Kāṇḍa 18

18.1.1 By truth the earth is upheld; by the sun the sky is upheld; by cosmic order (ṛta) the Ādityas stand firm; in heaven Soma is exalted.

18.1.2 By Soma the Ādityas are mighty; by Soma the great earth endures; therefore Soma is placed in the lap of these constellations.

18.1.3 One who has drunk thinks he has drunk Soma when they press the plant; the Soma that the brahmins know — of that no earthly being partakes.

18.1.4 Protected by covering rites, guarded by Bārhaté hymns, O Soma, you stand listening to the pressing-stones; no earthly being eats of you.

18.1.5 Thought was the bridal cushion, sight the anointing; heaven and earth were the casket when Sūryā went to her husband.

18.1.6 The Raibhī verse was the gift-accompanying (bride's) escort; the Nārāśaṃsī was the wooing chant; adorned with the Gāthā song, Sūryā's auspicious garment comes.

18.1.7 The praise-hymns (stoma) were the bridal supports; the meter was the headdress (kurīra); the Aśvins were Sūryā's suitors; Agni went as the vanguard.

18.1.8 Soma became the wooer of the bride; the Aśvins were both her suitors; when Sūryā was proclaimed in mind as destined for her lord, Savitṛ gave her away.

18.1.9 Mind was her chariot-body; heaven was its canopy; two bright bullocks were yoked when Sūryā went to her husband.

18.1.10 The two cows driven on by Ṛk and Sāman came as your Sāman-verses; your two wheels were hearing itself; in heaven the path moves ever to and fro.

18.2.1 Your two wheels are pure as you travel; the axle of the wind is driven; Sūryā mounted the mind-made chariot, going forth toward her lord.

18.2.2 The bridal procession of Sūryā moved forward, the one whom Savitṛ released; at the (asterism) Agha cattle are slaughtered; under the Phalgunīs she is carried in procession.

18.2.3 When you two Aśvins came questioning, with a three-wheeled vehicle for the bridal procession of Sūryā — where was your one wheel, where did you stand to guide?

18.2.4 When you two lords of prosperity came to choose Sūryā as bride, all the gods knew that of yours; Pūṣan chose you as fathers — as a son does.

18.2.5 Your two wheels, O Sūryā, the brahmins know in their proper seasons; but the one wheel that is hidden — only the truly devoted know that.

18.2.6 I release you from the snare of Varuṇa with which the gracious Savitṛ bound you; in the womb of cosmic order, in the world of the well-performed, may it be easy for you, O bride, together with your husband.

18.2.7 We worship Aryaman, the good kinsman, finder of a husband; may they release me from here and from there, as a cucumber from its stalk.

18.2.8 May they release me from here and from there, may he make her well-bound from that side; so that she, O Indra the bounteous, may be blessed with fine sons and good fortune.

18.2.9 May Bhaga lead you from here, taking your hand; may the Aśvins carry you forward in their chariot; go to the house, that you may be mistress of the house, a free woman who speaks at the assembly.

18.2.10 May what is dear to you here prosper for progeny; be wakeful in this house for the gārhapatya (householder's fire); unite your body with this husband; and then as an elder you shall speak at the assembly.

18.3.1 Remain here together, be not parted; enjoy a long life; playing with sons and grandsons, rejoicing in your own home.

18.3.2 These two youths roam east and west by their power, playing they go around the sacrifice; one surveys all the worlds; the other, assigning the seasons, is born ever new.

18.3.3 Born again and again he becomes new, the banner of the days; he goes to the fore of the dawns; apportioning the share to the gods as he comes, the moon extends long life.

18.3.4 Give away the śāmūlya garment to the brahmins; distribute the goods; this witchcraft, having become a footprint-tracker, enters the wife who enters the husband.

18.3.5 It becomes dark-red, the attachment of witchcraft is dissolved; her kinsmen prosper while the husband is bound in fetters.

18.3.6 The body becomes inauspicious, afflicted by that evil (charm); when the husband wraps his own limb with the bride's garment.

18.3.7 The tearing away, the cutting apart, and also the further trimming — look upon the forms of Sūryā's (garment); the brahmin purifies these.

18.3.8 This is harsh, bitter, hard like a hoof-paring, poisonous — not fit to eat; only that brahmin who knows Sūryā truly deserves to handle the bridal rites.

18.3.9 That brahmin carries away the soft, auspicious garment — he who studies the expiation rite by which the wife comes to no harm.

18.3.10 You two bring together abundant fortune; let them speak truth, roused by the truth; O Brahmaṇaspati, make this husband shine for her; and let the good provider speak this word beautifully.

18.4.1 Remain here; go not away — O cattle, multiply this one with offspring. Going beautifully, the ruddy cows radiant with soma-lustre: may all the gods fix your hearts here.

18.4.2 O cattle, enter this one together with your offspring; he does not diminish the share of the gods. Pūṣan and all the Maruts drive you for his sake; Dhātṛ and Savitṛ urge you on for him.

18.4.3 May the paths be thornless and straight by which our friends go to seek the bride for us. May Bhaga, may Aryaman, may Dhātṛ unite and send us forth with lustre.

18.4.4 With that by which the Aśvins anointed the hip of the great naked one, or with that of Sūrā — with that by which the dice were anointed — with that endow her with lustre.

18.4.5 Whatever lustre is laid in the dice, and whatever is placed in the Sūrā drink, whatever lustre is in cattle — O Aśvins, with that endow her with lustre.

18.4.6 He who shines without fuel in the midst of the waters, whom the inspired priests praise at sacrifices — O Son of Waters, grant the honey-sweet waters by which Indra, the mighty, grew strong.

18.4.7 This dazzling, body-blemishing seizer — I push it away. That which shines bright and auspicious in the flames — I raise that up.

18.4.8 May the brāhmaṇas bring hither the headdress for her; may the waters — not slayers of heroes — rise up. May she quickly go around Aryaman's fire; the father-in-law and brother-in-law await her.

18.4.9 Auspicious to you be the gold, and auspicious be the waters; auspicious be the union, auspicious the piercing of the yoke-pin. Auspicious to you be the waters purified a hundredfold; touch your body together with your husband in well-being.

18.4.10 Just as the bull has engendered the Sindhu's sovereignty over the rivers — so be you a sovereign queen, going home to your husband's house.

18.5.1 Be a sovereign queen among the fathers-in-law; be a sovereign queen over the mothers-in-law as well. Be a sovereign queen over the sisters-in-law; be a sovereign queen over the brothers-in-law too.

18.5.2 Those divine women who cut and wove, those who on both sides fixed the borders — may they clothe you to old age; put on this garment full of life.

18.5.3 They weep for a living man yet lead the ritual forth; the men have pondered the long procession onward. What boon they have stirred up here for the ancestors — that comfort be for husbands, an embrace for the bride.

18.5.4 A firm, gentle stone I hold for you for offspring, in the lap of divine Earth. Mount it, you who are praised and blessed with good heroes; may Savitṛ make your life long.

18.5.5 May the god Savitṛ take your hand; may king Soma make you rich in offspring. May Agni Jātavedas make the fortunate wife, together with her husband, live to old age.

18.5.6 I take your hand for good fortune, so that you may grow old with me as your husband. Bhaga, Aryaman, Savitṛ, Purandhi — the gods have given you to me for household mastery.

18.5.7 With that by which Agni took the right hand of this Earth — with that I take your hand; do not falter together with me.

18.5.8 Dhātṛ took your hand; Savitṛ took your hand. Bhaga took your hand; Aryaman took your hand. By sacred law you are wife — I am your householder.

18.5.9 May she be mine, my nurturer — Bṛhaspati has given you to me. Live together with me as husband, bearing offspring, for a hundred autumns.

18.5.10 Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned a garment for beauty, by the instruction of Bṛhaspati among the wise. With that, may Savitṛ and Bhaga clothe this woman for offspring, even as they clothed Sūryā.

18.6.1 May the houses enfold you with lustre and good fortune; let go of this luminous form — as Dawn in the sight of the sun.

18.6.2 Indra and Agni, Heaven and Earth, and Pūṣan, Mitra and Varuṇa, Bhaga, both Aśvins, Bṛhaspati, the Maruts, Brahman, and Soma — may they all increase this woman with offspring.

18.6.3 Bṛhaspati first arranged Sūryā's hair upon her head. With that we adorn this woman together with her husband, O Aśvins.

18.6.4 This is that form which the woman put on below — you wish to know the wife moving with her mind. I shall pursue her together with the Navagva companions; who, knowing this, has untied this snare?

18.6.5 I shall loose her form into myself — he who sees knows the nest of the mind. I do not consume a stolen thing; freed by the mind, loosening Varuṇa's noose of my own accord.

18.6.6 This Varuṇa's noose I loosen, with which Savitṛ the benevolent bound you. A wide world, an easy path — this I make for you, O bride, together with your husband.

18.6.7 Rise up; smite away the demon; place this woman in good fortune. Dhātṛ the wise has found the husband for her; may king Bhaga go before, knowing the way.

18.6.8 Bhaga has fashioned the four feet; Bhaga has fashioned the four lotuses. Tvaṣṭṛ has carved the leather thongs in the middle — may she be auspicious to us.

18.6.9 With this clarified butter as oblation — for offspring and the excellent, for cattle and for sight — let us kindle Agni fully together.

18.6.10 The bridal conveyance is fair with kiṃśuka flowers, all-formed, golden-hued, well-rolling, well-wheeled. Mount it, O Sūryā, into the world of immortality; make the bridal journey gentle for husbands.

18.6.11 Let not the post harm the girl on the god-made path. We make the divine gate of the house, and the bride's path, gentle.

18.6.12 Let brahman be yoked behind, brahman in front; brahman at the end, brahman in the middle, brahman on all sides. Reaching the god-city unassailed, benign and gentle, reign in the world of your husband.

18.7.1 For you they first led Sūryā forth together with the bridal procession; O Agni, now give back the bride to her husbands together with offspring.

18.7.2 Agni has given back the wife together with life and vital radiance; long-lived may be her husband — may he live a hundred autumns.

18.7.3 First Soma was your husband; then the Gandharva was your next lord; Agni was your third husband; the fourth is born of mortal man.

18.7.4 Soma gave her to the Gandharva; the Gandharva gave her to Agni; Agni gave both wealth and sons to me, and also gave this woman.

18.7.5 Good will has come to you two, O Vājinīvasus; O Aśvins, may desires find rest in your hearts. You two became guardians as a pair, as Lords of Welfare; may we attain the dear abodes of Aryaman.

18.7.6 Rejoicing with an auspicious mind, bestow wealth abundant in all heroes, worthy of praise; O Lords of Welfare, make easy the ford, well-accessible the watering-place; strike down evil thought from the most steadfast path.

18.7.7 Strike away the demons, strike away evil thought — O Lords of Welfare, having gone from here on this bridal journey; O Agni, knower of the field, going before the cows, conquering demons, thrust aside enemies from the front.

18.7.8 Whatever herbs, whatever rivers, whatever fields, whatever forests there are — let those guardians protect you, O bride rich in offspring, for your husband.

18.7.9 We have set forth on this easy path, bearing good fortune, where the hero suffers no harm and wins the wealth of others.

18.7.10 Hear this well from me, O men — by this blessing the master and mistress of the house attain happiness. Those Gandharvas and divine Apsarases who dwell today in these forest trees — may they be gentle to this bride; let them not harm the bridal procession as it is borne along.

18.8.1 Whatever diseases follow the people and accompany the gleaming bridal procession of the bride — may the gods worthy of sacrifice lead those diseases back to where they came from.

18.8.2 May those who roam about, who beset the master and mistress of the house, not find them; may they pass over what is hard to cross by an easy path; let the hostile ones run away.

18.8.3 I illuminate the bridal procession with sacred prayer, with the houses, with a non-terrible eye, with Mitra's gaze. Whatever is bound and all-formed in this one — may Savitā make that gentle for her husbands.

18.8.4 This woman has come home as an auspicious one; Dhātā has found this world for her. May Aryaman, Bhaga, both Aśvins, and Prajāpati increase her with offspring.

18.8.5 This woman has come to a fruitful field possessed of soul; O men, sow seed in this one. Bearing the mighty seed of the bull in her flanks, may she generate offspring for you.

18.8.6 Stand firm here like Virāj, like Viṣṇu, O Sarasvatī; may she spring forth like dūrvā grass for Indra; may she be in the good favor of Bhaga.

18.8.7 Let the wave beat on the yoke-pin; let the waters release the bonds. May the two blameless, sinless ones — not evildoers — approach prosperity.

18.8.8 With non-terrible eye, not harming the husband, gentle, prosperous, most pleasant, well-ruling in the houses — rich in offspring, bearing heroes, loving her husband's brothers — creep toward this householder's fire.

18.8.9 Not harming the husband's brothers, not harming the husband — be gentle, well-disposed toward the cattle, having good heroes; bearing heroes, loving the husband's brothers, gentle — may we prosper together with you being of good spirit.

18.8.10 Arise! Seeking what have you come here? I, the overpowering one, rebuke you — be gone from this house. O Nirṛti, seeker of the empty, you came here — arise, O Ill-will, fly away; do not linger here any longer.

18.9.1 When this bride has worshipped first the householder's fire, then, O woman, make obeisance to Sarasvatī and to the Fathers.

18.9.2 Bring this hide as a protective armor, to be spread beneath this woman; may she bring forth through Sinīvālī; may she be in the good favor of Bhaga.

18.9.3 Spread the balbaja grass upon the red skin; sitting down there, may she who has fine offspring worship this fire.

18.9.4 The balbaja grass that you lay down and the skin you spread beneath — upon that let her mount, she who has fine offspring, the maiden who wins a husband.

18.9.5 Mount the hide, sit near the fire — this god destroys all demons; O most auspicious one, sit near this fire as a joint wife; honor the gods here.

18.9.6 From this mother's lap may various forms of cattle be born into being; generate offspring here for this husband of yours; may this son of yours be excellent in seniority.

18.9.7 Most auspicious, the one who leads the household onward, most pleasant to the husband, a source of happiness to the father-in-law, gentle to the mother-in-law — may you enter these homes; may you be rich in offspring, living to old age.

