There are two great souls, so vast in their wisdom that nothing is unknown to them—nothing accomplished or unaccomplished escapes their awareness. In those ancient times, Brahma, the great soul, still possessed his fifth face. It is said that the one known as Brahma is also Agni, the fire-god, born from Brahma’s own mind. Having witnessed the origin of events before, this exalted being acted with purpose: in a battle, he struck down his adversary with an arrow, and the dust of Brahma was humbled and stilled. O revered one, praised by sages, tell us this story in detail, for we yearn to understand. Sanatkumara replied: From the unmanifest, Brahma created the primordial egg, and from it, all was born. The self-born Brahma then performed intense austerities for a hundred divine years. Through the union of hearing and mind, Agni, the fire, was born. With his own hands, Brahma placed Agni above the earth. In those early days, when the downward flame was falling, the upward flame was held firm. Agni blazed upward, his flames leaping, emitting all sounds and sparks. Then, a question arose: for what reason, O god, did you restrain Agni from devouring the earth? Thus addressed, Brahma offered his own hairs into Agni as an offering. He said, “I find no satisfaction, nor any delight in my body.” Agni responded, “There is no satisfaction for me either.” Again, Agni declared, “I have neither satisfaction nor comfort in my body.” Seeing this, the Creator fashioned a body for Fire, specifically for his purpose. Yet, even upon seeing this new form, Agni spoke to Brahma, “O Brahma, I have neither satisfaction nor comfort in my body.” Angered by this, Brahma shouted and split the Fire. Wounded and weeping, the Fire sought sustenance from Prajapati. Three forms of Fire cried out, and one wailed openly, without restraint. As Fire lamented, Brahma’s heart was moved with compassion, and he acted once more. At that time, the desire, the function, and the destiny of Fire were established. From Brahma’s shout, a fire blazed forth, and he wondered, “What is this—whether among the gods, outside, or in the hermitages of sages?” Again and again, Brahma declared, “I myself will provide for you.” Wherever pride or insult is spoken, there the shout of Fire echoes. Then Brahma, summoning the fire of the letter ‘i’ (इ), spoke sacred words. Again, invoking the fire of the letter ‘u’ (उ), he uttered his command: “I will arrange for you a place and food as well.” Thus, Fire said to Vyasa, “In the mountain, in the fortress, O great sage.” Even divided, Fire was summoned by Brahma, who desired to grant him a place. Therefore, Brahma instructed: “Reveal the refined speech of the twice-born.” Thus, the speech of the twice-born—those initiated into sacred knowledge—came to be regarded as pure and revealed. If false syllables are used, the words become inauspicious and impure. Again, Brahma summoned the fire of the letter ‘a’ (अ) and, as the Lord of Creatures, made it without sight. Fire then said to Brahma, “I am the mouth of speech.” Brahma replied, “Because you desire the place of brilliance—” and added, “Because, seeing your radiance, the eye becomes weakened—” Finally, separating the letter ‘i’, the Grandfather Brahma addressed the fire, continuing the divine dialogue between creator and flame, shaping the destiny and function of Agni within the cosmos.