In the sacred dawn, the sages gather and call out to all the gods, inviting them to come and listen to their invocation. They prepare a seat upon the holy grass, welcoming the divine assembly to partake in the ritual. For the gods, a strong and honey-sweet offering is readied, crafted with care in the rites of Śunahotra. The libation, desirable and nourishing, is set before them to drink. Indra, the Maruts, and Pūṣan, benefactor of all, are especially called to hear the prayer. Among them, Sarasvati, most motherly and riverly, most divine, is invoked with reverence. The sages feel unpraised and turn to her, asking, “O Mother, grant us praise.” In Sarasvati, the goddess, all life spans are placed, and she is asked to delight in the rites of Śunahotra, to grant offspring and blessings. The prayers are offered to Sarasvati at the horse-rich sacrifice, where the devoted Gṛtsamadas, lovers of truth, present their offerings among the gods. The worshippers choose Sarasvati, youthful and gracious, for the sacrifice, and Agni, the bearer of offerings, is honored. Heaven and Earth are called upon to swiftly grant the sacrifice, touching the sky, so that the gods may receive it today. The worshipful gods are invited to sit upon the altar, O Druhā, to drink the Soma on this auspicious day. Amidst the ritual, the shrill-voiced bird proclaims its birth, raising its speech like a boat upon the water. The bird is invoked as a harbinger of good omen, with wishes that it remain auspicious and unconquered among all beings. The sages pray that neither the eagle nor the great-winged bird nor the archer may strike it, and that the shrill-voiced one may follow the ancestral path, speaking words of blessing. The bird is called to cry out from the right side of the house, speaking blessings and ensuring that neither thief nor ill-wisher rule over the people. May the assembly be filled with strong voices, and may the bird’s auspicious speech ring forth. Moving to the right, the singers praise, and the birds speak in due season. The bird utters both kinds of speech, like singers of the Sāma, following both the Gāyatra and Triṣṭubh meters. Like a singer, the bird sings the Sāma; like a priest’s son, it proclaims in the sacrifices; like a stallion, it delights in the foal. From every side, the bird is asked to speak auspiciously and bring good fortune. The bird is called to speak auspiciously, to grant favor while sitting silently, and when it flies and speaks with its shrill voice, may the assembly echo with strong voices. Now, Agni, the mighty fire, is awakened for the worship of Soma. Shining, he leads the gods to the stone for peace and accepts the offering. The sacrifice is prepared, facing forward, and the song grows in honor of Agni, with kindling and reverence. The wise ones command from heaven, seeking the path for the Gṛtsamadas’ devotion. Agni, the wise and pure-minded friend of heaven, brings joy to the earth by his birth. The gods find him, radiant and hidden among the waters, among his sisters. They cause the seven swift rivers to grow, with Agni shining, unreddened, and born in greatness. Like a newborn child, the gods mount Agni, nurturing his origin. With radiant limbs, Agni stretches out the realm, purifying wisdom with the poets’ pure offerings, wearing brilliance as he moves around the waters, measuring the vast, unfailing splendors. He traverses boundaries, unwearying and unimpeded, the young ones of heaven clothed in brightness without fire. The ancient maidens, sharing a womb, place one embryo—the seven voices. Spread out for Agni, united and of all forms, streams of honey flow in the womb of ghee. Nourishing cows stand nearby, the great harmonious mothers of the wondrous one. Brown, son of strength, Agni shines forth, bearing bright, vigorous forms, as streams of honey and ghee pour out where the bull grows through wisdom. Agni discerns even his father’s udder by birth, releasing streams from two cows. Moving secretly with friendly, auspicious companions, with the young ones of heaven, he is never hidden. He bears the embryo of father and creator; the single ancient one drinks, growing full. For the mighty, his spouse and kin protect both for him. In the wide, great, unobstructed space, the waters nourish Agni for fame and many blessings. In the womb of truth, the wondrous one rests, Agni among the sisters, offspring of mothers. Like a bull, brown, in the assembly of the mighty, eager to be seen, shining for the son, Agni is born, creator and most active, the young one, the embryo of waters. The embryo of waters is most visible among plants, produced by the woods, fortunate and of many forms. Even the gods unite their minds, honoring the powerful newborn. The great shining ones accompany Agni, radiant as lightning, bright, as if grown in secret in his own seat within the farthest womb, and they milk the immortal. The sacrificer invokes Agni with offerings, seeking friendship and gracious favor, measuring out help with the gods for the worshipper, and asking protection from the hosts of the noble. Those who dwell near, under Agni’s guidance, bear all blessings. With noble seed and fame, striving, they approach the gods who are leaders in battle. Agni becomes the sign of the gods, delightful and knowing all wisdom. He awakens mortals, wondrous and accomplished, and goes with the gods as a charioteer. In the home of mortals, the immortal king sits, accomplishing the assemblies, with a ghee-adorned face and wide-shining presence, knowing all wisdom. Agni is asked to come with friendly, auspicious companions, great and mighty helpers, to grant abundant wealth, well-spoken share, and glory. These are Agni’s ancient births, and the new ones are now spoken for the earliest. Great, mighty rites are made for him, Jātavedas, established at every birth. Established at every birth, Jātavedas is ceaselessly kindled by the Viśvāmitras. In his favor, may the worshipful be in good mind and happiness. The sacrificer asks Agni to place their sacrifice among the gods, skillfully rejoicing, directing the offerings with lofty praises, and obtaining great wealth for them by worship. Agni is asked to grant abundant, enduring prosperity, the best reward for the one who offers. May their son be victorious and wise, and may Agni’s favor be with them. For Vaiśvānara, the nourisher of wisdom, clarified butter is prepared, pure as ghee, for Agni. As men, they appoint him as Hotar, with praise, like a chariot fitted by skillful hands. By his birth, Agni illuminates both heaven and earth, becoming the praiseworthy son of his mothers. Agni, the immortal, chosen one, the guest of the people, the shining one, receives the offerings. Thus, the sacred rites unfold, the invocations echo, and the gods are honored with devotion, praise, and offerings. The story of Agni’s birth, the prayers to Sarasvati, the auspicious bird’s blessing, and the assembly of gods are woven together in reverence, seeking divine favor and prosperity for all.