18.9.8 This bride is most auspicious — come together and behold her; having given good fortune to her, depart with the misfortune.

18.9.9 Whatever young women of ill heart are here, and whatever old women too — they have indeed bestowed vital radiance upon her; now depart to your homes.

18.9.10 The bridal chariot spread with gold, bearing all forms — upon it Sūryā, daughter of Savitā, has mounted for great good fortune.

18.10.1 Ascend the bridal bed with glad spirit; beget offspring here for this husband. Awakening wisely like Indrāṇī, radiant and mighty, keep watch at dawn.

18.10.2 The gods at the first bestowed the wife upon him; they touched body with body together. Like the sun, O woman, all-formed in thy greatness, bearing offspring, be propitious to thy husband.

18.10.3 Rise up hence, for she is the wife of a husband; I entreat Viśvāvasu with reverence and songs. Seek a kinswoman who sits with the fathers and dwells in the dark — that is thy share by birth; know him as such.

18.10.4 The Apsarases who revel in common joy between the oblation-cart and the sun — go to them, to thy birthplace; Gandharva, I make obeisance to thee in due season.

18.10.5 We make obeisance to the mind of the Gandharva and to his wrath and to his eye. Viśvāvasu, I make obeisance to thee with prayer; pass beyond to the Apsarases and to the bride.

18.10.6 May we be well-minded with wealth; from here we have turned the Gandharva away. That god has gone to his highest abode; we have gone forward, extending our life-span.

18.10.7 Let the two parents unite in season; father and mother, be ye the source of seed. Let the young man cause the young woman to mount upon him; may you two make offspring here, rejoicing together.

18.10.8 May Prajāpati beget offspring for you two; may Aryaman anoint you both with day and night. She who is not ill-omened enters the husband's world; be thou auspicious to us among bipeds and quadrupeds.

18.10.9 O Pūṣan, impel for us that most auspicious one into whom men sow their seed, who spreads her thighs for us with desire, into whom, with desire, we would thrust the phallus.

18.10.10 Ascend her thigh, lay on thy hand, embrace thy wife with glad spirit. May you two beget offspring; may you flourish in wealth here; may Savitā grant long life to you both.

18.11.1 The bridal portion of the two brides that they gave us — the garment of the bride — that do you two, Bṛhaspati and Indra, grant together with favor to the brahmin.

18.11.2 Given by the gods together with beauty is this bridal garment of the bride. He who gives it to a discerning brahmin — he indeed smites the demons of the marriage-bed.

18.11.3 Awakening from the pleasant womb, laughing together, rejoicing in greatness — you two who have good cattle, good sons, a good home, may you cross over and live to see dawning mornings.

18.11.4 Wearing new garments, fragrant and well-clad, I have come forth alive to the dawning mornings. Like a bird from the egg I have freed myself from every sin.

18.11.5 O adorning Heaven-and-Earth, in whose realm is happiness, mighty in vow — may the seven flowing waters release us from distress.

18.11.6 To Sūryā, to the gods, to Mitra and to Varuṇa — to those who are the wise overseers of existence — to them I have made obeisance.

18.11.7 He who is shattered even apart from harm, torn before the collar-bones — the bounteous Indra, Purūravas, is the reuniter of joints, the restorer of what is wrenched asunder.

18.11.8 Let darkness depart away from us — whatever is dark blue, tawny, or red. The scorching, spotted she-demon — I release her onto this post.

18.11.9 As many sorceries as cling about us, as many nooses of King Varuṇa — those that harm growth and those that do not bring prosperity — all of them I release onto this post.

18.11.10 Whatever borders, whatever selvages there are, the warp-threads and the weft-threads — the garment woven by women: may that touch me pleasantly and bring me ease.

18.12.1 These willing young girls, going toward a husband from the world of the fathers — they have poured down the consecration. Svāhā!

18.12.2 What was released by Bṛhaspati the All-gods upheld; the vigor that has entered into the cows — with that we unite this woman.

18.12.3 What was released by Bṛhaspati the All-gods upheld; the brilliance that has entered into the cows — with that we unite this woman.

18.12.4 What was released by Bṛhaspati the All-gods upheld; the milk-nourishment that has entered into the cows — with that we unite this woman.

18.12.5 What was released by Bṛhaspati the All-gods upheld; the fame that has entered into the cows — with that we unite this woman.

18.12.6 What was released by Bṛhaspati the All-gods upheld; the fortune that has entered into the cows — with that we unite this woman.

18.12.7 When that daughter of thine, with disheveled hair, wept aloud, causing much sin with her weeping — may Agni and Savitā release thee from that guilt.

18.12.8 When those hair-bearing people gathered in thy house, causing sin with their weeping together — [may Agni and Savitā release thee from that guilt].

18.12.9 When the kinswomen and when the young women in thy house, gathered together, caused sin with their weeping — [may Agni and Savitā release thee from that guilt].

18.12.10 When these two spouses both at the wedding caused sin, causing sin with their weeping — [may Agni and Savitā release thee from that guilt].

18.13.1 Whatever evil has been wrought by evildoers upon your offspring, your cattle, or what is established in your houses — may Agni and Savitṛ release you from that sin.

18.13.2 This woman speaks, scattering flower-blossoms: "May my husband have long life; may my fathers prosper."

18.13.3 O Indra, unite this couple here like a pair of cakravāka birds. Blessed with offspring, auspicious, may they enjoy long life.

18.13.4 Whatever sorcery was wrought upon the seat, the pillow, or the resting-place, whatever malefic rite was performed at the wedding bathing — that we now lay to rest.

18.13.5 Whatever misdeed, whatever defilement occurred at the wedding and in the wedding procession — all that trouble we wipe away upon the blanket of the saṃbhala.

18.13.6 Having deposited the impurity upon the saṃbhala, and the sin upon the blanket, we have become pure and fit for sacrifice; may they carry our life-spans forward.

18.13.7 That body of mine which is most dear to me is afraid of the garment. Do thou, O Lord of the forest, fashion her lower garment at the front — let us not suffer harm.

18.13.8 This is the crafted comb of the hundred-toothed kaṅkata tree. Let it scrape away the impurity of the hair, let it scratch away the impurity of the head.

18.13.9 From limb to limb, do you put down the disease away from her. Let it not reach the earth, nor the gods, nor heaven; let it not reach the wide atmosphere. Let it not reach the waters — this impurity, O Agni; let it not reach Yama and all the Fathers.

18.13.10 I bind you with the sap of the earth; I bind you with the sap of the plants; I bind you with offspring and with wealth. So bound and equipped, win this prize.

18.14.1 I am ama, thou art sā; I am heaven, thou art earth. I am mind, thou art speech. So let us two come together here and beget offspring.

18.14.2 May the foremost among us long for a wife; may the generous ones long for a son. Unharmed, may we follow together for the great winning of strength.

18.14.3 The Fathers who, beholding the bride, have come to this wedding procession — may they grant to this bride, the mistress of the household, prosperous shelter with offspring.

18.14.4 Those who have come before, stretching out the cord, having given offspring and wealth to her here — may they lead her along the path to what has not yet been reached. This virāj, rich in offspring, has conquered.

18.14.5 Awake fully, awaking with a good awakening, for long life, for a hundred autumns. Enter the houses with a well-disposed mind; may Savitṛ make your life long.

18.14.6 I release your cord, I release your reins, I release the yoke-straps and the fastening bands. Unharmed, in this light be auspicious to your husband.

18.14.7 Be gentle to your fathers-in-law; be gentle to your husband and his household. Be gentle to this entire clan; be gentle for the flourishing of these people.

18.15.1 Rise up, O Vājin who dwells within the waters; enter this kingdom filled with truth. May Rohita, who engendered all this universe, carry you well-borne to sovereignty.

18.15.2 The vāja who is within the waters has risen up; enter and ascend to your own sources. Bearing Soma, settle here the waters, the plants, the cattle, the four-footed and the two-footed.

18.15.3 You mighty Maruts, sons of Pṛśni, yoked with Indra, smite down the enemies. May Rohita hear you, O generous ones; the thrice-seven Maruts, full of sweet joy.

18.15.4 He climbed, Rohita climbed, he climbed fully — the embryo upon the lap of the mothers and of the births. Grasping those, he found the six wide spaces; looking ahead to a path, he has proclaimed this kingdom here.

18.15.5 Here Rohita has seized your kingdom; he has scattered your enemies; you have become fearless. For you, heaven and earth with their riches shall milk desire here with their mighty ones.

18.15.6 Rohita engendered heaven and earth; Parameṣṭhin stretched out that thread. There the unborn, the one-footed, took his seat; he firmly established heaven and earth with his power.

18.15.7 Rohita firmly established heaven and earth; by him the vault of heaven was propped up; by him the firmament was measured out and the realms spread; by him the gods found immortality.

18.15.8 Rohita touched all forms, gathering together both the sprouts and the climbers. Having climbed heaven with great greatness, may he anoint your kingdom with milk and ghee.

18.15.9 Your climbers, your sprouts, your ascenders, with which you fill heaven and the atmosphere — nourished by the sacred word and by milk, be wakeful in the clan, in the kingdom of Rohita.

18.15.10 Those clans of yours that were born from austerity, that followed the gāyatrī-calf — may they come here. May they enter you with an auspicious mind; the well-mothered calf Rohita comes toward you.

18.16.1 Rohita has stood erect above the vault of heaven, the youthful seer generating all forms. Agni blazes with sharp light; in the third wheel of the atmosphere the beloved things shine.

18.16.2 The thousand-horned bull, Jātavedas, fed with oblations of ghee, whose back is Soma, possessing good heroes — do not abandon me, I implore you, lest I abandon you. Bestow on me increase in cattle and increase in heroes.

18.16.3 Rohita is the begetter and the mouth of the sacrifice. With speech, hearing, and mind I offer oblation to Rohita. The gods go to Rohita with benevolent hearts. May he lift me up; going together, may he cause me to ascend.

18.16.4 Rohita distributed the sacrifice to Viśvakarman; therefore these vital powers have come to me. I shall declare your navel upon the greatness of the world.

18.16.5 The bṛhatī meter has ascended you, and the paṅkti; the kakubh has ascended you with brilliance, O Vishvaveda. The uṣṇih, the syllable, the vaṣaṭkāra have ascended you; Rohita together with seed has ascended you.

18.16.6 This one clothes the womb of the earth; this one clothes heaven and the atmosphere. This one has reached the luminous dwelling of the blazing sun, the celestial realms.

18.16.7 O Lord of Speech, may earth be pleasant for us, pleasant the womb, the couch, most auspicious. May breath remain here among us in friendship. Around you, O Parameṣṭhin, may Agni set you with radiance.

18.16.8 O Lord of Speech, the five seasons belonging to Viśvakarman that have come around — [...] [...] may Rohita establish around with radiance.

18.16.9 O Lord of Speech, goodwill and mind — let our cattle rest content in the stall, and offspring in their wombs. May breath remain here among us in friendship. Around you, O Parameṣṭhin, I myself establish with radiance.

18.16.10 May divine Savitṛ establish around you with radiance; may Agni and Mitra-Varuṇa look upon you. All grudging hostile powers depart — rise up! Make this realm full of true and pleasant things.

18.17.1 You whom the dappled mare carries on the chariot as a dappled back — you, Rohita, travel beautifully, releasing the waters. By him, O Brahmaṇaspati, cause this highest ascent, the great rising.

18.17.2 Rohiṇī, devoted to the vow of Rohita, noble, well-winged, vast, of great brilliance — with her may we win prizes of all forms; with her may we overcome the battles of the clans.

18.17.3 This is the seat of Rohiṇī belonging to Rohita; yonder is the path along which the dappled one travels. The Gandharvas, the Kashyapas, lead her upward; the poets guard her with unwavering attention.

18.17.4 The tawny horses of the sun, bearing banners, immortal, always carry the chariot with ease. Rohita the god, drinking ghee, blazing, has entered heaven and the dappled cow.

18.17.5 Rohita the bull with sharp horns, who has come to encompass Agni and encompass the sun, who props up earth and heaven — from him the gods release their creations.

18.17.6 Rohita, ascending heaven, from the great ocean all around — Rohita has ascended everywhere, the ascender.

18.17.7 Measure out this milk-rich, ghee-rich cow of the gods, unrivaled — she is not to be touched improperly. Let Indra drink the Soma; may there be peace; let Agni sing forth — drive away the adversaries.

18.17.8 Agni is kindled, blazing up, nourished by ghee, fed with ghee — Agni the conquering, the all-conquering, let him smite my rivals.

18.17.9 Let Agni smite and burn those who attack us. With fire that eats raw flesh we burn our rivals.

18.17.10 O Agni, cast the rival down away from us; O Bṛhaspati, make the kinsman who rises against us stumble. May Indra-Agni and Mitra-Varuṇa fall upon those below, showing no pity.

18.18.1 Strike those who face downward down, O Indra, with your thunderbolt, O you of mighty arms. Then my rivals I seize with the fierces of Agni.

18.18.2 Rising, O divine Sun, make my rivals fall below. Strike them down with a stone; may they go into the lowest darkness.

18.18.3 The calf of virāj, the bull of thoughts, bright-backed, has ascended the atmosphere. With ghee they praise the calf as the hymn of praise; may the priests make him grow — he who is brahman — with sacred utterance.

18.18.4 Ascend heaven and ascend earth; ascend dominion and ascend wealth; ascend offspring and ascend immortality. With Rohita touch your own body.

18.18.5 The gods who uphold the realm, who travel around the sun on every side — may Rohita, in agreement with them, benevolently bestow the realm upon you.

18.18.6 The sacrifices purified by brahman carry you upward; the tawny steeds of the path carry you. You shine beyond the ocean, beyond the flood.

18.18.7 Upon Rohita heaven and earth are founded — winning wealth, winning cattle, winning all, winning by union. His treasures are a thousand and seven. I shall declare your navel upon the greatness of the world.

18.18.8 Full of fame you travel through the directions and the quarters; full of fame among cattle and among men. Glorious in the lap of the earth, of Aditi, I am as beautiful as Savitṛ.

