The sacred ritual begins with the pouring of the pressed Soma, the highest and most exalted offering. This noble Soma, which flows within the waters, has been pressed out by the stones, releasing its divine essence. Purified by the strainer of Vāyu, Soma speeds swiftly westward, a worthy companion of Indra; again, purified by Vāyu’s strainer, it flows eastward, ever befitting the mighty Indra. The daughter of the sun, radiant and eternal, purifies the flowing Soma with her ceaseless stream, ensuring its sanctity. For you, both Brahman and Kshatra are cleansed and renewed. Soma, pressed and prepared with strength and vigor, becomes a source of intoxication and brightness, nourishing the gods and providing sustenance for the sacrificer with its very essence. Even those who possess barley, and the barley itself as it is offered, are distributed in due order. Here, the food is prepared for those who honor the sacred grass with devout words. The offering is received by the Ashvins, Sarasvati, Indra, and Sutraman; this is the source of brilliance, heroism, and strength. From these divine gifts, the Ashvins grant brilliance, Sarasvati bestows heroism, and Indra imparts strength—this is the wellspring of joy, delight, and greatness. To these divine qualities, the worshiper prays: “You are brilliance—place brilliance in me; you are heroism—place heroism in me; you are strength—place strength in me; you are vigor—place vigor in me; you are resolve—place resolve in me; you are might—place might in me.” May she, the divine protector who guards the tiger, wolf, vulture, eagle, and lion, shield us too from all harm. Just as a joyful son nourishes his mother, so may I, O Agni, remain free from debt to my parents. Unite with me, fill me with goodness, and separate from me all that is evil. The gods themselves performed the sacrifice; the Ashvins are the healers, Sarasvati heals with her speech, and Indra along with the Ashvins grants strength. The form of consecration is the sacred grass; the markers of the journey are the tender shoots; the act of purchase takes the form of Soma, and the grains of Soma are like honey. Hospitality is embodied in the monthly offering; the naked ascetic is the form of the great hero; the upasad rites take the form of three nights, the offspring of the gods. The purchased Soma is poured out as the flowing Soma; medicine is drawn forth for the Ashvins, Indra, and Sarasvati. The seat takes the form of the royal throne; the altar is the vessel for the offering; between the upper altars lies the form of the healer’s art. Altar is joined to altar, sacred grass to sacred grass of strength, post to post, and fire is led by fire. You are the source and navel of sovereignty—may I not harm you, may you not harm me. Varuna, observing the vow of ghee, dwells among the homes for the sake of sovereignty and good purpose; protect us from death and destruction. With the impulse of the divine Savitar, with the arms of the Ashvins, and the hands of Pushan, I sprinkle you. With the medicine of the Ashvins, let there be brilliance and Brahmanic radiance; with Sarasvati’s medicine, heroism and nourishment; with Indra’s power, strength, beauty, and fame. Who are you? Which are you? For whom and for what are you? O one of good praise, auspicious and true king. May my head be glory, my mouth fame, my hair and beard brilliance; my breath be king and immortality, my eye overlordship, my ear radiance. May my tongue be auspicious, my speech great, my mind sovereign, my anger self-controlled, my radiance bright. May joy and delight be mine; my fingers and limbs strong; may Mitra be with me, and strength be mine. May my arms possess might and power; may my hands be fit for action and valor; may my self be noble, my chest steadfast. May my back be the realm, my abdomen the support, my shoulders and neck firm, my hips stable. May my thighs, knees, and shanks be strong; may all my limbs be protected everywhere. Let my navel be the seat of thought and discernment, my anus the place of purification. May joy and supreme joy dwell in my testicles; fortune and prosperity in my generative organ. Through my shanks and feet, may I be established in righteousness, as a king among my people. I stand firm in the realm of nobility, in the kingdom, among horses and cows. I stand firm in every limb, in my self, among breaths, in nobility, in nourishment, in heaven and earth. May the three gods, the eleven, the thirty-three, all the beneficent deities, with Brihaspati as their priest and the power of divine Savitar, may they—together with all other gods—protect me. With the first joined to the second, the second to the third, the third to truth; truth to truth, sacrifice to sacrifice, yajus to yajus, sama to sama, ṛc to ṛc, with the preliminary chants, the main chants, the yājyā hymns, the vaṣaṭ calls, and the offerings—may all my desires be fulfilled. Earth, svāhā. May my hair be readiness, my skin humility and approach, my flesh acquisition of wealth, my bones and marrow reverence. If, O gods, we have offended the gods, may Agni release me from all such sin and misfortune. Whether by day or by night, if we have committed offenses, may Vāyu release me from all such sin and misfortune. Whether awake or asleep, if we have erred, may Sūrya release me from all such sin and misfortune. Whatever offense we have committed—in the village, in the forest, in the assembly, in our senses, among the lowly or the noble, or in matters of our own duty—may that be removed. Whatever is in the waters, O Aghnyā, O Varuṇa, we invoke; from that, Varuṇa, release us. You are the remover of impurity, the cleanser—remove the sin done by gods and mortals alike. O god of many gifts, protect us from harm. May your heart be in the ocean, deep within the waters; may herbs and waters enter you. May the waters and herbs be friendly to us, and unfriendly to those who hate us and whom we hate. As one is released from a fetter, as one is cleansed from sweat after bathing, as clarified butter is purified by a strainer, so may the waters cleanse me from impurity. We have risen from darkness to behold the higher light; we have reached the divine Sun among the gods, the supreme radiance. Today, I have approached the waters; with their essence, we have mingled. O waters rich in milk, I have come to you; grant me brilliance, offspring, and wealth. May you be kindled, and may we kindle you. You are the fuel, you are the radiance—place radiance in me. May earth, dawn, and sun be in harmony; may the whole world be united. May I become the universal fire’s light and enjoy abundant desires. Earth, svāhā. I place the kindling upon you, O Agni, lord of vows; in you I place the vow and faith. I, the consecrated, kindle you. Where Brahman and Kshatra walk together in harmony, that world is holy, full of wisdom, where the gods dwell with Agni.