Br̥haspati, stand before the rightful god for me, and say:
“Whether thou be Mitra or Varuṇa, or Pūṣan the wanderer, Or art thou he who rideth with the storm-lords, Or dwellest with the Ādityas or the Vasus— Let Parjanya shed his rain for Śaṃtanu.” The swift god, the flame-footed herald, did heed thy word, And passed from thee unto me.

Now turn thy face toward mine, full and clear— Lo, I place the speech of heaven in thy mouth.

O Br̥haspati, place in our mouth that heaven-born word, That word of strength and sorrowlessness,

Whereby we shall win rain for Śaṃtanu.
Yea, the sweet draught of heaven hath come into me.

Let the honeyed draughts descend upon us.
O Indra, give a thousand kine, and a chariot thereto.
Sit thee as the Hotar, and offer in rightwise.
O Devāpi, give worship with flame and gift unto the gods.

The seer Devāpi, son of R̥ṣṭisena, seated as the Hotar, Knowing well the gods’ good grace—

He loosed the waters of heaven,
Making them rush from the higher to the nether sea.

In that sea above, the waters once were held fast, Bound by the will of the gods.

Then they fled, loosed and driven by the son of R̥ṣṭisena, Running in currycomb tracks down the slopes of the world.

When Devāpi, raised up as priest for Śaṃtanu, And chosen for the holy seat of fire, longed in his heart—

Br̥haspati gave him speech that gods might hear, And by it, rain was won.

O Agni, thou whom Devāpi lit—
Thou son of R̥ṣṭisena, of Manu’s line, blazing in thy might— All gods rouse thee to thy task:

Stir Parjanya to pour down the rain.

To thee, O oft-called one, came the seers of old with their songs.
To thee now come all at the rite.
For us are thousands of kine, with chariot beside.
Come thou hither, chestnut-horsed one, to our offering.

These ninety and nine thousand kine, and a chariot beyond, Are given into thy keeping, O Agni.

Strengthen thy limbs with them, brave bearer of the flame.
Aroused, send rain from the sky upon us.

O Agni, these ninety thousand—bear them to Indra, The bull of the heavens, as his rightful share.

Knowing the true ways to the gods,
Raise Aulāna among them in their lofty hall.

Cast far the scorners, O Agni;
Turn aside all darkness and fell shapes.
From this deep sea of heaven,
Pour down thy waters in fullness upon us.