18.18.9 Being there, he knows things here; being here, he sees those things. From here the wise see the shining sun, the all-knowing, in heaven.

18.18.10 The god worships the god, moving within the ocean. They kindle the same fire; the far-seeing poets know him.

18.19.2 She who has become one-footed, two-footed, four-footed, eight-footed, nine-footed — the verse of the universe with a thousand syllables: from her the oceans flow forth in all directions.

18.19.3 Ascending to the sky, the immortal one protected my speech. The brahman-purified sacrifices carry you upward. The bay steeds carry you as you drink ghee.

18.19.4 I know that undying thing of yours — your foothold in the sky, your dwelling-place in the highest heaven.

18.19.5 The sun looks out over the sky; the sun looks over the earth; the sun looks over the waters. The sun, the one eye of all beings, has ascended the great sky.

18.19.6 The enclosures were vast; the earth became the vedi. There Rohita set down these two fires — the cold dew and the blazing heat.

18.19.7 Having set down the cold and the blaze and made the mountains into sacrificial posts, the two fires — knowers of the heavenly world — sacrifice with rain as ghee for Rohita.

18.19.8 For Rohita the sky-knower, Agni was established through brahman. From him arose the blaze, from him the cold, from him the sacrifice was born.

18.19.9 Agni kindled by brahman, grown great by brahman, fed with oblations of brahman — the two fires kindled by brahman sacrifice for Rohita, knower of the sky.

18.19.10 One is established in the waters; another is established in truth. [The rest of the verse is lacunose in the manuscript.]

18.19.11 Him whom the wind adorns, him whom Indra and Brahmaṇaspati adorn — the two fires kindled by brahman sacrifice for Rohita, knower of the sky.

18.20.1 Having fashioned the earth as the vedi and the sky as the south, having made that blaze the fire, Rohita made everything animated, with rain as the ghee.

18.20.2 Rain became the ghee, the blaze became the fire, the earth became the vedi. There Agni fashioned these mountains upright with his hymns.

18.20.3 Having fashioned them upright with hymns, Rohita addressed the earth: "From you let all this be born — whatever has existed and whatever shall be."

18.20.4 That sacrifice was the first being, the first to be born as what will be. From that sacrifice everything shines forth here — whatever Rohita the seer has upheld.

18.20.5 His bright banners rise and blaze in the sky — those of Āditya who sees men, who holds the great vow, who is bountiful.

18.20.6 The knower of the directions, resounding with his flame, well-winged, flying swiftly across the sea — we praise the sun, guardian of the world, who illumines all the directions with his rays.

18.20.7 That you go swiftly eastward and westward by your own power, and draw the two days of varied form by your māyā — that, O Āditya, is your greatness; great is your renown, that you alone are born encompassing the entire world.

18.20.8 Him the wise, the swift, the blazing — whom the seven great bay mares carry — whom Atri, upon being praised, raised to the sky — may we see you, him, traversing your course.

18.20.9 Let no one deceive you as you traverse your course; pass swiftly through ease and through hardship. As you go, O sun, measuring out both the sky and the divine earth with day and night —

18.20.10 Good fortune to your moving chariot, O sun, with which you circuit both ends at once; mount that chariot comfortably, drawn by the best of your bay horses, swift as thought.

18.21.1 O sun, mount comfortably the radiant chariot, pleasant, well-harnessed, of prize horses — the one your finest bay mares draw: a hundred steeds, or indeed the seven great ones.

18.21.2 The sun yoked seven great golden-skinned bay mares to the chariot for the journey. The bright one, shaking off darkness, freed himself beyond the realm of dust, and the god ascended to the sky.

18.21.3 The gods came with a great banner; removing darkness they advanced toward the light. The heavenly great-winged one, the mighty, surveyed all the worlds — the son of Aditi.

18.21.4 Rising, you stretch out your rays; you behold all living beings. With your power you illuminate both oceans, blazing you encompass all the worlds.

18.21.5 These two young ones, yearning, travel around the sea by māyā, moving east and west. One wraps itself around all the worlds; the bay mares carry the other with their golden trappings.

18.21.6 Atri held you in the sky, O sun, to make the months. Thus you go, well-sustained, blazing with heat upon the heavenly light, shining upon all beings.

18.21.7 The calf flows together toward both ends, as toward two mothers. Surely even now the gods yonder have known this brahman since of old.

18.21.8 What is leaning toward the sea — that the sun desires to win. His path is stretched out vast, the one that goes both east and west.

18.21.9 He reaches it with his swift movements; therefore he does not fall short. Thereby he does not obstruct the gods' share of immortality.

18.21.10 And behold — the rays carry yonder god Jātavedas, the sun, for all the world to see.

18.22.1 Away they go like thieves, as the stars depart through the nights, before the Sun, the all-seeing.

18.22.2 His beams, his rays, have become visible spreading among the peoples, blazing like fires.

18.22.3 Swift, visible to all, maker of light, O Sun — you illuminate all things, shining brilliantly.

18.22.4 Facing the host of gods, facing the races of men, you rise; facing all things you rise to be seen in the sky.

18.22.5 With that purifying eye, O Varuṇa, you behold the bustling peoples moving about.

18.22.6 You traverse the broad sky and the wide atmosphere, measuring out the day with the nights, beholding all created beings, O Sun.

18.22.7 The seven tawny mares carry you on your chariot, O divine Sun — you who have flames for hair, you the far-seeing.

18.22.8 The Sun has yoked the seven bright daughters of his chariot; by them he travels, self-harnessed.

18.22.9 Sprinkling me with radiance, the hymns come toward me as you move about, as milk-cows come toward a calf.

18.22.10 They flow bright, mingling their radiance with dear ones, as mothers who gave birth hold the newborn to the heart.

18.23.1 Like a thunderbolt well aimed, O one dear to ghee, bring to me renown and industry; bring long life to me.

18.23.2 Rohita, the Ruddy One, ascended heaven by his heat, himself full of heat. He goes to the womb; he is born again; he has become lord over the gods.

18.23.3 He who encompasses all creatures, who faces all directions, whose hands stretch in all directions, who strives from all sides — with his two arms and with his wings he gathers in; he, the one god, brings forth heaven and earth.

18.23.4 The one-footed one strode forth further into the two-footed; from two feet he approaches the three-footed behind. The three-footed one strode forth further into the six-footed; those one-footed ones are gathered together into a body.

18.23.5 Untiring as you go, when you, the Tawny One, have mounted your form in heaven shining brilliantly — rising with a banner, overpowering the realms, O Āditya, you shine brightly over all the heights.

18.23.6 Verily great are you, O Sun; verily great are you, O Āditya. Great is your greatness from the great; you, O Āditya, are great.

18.23.7 You shine in heaven, you shine in the atmosphere, O Bird; you shine on earth, you shine in the waters within. Both oceans you have pervaded with your brilliance — a god among gods, you are the mighty one, the knower of the sun-world.

18.23.8 Flying hither and thither through the expanded region, swift, wise, soaring — the Bird; Viṣṇu, discerning, standing firm with his power, with his banner overpowers all that stirs.

18.23.9 Sharp, blazing, sharpening his body, swift-going, exulting over the heights — the luminous Bird, the great bull, sustainer of life, has taken his stand over all the quarters, arranging them.

18.23.10 The brilliant, knowing bull, the beautiful-winged one, illumining the two worlds and the atmosphere — day and night clothing themselves around the Sun — his heroic powers extend beyond all.

18.24.1 The brilliant banner of the gods, the luminous face of all the quarters, the Sun rising — the maker of day has crossed beyond all darkness with his splendors; the pure one has crossed beyond all difficulties.

18.24.2 The brilliant face of the gods has risen — the eye of Mitra, of Varuṇa, of Agni. He has filled heaven and earth and the atmosphere; the Sun is the soul of all that moves and stands.

18.24.3 Flying high, ruddy, beautiful-winged, swift, blazing in the middle of heaven — may we behold you, O Savitṛ, whom they call the imperishable light which Atri found.

18.24.4 Running on the back of heaven, the beautiful-winged son of Aditi — longing for a protector, I approach you in fear. O Sun, grant us long life; let us not be harmed; may we be in your good grace.

18.24.5 Apportioning days and nights, creating the earthly realm, you make yourself ever-new, ever a companion, O divine Sun.

18.24.6 A thousand days long are the two wings of this tawny swan as they cook the heaven. Holding all gods to his breast, beholding all, he travels through all the worlds.

18.24.7 Rohita became the world; Rohita was Prajāpati in the beginning. Rohita is the face of sacrifices; Rohita is called the light.

18.24.8 Rohita became what has come to be; Rohita brought forth what is yet to be. Rohita is the face of sacrifices; Rohita brought the sun-world.

18.24.9 Rohita became time; Rohita blazed forth beyond heaven. Rohita with his rays has traveled along the earth and the ocean.

18.24.10 Rohita travels through all the quarters; Rohita is the lord of heaven. May he protect heaven, the ocean, and the earth — all the worlds.

18.25.1 He bears the ray and releases the garland, lifts the beams, the great ray. The day-maker sees what is beyond the beyond; in the forenoon, by his stature he pervaded all. The golden, yellow banner rises.

18.25.2 Ascending, bright, into the great heights, unwearied, the mortal performs heroic deeds. The divine fair-winged one, the mighty bull, swift as the wind — as he shines over all the worlds.

18.25.3 Approaching one thing, departing from another, clothing himself, the mighty bull measures out day and night. We, desiring a guide, invoke the Sun who dwells in the atmosphere, who knows the way.

18.25.4 The mighty bull who fills the earth, the guide for the supplicant, with undeceived eye he encompassed all. Seeing everything, the excellent ordainer, worthy of worship — with a gracious body may he grant us shelter.

18.25.5 His greatness surrounds the earth and the ocean, blazing with light around the sky and the atmosphere. Knowing together with day and night, may he extend to us our lifespan, unharmed.

18.25.6 Agni has been awakened by the kindling of men, meeting the Dawn as she comes like a cow. Like young birds stretching their wings upward, the rays rush forth toward the vault of heaven.

18.25.7 The young mother bears the boy-child within her womb, secretly; she does not give him to the father. Men do not diminish his countenance; they see him placed before them in the nave of the wheel.

18.25.8 This boy you, O young woman, you the fierce one bear; the great queen has given birth to him. The wide-spreading embryo has grown through the years — I did not see the one born whom the mother bore.

18.25.9 He who has three turning tracks while being one, to whom the hosts of gods bring tribute — for him, this sky, the earth, and the atmosphere stand hidden, pervaded with riches.

18.25.10 Nine skies guarded by the divine hosts, nine atmospheres, these nine earths — in whom all this is woven lengthwise and crosswise, beyond whom there is nothing else whatsoever.

18.26.1 There is nothing before him nor after, nothing that was, neither past nor future. Of a thousand feet, one head, of double nature — he alone keeps all this creation in constant motion.

18.26.2 Those fair-winged ones who fell one by one, seeking soma, pressed hard by serpents — who knows their father and their mother? Who knows the origin, who knows the self of these?

18.26.3 By whom the wind, when urged, blows forth; who bestow the five directions aligned together; which gods disregarded the oblation — who were those leaders of the waters?

18.26.4 One of them clothes this earth, one of them became the encompasser of the atmosphere. He who is their ordainer grants them heaven; one of them guards all the directions.

18.27.1 The Vrātya indeed was this in the beginning; he, as he moved with vigor, stirred Prajāpati into motion.

18.27.2 That Prajāpati saw within himself the fair-winged one.

18.27.3 That became the One; that became the pre-eminent mark; that became the great; that became the first-born; that became austerity; that became truth; that became brahman; through it Prajāpati was born.

18.27.4 He grew; he became great; he became the great god; he became the lord; he attained lordship over the gods; he became the one Vrātya among the gods.

18.27.5 He took up the bow; that became the rainbow of Indra.

18.27.6 Blue is its belly; red is its back.

18.27.7 With the blue he wraps the hostile rival; with the red he pierces the enemy — so the brahman-speakers declare.

18.28.1 He moved forth toward the eastern direction. The Bṛhat and Rathantara sāmans, the All-Gods, and the Ādityas moved after him. Whoever knows this becomes the beloved abode of the Bṛhat and the Rathantara, of the All-Gods and of the Ādityas. But whoever speaks ill of a Vrātya who knows this is cut off from the Bṛhat and the Rathantara, from the All-Gods and from the Ādityas.

18.28.2 In the eastern direction of his: Faith is his harlot, Mitra is his herald-bard, discernment is his garment, day is his turban, night is his hair, two bay horses are his wheelers, Kalmali is his jewel. The past and the future are his two outriders; mind is his off-road track; Mātariśvan and Pavamāna are the two that draw him off the road; Wind is his charioteer; the whip is his goad; Renown and Glory go before him — Glory comes to him, Fame comes to him, for whoever knows this.

18.28.3 He moved forth toward the southern direction. The Yajñāyajñiya and Vāmadevya sāmans, the sacrifice, and the cattle moved after him. Whoever knows this becomes the beloved abode of the Yajñāyajñiya and the Vāmadevya, of the sacrifice and of the cattle. But whoever speaks ill of a Vrātya who knows this is cut off from the Yajñāyajñiya and the Vāmadevya, from the sacrifice and from the cattle.

18.28.4 In the southern direction of his: Dawn is his harlot, the sacred Mantra is his herald-bard, [and so on as above in the eastern direction]. Day and Night are his two outriders [and so on as above].

18.28.5 He moved forth toward the western direction. The Vairūpa and Vairāja sāmans, King Varuṇa, and the waters moved after him. Whoever knows this becomes the beloved abode of the Vairūpa and the Vairāja, of King Varuṇa and of the waters. But whoever speaks ill of a Vrātya who knows this is cut off from the Vairūpa and the Vairāja, from King Varuṇa and from the waters.

18.28.6 In the western direction of his: Irā (refreshment, drink) is his harlot, Laughter is his herald-bard, [and so on as above]. Full moon and new moon are his two outriders [and so on as above].

