He who is our father, our creator, and the arranger of all things, knows the abodes of every world. He alone gives names to the gods, and to him even the other worlds turn in search of understanding. The ancient sages and singers, gathering together, offered their wealth for our sake; it was in the interplay of light and darkness that these earliest beings shaped the worlds. Beyond the sky and the earth, farther than all that exists among gods and spirits, there was a first embryo borne by the waters. It was there that the ancient gods gazed together, beholding the mystery. That primal seed, carried by the waters, became the gathering point for all the gods; it was set upon the navel of the unborn, the One in whom all worlds are upheld. Yet, you do not truly know him who fashioned all these things. Something different has arisen among you; veiled in mist, speaking in confusion, people wander unsatisfied, reciting hymns but not grasping the heart of the mystery. Viśvakarman was born as a god; after him, the Gandharva arose as the second. The third, the father, created the herbs and sowed the seed of the waters in many places. Swift and roaring, mighty as a bull, thunderous and shaking the peoples, the victorious, unblinking, and solitary hero—together with Indra—overcame a hundred armies. With the victorious and fierce, with the impetuous and bold, stand together, O people, in battle with the mighty, arrow-handed ones, conquering alongside Indra. Arrows in hand and sword-bearers by his side, the master enters battle—Indra with his hosts. Victorious in unity, Soma-drinker, strong-armed and fierce-bowed, he stands firm against those who resist. O Brihaspati, drive your chariot through, destroyer of demons and foes, pushing them away. Break their armies, crush them in battle, and be the victorious prosperer and protector of our chariots. Indra, knowing strength, steadfast, heroic, mighty, swift, enduring, and fierce, surpasses all in valor and power, born of strength. Let him mount the victorious chariot, bringer of cattle. He is the breaker of enclosures, finder of cattle, thunder-armed and triumphant, who shatters obstacles by his might. O companions, let us emulate this kinship and strive together with Indra. Indra, the hero of a hundred powers, plunges into enclosures with force, difficult to displace, destroyer of armies, unconquerable—may he protect our army in battle. Let Indra lead, Brihaspati be the right hand, sacrifice the foundation, and Soma the vanguard; among the divine hosts, let the Maruts guide the victorious and conquering ones. Let the cry of mighty Indra, Varuna the king, the Adityas, and the fierce Maruts—the great-minded, movers of the worlds—rise up as the shout of the victorious gods. O Maghavan, raise up the weapons; raise up the minds of my warriors; raise up, slayer of Vritra, the steeds of the steeds; let the cries of the victorious chariots resound. Let Indra be with our banners in the assembly; may our arrows be victorious, our heroes supreme; O gods, protect us in our offerings. Enticing the minds of our foes, take their limbs and depart; go forth, burn them in their hearts with flames; let the enemies be bound with blindness and darkness. Released, fly forth, O arrow, sharpened by prayer; go, strike down the enemies, spare none. Go forth and be victorious, O men; may Indra grant you protection. Let your arms be fierce and invincible as you are. The army of the Maruts from the other side approaches, striving with power; conceal them in darkness and secrecy, so they do not recognize one another. Where arrows fly, where youths rush like shafts, there may Indra, Brihaspati, and Aditi grant protection—may they always grant protection. I cover your vital parts with armor; may Soma, the king, envelop you with immortality; may Varuna broaden your path; may the gods rejoice in your victory. Lead him upward, O Agni, with the upper offering of ghee; grant him wealth and offspring, and make him abundant. O Indra, lead this one across, master among his kin; endow him with the radiance of the gods, let him share in their portion. In whose house we offer, O Agni, increase him; to him the gods and Brahmanaspati declare their favor. May all the gods raise you up, O Agni, with their thoughts; may you, radiant one of auspicious form, bring us abundant blessings. May the five divine directions, the goddesses, protect the sacrifice, warding off harm and evil intent; bestowing wealth, they grant the lordship of the sacrifice, and with the increase of wealth, the sacrifice is established. When Agni is kindled, may I be magnified upon him, worthy of praise, embraced by hymns; having embraced the heated Gharma, they worship, as the gods once performed the sacrifice for strength. For the divine supporter and enjoyer, endowed with divine splendor, glorious, and possessing a hundredfold wealth, the gods, having embraced the sacrifice, approached; the priests stood among the gods for the gods. Let the clarified offering, the appeased, be offered for worship; the fourth sacrifice is where the oblation goes; from there, may words and blessings come graciously to us. The sun’s ray, tawny-haired Savitar, rises in front, ever shining; in his movement, Pūṣan goes forth, knowing and seeing all worlds, the protector. This one, measuring out, sits in the midst of heaven, filling both earth and sky and the atmosphere; he beholds all things, shining with ghee, between the earlier and later lights. The bull, the ocean, the ruddy, the eagle, entered the womb of the eastern father; placed in the middle of heaven as the speckled stone, he strides, protecting the ends of space. All the hymns magnified Indra, whose domain is the ocean; the best charioteer among charioteers, the true lord of prizes, the master. Let the invocation of the gods proceed to the sacrifice, let the invocation of favor proceed to the sacrifice; let Agni, the god, approach the gods at the sacrifice. With the upraised hand, I have seized the source of vigor; with the downward hand, may Indra cast down my rivals. The gods increased both the up-grasp and down-grasp with sacred utterance; then, O Indra and Agni, scatter my rivals, those who are hostile. Ascend to the heaven to be enjoyed with Agni, bearing it in your hands; having reached the back of the sky, go to the light, united with the gods. Go forth along the eastern direction, O wise one, as Agni before Agni, be here; shining in all quarters, spread your light, and grant us strength for bipeds and quadrupeds.