With hearts full of devotion, the sages began their sacred offerings, pouring forth oblations to strength, to increase, to progeny, to the ritual itself, to wealth, to the lord of the day, to the day, to the innocent, to the destroyer, to the end-bringer, to the lord of existence, to the lord of the world, to the overlord, and to the lord of progeny. Each offering invoked the divine powers that guide and restrain, dedicating the chariot of Mitra for strength, for rain, for progeny, and for lordship. They prayed that every aspect of life—life itself, breath, sight, hearing, speech, mind, self, sacred knowledge, light, heaven, the very back that supports, and sacrifice itself—be prepared and blessed through sacrifice. Let the chant, the Yajus, the Rik, the Sāma, the Bṛhat, and the Rathantara be present! Just as the gods attained heaven, so too, through these offerings, did the sacrificers proclaim their own immortality and their birth as children of Prajāpati. With a resounding “Svāhā!” the ritual was sealed. At the urging of strength, the sages addressed Mother Earth, Aditi by name, with words of reverence. In her vastness, all beings and the entire world reside. They entreated the god Savitṛ to establish righteousness within her for the sake of all. They called upon all the Maruts, all helpers, all kindled fires, and all gods to come to their aid, that wealth and strength might flow to them. They invoked strength from the seven regions and the four quarters, praying that, accompanied by all the gods, strength would grant them wealth in this world. Strength, they declared, brings generous gifts this very day. Together with the gods and the seasons, strength arranges the offering and produces heroes. As lords of strength, they aspired to conquer all directions. For strength stands before and among them, increasing the gods through offerings and creating heroes everywhere. May they become sovereigns of strength in all realms. With humility, they united themselves with the milk of the earth, with the waters, and with plants, seeking to obtain strength through Agni’s grace. They prayed for milk in the earth, in plants, in the sky and atmosphere, and in every region, desiring that all these regions, rich in milk, be theirs. By the impulse of divine Savitṛ, by the arms of the Aśvins, by the hands of Pūṣan, by the guidance of Sarasvatī, and by the sovereignty of Agni, they anointed the sacred offering. They invoked Agni, whose abode and domain are truth, and Gandharva, whose plants and waters are delight, asking these divine beings to protect their sacred knowledge and power. To them, and to the enclosures, they offered “svāhā.” They honored the Sun, united with all melodies, and Gandharva, whose rays and waters are life, praying for the protection of their sacred knowledge and power. Likewise, to Suṣumṇa, the sun’s ray, to the moon, and to Gandharva, whose stars and waters are shining ones, they offered their prayers. To Iṣira, the all-pervading wind, Gandharva, whose waters are nourishment, and to Bhujyu, the eagle and sacrifice, Gandharva, whose gifts and waters are praise, they extended the same request for protection. Prajāpati, the all-creator, mind, and Gandharva, whose hymns and melodies are offerings, were also entreated to safeguard their knowledge and power. They addressed the Lord of the worlds and Lord of progeny, whose dwellings are above and whose power is present here, asking that great protection be granted to both Brahman and Kshatriya. “Svaha,” they proclaimed. They recognized the divine as the ocean, the sky, the moist giver, the auspicious, and the bringer of joy, beseeching, “Carry me forth.” The wind, the host of the Maruts, the helper, the giver of good—each was invoked as auspicious and a bringer of joy, and each was asked to carry the devotee forward on the spiritual journey. Turning to Agni, they called upon his rays in the sun that stretch across the heavens, asking that by all those lights, the people be made radiant. They invoked the gods: “Those lights of yours in the sun, in cows, in horses—Indra and Agni, by all those lights, grant us radiance, O Brihaspati.” They prayed for radiance among Brahmans, among kings, among all people, and among Shudras, asking that radiance be placed within themselves, ever shining. Approaching Varuna with reverence, they honored him with Brahman and offerings, pleading that he be present without anger and that he not take away their lives. They offered golden warmth, golden sun, golden brilliance, golden light, and golden Surya—each with a “Svaha”—to the divine. With might and ghee, they harnessed Agni, the heavenly, winged, mighty one, aspiring to reach the radiant realm and ascend to the highest heaven. They praised Agni’s unfailing wings, which drive away demons, and prayed that by these wings they might fly to the world of the virtuous, where the ancient, first-born sages have gone. They honored Indu, Daksha, the hawk, the righteous, the golden-winged bird, the mighty one—firmly seated in the great abode—with reverence, asking for protection and mercy. They acknowledged the divine as the head of heaven, the navel of earth, the strength of waters and plants, the universal shelter, and the widely spread path, offering their reverence. They recognized the divine as standing above all, established in the ocean, with heart and life in the waters, breaking open the ocean. From sky, rain, atmosphere, and earth, they prayed for the gift of rain. The desired sacrifice, blessed by the Bhrigus and Vasus, was offered, with the hope of obtaining the wealth of the pleased and desired one. They prayed that the desired Agni, when invoked, would nourish them, and that the offering would be pleasing—homage to the gods! They entrusted whatever is gathered from intention, heart, mind, or eye, to proceed to the world of the virtuous, where the ancient, first-born sages dwell. They placed a seat for the divine, brought as a treasure by the knower of births, so that the lord of sacrifice might follow and be known in the highest heaven. The gods were called to recognize this seat and its form, and when the divine comes by the paths of the gods, may all that is desired and fulfilled be performed for him. They called to Agni: “Awaken, rise up! Let the desired and fulfilled be released, and this one too. In this seat, in the higher one, let all the gods and sacrificers sit.” By the one who bears a thousand, by whom all knowledge of the Vedas is known, they asked Agni to lead their sacrifice to heaven, to be received among the gods. Whatever is given, returned, constructed, or gifted, they entrusted to Agni, the universal worker, to carry all to heaven, to be received among the gods. Where streams of honey and clarified butter flow unceasingly, they prayed that Agni would carry them there, to heaven, to be received among the gods. The sage proclaimed: “I am Agni by birth, the Knower of all births; clarified butter is my sight, immortality is my food; I am the sun, the threefold support, the vehicle of the atmosphere; I am the inexhaustible heat, I am the offering, this is my name. I am called the Ṛc verses, I am called the Yajus formulas, I am called the Sāman chants; among all the fires born facing east on this earth, you are the highest among them—grant us the good for living.” And finally, for the slaying of obstacles and for victory over enemies in battle, they invoked Indra, setting him in motion with their prayers, completing their sacred, radiant offering.