18.28.7 He moved forth toward the northern direction. The Śyaita and Naudhasa sāmans, King Soma, and the Seven Seers moved after him. Whoever knows this becomes the beloved abode of the Śyaita and the Naudhasa, of King Soma and of the Seven Seers. But whoever speaks ill of a Vrātya who knows this is cut off from the Śyaita and the Naudhasa, from King Soma and from the Seven Seers.

18.28.8 In the northern direction of his: Lightning is his harlot, Thunder is his herald-bard, discernment is his garment, day is his turban, night is his hair, two bay horses are his wheelers, Kalmali is his jewel. Sacred learning and far-famed wisdom are his two outriders; mind is his off-road track; Mātariśvan and Pavamāna are the two that draw him off the road; Wind is his charioteer; the whip is his goad; Renown and Glory go before him — Glory comes to him, Fame comes to him, for whoever knows this.

18.29.1 He stood erect for a full year. The gods said to him: "O Vrātya, why do you stand?" He replied: "Let them bring me a seat (āsandī)." So they brought him a seat. Of that seat, Spring and Summer were the two front legs, the Rains and Autumn were the two back legs. The Bṛhat and Rathantara sāmans were the two lengthwise straps, the Yajñāyajñiya and Vāmadevya were the crosswise straps. The Ṛg-verses were the lengthwise threads, the Yajus-formulas the crosswise threads. The Veda was the cushion, the Brahman priest the headrest, the Sāman the seat-cover, the Udgītha the back support. His jest-companions were the devajanāḥ (divine folk), the apsarases were his consorts-in-waiting, all beings were his attendants. All beings come to him, and he becomes beloved of all beings — whoever knows this.

18.30.1 For him, from the eastern direction: they made the two spring months his guardians and the Bṛhat and Rathantara his attendants. The two spring months guard him from the eastern direction, and the Bṛhat and Rathantara wait upon him — for whoever knows this.

18.30.2 For him, from the southern direction: they made the two summer months his guardians and the Yajñāyajñiya and Vāmadevya his attendants. The two summer months guard him from the southern direction, and the Yajñāyajñiya and Vāmadevya wait upon him — for whoever knows this.

18.30.3 For him, from the western direction: they made the two rainy-season months his guardians and the Vairūpa and Vairāja his attendants. The two rainy-season months guard him from the western direction, and the Vairūpa and Vairāja wait upon him — for whoever knows this.

18.30.4 For him, from the northern direction: they made the two autumnal months his guardians and the Śyaita and Naudhasa his attendants. The two autumnal months guard him from the northern direction, and the Śyaita and Naudhasa wait upon him — for whoever knows this.

18.30.5 For him, from the fixed (nadir) direction: they made the two winter months his guardians and Earth and Fire his attendants. The two winter months guard him from the fixed direction, and Earth and Fire wait upon him — for whoever knows this.

18.30.6 For him, from the upward direction: they made the two cool-season months his guardians and Heaven and the Sun his attendants. The two cool-season months guard him from the upward direction, and Heaven and the Sun wait upon him — for whoever knows this.

18.31.1 For him they made Bhava the archer the attendant from the eastern intermediate region. Bhava, the archer, attends him from the eastern intermediate region — so it is for him who knows thus.

18.31.2 For him they made Śarva the archer the attendant from the southern intermediate region. Śarva, the archer, attends him from the southern intermediate region — [so it is for him who knows thus].

18.31.3 For him they made Rudra the archer the attendant from the western intermediate region. Rudra, the archer, attends him from the western intermediate region — [so it is for him who knows thus].

18.31.4 For him they made Paśupati the archer the attendant from the northern intermediate region. Paśupati, the archer, attends him from the northern intermediate region — [so it is for him who knows thus].

18.31.5 For him they made the fierce god Ugra the archer the attendant from the fixed intermediate region. Ugra the fierce god, the archer, attends him from the fixed intermediate region — [so it is for him who knows thus].

18.31.6 For him they made Mahādeva the archer the attendant from the upper intermediate region. Mahādeva, the archer, attends him from the upper intermediate region — [so it is for him who knows thus].

18.31.7 For him they made Īśāna the archer the attendant from all the intermediate regions. Īśāna, the archer, attends him from all the intermediate regions — so it is for him who knows thus.

18.32.1 He moved along the fixed direction. Earth, Fire, the plants, the forest trees, the creeping plants, and the forest growths followed him. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of Earth, Fire, the plants, the forest trees, the creeping plants, and the forest growths. And he who speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus cuts himself off from Earth, Fire, the plants, the forest trees, the creeping plants, and the forest growths.

18.32.2 He moved along the upward direction. Ṛta (cosmic order), Truth, the Sun, and the Moon followed him. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of Ṛta, Truth, the Sun, and the Moon. And he who [speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus] cuts himself off from Ṛta, Truth, the Sun, and the Moon.

18.32.3 He moved along the vast direction. The Ṛc verses, the Sāmans, the Yajus formulas, and brahman followed him. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of the Ṛc verses, the Sāmans, the Yajus formulas, and brahman. And he who [speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus] cuts himself off from the Ṛgveda, the Sāmaveda, the Yajurveda, and brahman.

18.32.4 He moved along the highest direction. The itihāsa epics, the purāṇas, the gāthā songs, and the nārāśaṃsī eulogies followed him. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of the itihāsas, the purāṇas, the gāthās, and the nārāśaṃsīs. And he who [speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus] cuts himself off from the itihāsas, the purāṇas, the gāthās, and the nārāśaṃsīs.

18.32.5 He moved along the supreme direction. The seasons, seasonal phenomena, the worlds, and the worldly beings followed him. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of the seasons, the seasonal phenomena, the worlds, and the worldly beings. And he who [speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus] cuts himself off from the seasons, seasonal phenomena, the worlds, and the worldly beings.

18.32.6 He moved along the auspicious upward direction, thinking he would not return from there. Virāj followed him, and all the gods and all the divine powers. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of Virāj, of all the gods, and of all the divine powers. And he who [speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus] cuts himself off from Virāj, from all the gods, and from all the divine powers.

18.32.7 He moved along the unclaimed direction, thinking he would not return from there. The Dakṣiṇāgni fire, the Gārhapatya fire, the Āhavanīya fire, the sacrifice, and the sacrificer followed him. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of the Dakṣiṇāgni, the Gārhapatya, the Āhavanīya, the sacrifice, and the sacrificer. And he who [speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus] cuts himself off from the Dakṣiṇāgni, the Gārhapatya, the Āhavanīya, the sacrifice, and the sacrificer.

18.32.8 He moved along the intermediate regions. Diti, Aditi, Iḍā, and Indrāṇī followed him. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of Diti, Aditi, Iḍā, and Indrāṇī. And he who [speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus] cuts himself off from Diti, Aditi, Iḍā, and Indrāṇī.

18.32.9 He moved along all the directions. Prajāpati, Parameṣṭhin, the father, and the grandfather followed him. He who knows thus comes to the beloved dwelling of Prajāpati, Parameṣṭhin, the father, and the grandfather. And he who speaks ill of a vrātya who knows thus cuts himself off from Prajāpati, Parameṣṭhin, the father, and the grandfather.

18.33.1 That greatness, having become a rushing torrent, reached the end of the earth and became the ocean. Prajāpati, Parameṣṭhin, the waters, faith, and rain, taking on those forms, turned back after him. The sacrifice, the world, food, and the enjoyment of food, taking on those forms, turned around him from all sides. Waters go to him, rain goes to him, faith goes to him, consecration goes to him, sacrifice goes to him, the world goes to him, food goes to him, the enjoyment of food goes to him — so it is for him who knows thus.

18.34.1 He became king; from that one who was becoming king, the royal warrior (rājanya) was born. He rose above the common people (viś) together with his kinsmen, above food and the eating of food. Indeed, one who knows thus becomes the beloved abode of the common people, of his kinsmen, of food, and of the eating of food. And one who slanders a vrātya who knows thus is cut off from the common people, from his kinsmen, from food, and from the eating of food.

18.35.1 He moved forth among the common people. The assembly hall (sabhā), the tribal assembly (samiti), the army (senā), and the liquor (surā) all moved forth after him. Indeed, one who knows thus becomes the beloved abode of the assembly hall, the tribal assembly, the army, and the liquor. And one who slanders a vrātya who knows thus is cut off from the assembly hall, from the tribal assembly, from the army, and from the liquor.

18.36.1 When a vrātya who knows thus comes as a guest to the home of a king, let the king honor him as superior to himself — then the king is not cut off from the realm (rāṣṭra), not cut off from the kingly power (kṣatra), not cut off from the sacred power (brahman). Thereupon indeed brahman and kṣatra both rose up; they said to each other: "Into whom shall we enter?" Prajāpati declared: "Let brahman enter Bṛhaspati, and kṣatra enter Indra." Thereupon brahman entered Bṛhaspati and kṣatra entered Indra. This earth here is indeed Bṛhaspati; that sky yonder is Indra. This fire here is brahman; that sun yonder is kṣatra. One who knows the sun as kṣatra, the sky as Indra, attains kṣatra and becomes a companion of Indra. One who knows fire as brahman, Bṛhaspati as earth, attains brahman and becomes radiant with brahminic splendor.

18.37.1 When the fires have been drawn out and the Agnihotra has not yet been offered, should a vrātya who knows thus arrive as a guest — one should go to meet him oneself and say: 'Vrātya, where have you dwelt?' 'Vrātya, let water be given,' 'Vrātya, let them refresh you.'

18.37.2 When he says 'Vrātya, where have you dwelt?' — by that he wins for him the paths that lead to the gods. When he says 'Vrātya, water!' — by that he wins water for him. When he says 'Vrātya, let them refresh you!' — by that he accumulates breath for him in the rainy season.

18.37.3 Before the offering of the Agnihotra, one should perform it in a low murmur: 'Vrātya, may it be as is pleasing to you; Vrātya, may it be as is your desire; Vrātya, may it be as is your will.'

18.37.4 When he says 'Vrātya, may it be as is pleasing to you' — by that he wins what is pleasing for him; he becomes the beloved of the beloved, and the pleasing goes to him — he who knows thus.

18.37.5 When he says 'Vrātya, may it be as is your desire' — by that he wins desire for him; his desire is fulfilled in desire, and desire comes to him — he who knows thus. When he says 'Vrātya, may it be as is your will' — by that he wins will for him; he becomes master of what is his will, and will comes to him — he who knows thus.

18.38.1 When the Agnihotra fire is kindled and a vrātya who knows thus comes to someone's house as a guest — one should go to meet him oneself and say: 'Vrātya, grant leave; I shall offer.' And if he grants leave, one should offer; if he does not grant leave, one should not offer. Whoever offers without being granted leave by a vrātya who knows thus — he does not know the path to the gods nor the path to the fathers; he is cut off among the gods; his offering is as if not offered. But whoever, having been granted leave by a vrātya who knows thus, then offers — he knows the path to the gods and the path to the fathers; a resting place remains for him in this world; his offering is truly offered.

18.39.1 In whose house a vrātya who knows thus stays as a guest for one night — he thereby wins for him all the meritorious worlds that are in the earth.

18.39.2 In whose house a vrātya who knows thus stays as a guest for a second night — he thereby wins for him all the meritorious worlds that are in the atmosphere.

18.39.3 In whose house a vrātya who knows thus stays as a guest for a third night — he thereby wins for him all the meritorious worlds that are in the sky.

18.39.4 In whose house a vrātya who knows thus stays as a guest for a fourth night — he thereby wins for him all meritorious worlds entirely.

18.39.5 In whose house a vrātya who knows thus stays as a guest for a fifth night — he thereby wins worlds at the farthest distance.

18.39.6 In whose house a vrātya who knows thus stays as a guest for an unlimited number of nights — he thereby wins unlimited worlds.

18.40.1 If one who is a non-vrātya bearing the name vrātya comes as a guest to the house — one should draw him in, yet not compel him to stay. One should beg water for him saying "I beg water for this deity"; one should honor him saying "I serve this deity around." For the one who knows thus, whatever oblation or sacrifice is offered is indeed offered to this very deity.

18.41.1 When he moved along the eastern direction, having become Indra he moved along, having made mind the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of mind as the food-eater.

18.41.2 When he moved along the southern direction, having become the host of the Maruts he moved along, having made wrath the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of wrath as the food-eater.

18.41.3 When he moved along the western direction, having become Varuṇa he moved along, having made the waters food-eating. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of the waters as food-eaters.

18.41.4 When he moved along the northern direction, having become King Soma together with the seven sages he moved along, having made the oblation food-eating. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of the oblation as food-eating.

18.41.5 When he moved along the fixed direction (the zenith or nadir), having become Viṣṇu he moved along, having made the Virāj food-eating. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of the Virāj as food-eating.

18.41.6 When he moved along the upward direction, having become Bṛhaspati he moved along, having made the vaṣaṭ-call the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of the vaṣaṭ-call as the food-eater.

18.41.7 When he moved along the cattle, having become Rudra he moved along, having made the plants food-eating. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of the plants as food-eaters.

18.41.8 When he moved along the gods, having become Īśāna (the lord) he moved along, having made strength the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of strength as the food-eater.

18.41.9 When he moved along humankind, having become Agni he moved along, having made the svāhā-call the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of the svāhā-call as the food-eater.

18.41.10 When he moved along the ancestors (pitṛs), having become Yama he moved along, having made the svadhā-call the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of the svadhā-call as the food-eater.

18.41.11 When he moved along creatures (prajā), having become Prajāpati he moved along, having made the breath (prāṇa) the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of breath as the food-eater.

18.41.12 When he moved along the intermediate regions, having become Vāyu he moved along, having made the wind (vāta) the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of wind as the food-eater.

18.41.13 When he moved along the directions, having become Parameṣṭhin he moved along, having made brahman the food-eater. Whoever knows thus eats food by means of brahman as the food-eater.

