In the sacred gathering, the wise and devoted choose Agni as their messenger, the priest who knows all and possesses skill for the sacrifice. With reverence and offerings, they continually invoke Agni, lord of the people, beloved carrier of oblations. They beseech him: “Agni, bring the gods here, born upon the well-laid altar grass; you are the priest worthy of praise.” As Agni goes forth as messenger, he is asked to awaken those eager ones and to sit with the gods upon the altar. Radiant and accepting offerings of ghee, Agni is called upon to burn away the harmful forces, standing as the protector against evil. Through Agni, Agni himself is kindled—the wise, youthful master of the house, carrier of offerings and invoker of blessings. The sages praise Agni, true to law in the ritual, the god who wards off harm. Whoever honors Agni as the lord of offerings and messenger, Agni becomes their protector. Those who invoke Agni with offerings for the favor of the gods are granted kindness by the pure one. Thus, the radiant Agni is urged to bring the gods near, to accept the sacrifice and offerings. To those who praise him, Agni is asked to bring wealth and heroic sons, inspired by the newest Gāyatrī hymn. With his pure flame and all divine invocations, Agni is entreated to accept the hymn from the worshippers. When Agni is well-kindled, he is called to bring the gods to the one offering oblations, to worship and serve as the pure priest. The wise beseech him to make a honey-sweet sacrifice among the gods for their well-being. Narāśaṃsa, dear to the sacrifice and honey-tongued, is also called, prepared for offering. Agni, in the most pleasant chariot, is invoked to bring the gods, for he is the priest established by Manu. The wise spread the sacrificial grass, coated with clarified butter, where the vision of immortality is found. The divine doors, nourished by immortality, are called to open wide on every side, today and now, for the offering. Night and Dawn, adorned with beauty, are summoned to the sacrifice, invited to sit upon the sacred grass. The divine priests, skilled and eloquent with well-shaped tongues, are called to perform the rituals. Ilā, Sarasvatī, and Mahī—the three gracious goddesses—are invited to sit upon the sacred grass, unhindered. Tvaṣṭar, the foremost of manifold forms, is called to be solely theirs. The Lord of the Forest is entreated to release the offering for the gods, so the giver’s intention may be fulfilled. With svāhā, the sacrifice for Indra is performed in the sacrificer’s house, and the gods are called there. With praises, Agni is invited to come with all the gods to drink Soma, to approach and enjoy. The Kanvas call Agni, the wise sing his praises, and he is urged to come with the gods. Indra and Vāyu, Bṛhaspati, Mitra, Agni, Pūṣan, Bhaga, the Ādityas, and the Marut host are all invoked. The exhilarating drops, eager and delightful, are carried to the gods—the shining juices pressed from honey. The Kanvas, seeking help, spread the sacred grass and offer oblations in honor of Agni. Fires, yoked by thought, with clarified butter on their backs, bring the gods to drink Soma. Those worthy of sacrifice, grown strong in truth, make offerings with their wives; they drink the honey with well-shaped tongues. When vaṣaṭ is uttered, those to be praised drink with their tongues the honey, O Agni. From the radiance of the sun, the awakened priest calls all the gods at dawn. With all the gods, Agni is called to drink the Soma honey with Indra and Vāyu, and with the power of Mitra. Agni, appointed by Manu as Hotar, sits at the sacrifices and is asked to perform the worship. He is called to yoke the two red ones—tawny and ruddy—to his chariot, and with them bring the gods here. Indra is invited to drink the Soma in due season; the eager drops enter him, delighting in that abode. The Maruts are called to drink in due season, to purify the sacrifice from the offering onward, for they are generous givers. The goddesses are praised and invited to partake; the Inviter is called to drink in due season, as the bestower of treasures. Finally, Agni is entreated to bring the gods, to seat them in the three abodes, to adorn all around, and to drink in due season. Thus, the sacred ritual unfolds, with Agni at its heart, drawing the gods, bestowing blessings, and fulfilling the hopes of those who worship with devotion.