A mighty host of the Maruts, the storm gods, gathered and surged forward with formidable strength. Yet, through a veil of darkness and secrecy, they were obscured from one another, so that even their own kin did not recognize them in the tumult. In the midst of this, where arrows flew and young warriors sped forth like swift shafts, prayers rose for protection. Indra, the thunder-wielder, Brihaspati, the lord of sacred speech, and Aditi, the mother of gods, were invoked to watch over the warriors, to grant their shelter always. As battle loomed, armor was placed over the vital parts of the chosen one. Soma, the kingly nectar, was called to envelop him in immortality, while Varuna, guardian of cosmic order, was asked to broaden his path, and the gods were invited to rejoice in his coming victory. Agni, the divine fire, was entreated to lead the sacrificer upward with the uppermost offering of ghee, bestowing upon him abundance in wealth and offspring. Indra was asked to guide this one across all obstacles, making him a leader among his kin, endowing him with the radiance of the gods so that he might share in their divine portion. Wherever the householder made offerings to Agni, prayers rose for his increase; the gods and Brahmanaspati declared their favor upon him. All the gods, with their thoughts, were asked to raise up Agni, the radiant one of auspicious form, so that he might bring abundant blessings. The five divine directions, personified as goddesses, were invoked to protect the sacrifice, driving away harm and evil intent. These goddesses, bestowing wealth, granted lordship over the sacrifice, and as wealth increased, so too was the sacrifice established. When Agni was kindled, the sacrificer sought to be magnified upon him, worthy of praise and grasped by hymns. Embracing the heated Gharma, the priests worshipped, just as the gods once performed sacrifice for strength. For the divine supporter and enjoyer, resplendent and rich a hundredfold, the gods, embracing the sacrifice, drew near; the priests stood among the gods, offering on behalf of the gods themselves. Clarified offerings were made to appease and worship; the fourth sacrifice received the oblation, and from there, gracious words and blessings were sought. Ahead, the tawny-haired Savitar, the sun’s ray, rose ever-shining, leading the way; Pūṣan, the knowing and all-seeing protector, moved forth, surveying all the worlds. One, measuring out the cosmos, sat in the midst of heaven, filling earth, sky, and atmosphere, beholding all things, shining with ghee between the earlier and later lights. The bull, the ocean, the ruddy eagle, entered the womb of the eastern father; set in the heart of heaven, the speckled stone strode forth, guarding the ends of space. All hymns magnified Indra, lord of the ocean's expanse, best among charioteers, true master of prizes. The invocation of the gods was called to the sacrifice; the invocation of favor was summoned to the sacred rite; Agni, god of fire, was invited to proceed to the gods at the sacrifice. With an upraised hand, the source of vigor was seized; with a downward hand, Indra was called to cast down all rivals. The gods, with sacred utterance, empowered both the up-grasp and the down-grasp; Indra and Agni were implored to scatter all who stood hostile. Ascending to heaven with Agni, the sacrificer was to bear the offering in hand; reaching the back of the sky, he was to go to the light, united with the gods. He was to go forth along the eastern direction, wise as Agni before Agni, shining in all quarters, spreading light, granting strength to bipeds and quadrupeds alike. From earth, he ascended to the atmosphere; from atmosphere, he rose to heaven; from the summit of the celestial vault, he reached the radiant light of heaven. Those who journeyed to the light did not look back; they ascended heaven and earth, wise ones who had spread the all-supporting sacrifice. Agni was called to go forth, foremost among worshippers, the eye of gods and mortals; united with the Bhṛgus, the sacrificers were to reach the light, blessed with well-being. Night and dawn, though of different forms, worked together in harmony to nurture their single child; within heaven and earth, the golden one shone, and the gods, givers of wealth, upheld Agni. Agni, thousand-eyed, with a hundred heads, a hundred breaths, a thousand vital airs, lord of a thousandfold wealth, received worship for strength. He was hailed as Garutman, the splendid-winged one, asked to settle upon earth’s back, to fill the midspace with radiance, to illumine the heavens, and to make the directions firm with his brilliance. With offerings, Agni of beautiful form was invited to the proper seat at the front of the altar; in both the sacred and higher seat, all the gods and the worshipper were to be seated. The bright favor of Savitar was chosen, the universal blessing, milked by Kanva from the great cow, abundant with a thousand streams of milk. Agni was worshipped in his highest birth and in the lower seat. From the womb whence he arose, he was honored; to him, when kindled, the offerings were brought. Agni was asked to shine forth, to blaze before the worshippers with unfailing, youthful vigor, for to him the prizes always come. By Agni’s help, they sought to attain the swift horse, that wise and auspicious power which touches the heart. With mind and clarified butter, discernment was offered, as the righteous gods, upholders of truth, once came here. For the lord of all beings, the all-creating one, the oblation was made for all desires. Seven were Agni’s kindlings, seven his tongues, seven the sages, seven his beloved abodes. Seven priests, sevenfold, worshipped him; seven wombs were to be filled with ghee. Brilliant light, variegated light, true light, and the radiant one; the bright one, guardian of truth, and the great ones were all invoked. Such as these, and different, and similar, and corresponding; measured, well-measured, and bearing together—all these qualities were celebrated. Order, truth, the stable, the supporter; the holder, the arranger, and the sustainers—these powers were praised. Conqueror by order, conqueror by truth, conqueror in battle with good troops; friend at the border, the unfriendly at a distance, the host—such powers were sought. All such as these, and those like them, and those who correspond, were invited to come; those measured and well-measured, O Maruts, with strength, were called to be present at the sacrifice today. Among these were the wealthy, the devourer, the inflamer, the householder; the playful, the branch-bearer, the exciter. The fierce, the terrible, the dark, the shaker; the powerful, the assailant, the hurler—all these aspects were invoked. As the divine hosts of the Maruts once followed Indra, so too may both divine and human hosts follow the worshipper in this sacred rite.