18.42.1 He has seven prāṇas (in-breaths), seven apānas (out-breaths), seven vyānas (diffused breaths). His first prāṇa is named Ūrdhva (the upward) — that is this Agni (fire). His second prāṇa is named Proḍha (the advanced) — that is yonder Āditya (sun). His third prāṇa is named Abhyūḍha (the borne-up) — that is yonder Candramā (moon). His fourth prāṇa is named Vibhū (the pervading) — that is this Pavamāna (purifying wind). His fifth prāṇa is named Aparimita (the immeasurable) — those are these cattle. His sixth prāṇa is named Priya (the beloved) — those are these creatures (prajāḥ). His seventh prāṇa is named Yoni (the womb/source) — those are these waters.

18.43.1 His first out-breath — that is the full-moon day. His second out-breath — that is the ashtakā. His third out-breath — that is the new-moon day. His fourth out-breath — that is faith. His fifth out-breath — that is the consecration. His sixth out-breath — that is the sacrifice. His seventh out-breath — that is the vaṣaṭ-cry. His first pervading-breath — that is this earth. His second pervading-breath — that is the atmosphere. His third pervading-breath — that is the sky. His fourth pervading-breath — those are the constellations. His fifth pervading-breath — those are the seasons. His sixth pervading-breath — those are the seasonal observances. His seventh pervading-breath — that is the year. 'The gods move round a common goal' — truly it is the seasons that move round the year. 'They converge upon the sun' — they converge upon both the full-moon day and the new-moon day. 'That one form is their immortality' — that is indeed the oblation. 'Growing form by form through austerity' — that is indeed day and night. His right ear — that is this Agni; his left — that is Pavamāna. His right eye — that is yonder Āditya; his left — that is yonder Moon. Diti and Aditi are the two halves of his skull; the year is his head; day and night are his nostrils. Facing west at night, facing east by day — homage to the Vrātya.

18.44.1 Released is the bull of the waters; released are the celestial fires — breaking, shattering all around, crushing, grinding to dust: the Mroka (corrosion), the Manohā (mind-slayer), the Khana (digger), the Nirdāha (consuming fire), the Ātmadūṣi (soul-defiler), the Tanūdūṣi (body-defiler).

18.44.2 I release all these away from here; let them not strike back at me. With those I release them in full force against him who hates us, against him whom we hate.

18.44.3 You are the foremost of waters; I release you toward the ocean. The fires that dwell in the waters — I release them past: the Mroka, the Khani, the Tanūdūṣi. The fire that entered your waters — that is this; whatever is terrible in you, that is it.

18.44.4 With the power of Indra, let the sin-free waters sprinkle and wash away impurity from us. Let them carry forth transgression, let them carry forth ill-dreaming.

18.44.5 Look upon me with a benevolent eye, O Waters; touch my skin with your benevolent body. We invoke the benevolent fires that abide in the waters. O divine ones, bestow upon me sovereign power and radiance.

18.45.1 Away from malice, with vigor — you are honeyed speech, you are honeyed. May I utter honeyed speech; may I not be deaf to speech. My guardian is undeceived, my protection is undeceived. May my ears be well-hearing, may my ears be auspiciously-hearing; may I hear an auspicious proclamation. May Upaśruti (Near-hearing) and Mānuśruti (Human-hearing) not abandon me — the eagle-eyed vision, the ceaseless light. You are the strewing-grass of the seers; homage to the divine strewing-grass. May I become the head of riches, may I become the head of my peers.

18.46.1 May Ruja and Vena not abandon me; may Urva and Camasa not abandon me; may Vimoka and Ārdrapavi not abandon me; may Ārdradānu and Mātariśvan not abandon me; may Mūrdhā and Vidharma not abandon me; may Dhartā and Dharuṇa not abandon me; may Mṛdha and Vaimṛdha not abandon me.

18.46.2 Bṛhaspati is my self; "Nṛmaṇā" is my name. O ageless Heart, do not abandon me; let my heart be free of distress. I am the wide, cow-rich pasture, I am the ocean, by the power of cosmic ordering. May I be the navel of riches, may I be the navel of my companions.

18.47.1 You are the auspicious seat, the bright dawn, the immortal one come among mortals. May the in-breath not go forth and away from me, may the out-breath not go forth and away from me. May Sūrya protect me by day, Agni from the earth, Vāyu from the atmosphere, Yama from among men, Sarasvatī from the earthly realm. May in-breath and out-breath not abandon me; may I not pass away among people. May there be well-being today at dawn and at dusk; may I partake of all waters and of every assembly.

18.48.1 You are Subhū, you are a ray of light, you are the giver of life-span — place life-span in me. You are Subhū, you are a ray of light, you are the giver of vital-lustre — place vital-lustre in me.

18.48.2 You are Subhū, you are a ray of light, you are the giver of brilliance — place brilliance in me.

18.48.3 May Sūrya, the giver of vital-lustre, place vital-lustre in me. You are vital-power — place vital-power in me. You are vital-lustre — place vital-lustre in me.

18.48.4 You are the Śakvarī (mighty verses); may the cattle not be away from me. May Mitra and Varuṇa be my in-breath and out-breath; may Agni place energy in me.

18.49.1 We know your birth, O Dream — you are the son of Sin, the instrument of Yama. May that Dream protect us from evil dreaming.

18.49.2 We know your birth, O Dream — you are the son of Greed [or Seizure]. [May that Dream protect us from evil dreaming.]

18.49.3 We know your birth, O Dream — you are the son of Nirṛti [Dissolution/Destruction]. [May that Dream protect us from evil dreaming.]

18.49.4 We know your birth, O Dream — you are the son of Ill-fortune. [May that Dream protect us from evil dreaming.]

18.49.5 We know your birth, O Dream — you are the son of Utter Ruin. [May that Dream protect us from evil dreaming.]

18.49.6 We know your birth, O Dream — you are the son of Complete Downfall. [May that Dream protect us from evil dreaming.]

18.49.7 We know your birth, O Dream — you are the son of the divine kinswomen, the instrument of Yama. May that Dream protect us from evil dreaming.

18.50.1 Today we have conquered, today we have prevailed, today we have become sinless. O Dawn, from whatever evil dream we feared — shine that away. Carry it away to the one who hates, carry it away to the one who curses. He whom we hate and he who hates us — to him we send this. The goddess Uṣas, in accord with Speech; the goddess Speech, in accord with Uṣas; the Lord of Dawn, in accord with the Lord of Speech; the Lord of Speech, in accord with the Lord of Dawn — may they carry away to that one the demons of ill omen, the evil-named, the ever-hunting rākṣasas, the kumbhīkās, the dūṣīkās, the pīyakas. The evil dream of the waking, the evil dream of the sleeping, the boons still to come, those not yet gained — freed from the snare of treachery, from the bonds of ill intent — may the gods carry all that away from him, O Agni, as the deafened one who is disordered is not upright. To him we send it, thus.

18.51.1 Even so, let that one be swallowed up. That one hates me — may he hate himself; whoever hates me, may he hate himself. We drive out the one who hates from the sky, from the earth, from the midair, with favorable rays of sight. I hereby release this son of so-and-so, the son of such-a-one, from evil dreaming. From whatever evil dream approached at twilight, at the first watch of night, by day, by night, in waking, in sleeping — from whatever evil dream I encounter day after day, from that I release him. Strike him down; rejoice in that; shatter his ribs; may his breath abandon him, may he be breathless, may he perish, may he not live henceforth.

18.52.1 Ours is the victory, ours the conquest, ours is the truth, ours the splendor, ours the sacred knowledge, ours the heavenly light, ours the sacrifice, ours the cattle, ours the heroes, ours the offspring. Therefore we exclude from his share yonder son of so-and-so, child of so-and-so. May he not be released from the nooses of Grāhī. I wind up his breath and his lifespan — I send him down into the lowest darkness.

18.52.2 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of Nirṛti.

18.52.3 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of Abhūti (ill-being).

18.52.4 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of Nirbhūti (destruction).

18.52.5 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of Parābhūti (defeat).

18.52.6 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the divine kinswomen.

18.52.7 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the seers.

18.52.8 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the descendants of the seers.

18.52.9 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the Aṅgirases.

18.52.10 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the descendants of the Aṅgirases.

18.52.11 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the Atharvans.

18.52.12 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the descendants of the Atharvans.

18.52.13 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the seasons.

18.52.14 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the seasonal (powers).

18.52.15 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the plants.

18.52.16 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the creepers.

18.52.17 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the forest trees.

18.52.18 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the offspring of the forest trees.

18.52.19 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the Idāvatsara year.

18.52.20 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the Parivatsara year.

18.52.21 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the Saṃvatsara year.

18.52.22 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of day and night.

18.52.23 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of the two bound days (the two solstice points).

18.52.24 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of Indra and Agni.

18.52.25 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of Bṛhaspati.

18.52.26 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of Prajāpati.

18.52.27 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of Parameṣṭhin (the Supreme Lord).

18.52.28 [As 18.52.1, with the substitution:] May he not be released from the nooses of King Varuṇa.

18.52.29 Ours is the victory, ours the conquest, ours is the truth, ours the splendor, ours the sacred knowledge, ours the heavenly light, ours the sacrifice, ours the cattle, ours the heroes, ours the offspring. Therefore we exclude from his share yonder son of so-and-so, child of so-and-so. May he not be released from the foot-fetters of Death. I wind up his breath and his lifespan — I send him down into the lowest darkness.

18.53.1 Ours is the victory, ours the conquest. We have overcome all hostile forces and all envious ones; we have turned back toward heaven. We turn following the revolution of the sun, we turn following the southern (path). So Agni has said, and Soma has said; may Pūṣan place me in the world of the well-doers. We have reached heaven, we have united with the light of the sun. For the sake of becoming more prosperous, may the sacrifice be rich in goods; may I win wealth, may I be rich in goods.

18.54.1 I invoke by name Indra the ever-conquering, the conquering, the one who has conquered, the mightiest conqueror, the one won by conquest — the all-conquering, the heaven-conquering, the Abhijit-conquering, the wealth-conquering, the cattle-conquering, the all-winning, the battle-winning — Indra who is praiseworthy. May I be long-lived.

18.54.2 [As 18.54.1, closing with:] May I invoke Indra and become dear to the gods.

18.54.3 [As 18.54.1, closing with:] May I invoke Indra and become dear to my offspring.

18.54.4 I invoke by name Indra the ever-conquering, the conquering, the one who has conquered, the mightiest conqueror, the one won by conquest — the all-conquering, the heaven-conquering, the Abhijit-conquering, the wealth-conquering, the cattle-conquering, the all-winning, the battle-winning — Indra who is praiseworthy. May I become dear to my cattle.

18.55.1 Rise up, rise up, O Sun; rise up shining your brilliance upon me. May my foe be subject to me, and may I never be subject to my foe. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.55.2 Rise up, rise up, O Sun; rise up shining your brilliance upon me. Both those whom I see and those whom I do not see — among them make good will toward me. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.55.3 Let not those who lie in wait with snares in the water, amid the waters, deceive you. Abandoning ill-speaking, ascend this sky. Be gracious to us; may we dwell in your favor. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.55.4 You, O Indra, guard us for great good fortune with your undeceived rays of light. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.55.5 Be most soothing to us, O Indra, with your auspicious aids. Ascending to the triple sky, praised for the drinking of soma, beloved of the abode, for our well-being. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.55.6 You, O Indra, are the all-knower, the omniscient, invoked by many. You, O Indra, set in motion this hymn of praise that calls you well. Accompany us with your auspicious bodies. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.55.7 Undeceived, you exist in heaven and on earth; none have equaled your greatness in the atmosphere. Grown strong through undeceived sacred power, you, O Indra — bestow upon us shelter in heaven. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.55.8 That body of yours, O Indra, which is within the waters, which is within fire, which is in the earth, that body of yours, O Indra, of the purifying one, the finder of heaven — with which body, O Indra, you have filled the atmosphere: sharpen us with that body of yours, O Indra. [The refrain continues as above.]

18.55.9 The seers, magnifying you, O Indra, with sacred utterance, sat together in session imploring you. [The refrain continues as above.]

18.55.10 You guard the four quarters; with your flame you shine through both worlds of the sky. Knowing, you follow the path of cosmic order; you stand over all these worlds. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.56.1 With seven rays you burn away what is beyond; with one ray you drive away ill-speaking downward, repelling it on an auspicious day. You are Tṛta; you are the all-pervading one with a thousand streams, the truly mighty, the finder of heaven. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.56.2 You are Indra; you are the great Indra; you are Viṣṇu; you are Prajāpati. For you the sacrifice is spread out; those who offer oblations offer them for you. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.56.3 Being is established in non-being; the past is established in being. The past is indeed placed in the future; the future is gathered into the past. Such, O Viṣṇu, are your manifold heroic deeds. Enrich us with cattle of all forms; place our ancestral portion in the highest heaven.

18.56.4 You are the bright one; you are the shining one. Just as you, shining, are the shining one, so may I too shine with shining brilliance.

18.56.5 You are radiance; you are splendor. Just as you are splendor through your radiance, so may I shine with offspring, with cattle, and with the luster of sacred knowledge.

18.56.6 Homage to the one rising; homage to the one who has risen up; homage to the one who has risen. Homage to the far-ruling one; homage to the self-ruling one; homage to the universal sovereign.

18.56.7 Homage to the one setting; homage to the one about to set; homage to the one who has set. Homage to the far-ruling one; homage to the self-ruling one; homage to the universal sovereign.

18.56.8 I have boarded the hundred-oared ship of Āditya for well-being. May the day nourish us today; may the night carry us safely across unharmed.

18.56.9 I have boarded the hundred-oared ship of the Sun for well-being. May the night nourish us today; may the day carry us safely across unharmed.

18.56.10 Wrapped in the armor of sacred utterance belonging to Prajāpati, and in the light and luster of Kaśyapa, may I walk as one who lives to old age, who has performed heroic deeds, who traverses the sky, who has a thousand lives, who has done good.

18.56.11 Protected by cosmic order and by all the seasons, protected by the past and by the future — may the divine arrows not reach me, nor the human arrows released to strike me down.

18.56.12 Encircled by the armor of sacred utterance, and by the light and luster of Kaśyapa, may evil not reach me, nor death. I have hidden myself inwardly with the flood of sacred speech.

