With reverence and purpose, the priest began the sacred rite, invoking the powers of the gods to consecrate and protect. He entrusted the chosen one to the impulse of the divine Savitṛ, to the embracing arms of the Aśvins, and to the guiding hands of Pūṣan. With the subtle strength of Upāmśu, the offering was made, and the demon was declared slain—evil vanquished, the path cleared for auspiciousness. The priest proclaimed, "We have slain the demon; he is no more," and dedicated the ritual for the destruction of all that is hostile. The gods were invoked to establish the initiate among their own: Savitṛ among the Savitṛs, Agni among the householders, Soma among the trees, Bṛhaspati among those skilled in speech, Indra for supremacy, Rudra among the cattle, Mitra among the truthful, and Varuṇa among the upholders of law. "O gods," the priest prayed, "make this one free from rivals, well-married, endowed with great dominion, supremacy, and sovereignty over people, and the power of Indra. Let this one, the son of that man and that woman, be king for this clan. Soma is our king, the king of Brahmins." The tale of the gods was recalled: they seized the waters, rich in honey, full of vigor, shining, and royal. With these waters, Mitra and Varuṇa anointed, and with these, they led Indra triumphantly beyond his enemies. The priest praised the waters, calling them the bull’s wave and the bull-armored, givers of the realm, and petitioned, “Grant me the realm, grant him the realm.” The waters were invoked in their many aspects: desired, full of vigor, flowing around, lords and embryos of waters, each asked to grant sovereignty and strength. He continued, invoking the waters of solar skin and solar splendor, gentle and mighty, protectors of the march, neighing and resounding, of the Śakvarī meter, sustainers of people and all beings, sovereign in their own right. "Let the honeyed ones be joined with the honeyed, granting great dominion to the flourishing Kṣatriya. Sit down, unassailable, with mighty strength." The brilliance of Soma was invoked: “May your brilliance become mine.” Offerings were made to Agni, Soma, Savitṛ, Sarasvatī, Pūṣan, Bṛhaspati, Indra, Ghoṣa, Śloka, Aṃśa, Bhaga, and Aryaman. The priest purified the offering, calling upon the two belonging to Viṣṇu, purified by Savitṛ’s impulse, the sun’s rays, and the unbroken filter. “You are unblemished, kin of speech, born of austerity, Soma’s gift, royal.” The shining, invincible, adorned waters arrived, companions at the feast. Varuṇa established his seat in the dwellings, and the child of the waters rested within the mothers. The priest declared, “You are the strength, vigor, womb, and navel of dominion. You are Indra’s slayer of Vṛtra, of Mitra and Varuṇa. By you, may this one slay Vṛtra. You are firm, breaker, earth—guard him to the east, west, south, and all directions.” The young men gathered, manifest as Agni the house-lord, Indra renowned among elders, Mitra and Varuṇa steadfast in vows, Pūṣan the all-knower, heaven and earth the bestowers of blessings, and Aditi of wide shelter. Ascending to the south, the initiate was protected by the Triṣṭubh meter, the Bṛhat Sāman, the Pañcadaśa Stoma, the summer season, dominion, and wealth. Ascending to the west, the Jagatī meter, the Vairūpa Sāman, the Saptadaśa Stoma, the rainy season, the people, and wealth offered their protection. Ascending to the north, the Anuṣṭubh meter, the Vairāja Sāman, the Ekaviṃśa Stoma, the autumn season, fruit, and wealth guarded him. Ascending upward, the Paṅkti meter, the Śākvara and Raivata Sāmans, the Triṇava and Trayastrinśa Stomas, the winter and cool seasons, brilliance, and wealth shielded him, and the head of Namuci was laid low. The priest invoked Soma’s brilliance once more, praying for protection from death, for vigor, might, and immortality. The golden-formed dawns shone, both Indras arose, and so did the sun. “Ascend, Varuṇa and Mitra, to your seat; from there behold Aditi and Diti. You are Mitra, you are Varuṇa.” “With the glory of Soma, I anoint you; with the brilliance of Agni, the splendor of the sun, and