In the midst of every contest and challenge, the swift ones stand as our protectors, guarding us with their speed and strength. Among the treasures of the world, the inspired, immortal, and truth-knowing beings watch over us. We are invited to partake of the honeyed nectar, to rejoice in its sweetness, to be satisfied, and then to depart along the sacred paths trodden by the gods. May the birth of strength dawn within us, drawing to us the vast forms of Heaven and Earth. May our ancestors—both fathers and mothers—approach us, and may Soma bring us the gift of immortality. The swift ones, ever victorious and advancing toward strength, purified and radiant, seek out the share of Bṛhaspati, the wise lord. We offer salutations—svāhā—to many divine powers: Āpaya, Svāpaya, Apijāya, Kratu, Vasava, Aharpati, Ahan Mugdhā, Mugdhā Vainamśinā, Vinamśinā Āntyāyana, Āntya Bhauvana, the lord of the world, and the overlord. Each receives their offering, honored in turn. Through sacrifice, life is established and breath is made firm. Sacrifice grounds our sight, our hearing, our back, and even sacrifice itself. In this sacred act, we become the children of Prajāpati, reaching the world of the gods and attaining immortality. Strength, heroism, resolve, and brilliance are invoked to be with us. We pay homage to Mother Earth, acknowledging her as our realm, our guide, our restrainer, and our firm foundation. She is appointed for cultivation, security, wealth, and nourishment. At the dawn of creation, the birth of vigor produced Soma, the king, among plants and waters. We pray that these become sweet for us, and that we remain vigilant in our duties as priests, attentive in the realm. The birth of vigor ascends to heaven, and the sovereign encompasses all worlds. He gives even to those who do not give, with full knowledge; may he grant us wealth and heroic abundance. Indeed, the birth of vigor arises and spreads across all worlds. The wise king moves among the people, increasing their prosperity, and may this prosperity be with us. For help and guidance, we invoke Soma the king and Agni, along with the Ādityas, Viṣṇu, Sūrya, Brahmā, and Bṛhaspati. We urge Aryaman, Bṛhaspati, and Indra to bestow their gifts, and call upon Speech, Viṣṇu, Sarasvatī, Savitṛ, and the swift one. Agni is called to come to us, to be gracious and kindly disposed, granting victory over thousands, for he is the giver of wealth. Aryaman, Pūṣan, Bṛhaspati, and the divine Speech are asked to grant their blessings. We place ourselves in the impulse of divine Savitṛ, in the arms of the Aśvins, and in the hands of Pūṣan. For Sarasvatī, the guide of speech, we appoint ourselves; and for Bṛhaspati, we anoint ourselves with sovereignty. Agni, with one syllable, conquered breath; so have we conquered it. The Aśvins, with two syllables, conquered bipeds, humans; so have we conquered them. Viṣṇu, with three syllables, conquered the three worlds; so have we conquered them. Soma, with four syllables, conquered quadrupeds, cattle; so have we conquered them. Pūṣan, with five syllables, conquered the five directions; so have we conquered them. Savitṛ, with six syllables, conquered the six seasons; so have we conquered them. The Maruts, with seven syllables, conquered the seven domestic animals; so have we conquered them. Bṛhaspati, with eight syllables, conquered the Gāyatrī meter; so have we conquered it. Mitra, with nine syllables, conquered the Trivṛt chant; so have we conquered it. Varuṇa, with ten syllables, conquered the Virāj meter; so have we conquered it. Indra, with eleven syllables, conquered the Triṣṭubh meter; so have we conquered it. All the gods, with twelve syllables, conquered the Jagatī meter; so have we conquered it. The Vasus, with thirteen syllables, conquered the thirteenfold chant; so have we conquered it. The Rudras, with fourteen syllables, conquered the fourteenfold chant; so have we conquered it. The Ādityas, with fifteen syllables, conquered the fifteenfold chant; so have we conquered it. Aditi, with sixteen syllables, conquered the sixteenfold chant; so have we conquered it. Prajāpati, with seventeen syllables, conquered the seventeenfold chant; so have we conquered it. Nirṛti receives her share, and offerings are made to the divine eyes of Agni and the gods in the east, to Yama and the gods in the south, to all the gods in the west, to Mitra and Varuṇa—or the Maruts—in the north, and to Soma and the blessed gods above. Those gods with Agni’s eyes in the east, Yama’s