In the sacred atmosphere of ritual, the clarified offering is prepared and presented with reverence, appeasing the divine. The fourth sacrifice marks the place where the oblation is given, and from this holy act, gracious words and blessings flow toward the worshippers. As dawn breaks, the tawny-haired Savitar, radiant with the sun’s rays, rises before all, shining ceaselessly. In his movement, Pūṣan, the wise protector who sees all worlds, advances, safeguarding the paths. Amidst heaven, this divine presence measures out the realms, filling earth, sky, and the atmosphere, beholding all things with a luminous glow, shining with ghee between the lights of day and night. The bull, the ocean, the ruddy eagle, enters the womb of the eastern father. Placed in the center of heaven, as a speckled stone, he strides forth, protecting the boundaries of space. All hymns magnify Indra, whose domain is the vast ocean, the finest charioteer, true lord of prizes, and master. The invocation of the gods proceeds to the sacrifice, calling forth favor and Agni, the god of fire, to join the gods at the sacred rite. With the upraised hand, the source of vigor is seized; with the downward hand, Indra is invoked to cast down rivals. The gods themselves increased the power of both gestures through sacred utterance, and Indra and Agni are called upon to disperse all hostility. The worshippers ascend toward heaven, bearing offerings in their hands with Agni, reaching the back of the sky and entering the light, united with the gods. They go forth along the eastern direction, wise as Agni, shining in all quarters, spreading light and granting strength to all creatures, bipeds and quadrupeds. From earth, they ascend to the atmosphere, from the atmosphere to heaven, and from the summit of the celestial vault, they reach the heavenly light. Those who go to the light do not look back; they ascend to heaven and earth, wise ones who have spread the all-supporting sacrifice. Agni, the foremost among worshippers of the gods, the eye of gods and mortals, leads the sacrificers united with the Bhṛgus to the light, bringing well-being. Night and dawn, though different in form, nurture the single child together; heaven and earth, the golden one, shines within, as the gods, givers of wealth, uphold Agni. Agni is invoked, thousand-eyed, with a hundred heads, breaths, and vital airs, lord of thousandfold wealth. Worship is offered to him for strength. He is Garutman, splendid-winged, settling upon the earth’s back, filling the midspace with radiance, illumining the heavens, and making the directions firm with brilliance. Agni, of beautiful form, is called to sit at the front with offerings, in the proper place, on the sacred seat and the higher one. All gods and worshippers are invited to be seated together. The bright favor of Savitar is chosen—a universal blessing, milked by Kanva from the great cow, abundant with a thousand streams of milk. Agni is worshipped in his highest birth and in the lower seat, from the womb from which he has arisen, kindled and offered oblations. He is called to shine forth, blazing before the worshippers with unfailing, youthful vigor, attracting prizes evermore. Today, through hymns, the worshippers seek to attain, with Agni’s help, the swift horse, the wise and auspicious power that touches the heart. With mind and clarified butter, discernment is offered, as the righteous gods, upholders of truth, gather. For the lord of all beings, the all-creating one, an oblation is made for all desires. Agni’s kindlings are seven, his tongues seven, seven sages, seven beloved abodes, seven priests who worship him sevenfold. He is asked to fill seven wombs with ghee. Brilliant light, variegated light, true light, radiant and bright, guardian of truth, and the great ones are celebrated. All that is measured, well-measured, similar, corresponding, bearing together, is invoked—order, truth, stability, the supporter, holder, arranger, and sustainers. The conqueror by order, by truth, in battle, with good troops, friend at the border, unfriendly at a distance, the host—all are called. Such as these, and those like these, and those who correspond, are invited. The measured and well-measured Maruts, with strength, are called to the sacrifice today. Possessing wealth, the devourer, inflamer, householder, playful, branch-bearer, exciter; fierce, terrible, dark, shaker, powerful, assailant, hurler—these divine hosts, as the Maruts followed Indra, so may divine and human hosts follow this worshipper. Agni is invited to drink the nourishing breast, rich and full within the body, to accept the honeyed, flowing spring, the oceanic seat, and enter within. Ghee has been produced, its womb is ghee, established and abided in ghee. It is brought in due order, rejoicing, and the bull carries the offering made with Svāhā. From the ocean, a wave full of sweetness arises, bringing immortality together. The secret name of ghee exists—the tongue is the navel of the gods, the center of immortality. The name of ghee is declared and upheld with reverence in the sacrifice. The inspired priest listens to the praise; the four-horned bull descends. This bull has four horns, three feet, two heads, and seven hands. Bound in threefold ways, it bellows; the great god has entered mortals. The gods found the ghee, hidden in the cow, divided threefold and concealed by hands. Indra generated one part, the Sun another, and Vena pressed out a third by his own power. Streams flow from the heart, from the ocean, a hundredfold, unobstructed by foes. The worshippers behold streams of ghee, among which is a golden reed in the midst. They flow together like rivers, like cows, purified within heart and mind. These waves of ghee rush forth, like deer eager for the swift arrow. Like roaring rivers on their course, swift as wind, the mighty ones fly. The streams of ghee, like a red horse, break through obstacles, swelling with waves. They flow forth together, like adorned women, beautiful and smiling toward Agni. The streams of ghee nourish the kindled fire as offerings, and Jātavedas, the all-knowing Agni, delights in accepting them.