink. To the destroyer of demons, the universal protector, the priests called, inviting him to approach his seat, to sit in the vessel at the place of offering. They prayed that the seasons would nourish Agni, that the years, the sages, and the truthful ones would sustain him. They asked Agni to shine with heavenly brilliance, illuminating all four directions. Agni was entreated to unite, awaken, and rise up for great fortune, with his approach bringing no harm. The prayers of the Brahmans were offered for his glory, that others might not overshadow him. The priests chose Agni as their own, asking him to be auspicious for their protection, to be the slayer of foes and the conqueror of adversaries. Agni was asked to awaken in their homes, ever watchful and unfailing. They asked Agni to establish wealth for them there, so that those who had harmed them before would not bring him down. They prayed that disciplined strength would belong to Agni, and that his approacher would increase unopposed. With strength, Agni was urged to seize a long life; with friendship, to strive for that which is worthy of a friend. He was asked to stand among his kin and shine forth, to be invoked by kings. Agni was called to surpass all that is hidden, all that is secret, ignorance, and enmity. He was asked to overcome all evils and grant wealth with strong companions. Unassailable, all-knowing, unconquered, glorious Agni, upholder of sovereignty, was invoked to shine forth, releasing all human fears and protecting the people for their growth and blessing. Bṛhaspati and Savitar were called to awaken the chosen one, to guide him safely across, to make him grow for great good fortune, so that all the gods might rejoice in him. They prayed that he might dwell yonder, where Yama is, and asked Bṛhaspati to release him from any curse. The Aśvins were invoked to drive away death, and Agni, the physician of the gods, was asked to use his powers for healing. With joy, the priests declared that they had come forth from darkness into light, beholding the higher realm, reaching the god among gods—the Sun, the highest light. They marveled at Agni’s flames rising upward, his brilliant rays ascending, and praised the most radiant son, beautiful in form. Tanūnapāt, the wise Asura, the god among gods, all-knowing, was invoked to anoint their paths with honey and ghee. With honey and delight in the sacrifice, they praised Naraśaṃsa, Agni, and Savitar, the god well-worshipped and bestower of all blessings. The fire, anointed with ghee, praised with reverence, moved with might toward the shade, present in all offerings. He who delighted and gave excellent gifts, the most active and bestower of wealth, was invited to enjoy the greatness of Agni. All the divine doors attended upon Agni; all vows were established for him, spreading wide, ruling by his domain. The two divine maidens, Uṣas and Naktā, like women in the heavenly womb, were invoked to protect the sacrifice and the ritual. The two divine Hotṛs were asked to raise up the sacrifice, to praise Agni’s tongue, and to make the offering well-placed. The three goddesses—Iḍā, Sarasvatī, and Bhāratī—were invited to sit on the sacred grass, great and praised. Tvaṣṭṛ, wondrous in skill and manifold in form, was asked to grant extraordinary strength and bestow abundance and prosperity. The Lord of the forest was invoked, rejoicing among the gods, as Agni, the appeaser, prepared the offering. Finally, with the sacred word "Svāhā," Agni was asked to offer to Indra, and the priests prayed that all the gods would accept this oblation.