May the swift eagle not strike you, nor the great-winged bird, nor let the keen-eyed archer find you. O shrill-voiced one, as you tread the path of the ancestors, may your words be auspicious, may you speak blessings. From the right side of the house, O bird of good omen, cry out with words of blessing. Let no thief or ill-wisher hold sway over us. May we speak boldly in the assembly, strong in our people. As you move to the right, singers offer their praise, and the birds speak at the appointed time. This bird utters both kinds of speech, like the singers of the Sāma, following both the Gāyatra and Triṣṭubh meters. O bird, like a singer you chant the Sāma; like a priest’s son, you proclaim in the sacrifices; like a stallion rejoicing in its foal, you delight. From every side, O bird, speak auspiciously for us, speak what is good for us from all directions. Speak, O bird, grant us auspicious words; even as you sit silent, bestow your favor. When you fly and call out with your shrill voice, may we too speak boldly in the assembly, strong among men. Now, Agni, you have made yourself the mighty fire for the worship of Soma. Shining brightly, you lead the gods to the sacred stone, bringing peace. Accept our offering, O Agni. We have prepared the sacrifice properly, facing forward; let our song swell with strength. We honor Agni with kindling and reverence. The wise ones, seeking the path for the devotion of the Gṛtsamada, have commanded from heaven. The wise, pure-minded friend of heaven, by his birth brought joy to earth. The gods found the radiant Agni hidden among the waters, concealed among his sisters. They caused the seven swift rivers to grow, the shining and unreddened one born in greatness. Like a newborn child, the gods raised Agni, nurturing his origin. With radiant limbs, Agni stretched out the realm, purifying wisdom with the poets’ pure offerings. Clothed in brilliance, he moved among the waters, measuring the vast, unfailing splendors. He traversed boundaries, tireless and unhindered, accompanied by the young ones of heaven, clothed in brightness but without fire. Here, the ancient maidens, sharing one womb, placed a single embryo—seven voices. For him, united and of all forms, streams of honey flowed in the womb of ghee. Here, nourishing cows stood, the great, harmonious mothers of the wondrous one. Brown, son of strength, Agni shone forth, bearing bright and vigorous forms. Streams of honey and ghee poured out where the bull grew through wisdom. By birth, he discerned even his father’s udder, releasing streams from two cows. Moving secretly with friendly, auspicious ones, with the young ones of heaven, he was never hidden. He bore the embryo of father and creator; the single ancient one drank and grew full. For the mighty, his pure spouse and kin, O human, protect both for him. In the wide, unobstructed space, the waters nourished Agni for fame and for many. In the womb of truth, the wondrous one rested—Agni among his sisters, the offspring of mothers. Like a brown bull in the assembly of the mighty, eager to be seen and shining for the son, Agni was born, the creator who arose, the most active, the young one, the embryo of waters. The embryo of waters, most visible among plants, was produced by the woods—fortunate and of many forms. Even the gods united their minds, honoring the powerful newborn. The great shining ones accompanied Agni, radiant as lightning. As if grown in secret, in his own seat, within the farthest womb, they milked the immortal. The sacrificer invokes you, O Agni, with offerings, seeking friendship and gracious favor. Measure out help with the gods for the worshipper, and protect us with the hosts of the noble. Those who dwell near, under your good guidance, Agni, receive all blessings. With noble seed and fame, striving, let us approach the gods who are leaders in battle. You became the sign of the gods, Agni—delightful and knowing all wisdom. You awaken mortals, wondrous one, and go with the gods as charioteer, accomplishing their tasks. In the homes of mortals, the immortal king sat, accomplishing the assemblies. With a ghee-adorned face and wide-shining, Agni, knowing all wisdom, shone forth. Come to us, O guide, with friendly and auspicious ones, mighty helpers. Grant us abundant, crossing wealth, well-spoken shares, and glory. These, O Agni, are your ancient births. Now I speak of the new ones for the earliest. These great and mighty rites are made for you, Jātavedas, established at every birth. Established at every birth, Jātavedas is ceaselessly kindled by the Viśvāmitras. In his favor, may we, the worshipful, be of good mind and happiness. Place this sacrifice of ours, O mighty one, among the gods, O skillful Agni, rejoicing. Direct the offerings, O Hotar, with lofty praises for us. Agni, obtain great wealth for us by worship. O Agni, grant us abundant and enduring prosperity, the best reward for the one who offers. May our son be victorious and wise, and may your favor be with us. For Vaiśvānara, the nourisher of wisdom, we prepare clarified butter, pure as ghee, for Agni. As men, we appoint him as Hotar, with praise, like a chariot fitted by skillful hands. By his birth, Agni illuminated both heaven and earth. He became the praiseworthy son of his mothers. Agni, the immortal, the chosen one, the guest of the people, the shining one, receives the offerings. By their will, the gods, strong in wisdom and skill, created Agni with their thoughts. Shining with light and brilliance, I praise him—the great one who brings wealth, like a champion. Seeking favor from the delightful, we choose the excellent and unyielding prize, heroic wealth. The gift of the Bhṛgus, born of Usij, wise in action—Agni the king, shining with celestial radiance. The people have placed Agni for favor, renowned for wealth, here on the well-laid altar. With shining offerings, he is the radiant, universal Rudra, guide of sacrifices, purifier of waters. O pure-shining one, your dwelling is encircled by those who serve as Hotar at sacrifices, with well-laid altars. Agni, those who seek your favor approach you for prosperity—grant them wealth. He filled both heaven and earth with his great light when the waters bore him. He is led around the sacrifice—the wise, the swift—like a champion striving for wealth, the chosen one. Honor the giver of offerings, the true sacrificer. Praise the noble, the knower of all births. Agni, the charioteer of great truth, wise among people, became the priest of the gods. Three immortal kindlings of Agni, prepared by the Usij, purified him. Of these, one was placed as the support for mortals, and two returned to their home, their domain. The sage of the people, lord of the clans, human prosperity—they make him their support, like a sharp tool for brightness. He moves both upward and downward, shining, bearing the seed in all worlds. He grows strong in wombs, being born again and again, roaring like a bull in splendid places, like a lion. Vaiśvānara, broad-footed and immortal, grants precious gifts, distributing them to the worshipper. Vaiśvānara, ancient, ascended to the abode, touching the sky, delighting in good thoughts. As before, he generates wealth for the worshipper, ever moving together, ever watchful.