18.56.13 May Agni as my guardian protect me on all sides; may the Dawns that blaze forth and the firm mountains protect me. May the rising Sun drive away the snares of death; may your thousand life-breaths take delight in me.

18.57.1 I would turn the friend toward friendship, even having crossed many a flood. The wise one should lay hold of the grandson of the Father, reflecting upon the further shore of earth.

18.57.2 Your friend does not desire this friendship, since she who is of the same mark becomes of diverse forms. The mighty sons of Asura, heroes, sustainers of the sky, have looked about on every side from far.

18.57.3 The immortals truly desire this — even the utter abandonment of a single mortal. Your mind has been set in our mind; enter the body, O husband, as the lord of the clan.

18.57.4 What we did not do before — why should we speak falsehood now while speaking truth? The Gandharva in the waters and the watery maiden — she is our navel, the highest, the birth-origin of us two.

18.57.5 In the womb the divine Tvaṣṭṛ, the all-formed Savitṛ, has now made us two a couple. None violate his ordinances; earth and sky know his design concerning us two.

18.57.6 Who today harnesses to the pole the cows of cosmic order — the vigorous, passionate, fiercely hostile ones, with arrows ready, whose breath has been seized, yet who are beneficent? He who releases them from their servitude — may he live.

18.57.7 Who knows of this first day? Who has seen it? Who here has proclaimed it? Great is the abode of Mitra and Varuṇa. What shall the day-striker say, summoning men with its voice?

18.57.8 The desire of Yamī has come to me, Yama, for lying together in the same womb. Like a wife for a husband, I would offer my body; let us join like the wheel-spokes of a chariot spreading apart.

18.57.9 These spies of the gods who wander here do not stand still nor do they close their eyes. Go, O day-striker, be with another instead of me; spread wide with that one like the wheel-spokes of a chariot.

18.57.10 One should honor him with nights and days; the eye of the Sun should be lifted up again and again. The two who are akin, kindred as the couple of sky and earth — may Yamī uncover the non-kinship of Yama.

18.58.1 May those future ages come where kinswomen make what is not kin. Stretch out your arm to the bull; seek another husband than me, O fortunate one.

18.58.2 What sort of brother is it when one becomes without a protector? What sort of sister when dissolution overtakes her? Moved by desire, I speak much of this—mingle your body with my body.

18.58.3 Indeed I would not mingle my body with your body—they call it sin when one goes to his sister. Seek your delight with another than me; your brother does not desire this, O fortunate one.

18.58.4 Yamī, I am here as your protector, yet I will certainly not mingle my body with yours. This would be uncontrolled in my mind and heart—that a brother should lie in his sister's bed.

18.58.5 Alas, O Yama, we know not your mind and heart at all. Surely another woman embraces you as the armpit clings to the body, as a creeping vine clasps a tree.

18.58.6 Desire the mind of that one, or let him desire yours—then make a blessed union with him.

18.58.7 The sages have discerned three meters—manifold in form, visible, all-seeing. Winds, waters, and plants: all these are fixed within a single world.

18.58.8 The bull has milked for the bull the milkings of the sky—the youthful, inviolable offspring of Aditi. He knows all things as Varuṇa knows by his thought; being worthy of sacrifice, he sacrifices at the seasons worthy of sacrifice.

18.58.9 May the Gandharvas and the water maidens guard our mind in the sound of the stream. In the midst of the sacrifice, may Aditi now protect us—our eldest brother, the first one, speaks forth for us.

18.58.10 That auspicious, flaxen-clothed, glorious Dawn, rich in light, has shone for Manu—she who gave birth to Agni the hotar, the one eager among the eager, following their will, for the assembly.

18.59.1 Then the eagle, unbound, carried that drop—abundant, all-seeing—twice to the sacrifice. When the noble Ārya clans choose the wondrous one as their hotar, Agni, then wisdom is born.

18.59.2 You are ever joyful, nourished like grain, O Agni—man's rightful sacrifice made full through the priestly calls. Or come to us with your many strengths toward the laudable prize that the sage, striving, recites.

18.59.3 The lover rouses the two parents up face to face; the beloved one wishes to sacrifice, is gladdened, impelled. The carrier speaks aloud, the vigorous one performs good service, the lord of might grows powerful, the inspired one stirs the prayers.

18.59.4 The mortal who has obtained your good favor, O Agni, son of strength—he is celebrated far and wide. Holding refreshment, carried by horses, he, resplendent and mighty, adorns the days.

18.59.5 Hear us, O Agni, in the dwelling, in the assembly place—yoke the chariot to race toward immortality. Bring the two worlds to us, O son of the Veda; may you not be absent here from the gods.

18.59.6 When this divine assembly takes place among the gods, O worthy of sacrifice among the adorable, O Agni, and when you distribute the jewels according to your nature—let a portion rich in wealth reach us here.

18.59.7 Agni gazed forth at the forefront of the dawns, first of all Jātavedas he gazed at the days. He stretched out against the rays of the sun in many places; he stretched out against heaven and earth.

18.59.8 Agni gazed along after the forefront of the dawns; first of all Jātavedas he gazed along after the days. He stretched out along after the rays of the sun in many places; he stretched out along after heaven and earth.

18.59.9 Heaven and earth, the primeval ones, by truth come to be heard in response, speaking back. When the god, making mortals capable of their tasks, the hotar seated facing inward, his own life-breaths.

18.59.10 The god who encompasses the gods by truth—first and knowing, carry our oblation. With smoke as his banner, blazing with kindling, the joyful eternal hotar, most worthy of worship with voice.

18.60.1 I hymn you two for increase, O waters dripping ghee—O Heaven and Earth, hear me, O the two worlds. When the gods approached the guiding of life-breaths on those days, may the two parents sharpen us here with sweetness.

18.60.2 The self-moving immortality of the god from the cow—those born from it hold wide space. All the All-Gods followed that Yajus of yours; when the tawny one milked the divine ghee for you.

18.60.3 What has the king seized from us? What transgression against his law have we committed? Who indeed knows? For even Mitra, calling the gods deceitfully, there is still vigor, like a shout toward those who have come.

18.60.4 May those think ill here of the name of immortality when one of the same mark becomes of differing form. But him who thinks well of Yama's ways, O Agni—protect that one, O great one, without faltering.

18.60.5 In whose assembly the gods rejoice, in whose dwelling the offspring of Vivasvat sustain themselves—they have placed light in the sun, nights in the moon; that luminance moves about them without ceasing.

18.60.6 In whose thought the gods move together—those southward ones, which we do not know. May Mitra here, Aditi sinless, may the god Savitṛ speak to Varuṇa for us.

18.60.7 As companions we desire sacred prayer for Indra the wielder of the vajra. I would praise him, the most manly, the bold one.

18.60.8 For by your strength you are renowned, O slayer of Vṛtra, by the slaying of Vṛtra. With your gifts you surpass the generous, O hero.

18.60.9 Like a roof you pass over the earth, the great one—let the winds now blow here on the ground. May Mitra here and Varuṇa, ungrasped, may Agni release his flame as in the forest for us.

18.60.10 Praise the renowned one who sits in the chariot, the king of peoples, the fearsome, the smiting, the fierce. Be gracious to the singer, O Rudra, when praised—may they lay upon another the destructive weapon meant for us.

18.61.1 Those who seek the gods call upon Sarasvatī; they call upon Sarasvatī when the sacrifice is spread. The pious call upon Sarasvatī; may Sarasvatī grant the choicest boon to the worshipper.

18.61.2 That Sarasvatī whom the Fathers invoke while they approach the sacrifice from the south — be seated on this sacred grass and rejoice; place within us food that is free from disease.

18.61.3 O Sarasvatī, who hast ridden on the same chariot with the Fathers, rejoicing, O goddess, with the praises and the ancestral offerings — bestow here the portion of refreshment worth a thousand, and grant abundance of wealth to the sacrificer.

18.61.4 Let the lower Fathers rise up, let the higher ones rise up, let the middle Fathers, who belong to Soma, rise up. They who have gone to the realm of breath, free from harm, knowing the sacred order — may those Fathers aid us at our invocations.

18.61.5 I have found the Fathers who grant good gifts, and also the grandson and the wide stride of Viṣṇu. Those who sit upon the sacred grass and share in the pressed drink with the ancestral oblation — may they come here most readily.

18.61.6 "This to the Fathers" — so one verse.

18.61.7 Mātali is magnified among the wise ones, Yama among the Aṅgiras, Bṛhaspati among those rich in hymns. Both those whom the gods have magnified and those who have magnified the gods — those who rejoice in svāhā and those who rejoice in svadhā.

18.61.8 Sweet indeed is this drink, and full of honey; sharp indeed is this drink, and full of flavor. And now none among those who have drunk it can overcome Indra in battles.

18.61.9 Honor with oblation King Yama, son of Vivasvat, the gatherer of peoples — he who has crossed over the great descending slopes, surveying the path for the many.

18.61.10 Yama first found the path for us; this pasture is not to be taken away. Where our ancient Fathers went forth — those born along it follow their own proper paths.

18.62.1 O Fathers who sit on the sacred grass, come hither to our aid; enjoy these oblations we have made for you. Come with the most beneficent help, and then bestow on us freedom from affliction and well-being.

18.62.2 Having bent the knee and sat down to the south, all of you acclaim this sacrifice. Do not harm us, O Fathers, for any offense of a human nature that we have committed against you.

18.62.3 Tvaṣṭṛ prepares the wedding procession for his daughter; all this universe comes together. The mother of Yama, being led in the bridal procession, disappeared — the great wife of Vivasvat.

18.62.4 Go forth, go forth by the ancient paths, to where your ancient Fathers have departed. You shall see the two kings, both rejoicing in the ancestral oblation — Yama and the god Varuṇa.

18.62.5 Depart, withdraw, and scatter from here — the Fathers have made this world for us. With days, with waters, and with nights, made distinct, Yama gives this one a resting place.

18.62.6 Desiring thee, we lay thee down; desiring, we kindle thee. Do thou, willing, bring the willing Fathers to eat the oblation.

18.62.7 Radiant, we lay thee down; radiant, we kindle thee. Do thou, shining, bring the shining Fathers to eat the oblation.

18.63.1 The Aṅgiras are our Fathers, the Navagvas, the Atharvans, the Bhṛgus, who belong to Soma. May we be in the good grace and in the auspicious goodwill of those who are worthy of sacrifice.

18.63.2 Come here, O Yama, with the Aṅgiras worthy of sacrifice; rejoice here with the Vairūpas. I invoke Vivasvat, who is thy father — having sat down on the sacred grass at this sacrifice.

18.63.3 Sit down upon this sacred strewn grass, O Yama, in agreement with the Aṅgiras Fathers. The hymns praised by the wise bring thee here — with these, O king, take delight in the oblation.

18.63.4 Press the Soma for Yama; pour the oblation for Yama. Let the sacrifice go to Yama, well-prepared, with Agni as its messenger.

18.63.5 Pour the oblation rich in ghee for Yama and step forward. May he bind us among the living with long life as thou goest.

18.63.6 Pour for King Yama the most honey-sweet oblation. This homage is to the seers, the firstborn, the ancient ones, the path-makers.

18.63.7 He flies by means of the three Kadrukas across the six broad spaces, that one great expanse. The Triṣṭubh, the Gāyatrī, the metres — all those are fixed in Yama.

18.63.8 Do not burn him entirely, O Agni; do not scorch him; do not consume his skin, his eye, or his body. When thou hast matured him, O Jātavedas, then send him forth to the Fathers.

18.63.9 When thou hast matured him, O Jātavedas, then hand him over to the Fathers all around. When this one goes to the guidance of the breath, then he shall become subject to the will of the gods.

18.63.10 Let the eye go to the sun, the breath to the wind; go to heaven and to the earth according to the sacred law. Or go to the waters, if that is thy destiny — take thy stand in the plants with thy bodily parts.

18.64.1 O unborn portion of ascetic heat, blaze upon him; let your flame scorch him, let your fire-ray sear him. O Jātavedas, with those gracious forms of yours, carry him to the world of the well-doers.

18.64.2 Those swift, fierce forms of yours, O Jātavedas, that rush swirling around — let them gather and follow the goat as it goes; then with those other, most benign forms, render him well-cooked and fit.

18.64.3 O Agni, release again to the fathers him who, offered into you, moves among the ancestral oblations. Let the remainder come clothed in vitality; may he unite with his body, radiant and glorious.

18.64.4 Pass swiftly by the two dogs of Saramā, the four-eyed brindled ones, by the good path. Then approach the fathers who are generous in their gifts, those who rejoice in common festivity with Yama.

18.64.5 O Yama, your two guardian dogs, the four-eyed watchers of the road, men-beholding — place this man safely in their care, O king, and grant him well-being and freedom from affliction.

18.64.6 "With broad nostrils" — thus one verse.

18.64.7 Soma is purified for some; others attend upon the clarified butter. May he also go to those for whom honey flows abundantly with offspring.

18.64.8 Those of former times who are followers of cosmic order, born of order, seekers of order — O Yama, may he also go to those austere fathers, born of ascetic power.

18.64.9 Those who are invincible through ascetic heat, those who by ascetic power have gone to the sun — those who have made asceticism their greatness — may he too go to those very ones.

18.64.10 Those thousand-pathed seers who guard the sun — O Yama, may he also go to those austere seers, born of ascetic power.

18.65.1 Heroes who fight in the thick of battle, those who give up their bodies — or those who give gifts of a thousand — may he also go to those very ones.

18.65.2 O Earth, be gentle and soft for him, thornless, a resting place. Grant him wide and sheltering refuge.

18.65.3 In the broad, unconfined expanse of Earth he shall be honored. The ancestral offerings that you drew upon while living — may those flow sweet as honey for you.

18.65.4 I call you with reverence — come to this my house, delighting in it. Meet with the fathers and with what has been given; may kindly and gentle winds breathe upon you.

18.65.5 May the Maruts carry you, the storm-gods that bear up the waters, the flood-lifted ones. Making coolness with the rain-goat, may they go — so be it!

18.65.6 I have called up life-force for life, for resolve, for vitality, for living. Let your mind go to its proper place; and then run to the fathers.

