In a sacred space prepared for worship, the ritual unfolds with reverence and care. The sacrificer takes up the offerings, sprinkling them first to Prajāpati, the lord of creation, then to Indra and Agni, to Vāyu, and to all the gods—each act accepted and sanctified. The protection of the sacrificial horse is invoked: whoever seeks to harm it, whether mortal or beast, shall be struck down by Varuṇa’s power. With solemnity, the invocations continue: “Svāhā to Agni, Svāhā to Soma, Svāhā to the joy of the waters, Svāhā to Savitṛ, Svāhā to Vāyu, Svāhā to Viṣṇu, Svāhā to Indra, Svāhā to Bṛhaspati, Svāhā to Mitra, Svāhā to Varuṇa.” Each deity is honored, each aspect of the cosmos acknowledged. The ritual turns to the subtle forces and actions: “Svāhā to the one who makes the hiṅkāra sound, to the one who responds, to the one who cries and answers, to the one who bellows and answers, to fragrance and the one who smells, to those who sit, who assemble, who leap, who lie down, who sleep and wake, who call and awaken, who stretch and move, who gather and are present, who go and set out.” Every movement, every state of being, every sense and response is sanctified. Further, the offering is made to those who go, run, drive away, leap up, root and are rooted, sit and rise, the swift and the strong, those who turn and are turned, who shake and are shaken, who listen, hear, look, are seen and observed, who blink, eat, drink, urinate, do and have done. All aspects of existence, action, and perception are included in the sacred circle. The worshipers meditate upon the radiant Savitṛ, the divine inspirer, praying that he may enlighten their minds. Savitṛ, the golden-handed, is called upon for prosperity, for he knows the paths of the gods. His great understanding is invoked, his generous bounty praised, his favor sought. He is called the lord of gifts, the giver of abundance and the drink that leads to the gods. The worshipers desire his wisdom, his all-divine blessing. Agni, the immortal, is awakened with praise. As the kindled flame, he bears the offerings among the gods. Swift and thoughtful, Agni fulfills the prayer and is placed at the forefront as messenger, carrier of offerings, and bringer of the gods. The Purifying One is addressed: “You have generated the sun; by your power, you distribute the waters, delighting in the cows and rejoicing with Purandhi.” The horse is praised for its might, its lineage, its swiftness, its leadership among men. Known as ‘traveler’ and ‘child,’ it is called to the protection of the Ādityas. The guardians of the quarters, the gods, are asked to protect the horse, sprinkled for sacrifice. Here, joy, delight, firmness, and self-firmness are established. Offerings are made to Kāya, Kasmai, Katamasmai, to Mind, to Prajāpati, to Consciousness, to the Knower, to Āditya, to Sarasvatī in her many forms, to Pūṣan as path-finder and leader, to Tvaṣṭṛ in his strength and many forms, to Viṣṇu as all-pervading and radiant. May every mortal seek the friendship of the divine leader, strive for wealth, and choose glory for prosperity. Blessings are invoked for the generations: may a Brāhmaṇa of Vedic brilliance be born in the Brāhmaṇa lineage; a heroic charioteer in the royal class; a milking cow, a bull, a swift horse, a chariot-driving woman, a victorious youth, a champion in the assembly, and a strong son be born to the sacrificer. May rain fall as desired, fruitful plants ripen, and welfare and sustenance be secured. Offerings continue: to Prāṇa, Apāna, Vyāna, sight, hearing, speech, mind; to each direction—east, southeast, south, southwest, west, northwest, north, northeast, upward, downward; to all forms of water—flowing, standing, still, streaming, well, spring, holding, ocean, sea, river; to wind, smoke, cloud, rain-cloud, thunder, rain in its many forms, mist. Agni, Soma, Indra, earth, atmosphere, sky, quarters, intermediate directions, broad earth, and the south-western direction are honored. The stars, their lords, day and night, half-months, months, seasons, year, heaven and earth, moon, sun, rays, Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas, Maruts, all the gods, roots, branches, trees, flowers, fruits, herbs—each receives its due. The earth, atmosphere, sky, sun, moon, stars, waters, herbs, trees, floating and moving, reptiles are included. Asu, Vasu, Vibhu, Vivasvat, the glory of the hosts, Gaṇapati, Abhibhu, Adhipati, Śūṣa, Saṃsarpa, the moon, light, Malimluc, lord of the day are honored. Madhava, Mādhava, Śukra, Śuci, Nabhas, Nabhasya, Heṣa, Ūrja, Saha, Sahasya, Tapas, Tapasya, Aṃhaspati are addressed. Vāja, Prasava, Apijā, Kratu, Svaḥ, summit, all-pervading, end, Bhuvana, lord of the world, Prajāpati—each receives svāhā. May life, prāṇa, apāna, vyāna, udāna, samāna, sight, hearing, speech, mind, self, Brahman, light, heaven, the back, and the sacrifice itself be established through sacrifice. Offerings are made to the one, the two, the hundred, the dawn, and heaven. In the beginning, the Golden Embryo alone arose, becoming the sole lord of all that is born. He upheld earth and heaven. The question arises: unto which god should the oblation be offered? The offering is taken up for Prajāpati, accepted as pleasing. The womb is declared, the sun its greatness. The greatness that became his in the year, in the wind of the midspace, in the sun in the sky—all are offered to Prajāpati and the gods. He alone is king of the moving and the still, great in breath and blinking, ruler over all with two feet and four. Again, the question: unto which god should the oblation be offered? The offering is taken up for Prajāpati, accepted as pleasing. The womb is declared, the moon its greatness. The greatness that became his in the night, in the year, in the fire on earth, in the stars, in the moon—all are offered to Prajāpati and the gods. The bright, ruddy one is yoked, moving among those who stand still; lights shine in the sky. His desirable, tawny horses, with full manes, are yoked to the chariot, red, bold, bringing men. When wind, waters, and Agni have gone forth, the beloved form of Indra is evoked, and the singer is asked: by this path, bring the horse back to us again. May the Vasus anoint with the Gāyatrī meter, the Rudras with Triṣṭubh, the Ādityas with Jagatī. Bhūr, Bhuvaḥ, Svar—the grains, fried barley, and milk are offered as food to the gods and Prajāpati. Questions arise: Who moves alone? Who is born again? What is the remedy for this cold? What is the great covering? The answers are revealed: The sun moves alone; the moon is born again. Agni is the remedy for the cold; the earth is the great covering. Thus, in this ritual, the whole cosmos is honored, every movement, every element, every being, and every god. The sacrificer invokes blessings for all, weaving together creation, preservation, and renewal—offering all to the divine, with svāhā.