23 (continued) It encompasses all the angels, the five classes of men, all that hath been born and shall be born.

24 Let none slight God the All-Seeing, the Upholder of Law, the Friend, the Mighty, or the angels of the storm, when we declare amid the congregation the virtues of the strong steed, created by God.

25 What time they bear before the courser, covered with trappings and with wealth, the grasped oblation, the dappled goat goeth straightforward, bleating, to the place dear to the Mighty and the Nourisher.

26 Dear to all the angels, this goat, the share of the Nourisher, is first led forward with the vigorous courser, while God the Shaper sends him forward with the charger, acceptable for sacrifice, to glory.

27 When thrice the men lead round the steed, in order, who goeth as meet oblation offered for God's sake, the goat precedeth him, the share of the Nourisher, and announceth the sacrifice made in God's name.

28 Invoker, ministering priest, atoner, fire-kindler, presser of the juice, sage, reciter, with this well-ordered sacrifice, well finished, do ye fill full the channels of the rivers.

29 The hewers of the post and those who carry it, and those who carve the knob to deck the horse's stake; those who prepare the cooking-vessels for the steed, may the approving help of these promote our work.

30 Forth, for the realms beyond, the charger with his smooth back is come; my prayer attends him. In him rejoice the singer and the sages. A good friend have we won for the banquet of charity.

31 May the fleet courser's halter and his heel-ropes, the head-stall and the girths and cords about him, and the grass put within his mouth to bait him, in the world beyond too let all these be with thee.

32 What part of the steed's flesh the fly hath eaten, or is left sticking to the post or hatchet, or to the slayer's hands and nails adhereth, in the world beyond too may all this be with thee.

33 Food undigested steaming from his belly, and any odour of raw flesh remaining, this let the slaughterers set in order and dress the sacrifice with perfect cooking.

34 What from thy body, which with fire is roasted when thou art set upon the spit, distilleth, let not that lie on earth or grass neglected, but let all be offered in God's name.

35 They who, observing that the horse is ready, call out and say, The smell is good; remove it; and, craving meat, await the distribution, may their approving help promote our labour.

36 The trial-fork of the flesh-cooking caldron, the vessels out of which the broth is sprinkled, the warming-pots, the covers of the dishes, hooks, carving-boards, all these attend the charger.

37 Let not the fire, smoke-scented, make thee crackle, nor glowing caldron smell and break to pieces. Offered, beloved, approved, and consecrated, such a charger may God accept with favour.

38 The starting-place, his place of rest and rolling, the ropes wherewith the charger's feet were fastened, the water that he drank, the food he tasted, in the world beyond too may all these attend thee.

39 The robe they spread upon the horse to clothe him, the upper covering and the golden trappings, the halters which restrain the steed, the heel-ropes, all these, as grateful to God, they offer.

40 If one, when seated, with excessive urging hath with his heel or with his whip distressed thee, all these thy woes, as with the oblation's ladle at sacrifices, with my prayer I banish.

41 The four-and-thirty ribs of the swift courser, created by God, the slayer's hatchet pierces. Cut ye with skill so that the parts be flawless, and piece by piece, declaring them, dissect them.

42 Of the courser there is one dissector: this is the custom: two there are who guide him. Such of his limbs as I divide in order, all these, amid the lumps, in fire I offer.

43 Let not thy dear soul burn thee as thou comest, let not the hatchet linger in thy body. Let not a greedy clumsy immolator, missing the joints, mangle thy limbs unduly.

44 No, here thou diest not, thou art not injured: only by easy paths thou goest to the mercy of God. The bay steeds and the spotted mares are now thy fellows, and to the ass's pole is yoked the courser.

45 May this steed bring us all-sustaining riches, wealth in good kine, good horses, manly offspring. Freedom from sin may God's boundless grace vouchsafe us; the steed with our oblations gain us lordship!

46 We will, with the help of God the Mighty and of the angels, bring these existing worlds into subjection. With the angels of light, with the band of the angels of the storm, may God the Mighty give us medicine to heal us. Our sacrifice, our bodies, and our offspring may God the Mighty regulate with the angels of light.

47 O God, be our nearest Friend, etc., as in III. 25. To Thee then, O Most Bright, etc., as in III. 26.