18.65.7 May your mind not remain here, nor the marrow of your limbs, nor your delight. May nothing of your body linger here.

18.65.8 May no tree press you down; may the great divine Earth not oppress you. Having found your place among the fathers, prosper in the realm of King Yama.

18.65.9 The limb of yours that was turned away from here, the outbreath and the inbreath that have departed from you — having gathered together, may the fathers who share the same nest settle you bite by bite into your food.

18.65.10 The living have driven him away from the houses; carry him out and away from this village. O Death, you are Yama's wise messenger; you have dispatched the life-breaths to the fathers.

18.66.1 Those demons who have entered among the fathers, who go about bearing the faces of kinsmen and devouring the unoffered portions — those who roam about as wreckers and destroyers — may the gods drive them away from this sacrifice.

18.66.2 May our own fathers come together here, make things gentle for us, and extend life. May we be able to worship them with offerings, living long, through many autumns.

18.66.3 The cow I declare for you, or the rice-and-milk offering I name for you — by that let that person there be sustained, the one who was here and without livelihood.

18.66.4 Cross over by the horse-adorned path, that pleasant one, or proceed further by the path of the Ṛkṣas, newer still. Whoever slew you — let him be the one deserving to be slain; may he find no other share or fortune.

18.66.5 Yama is beyond, Vivasvān is below him; beyond that I see nothing else. The sacrifice was established for me upon Yama; Vivasvān stretched it out over the earth.

18.66.6 They hid the immortal woman from mortals; having shaped her as a fair-winged one, they gave her to Vivasvān. What was then born, the Aśvins carried away; Saraṇyū abandoned two twin pairs.

18.66.7 Those who are buried, those who are scattered in the ground, those who are cremated, those who are exposed — O Agni, bring them all, the fathers, to eat the oblation.

18.66.8 The fathers who are here and those who are not here, those whom we know and those whom we do not know — you know them, O Jātavedas; may they enjoy this well-performed sacrifice with the ancestral offerings.

18.66.9 Blaze with blessing, O Agni; do not scorch overmuch; do not scorch the body. Let your fierce vigor be in the forests; let your golden heat be in the earth.

18.66.10 I grant him this resting place — this one who has come here and is now mine. Yama, the wise one, answered thus: "Let this one abide here in my wealth."

18.67.1 We measure out this measure forward so that none may exceed it; before a hundred autumns are ours.

18.67.2 Lift this one up […].

18.67.3 Away from this one […].

18.67.4 We measure out this measure outward so that […].

18.67.5 The measure has been measured; I have gone to the heavenly light; may I be full of life — so that none may exceed it — before a hundred autumns are ours.

18.67.6 In-breath and out-breath and the diffused breath, life-force, sight for seeing the sun — go by the unobstructed path of King Yama to the fathers.

18.67.7 Those who are fathers of our father, those who are grandfathers, who have entered the vast mid-air, who dwell in the earth and also in the sky — to those ancestors we render homage with reverence.

18.67.8 Those who were foremost, striving hard, who in the beyond have left behind all hatreds and are without offspring — they, ascending to the sky, found a realm, shining on the back of the vault of heaven.

18.67.9 The lowest heaven is called the watery one, the middle one is called the pīlu-tree-bearing; the third is called the bright sky — that is where the fathers are seated.

18.67.10 This very one beholds the highest sun in the sky; O Earth, cover him over as a mother covers her son with the hem of her garment.

18.68.1 Not this one forward shall age, nor the other; O Earth, cover him over as a wife covers her husband with her garment.

18.68.2 I cover you with the auspicious garment of Mother Earth; let that blessing remain among the living, with me; your svadhā-oblation is here among the fathers.

18.68.3 Agni and Soma, the path-makers, have laid up a soft treasure for the gods, spreading out the realm; let Pūṣan be sent forth — he who is anointed and departs; by conveyances and paths let him go there.

18.68.4 May Pūṣan, the knowing one, the guardian of the world whose herds are not lost, stir you onward from here; may he hand you over to these fathers, and Agni to the gods who discern well.

18.68.5 May universal life-force and full life-span guard you; may Pūṣan guard you at the fore of the path; where the virtuous ones sit, where they have gone — there may the god Savitṛ place you.

18.68.6 This garment, the first to come to you, had gone away — think upon what you were afraid of here before; go consciously along the path of the ritual merit and the charitable works; wherever your going leads in many directions, there do you go.

18.68.7 These two bearers I yoke for you, to guide the spirit onward; by them may you approach the abode of Yama and his assembly.

18.68.8 Clothe yourself all round in the armor of Agni with the rays of light; cover yourself well with its fat and marrow — lest the bold one, exulting in his flame, boldly intent on burning you, scorch and shrivel you.

18.68.9 Taking the bow from the hand of the dead one, along with its sovereignty, its lustre, and its strength — you remain right here; we here, with brave heroes, shall conquer all combats and hostile onslaughts.

18.68.10 Taking the staff from the hand of the dead one, along with its hearing, its lustre, and its strength — seize well the abundant, flourishing wealth; come back hitherward to the world of the living.

18.68.11 This woman, praising the world of her husband, lies down here beside you, O mortal, O departed one, keeping the ancient law; grant to her here offspring and wealth.

18.68.12 Rise up, O woman, to the world of the living; you lie beside this one whose life-breath has gone — come away; you have fully become the wifehood of this husband who takes your hand and holds you.

18.69.1 I saw a young woman being led, a living one being led around among the dead; when she was shrouded by the blind darkness, I led her away from here downward toward the east.

18.69.2 Knowing the world of the living, becoming whole, following the path of the gods — this is your herd-lord; cherish him; mount him up to the heavenly realm.

18.69.3 Near the sky, near the reed, you are the lower one among the rivers; O Agni, you are the bile of the waters.

18.69.4 The one you, O Agni, have burned up completely — do quench him back again; let the śāṇḍa-grass, the dūrvā-grass, and the vyalkaśā plant grow on that very spot.

18.69.5 This one part of you, and yonder that other part of you — enter together with the third light; in the union of body be beautiful, be dear to the gods in the highest abode.

18.69.6 Rise up, go forth, run forward; make your home in the watery abode; there, reunited with the fathers, rejoice together with Soma, rejoice together with the svadhā-oblations.

18.69.7 Move forth from the body, gather yourself together; let not your limb be scattered, nor your body; enter again into the most deeply settled mind; where you take delight in the earth, there go.

18.69.8 May the soma-drinking fathers anoint me with lustre; may the gods anoint me with honey and ghee; carrying me further across with my eyes, may they increase in me the long life of old age and its blessings.

18.69.9 Agni anoints me all over with lustre; Viṣṇu anoints my intelligence in the mouth; may all the gods bestow wealth upon me; may the pure waters purify me with purifying streams.

18.69.10 May Mitra and Varuṇa set me about; may the Ādityas increase in me the radiance of the sun; may Indra anoint lustre upon me in my hands; may Savitṛ grant me the blessed long life of old age.

18.70.1 He who died first among mortals, he who departed first to this world — honour with oblation Yama the king, son of Vivasvat, the meeting-place of peoples.

18.70.2 Depart, O Fathers, and come back again — this sacrifice of yours is anointed with honey. Grant us here auspicious wealth, and bestow on us riches rich in all heroes.

18.70.3 May Kaṇva, Kakṣīvān, Purumīḍha, Agastya, Śyāvāśva, Sobhari the adorers, this Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, and Vāmadeva protect us.

18.70.4 O Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Vasiṣṭha, Bharadvāja, Gotama, Vāmadeva — may Atri the leader grant us shelter with obeisances; O Fathers of fair praise, be gracious to us.

18.70.5 Purifying themselves in the waters, they pass beyond sin, bearing a renewed life-span for the Father. Swelling with offspring and wealth, they become pure, bright, and cleansing.

18.70.6 Whatever share belongs to you, O Fathers — both the Rudra-nature and the Soma-nature — follow it; for you have become self-luminous. Come swiftly, O seers, hearken to us — you who grant good gifts, when invoked at the assembly.

18.70.7 Those who are of Atri and Aṅgiras, the Navagvas, eager sacrificers, bearing the gift-bestowing, possessed of sacrificial fees, well-doers — be seated on this sacred grass and rejoice.

18.70.8 Just as our ancient Fathers of old, O Agni, hastening toward the Truth, pure they pursued the sacred thought as reciters of hymns, splitting the earths they addressed the red dawns.

18.70.9 Of good deeds, of good light, devoted to the gods, blowing like iron-smelters at their birth, the gods — purifying Agni, they magnified Indra; they made wide the cow-rich world for those seated on the sacred grass.

18.70.10 Like a herd of cattle lowing in a fruitful place, the mighty one surveyed the births of the gods. Even for mortal men the Urvaśīs lamented — even for the growth of the noble, of the later Āyu.

18.71.1 We have become your worshippers, doers of good works; the Dawns shone forth unceasingly in Truth. All that the gods bring is auspicious — may we speak the Bṛhat at the assembly, rich in good heroes.

18.71.2 May Indra with the Maruts guard me from the eastern quarter — the earth flung forward by the arms, like the sky above. We worship those who make the worlds and the paths, you who have the ghee-share of the gods — be here.

18.71.3 May Dhātṛ guard me from Nirṛti's southern quarter … [remainder of verse as in 18.71.2 pattern].

18.71.4 May Aditi with the Ādityas guard me from the western quarter … [remainder of verse as in 18.71.2 pattern].

18.71.5 May the Āditya with all the gods guard me from the northern quarter — the earth flung forward by the arms, like the sky above … [closing refrain as in 18.71.2 pattern].

18.71.6 The bearer, the sustainer, truly upholds you — Savitṛ bearing his lustre upward, like the sky above. We worship those who make the worlds and the paths, you who have the ghee-share of the gods — be here.

18.71.7 In the eastern quarter, before the enclosed svadhā-offering, I place you — the earth flung forward by the arms, like the sky above … [closing refrain as in 18.71.2 pattern].

18.71.8 In the southern quarter I place you … [remainder as in 18.71.7 pattern].

18.71.9 In the western quarter I place you … [remainder as in 18.71.7 pattern].

18.71.10 In the northern quarter I place you … [remainder as in 18.71.7 pattern].

18.72.2 In the upper quarter, before the enclosed svadhā-offering, I place you — the earth flung forward by the arms, like the sky above. We worship those who make the worlds and the paths, you who have the ghee-share of the gods — be here.

18.72.3 You are firm.

18.72.4 You are the sustainer.

18.72.5 You are the one who goes along the bamboo.

18.72.6 You are full of water.

18.72.7 You are full of ghee.

18.72.8 You are full of honey.

18.72.9 You are full of wind.

18.73.1 From here and from there protect us, O you two who strive like the Yamas when you come; a mortal woman longing for the gods brings offerings forward to you both.

18.73.2 Take your seat in your own world, knowing it; be a good dwelling-place for us, O Indu. I yoke the ancient sacred word for you both with reverences; the hymn goes forth like the sun's own path.

18.73.3 Let all the sons of immortality hear — those who have taken their stations in the divine realms. I ascended three steps of the ruddy one; I follow the four-footed (verse) by sacred vow.

18.73.4 By the imperishable syllable I measure out this (offering); I purify it fully at the navel of cosmic order. For the gods Manu chose death; for offspring he did not choose immortality.

18.73.5 They made Bṛhaspati the seer of sacrifices; Yama relinquished his beloved body. You, O Agni, when invoked, O Jātavedas, carried the oblations forward having made them fragrant; you bestowed them on the Fathers with the ancestral offering — they ate. Now eat, O god, the oblations duly presented.

18.73.6 You who sit in the lap of the ruddy (dawn) goddesses, bestow wealth upon the mortal who offers. Let the Fathers extend their goods to his sons; let them deposit vigor here.

18.73.7 O Fathers tasted by Agni, come here; sit at seat after seat, well-led ones. Eat the oblations duly set out on the sacred grass, and bestow on us wealth abounding in all heroes.

18.73.8 The Soma-loving Fathers have been called upon, in these dear resting places on the sacred grass. Let them come here, let them hear here; let them speak their blessing and protect us.

18.73.9 Those who are our Soma-loving Fathers of old, the very wealthy ones who passed on the Soma-drinking, with them Yama, well pleased and willing, along with the willing ones, may eat the oblations to his desire.

18.73.10 Those who thirsted (for the divine), who strove godward, who knew the office of Hotṛ, who fashioned praises with hymns — come hither, O Agni, with those fathers who know things well, those truthful poets who sit at the gharma cauldron.

18.74.1 Those truthful ones, eaters of oblations, worthy of oblation, who keep company with Indra and the gods on the same chariot — come, O Agni, with a thousand praised by the gods, with both the latter and earlier Fathers who sit at the gharma cauldron.

18.74.2 Approach this mother, the earth, the broad-spreading, the kindly ground. May the earth, yielding wool-soft comfort, gracious with her right side, protect you from the lap of Nirṛti.

18.74.3 Heave yourself up, O Earth; do not press down on him; be easy of access to him, easy to step aside for him. As a mother wraps her son in her garment-hem, so cover him over, O Earth.

18.74.4 Let the upheaving earth stand firm; let a thousand measured pillars lean upon it. Let those houses dripping with ghee, those comfortable ones, be shelters for him here forever.

18.74.5 I prop up the earth away from you, distributing this world; may I not have taken it away. Let the Fathers hold fast this pillar; let Yama make dwelling places for you here.

18.74.6 The full cup which Atharvan carried for Indra the prize-possessing — in that let (Indra) create the world of the well-doer; in that the drop (Soma) is ever purified, giver of all.

18.74.7 Do not shatter that cup, O Agni; be dear to the gods, the Soma-loving ones. That cup is the god-drinking cup; in it alone the immortals take their delight.

18.74.8 Whatever a black bird has pecked at you, or an ant, a snake, or a beast of prey — may Agni the all-knowing fill that fully, and Soma who has entered the Brahmins.

18.74.9 Milk-bearing are the plants; milk-bearing is my speech. And that which has milk — with that milk, gladden me together with it.

