In ancient times, when Brahmā’s wrath gave birth to a mighty fire, that fire—known as Pāvaka—approached Brahmā and spoke: “O Lord, grant me a lunar day, by which I may attain fame throughout the universe.” Brahmā replied, “Among gods, yakṣas, and gandharvas, you, Pāvaka, were the first to be born on Pratipadā, the first lunar day. From your feet, at every step, other deities will arise; thus, this day will forever be known as Pratipadā.” Brahmā continued, “On this day, offerings of havis in the prājāpatya form will please the ancestors and all the gods, who shall be worshipped. When you are honored, the four kinds of beings—humans, animals, asuras, and all the gods with the gandharvas—are satisfied. Listen, O fire, to the great result for those who, devoted to you, observe a fast on Pratipadā or subsist on milk: for thirty-six yugas, such a person is honored in heaven, radiant, handsome, and wealthy. In his very life, he becomes a king, and after death, he is honored in heaven. Thus, Agni, remaining silent, attained the abode granted by Brahmā. And whoever, rising early each morning, listens daily to this account of Agni’s birth is freed from sins—there can be no doubt.” Prajāpāla then asked, “O Brahman, you have described the birth of the great-souled Agni. How did the two gods, the Aśvins, arise as the breaths of life?” The sage explained: Marīci, son of Brahmā, and Brahmā himself took form in fourteen ways, and among them Marīci attained the highest rank. Marīci’s son was the great sage Kaśyapa, radiant and illustrious, who himself became a progenitor and the father of the gods. Kaśyapa’s sons were the twelve Ādityas, all born of Aditi and thus called Ādityas. Among these, the illustrious Mārttaṇḍa is renowned in the worlds; the twelfth, possessing the essence of Nārāyaṇa, is proclaimed. These Ādityas are the months themselves, and the year is Hari; thus, the twelve Ādityas, with Mārttaṇḍa as chief, are established. To Mārttaṇḍa, Tvaṣṭṛ gave his radiant daughter named Saṃjñā. From her were born two children: Yama and Yamunā. But Saṃjñā, unable to endure Mārttaṇḍa’s brilliance, left her own shadow behind and went swiftly to the northern Kurus. Mārttaṇḍa took that shadow, identical in form, as his wife; and from her too were born two children—Śani and Tapatī. When the shadow-wife showed partiality among her sons, Mārttaṇḍa, his eyes reddened with anger, admonished her: “Partiality must not be shown among your own children, O beautiful one.” No longer pleased, Yama, deeply distressed, spoke to his father: “This woman is not our mother, father; she behaves like an enemy to us—like a co-wife, false yet affectionate to her own children.” Hearing this, Chāyā, the shadow, overcome with anger, cursed Yama: “You shall become the lord of the dead, as if without delay.” Mārttaṇḍa, desiring his son’s welfare, spoke: “You shall become the mediator between righteousness and sin, a guardian of the worlds, my son, shining in heaven.” Yet, agitated by Chāyā’s anger, Mārttaṇḍa also cursed Śani: “You shall have a cruel gaze, my son, because of your mother’s fault.” After these events, Bhānu—the Sun—rose up, intent on seeing Saṃjñā through yogic vision, but did not find her, for she had taken the form of a mare in the northern Kurus. The Sun then took the form of a horse and went to the northern Kurus; by the path of the progenitors, he united himself with her. In that mare-form, belonging to Tvaṣṭṛ, Mārttaṇḍa of intense radiance discharged his seed, which fell blazing in two parts. There, the vital breath and the downward breath, previously victorious, by the boon given, again took form. Those two, born from the mare-form of Tvaṣṭṛ, became the best of men; therefore, they are renowned as the Aśvins, sons of the Sun. The Sun himself is their progenitor, Tvaṣṭṛ is the supreme power, both manifest and unmanifest; in her body, as before, the formless ones took form. Then, the two gods, the Aśvins, approached Mārttaṇḍa and asked, “O radiant one, what should we do now?” Mārttaṇḍa replied, “Sons, worship Prajāpati with devotion; Nārāyaṇa will surely grant you the boon you desire.” Thus instructed, the Aśvins performed severe austerities, practicing the most difficult penance, reciting the supreme hymn to Brahman with concentrated minds. After a long time, Brahmā, whose essence is Nārāyaṇa, was greatly pleased and granted them a boon. Prajāpāla then said, “I wish to hear the hymn to the unmanifest-born Brahman, as recited by the Aśvins, O great sage, by your grace.” The sage replied, “Hear, O king, how the Aśvins composed the hymn to Brahman, and what fruit they attained.” The Aśvins praised the Supreme thus: “Om, homage to you, who are actionless, beyond manifestation, without support, without dependence, without foundation, without qualities, without light, without basis, unconquered, formless; Brahman, great Brahman, beloved of the Brahmanas, Person, supreme among the great; god, greatest of the great gods, the firm, the establisher of the firm; being, greatest of beings, lord of beings, Yakṣa, greatest Yakṣa, lord of Yakṣas; secret, lord of the greatest secrets, gentle, lord of the greatest gentleness, lord of the gentle; bird, lord of the greatest birds, demon, lord of the greatest demons; Rudra, lord of the greatest Rudras, Viṣṇu, lord of the greatest Viṣṇus; supreme lord, Nārāyaṇa, homage to Prajāpati.” Thus praised by the Aśvins, Prajāpati was greatly pleased and spoke: “Choose a boon, one most difficult for the gods to obtain, by which, through my granting, you may move happily among the three worlds.” The Aśvins replied, “Grant us, O Lord Prajāpati, a share in the sacrifice, the right to partake of Soma among the gods, and an eternal equality with them.” Brahmā granted their wish: “You shall have a form and beauty without equal, healing power over all things, the right to Soma in all worlds; all this shall indeed come to pass.” Thus, the birth of Agni, the origin of the Aśvins, and their divine blessings were revealed, celebrated in the sacred narrative.