Upon the broad backs of the mountain bull, a group of sisters moved as if they were boats gliding across the surface of deep waters. Rising from below, they followed the ancient serpent of the depths, pressing onward in their journey. In their movement, the very stride of Viṣṇu was revealed—the great cosmic step by which he traverses the worlds. O Lord of all creatures, none but you have encompassed these countless forms. May the desires for which we offer be fulfilled through your grace. For you are the father of each, the origin of all. May we become masters of riches through your favor. Svāhā. And you, Rudra, whose highest name resounds within the herd, in that supreme aspect may our offering be placed, for you are the one we seek. Svāhā. You are the thunderbolt of Indra, the mighty weapon. I yoke you as the instrument of command for Mitra and Varuṇa, the twin rulers. You are unbroken and radiant, a source of safety and strength. By the impulse of the Maruts, may you conquer, guided by the mind of the waters and united senses. Indra, may we never become weak, unyoked, or lose sight of the sacred word. Stand upon your chariot, O wielder of the thunderbolt, and take the reins of your own horses, O divine one. Offerings are made: to Agni, the lord of the household—svāhā; to Soma, lord of the forest—svāhā; to the strength of the Maruts—svāhā; to the power of Indra—svāhā. O Mother Earth, may you not harm me, nor will I harm you. The swan dwells in purity, the luminous one in the midspace, the priest at the altar, and the guest in the house. He abides among men, among the best, in truth, and in the sky. Born of water, of cows, of truth, and of mountains—he is vast, he is truth itself. This is its life—may its life be placed within me. You are vigor—let vigor be placed within me. You are nourishment—may I be filled with nourishment. By the strength of Indra, I lift up both arms, made powerful. You are pleasant and well-seated, the very womb of sovereignty. Sit in pleasantness, in well-being, in the womb of sovereignty. Varuṇa, devoted to the offering of ghee, has taken his seat among the dwellings, intent upon sovereignty and good purpose. May all five directions be subject to you, O all-conquering one. O Brahman, you are Brahmā, you are Savitṛ of true impulse, you are Varuṇa of true strength, you are Indra of all strength, you are Rudra, most gracious. You are the maker of much, the giver of prosperity, the increaser. You are Indra’s thunderbolt—grant me success with it. Agni, broad and accepting, lord of order, let him enter the clarified butter—svāhā. With svāhā, and with the rays of Sūrya, strive for the central offering among those born together. By Savitṛ the prompter, by the speech of Sarasvatī, by the forms of Tvaṣṭṛ, by the cattle of Pūṣan, by Indra, by Bṛhaspati, by Brahman, by the strength of Varuṇa, by the brilliance of Agni, by Soma the king, by Viṣṇu, and by the tenth deity, I am set forth. Let the food be cooked for the Aśvins, for Sarasvatī, for Indra, the well-woven. Vāyu is purified by the purifier; Soma flows well. Indra’s yoked friend is prepared. May we, with barley as is fitting, distribute gifts in due order. Prepare the food for those who, seated on the sacred grass, offer praise and sacrifice. I have taken you up for the Aśvins, for Sarasvatī, for Indra, the well-woven. We, together with the Aśvins, drank the surā with Namuci the Asura. O shining lords, ever-drinking, support Indra in the rites. Like loving parents with their son, the Aśvins protected Indra with their skills and remedies. When, mighty one, you drank the surā with the Śacīs, Sarasvatī, the generous, praised you. Harnessing the first thought to truth, Savitṛ impelled understanding; he kindled the light of Agni and brought it upon the earth. With a mind yoked to the task, we seek the impulse of god Savitṛ, the power that leads to heaven. The divine Savitṛ, joined with the gods, ascends to heaven by inspired thought; may Savitṛ, the great light, inspire them to action. The sages harness the mind and their thoughts, the wise among the wise, the great seer. He has established the sacrificial fires, knowing the rites; the vast praise of god Savitṛ surrounds him. With reverence, let us yoke your ancient prayer; let the hymn go forth like a chariot on its path. Let all you sons of immortality who dwell in the divine abodes listen. After whose departure the other gods followed, by the might and greatness of the divine one—he who measured out the earthly realms—that god Savitṛ, by his greatness, has established the regions. O god Savitṛ, inspire the sacrifice, inspire the lord of the sacrifice for good fortune. May the celestial Gandharva, the knower of signs, purify our inspiration. May the lord of speech sweeten our words. Lead this sacrifice, O god Savitṛ, to the divine, to friendship, to victory in the assembly, to the gaining of wealth, to the winning of heaven. Strengthen our hymn with the Gāyatrī, the Rathantara, the great Gāyatrī measure—svāhā. By the impulse of Savitṛ, by the arms of the Aśvins, by the hands of Pūṣan, I place you with the Gāyatrī metre, O Angiras, from the seat of earth; bring forth the purifying Agni, O Angiras, with the Triṣṭubh metre. You are the cloud, you are the woman; with you may we kindle Agni from the seat, with the Jagatī metre, O Angiras. Placing the golden cloud in his hand, Savitṛ bears it; drawing forth Agni’s light, he brings it up from the earth with the Anuṣṭubh metre, O Angiras. Run forward, O swift one, to the prize, following the best course; your highest birth is in heaven, your navel is in the midspace, your womb is on earth. May you two yoke the ass in this rite, O mighty ones rich in gifts, bearing Agni, the bringer of blessings. In every union, in every contest, we call upon the most powerful as friends for Indra’s aid. Come forward, advancing, turning aside misfortune; come, O Rudra’s lord of hosts, bringer of joy; traverse the wide midspace, and with Pūṣan as ally, make the herds safe, granting well-being and fearlessness. From the seat of earth, bring forth the purifying Agni, O Angiras. May we obtain the purifying Agni, O Angiras. We shall bring forth the purifying Agni, O Angiras. Agni followed the forefront of the dawns; he, the knower of all births, was first through the days. He extended the many rays of the sun and stretched out heaven and earth. Having come, the swift one travels the path, shaking off all hostilities. Agni, in the great seat, wishes to be seen with his eye. Having stepped upon the earth, O swift one, seek Agni with your radiance. Tell us, for the seeker, where we may dig him up. Heaven is your back, earth your seat, the midspace your self, the ocean your womb. Manifest with vision, stand firm against all attackers. Step forth for great good fortune from this seat, O giver of wealth, O swift one. May we be of good counsel upon the earth as we dig Agni in her lap. The giver of wealth, the swift one, has stepped forth to the good world, the well-made earth. From there let us dig Agni with a beautiful face, ascending by his own power to the highest heaven. To you I approach with mind and with ghee, you who pervade all the worlds; vast, spreading wide with strength, great, most abundant in food, eager and shining. From every side I approach you; may you accept this with a mind free from harm. Agni, radiant with youthful beauty, desired in form, I touch you with my body, you who are ever growing.