18.74.10 "These women" — thus one (verse).

18.75.1 Unite with the Fathers, unite with Yama, with what has been sacrificed and given, in the highest heaven. Abandoning blemish, come home again; unite with your body, O bright-rayed one.

18.75.2 Those cremated by fire and those not cremated by fire, who delight in the ancestral offering in the midst of heaven — for them may the self-ruling one (Yama) arrange this guidance of the vital breaths, shaping the body as he wills.

18.75.3 Seize hold, O Jātavedas; let your flame be radiant. Burn up this body fully, and then place him in the world of the well-doers.

18.75.4 Give back, O Lord of the Forest, the one who has been placed in you, so that he may sit in Yama's dwelling, speaking wisdom in the assembly.

18.75.5 Auspicious to you may the mist be; auspiciously may the dew descend upon you. O cool one, O you who are full of coolness, O refreshing one, O you who are full of refreshment — O frog-herb, arise in the waters; quench well this fire.

18.75.6 May Vivasvant make us free from fear; let death depart; let immortality come to us. Let many heroes be born here for me; let prosperity in horses and cattle rest in me.

18.75.7 May Vivasvant place us in immortality — he who is a good protector, swift in giving, generous in giving. Protect these men from old age; let not their vital breaths go to Yama.

18.75.8 He who upholds (all things) by his greatness through the middle air, the seer of the Fathers, the highest wisdom of wisdoms — him do you Viśvamitras praise with oblations; may that Yama grant us a further span of life.

18.75.9 Ascend to the highest heaven, O seers; do not be afraid. O Soma-drinkers, O you who are Soma-drinkers, this oblation is made for you; we have arrived at the highest light.

18.75.10 Agni shines forth with his great banner; the bull (of heaven) roars filling both worlds. He has pushed up to the very highest boundaries of heaven; the great buffalo has grown in the lap of the waters.

18.75.11 The eager ones looked upon you with the heart as you flew on the vault of heaven, O bird — golden-winged, messenger of Varuṇa, the swift bird in Yama's womb.

18.75.12 O Indra, bring us wisdom as a father brings it to his sons. Teach us in this prize-winning (battle), O much-invoked one; may we, alive, attain the living light.

18.75.13 "Those former ones of yours" — thus one (verse).

18.76.1 Mount the mother, O Jātavedas; by the paths of the Fathers I cause you all to mount. Sent forth upward, O bearer of oblations, yoked ones — bestow upon the sacrificer a place of good deeds in the world.

18.76.2 The gods and the seasons arrange the sacrifice — the oblation, the rice-cakes, the ladles, the implements of the rite. Travel by those god-traversed paths by which sacrificers go to the heavenly world.

18.76.3 Look well upon the path of cosmic order along which the Aṅgirases, the doers of good, travel. Step upward across the expanse of Vṛadhna to where the Ādityas behold immortality.

18.76.4 Three fair-winged birds, two companions of the one above, are perched upon the vault of heaven at the zenith of the firmament. May the heavenly worlds, suffused with immortality, yield every wish for the sacrificer.

18.76.5 The Juhū ladle has upheld the sky; the Upahṛt ladle has upheld the atmosphere; the steady one has upheld the earth as a foundation. The image of the worlds, whose back is ghee, richly swelling — may it yield refreshment and strength for the sacrificer.

18.76.6 O Dhruvā, mount the earth, all-knowing; O Upahṛt, stride into the atmosphere; O Juhū, go to the sky together with the sacrificer and the sruva ladle as a calf. Milk all the directions fully, without resentment.

18.76.7 By the sacred fords they cross the great flowing streams; this is the path by which the performers of sacrifice, the doers of good, travel. Here I have assigned a world to the sacrificer; may the directions and all beings find their fulfillment in me.

18.76.8 The eastern fire is the pathway of the Aṅgirases; the Gārhapatya fire is the pathway of the Ādityas; the southern fire is the pathway of the southern ones. O Brahmin, come to the lotus-arrangement of the fire as it has been set up, whole and complete, in auspiciousness.

18.76.9 May the eastern fire warm you with bliss in front; may the Gārhapatya warm you with bliss behind; may the southern fire warm you with shelter and protection — from north, from middle, from the atmosphere. O Agni, guard us from every quarter from the dreadful.

18.76.10 You, O fires, with your most beneficent forms — the sacrificer [goes] toward the heavenly world. Having become horses, back-bearing carriers, you carry him to where the rejoicing takes place together with the gods.

18.77.1 O Agni, warm with bliss from behind, with bliss from in front, warm with bliss from below, O Jātavedas. Jātavedas, one but distributed threefold — may the southern fire completely encompass him.

18.77.2 By the brahman power, establish for the lotus-arrangement of the fire set in place the world of the doers of good perfectly joined. May the kindled fires bring to it the Prajāpati-offering, the consecrated oblation of Jātavedas. Making it cooked here, may they not look away.

18.77.3 The sacrifice goes forth fully extended, being arranged; the sacrificer [goes] toward the heavenly world. May the fires take pleasure in it as the all-offered oblation; may the gods in this very place recognize his portion and share.

18.77.4 The mind of the sacrificer has mounted Agni, about to fly upward to the vault of heaven, to the sky. May the luminous heavenly path, broad and god-traversed, shine forth from the sky for him.

18.77.5 May Agni be your Hotṛ-priest and Adhvaryu; may Bṛhaspati and Indra be your Brahmin-priest on the right. This sacrifice, having been offered and concluded, let it go to where the prior pathway of the offered oblations leads.

18.77.6 Let the rice-cake cauldron here, containing milk-porridge, take its seat — propping up the earth as the sky [props up] what is above. We worship you who are world-makers and path-makers, you who here are the ghee-portions of the gods.

18.77.7 Let the rice-cake cauldron here, containing drop-offerings, take its seat [— propping up the earth as the sky props up what is above. We worship you who are world-makers and path-makers, you who here are the ghee-portions of the gods].

18.77.8 Let the rice-cake cauldron here, containing curds, take its seat [— propping up the earth as the sky props up what is above. We worship you who are world-makers and path-makers, you who here are the ghee-portions of the gods].

18.77.9 Let the rice-cake cauldron here, containing ghee, take its seat [— propping up the earth as the sky props up what is above. We worship you who are world-makers and path-makers, you who here are the ghee-portions of the gods].

18.77.10 Let the rice-cake cauldron here, containing meat, take its seat [— propping up the earth as the sky props up what is above. We worship you who are world-makers and path-makers, you who here are the ghee-portions of the gods].

18.78.5 Let the rice-cake cauldron here, containing barley, take its seat — propping up the earth as the sky props up what is above. We worship you who are world-makers and path-makers, you who here are the ghee-portions of the gods.

18.78.6 The pots covered with rice-cakes that the gods have held up for you — may those be yours: rich in ancestral refreshment, honey-sweet, dripping with ghee.

18.78.7 These parched grains mixed with sesame that I scatter for you, full of ancestral refreshment — may they be abundant and mighty for you; may King Yama approve them for you that you may grow inexhaustibly great.

18.78.8 The drop has fallen toward the primeval sky, toward this womb here, and toward that which is the former one. The seven offerers pour oblation in succession to the drop that travels along the womb of cosmic order.

18.78.9 The seers who behold mankind look upon your wealth — the hundred-streamed wind, the hymn, the one who knows the sun. Those who praise and honor [it] always — they milk the southern one, the seven-mothered, for their sacrificial fee.

18.78.10 They milk the spring, the four-holed pot, the gracious cow full of honey, for well-being. O Agni, do not harm Aditi, who is exhilarating strength among the people, in the highest heaven.

18.79.1 May the god Savitṛ give you this garment to wear; clad in it, may you walk satisfied in the realm of Yama.

18.79.2 The parched grains became a milch-cow; sesame became her calf. In the realm of Yama, may you live by means of her who is inexhaustible.

18.79.3 May these parched grains of yours become wish-fulfilling cows — tawny ones, swift as falcons, of varied forms and uniform forms, with sesame as their calves — let them attend upon you.

18.79.4 Tawny-grained, fawn-coloured, swift as falcons — among these the dark-grained, fawn-hued milch-cows are yours; with sesame as calves, ever yielding nourishment for him, may they be unfailing for all time.

18.79.5 I pour this oblation into Vaiśvānara — this spring of a thousand streams, flowing in a hundred channels — which, swelling, bears up the father, the grandfather, and the great-grandfathers.

18.79.6 May they attend upon that inexhaustible spring of a hundred streams, spreading wide on the surface of the waters, yielding nourishment without faltering — there where the world of the righteous is.

18.79.7 This consciousness assembled through ritual piling — let his kinsmen look upon it. A mortal comes to immortality, to deathlessness; make the world for him along with all his kin.

18.79.8 Be here as the winner of wealth; let mind be here, let purpose be here. Be here more rich in heroes, life-sustaining, unimpeded.

18.79.9 These honey-sweet divine waters, satisfying sons and grandsons, yielding the refreshment of svadhā and immortality to the fathers — may these divine waters refresh both the living and the dead.

18.79.10 Let the waters impel this fire, this sacrifice; may the fathers delight in us. Those who attend upon the nourishment of the monthly offerings — may they grant us wealth rich in all heroes.

18.80.1 They kindle the immortal, the bearer of oblations, the one who delights in ghee; he knows the treasures laid away and the fathers who have gone to the farther shore.

18.80.2 The churned drink I heap for you, the mix I heap for you, the rice-pottage, the flesh — may these be endowed with svadhā for you, full of sweetness, dripping with ghee.

18.80.3 The Sarasvatī whom the righteous invoke as they approach the sacrifice from the south — O all-formed one, do not give these away here to the thousand-eyed one; make their life long.

18.80.4 This is the ancient path ahead by which your forefathers departed. Those lead-cattle who are auspicious to him — let them carry you to the world of the righteous.

18.80.5 I settle you in the earth, into the earth; may the god Dhātṛ, Savitṛ, extend life for us. Let the finder of treasure go forward from here; then, O fathers, be united with the dead.

18.80.6 This dakṣiṇā has come to us auspiciously, given by him — a well-milking cow, life-sustaining; joining with life in youth, may old age lead it away to the fathers at last.

18.80.7 You two, come forward; push away whatever has overcome and oppressed you here. Come hither, you two inviolable ones — that is better — as food for me, the giver, and for the fathers here.

18.80.8 This sacred grass I spread forward for the fathers; the upper portion I spread out for the living gods. Let the man mount that, becoming fit for consecration; may the departed fathers recognise you.

18.80.9 Having thus sat upon the sacred grass, becoming fit for consecration, may the departed fathers recognise you; as joint by joint knit together, so gather your body — I order your limbs together by means of brahman.

18.80.10 The leaf is king, the cover of the oblation-pots; nourishment and strength along with vigour have come to us — ordaining long life for the living, for longevity of a hundred autumns.

18.81.1 He who has become the share of nourishment, the lord of those who sacrifice and those who eat stone-ground grain — worship him, O Viśvamitras, with oblations; may that Yama ordain for us a longer span of life.

18.81.2 As the five human clans shaved the top-lock for Yama, so I shave the top-lock — be plentiful for me in this way.

18.81.3 Bear this gold which your father carried of old; from the heaven whence it came, stretch out your father's right hand in blessing.

18.81.4 For those who are living and those who are dead, those who are born and those who are worthy of sacrifice — let a stream of ghee, flowing in a hundred channels, flow overflowing to them all.

18.81.5 The bull of inspired thoughts flows pure, the far-seeing one, the sun of days, the extender of dawns, of the sky; the breath of the rivers has cried aloud to the jars, entering the heart of Indra with wisdom.

18.81.6 Your fierce smoke spreads through heaven, the bright flame stretched out on high; like the sun, you blaze with flashing brilliance, O Pāvaka, shining with beauty.

18.81.7 The Soma flows forth for the release of Indra; as a friend, he does not diminish the compact of friendship. Like a young man rushing toward women, Soma pours together into the jar along the path of the hundred coursings.

18.81.8 Come hither, O Soma-drinking fathers, along the deep ancestral paths; bestowing upon us offspring and wealth, for longevity, for a span of a hundred autumns.

18.81.9 Depart, O Soma-drinking fathers, along the deep ancestral paths; and thereafter, month by month, come again to our home for the oblation and the food, rich in progeny and heroes.

18.81.10 They have eaten; they have rejoiced; the beloved ones have been honoured; the self-luminous ones have been praised. Depart, O fathers, to your homes.

18.82.1 Whatever single limb Agni Jātavedas took from you and conveyed to the world of the fathers — that same limb I now restore into you again. With all your limbs complete, O ancestors, all of you rejoice.

18.82.2 There — here indeed is your mind. As kinswomen cluster around a kaputsala bird, O Earth, cover him over.

18.82.3 Take delight, do not be afraid, O dung-enriched ones, in this cattle-yard. Bearing vigor, single-dung-makers, of excellent vows — may we dwell beside you with these living houses.

18.82.4 The gods have bestowed vigor upon me; humans too have bestowed vigor. I have brought vigor from the ancestors; may my houses be full of vigor.

18.82.5 The gods have bestowed milk upon me; humans too have bestowed milk. I have brought milk from the ancestors; may my houses be rich in milk.

18.82.6 Loosen the highest fetter from us, O Varuṇa; loosen the lowest; unloose the middle one. Then, O Āditya, may we be sinless in your vow, and free for Aditi.

18.82.7 Those hundred bonds of yours, O Varuṇa, those thousand sacred and vast fetters stretched wide — from all of them may Varuṇa, Soma, Indra, all the Maruts, and the Svarkāḥ release us.

18.82.8 Release all fetters from us, O Varuṇa — those by which I am bound when lying on my side, those by which when stretched out. Then may we live a hundred autumns, protected and guarded, O king, as belonging to you.

18.82.9 We implore the abatement of your wrath with obeisances; we implore it with sacrifices, with oblations. […] Whatever sins committed against us, O Varuṇa, O wise king, those you have loosened.

18.82.10 The moon runs within the waters; the eagle runs through the sky. O lightnings, your golden-wheeled ones find no foothold. Know for me the two worlds of this one.