IN the beginning rose Hiranyagarbha, etc:

2Taken upon a base art thou. I take thee welcome to Prajâpati. This is thy place: Sûrya thy majesty. The majesty that has accrued to thee in the day, in a year, that majesty which has accrued in the wind, in the firmament, to that majesty of thine, to Prajâpati, to the Gods, All-hail!

3Who, by his, grandeur hath become sole Ruler of all the. moving world that breathes and slumbers; He who is Sovran of these men and cattle — what God shall we adore with our oblation?

4Taken upon a base art thou. I take thee welcome to Prajâpati, This is thy place: the Moon thy majesty. Thy majesty that has accrued to thee by night, in a year, thy majesty that has accrued in the earth, in Agni, in the stars and in the Moon, to that majesty of thine, to Prajâpati and to the Gods, All-hail!

5They who stand round hills as he moves harness the bright, the ruddy Steed: The lights are shining in the sky.

6On both sides to the car they yoke the two. Bay Coursers dear to him, Bold; tawny, bearers of the Chief.

7When, swift as wind, the Horse has reached the form that Indra loves, the flood, Again, O singer, by this path bring thou our Courser hitherward.

8Let the Vasus anoint thee with Gâyatrî metre. Let the Rudras anoint thee with Trishtup metre. Let the Âdityas anoint thee with Jagatî metre. Earth! Ether! Heaven! O Gods, eat this food, parched grains and groats in the product of barley and in the product of cows: eat this food, Prajâpati.

9Who moveth single and alone? Who is brought forth to life again? What is the remedy of cold, or what the great receptacle?

10The Sun moves single and alone. The Moon is brought to life again, Fire is the remedy of cold; Earth is the great receptacle.

11What was the antecedent thought? What was the bird of mighty size? The slippery matron, who was she? Who was the reddish-coloured one?

12Heaven was the antecedent thought. The Courser was the mighty bird. The slippery matron was the earth, Night was the reddish-coloured one.

13Vâyu help thee with cooked viands! Blackneck with goats; Nyagrodha with cups; Salmali with increase; this Stallion here, good for the chariot — let him verily come with his four feet. Brahmâkrishna help us! Obeisance to Agni!

14The car is fitted with the rein, the steed is fitted with the rein. Fitted in waters, water-born, is Brahmâ following Soma’s lead.

15Steed, from thy body, of thyself, sacrifice and accept thyself. Thy greatness can be gained by none but thee.

16No, here thou diest not, thou art not injured: only by fair paths to the Gods thou guest, May Savitar the God in that world place thee where dwell the pious, whether they have journeyed.

17Agni was the