A tale unfolds, beginning with a mysterious and sacred event. A small bird, a female, has partaken of poison alongside a companion. Yet, neither she nor her kin succumb to death; a prayer arises: “Let us not die from this.” The measure and potency of the poison have been known and contained. Instead of harm, honey, the sweet gift of the honey-maker, is granted as a remedy and blessing. In the world, three times seven sparks appear—fruits born of poison—yet again, neither they nor the people perish. The same plea is voiced: “Let us not die from this.” The measure is taken, and honey is bestowed by the honey-maker. Among ninety-nine poisonous, sprouting beings, each by name is known and called. The prayer for life continues: “Let us not die from this.” The antidote is ready; honey is provided as before. Three times seven peahens, seven foremost sisters, carry the poison away as though it were water in jars, bearing it for the sake of the afflicted. Just as one might shatter the seed of Kuṣumbhaka with a stone, so too is the poison broken and expelled, flowing away in the opposite direction, rendered harmless. Kuṣumbhaka, rolling down from the mountain, speaks: “The poison of the scorpion is tasteless; tasteless is your poison, O scorpion.” Thus, the threat is diminished, and the sting loses its power. With the danger passed, the narrative turns to Agni, the divine fire, radiant and pure. Agni shines forth across the heavens, swift in the waters, moving among stones, present in forests, plants, and among people. He is born pure, the lord of humankind. To Agni belongs every sacred office: the Hotar who invokes, the Potar who purifies, the priest who offers, the Neshṭar who arranges, the Agnidh who kindles, the Praśāstar who supervises, and the Brahman who presides. Agni is also the householder, caring for the home. Agni embodies Indra, the mighty and true; he is Vishnu, wide-striding and revered; Brahmanaspati, lord of prayer and wealth, who arranges and joins with the generous. Agni is Varuna, steadfast in his vows; Mitra, wondrous and praiseworthy; Aryaman, the true lord who shares; and Aṃśa, the god who receives his portion in the rite. He is Tvaṣṭar, bestower of strength, with goddesses as kin and friendly companions. Agni possesses shining gold, fine horses, and is the host of men, rich in treasures. He is Rudra, Asura of the vast sky, commander of the Maruts and nourishing ones, who travels with the reddish winds, bringing delight. As Pūṣan, he provides and protects by his nature. Agni is the giver of wealth, ready for every task; he is Savitar, the bestower of treasures; Bhaga, lord of men and riches; the vigilant guardian in the home. He is called to the house as lord of the people, made king by the clans, master of all possessions, distributing thousands, hundreds, and tens. Agni is a father to those who offer, a brother, friendly and radiant; he becomes a son to his worshippers, a good, undeceivable friend who protects. He is the skillful Ribhus, worthy of reverence, ruling over strength and wealth, shining forth and arranging the sacrifice. Agni is Aditi for the worshipper, growing as the Hotrā Bhāratī through song. He is Ilā, rich in gifts and skill; Sarasvatī, slayer of Vṛtra and lord of wealth. He is well-sustained, the highest vigor, splendid and radiant, the great deliverer, abundant wealth, broad on every side. The Ādityas made Agni their mouth, the pure ones their tongue; the generous join him at sacrifices, and the gods eat the offerings poured to him. In Agni, all the immortal gods, without deceit, partake of offerings. Through him, mortals enjoy nourishment; he is the pure seed born of plants. By his might, Agni reaches all, and his greatness draws both heaven and earth after him. Those generous ones who give cattle, villages, and splendid horses to the singers—Agni brings them and the singers to wealth, empowering them to speak with strength in the assembly. Agni, known as Jātavedas, is urged to grow through sacrifice. He is worshipped with offering, body, and song, kindled pure and shining, the heavenly Hotar, firm among people. Nights and dawns call to Agni, as cows to a calf; he appears like the sun, shining through the nights, ever restrained and rich in gifts. The gods placed him, wise, at the world’s foundation, as the support of heaven and earth; with brilliant flames, he is praised among peoples, like Mitra. In his own house within the expanse, Agni shines, radiant as the moon, set in the wood, offspring of Prishni, discerning and watchful over both worlds. As Hotar, Agni encompasses every rite; men seek him with offerings and song. With tawny manes, he stirs among the strong, marking both worlds with his steps. Kindled for well-being, Agni grants wealth and shines among his people, making both worlds favorable for prosperity, carrying offerings for the benefit of men. He is asked to grant a great, thousandfold gift, to increase the prize as a herdsman does, to incline heaven and earth by prayer, and to let radiant dawns shine forth. Kindled, Agni follows the lovely dawns, shining with radiant light, red with his beam; by his priestly acts, he is the sovereign of men and gracious guest for wealth. Among the immortals, Agni is foremost, filling the heavens for men, yielding riches like a milch-cow for the poet, granting abundant, manifold wealth. Through Agni, people seek heroic strength—by swift horses or by prayer—so their glory may shine among the five tribes, with radiant, unconquered light. He is remembered as the mighty one, in whom noble men prosper, whom the strong approach with sacrifice, ever shining in their house and lineage. The people pray to be both Agni’s praisers and prosperous under his protection, desiring the wealth of the generous, full of offspring and true lordship. Those generous ones who bestow gifts of cattle, villages, and splendid horses upon the praisers—Agni is asked to lead them all to prosperity, that they may speak with might and victory in the assembly. Agni, kindled and established on earth, stands facing all worlds, the pure Hotar, wise from heaven, worshipping the gods. Narāśaṃsa marks out sacred places from heaven, his ray shining, carrying offerings with his mind, uniting the gods at the summit of sacrifice. Agni, praised with the mind, is worthy; he leads the gods, not men, today. The steadfast host of the Maruts and Indra are called to be worshipped, seated on the sacred grass. The sacred grass grows strong, well-spread for wealth, anointed with ghee, inviting the Vasus, all the gods, the Ādityas, to sit, worthy of sacrifice. Finally, the divine doors, wide and easy to traverse, are opened with reverence; shining, they extend widely, unaging, purifying, glorious, and heroic—welcoming the gods to the sacred rite. Thus the story flows: from the mystery of poison and its overcoming, to the praise and invocation of Agni, the divine fire, who is all gods, all roles, all blessings, and the very heart of sacrifice and prosperity.