With solemn intent, the sacred rites commenced. The offering was consecrated: for Yama, the lord of righteousness and death; for the sacrifice itself; for the heat and radiance of the sun. May the god Savitar anoint this act with sweetness, and may the touch of the earth remain protected. The offering was recognized as flame, as brilliance, as heat itself. In every direction, blessings were invoked. In the east, under Agni’s lordship, the plea was for life unassailable. In the south, under Indra’s might, came the prayer for offspring. In the west, under Savitar’s guidance, sight was sought. In the north, under Dhātar’s care, the wish was for wealth and nourishment. Above, under Bṛhaspati’s wisdom, strength was desired. Thus, protection from all harm was requested, for the mind, swift as a horse, to remain steadfast. With the Maruts, the offering was adorned with splendor, and the touch of heaven was invoked to be sweet—sweetness upon sweetness. The embryo of the gods, the father of thoughts, the lord of all creatures, had united with Savitar, shining together with the sun. May Agni unite with Agni, shining with divine Savitar and the sun—svāhā! May Agni join with austerity, and again shine with Savitar and the sun. The supporter of heaven shines by austerity; on earth, the immortal god born of penance upholds the gods. The youthful gods were asked to restrain speech within. A vision was revealed: the herdsman, never falling, moving forward and backward along his paths; clad in the same garment, he traversed both straight and crooked ways, turning back within the worlds. The divine heat, lord of all beings, minds, speech, and words, was praised as the god among gods, protector of the gods. He was invited to appear for divine service, bringing sweetness among the sweet and honeyed ones. Consecration was offered for the heart, for the mind, for the sky, and for the sun—raising the sacrifice upward among the gods in heaven. The god was addressed as father, implored to be a gentle father—homage was paid, with a plea for no harm. With Tvaṣṭṛ’s power, the wish was for sons and cattle, for offspring and companionship, unharmed and flourishing. The day and the night, each with their sign, were invoked to accept the bright light—svāhā! By the impulse of Savitar, by the arms of the Aśvins, by Pūṣan’s hands, the girdle of Aditi was fastened. The goddesses were called: Iḍā, Aditi, Sarasvatī, and others unnamed, all invited to the rite. A girdle was offered for Aditi, a headband for Indrāṇī. Pūṣan was addressed, and the Gharma was offered. Blessings were sought for the Aśvins, for Sarasvatī, for Indra—again and again, with Indra’s favor. Sarasvatī’s nourishing breast, bringer of joy and treasures, was invoked to bestow all desirable things. The wide earth and atmosphere were traversed in spirit. The metres Gāyatrī and Triṣṭubh were acknowledged, enclosing the offering with Heaven and Earth, and presenting it through the atmosphere. Indra and the Aśvins were invited to drink the Gharma of honey’s essence, as the Vasus and worshipful ones. The ray of Sūrya, bringer of rain, was hailed. Vāta, the wind, was saluted in many forms: as ocean, as the flowing one, the invincible, the unassailable, the helper, the swift. Indra, with wealth and the company of Rudra and the Ādityas, was hailed; as the smiter of foes and with the power of the Ṛbhus and Bṛhaspati, all the gods were honored. Yama, the Angirases, and the ancestors received offerings—hail to Gharma, and to the ancestors. All directions and all gods, especially those seated to the south, were called to partake. The Aśvins were invited to drink the honeyed Gharma offered with svāhā. The sacrifice was placed in heaven, again and again. Agni, worthy of sacrifice, was saluted for the Yajus formulas. The Aśvins were invited to drink the Gharma of the heart, under daytime protections, and homage was paid to the supporters, Heaven and Earth. Let the Aśvins drink the Gharma, let Heaven and Earth consume it, that the gifts may remain here. Prayers for enrichment were made: for nourishment, vigor, priesthood, sovereignty, and for Heaven and Earth. Law was invoked, and the establishment of powers—priesthood, sovereignty, and the people. Pūṣan, the swift one, was honored; as were the stones, the responding ones, the ancestors with upright barhis, the Gharma-purifying ones, Heaven and Earth, and all the gods. Rudra and his invoked aspect were saluted; light was honored with light. The day and night, each with their sign, were asked to accept the good light—hail! The sweet offering was invoked for Agni, best of Indra, and for the god Gharma, with a plea for harmlessness. The mighty one, the priest, became the greatness of heaven, spreading forth. By his fame, he was to settle upon the earth—great, shining, beloved by the gods. The reddish smoke of Agni was sent forth, most excellent and beautiful. Whatever Gharma was divine, in the Gāyatrī and the offering place, may it come and settle; whatever Gharma was in the atmosphere, in the Triṣṭubh and the fire altar, may it come and settle; whatever Gharma was on earth, in the Jagatī and the assembly, may it come and settle—hail! For the protection of sovereignty and the strength of the priesthood, the body was to be guarded. By righteousness, new prosperity was sought. The fourfold garland, the navel of truth, the wide-spreading—may that grant all life, full life. May hatred and decline depart, even from those of different vows, that all may be together. The essence of heat was invoked, that it may grow and fill the offering, and that all may grow and be filled. The mighty bull, tawny and great, roared like Mitra, visible to all; with the sun he flashed forth—the ocean, the treasure. May the waters and plants be friendly, like good companions; unfriendly to those who hate us or whom we hate. Emerging from darkness into light, those present beheld the higher world, reaching the god among gods—the sun, the highest light. The kindling was invoked to be kindled; as fuel and brilliance, it was asked to place that brilliance within. As vast as heaven and earth, as far as the seven rivers extend, so great was the draught of strength taken for oneself—undiminished. May that great power, skill, and resolve be present. The threefold heat shone forth, radiant with Brahman and brilliance. The essence of milk was drawn up, to be drunk year after year. May energy, will, skill, graciousness, the gracious fire-offering, the draught drunk by Indra and eaten by Prajapati, full of sweetness, summoned and summoned—may it be consumed. Thus, svāhā was offered to the breaths and their lords, to the earth, to Agni, to the midspace, to Vāyu, to the sky, and to the sun—completing the sacred circuit of invocation and blessing.