eyes in the south, the eyes of all gods in the west, Mitra and Varuṇa’s or the Maruts’ eyes in the north, and Soma’s eyes above—all receive their salutations. Agni is invoked to endure battles, drive away hostile forces, overcome adversaries, and place brilliance in the sacrificial offering. Once more, we place ourselves in the impulse of divine Savitṛ, in the arms of the Aśvins, and in the hands of Pūṣan. With Upāmśu’s strength, we offer, declaring the demon slain. We appoint ourselves for the destruction of demons, proclaiming the victory: the demon is slain. Savitṛ brings us among the Savitṛs, Agni among the householders, Soma among the trees. Bṛhaspati is invoked among speech, Indra for supremacy, Rudra among cattle, Mitra among the truthful, and Varuṇa among the lords of law. The gods are asked to make us free from rivals, well-married, endowed with great dominion, supremacy, sovereignty over people, and Indra’s power. The son of that man, the son of that woman, for her, for this clan—he is your king. Soma is our king, the king of the Brahmins. The story continues as the gods seize the waters, rich in honey, full of vigor, shining, and royal. With these waters, Mitra and Varuṇa anoint, and with them they lead Indra beyond his enemies. The waters are praised as the bull’s wave, the giver of the realm; they are asked to grant the realm to both the speaker and another. The bull-armored waters, desired and full of vigor, are invoked to grant the realm. The flowing waters, the lord of waters, the embryo of waters—all are called to bestow the realm. Waters of solar skin and splendor, gentle and protectors of the march, neighing and mighty, those of the Śakvarī meter, the sustainer of people and of all, the sovereign waters—each is invoked to grant the realm. The honeyed ones are joined with the honeyed, granting great dominion to the Kṣatriya, who sits down unassailable, flourishing, with mighty strength. The brilliance of Soma is sought, that it may become ours. Offerings are made to Agni, Soma, Savitṛ, Sarasvatī, Pūṣan, Bṛhaspati, Indra, Ghoṣa, Śloka, Aṃśa, Bhaga, and Aryaman. Standing in the filter, the two belonging to Viṣṇu are purified with Savitṛ’s impulse, the unbroken filter, and the sun’s rays. They are unblemished, kin of speech, born of austerity, and the gift of Soma, royal in nature. The shining, invincible, adorned waters—companions at the feast—arrive. Varuṇa establishes his seat in their dwellings, and the child of the waters rests within the mothers. The strength, vigor, womb, and navel of dominion are invoked. Indra’s slayer of Vṛtra, belonging to Mitra and Varuṇa, is called upon so that Vṛtra may be slain. The earth, firm and breaker, is asked to guard from all directions. The young men manifest, Agni the house-lord is manifest, Indra is manifest among elders, Mitra and Varuṇa are manifest in their vows, Pūṣan is manifest as knower of all, Heaven and Earth are manifest as bestowers of blessings, and Aditi is manifest with wide shelter. Ascending to the south, the Triṣṭubh meter, Bṛhat Sāman, Pañcadaśa Stoma, summer, dominion, and wealth protect. Ascending to the west, the Jagatī meter, Vairūpa Sāman, Saptadaśa Stoma, rainy season, people, and wealth protect. Ascending to the north, the Anuṣṭubh meter, Vairāja Sāman, Ekaviṃśa Stoma, autumn, fruit, and wealth protect. Ascending upward, the Paṅkti meter, Śākvara and Raivata Sāmans, Triṇava and Trayastrinśa Stomas, winter and cool seasons, brilliance, and wealth protect. The head of Namuci is laid low. The brilliance of Soma is sought once again, to become ours. Protection from death is invoked, along with vigor, might, and immortality. Golden-formed dawns shine forth, both Indras rise, and the sun ascends. Varuṇa and Mitra are called to their seat, from which they behold Aditi and Diti. They are Mitra and Varuṇa. With Soma’s glory, Agni’s brilliance, the sun’s splendor, and Indra’s power, we anoint ourselves. We are urged to shine forth, to protect, and to be lord among rulers. Finally, the gods are asked to make us free from rivals, well-married, for great dominion, supremacy, sovereignty over people, and for Indra’s power. The son of that man, the son of that woman, for her, for this clan—he is your king. Soma is our king, the king of the Brahmins. Thus, through invocation, offering, and affirmation, the divine powers are honored, their gifts sought, and their blessings received, establishing dominion, prosperity, and immortality for those who walk the sacred path.