the power of Indra. Be lord among rulers; shine forth and protect.” Once more, the gods were entreated: “Make this one free from rivals, well-married, for great dominion and sovereignty over people, for the power of Indra. This one is your king. Soma is our king, the king of Brahmins.” From the backs of the mountain bull, the sisters moved like boats, ascending from below, following the serpent of the deep. “You are the stride of Viṣṇu, the great stride, the step of Viṣṇu.” “O Lord of creatures, you alone have encompassed all forms. May your desire for which we offer be fulfilled. This one is his father, that one is his father. May we be masters of riches. O Rudra, whatever your highest name in the herd, in that let the offering be placed; you are the desired one.” The thunderbolt of Indra was invoked, yoked for Mitra and Varuṇa, as the instrument of command, for safety and strength, unbroken and bright. “By the impulse of the Maruts, conquer, with the mind and sense of the waters united.” “May we not, O Indra, become weak, unyoked, or ignorant of the sacred word. Stand upon the chariot, O thunderbolt-wielder, grasp the reins, O god, for your own horses.” Offerings were made to Agni, lord of the house; Soma, lord of the forest; the strength of the Maruts; the power of Indra. “O Mother Earth, do not harm me, nor will I harm you.” The priest praised the swan dwelling in purity, the shining one in midspace, the priest at the altar, the guest in the house, the one who dwells among men, in truth, in the sky—born of water, cows, truth, and mountains—truth, the vast. He prayed, “This is its life; place its life in me. You are vigor; place vigor in me. You are nourishment; place nourishment in me. By Indra’s strength, I take up both arms, made powerful.” “You are pleasant, well-seated, the womb of sovereignty. Sit in pleasantness, in well-being, in the womb of sovereignty.” Varuṇa, devoted to the ghee-offering, sat among the dwellings with good purpose, for sovereignty. “May these five directions be subject to you, O all-conquering one. O Brahman, you are Brahmā, Savitṛ of true impulse, Varuṇa of true strength, Indra of all strength, Rudra most gracious, maker of much, giver of prosperity, increaser. You are Indra’s thunderbolt; with it, grant me success.” Agni, broad and lord of order, was invoked to enter the clarified butter, striving for the central offering among those born together, with svāhā and the rays of Sūrya. The priest declared, “By Savitṛ the prompter, by Sarasvatī’s speech, by Tvaṣṭṛ’s forms, by Pūṣan’s cattle, by Indra, by Bṛhaspati, by Brahman, by Varuṇa’s strength, by Agni’s brilliance, by Soma the king, by Viṣṇu, and by the tenth deity, I am set forth.” He called for the cooking for the Aśvins, for Sarasvatī, for Indra the well-woven. Vāyu was purified, Soma well-flowing, Indra’s yoked friend. “May we, with barley, distribute the gifts in due order. Here, prepare food for those who, seated on sacred grass, offer praise and sacrifice. I have taken you up for the Aśvins, Sarasvatī, and Indra the well-woven.” The priest remembered the time when, with the Aśvins, he drank surā with Namuci the Asura; the shining lords, ever-drinking, supported Indra in the rites. Like parents their son, the Aśvins protected Indra with their skills and remedies. When Indra drank the surā with the Śacīs, Sarasvatī, the generous, praised him. Harnessing the first thought for truth, Savitṛ impelled understanding and, having kindled Agni’s light, brought it to earth. With a yoked mind, the priests sought the impulse of god Savitṛ, with the power that leads to heaven. The divine Savitṛ, joined with the gods, by inspired thought ascended to heaven. May Savitṛ, the great light, inspire all to action. The sages harnessed the mind and their thoughts, the wise among the wise, the great seer. He established the sacrificial fires, knowing the rites, and the vast praise of god Savitṛ surrounded him. Thus, the sacred narrative unfolded, weaving together the power of the gods, the glory of the waters, and the sovereignty of the chosen, all upheld in the eternal order.