In the ancient days, seekers of wisdom and prosperity turned their hearts and minds to Agni, the radiant fire-god. Mātariśvan, the divine messenger, had established Agni in heaven as a shining dwelling, his golden hair ablaze, guiding the righteous and the wise toward new fortune. Pure as a swift-flowing stream, Agni shone brightly, a beacon in the celestial realm, unopposed and victorious, crowned in heaven. With reverence, people sought him, the mighty awakener, for good guidance. Agni, the delightful Hotar, stood unrivaled in purity and nobility, wise among all peoples. Like a splendid chariot of beauty, he was established by Manu for a lasting abode. Singers gathered for Vaiśvānara, Agni’s broad-footed aspect, distributing treasures for the journey. Immortal Agni pleased the gods, ensuring that the sacred laws endured unfailingly. As messenger between heaven and earth, Agni moved wondrously, seated as the chief priest of the people. He surrounded the vast abode with his radiance, adorned by the gods, and, prompted by wise thought, brought wealth. Sages honored him with their minds, recognizing him as the sign and accomplisher of sacrifices. In Agni, hymns were set and offerings placed; upon him, worshippers laid their prayers. Father of sacrifices, lord of insight, wise and skillful, Agni entered heaven and earth with great splendor. Beloved by many, he delighted poets in his abodes. Shining with a radiant chariot and golden vows, Vaiśvānara dwelled in the waters, knowing the light. The gods placed here the swift, powerful, resplendent one, Agni, enveloped in beautiful glory. With gods and men, Agni kindled the sacrifice, adorned in many ways by thought. Like a charioteer guided by good intentions, ever young, he protected the household and warded off curses. Agni grew strong in his own power and life, nourishing all with vigor and shining forth together with his devotees. He animated energies and awakened the great ones, wise and good-minded among the gods. Men always praised Agni, the lord of the people, the youthful guest, the guide of thoughts, swift among worshippers. They proclaimed him the knower of births and the consciousness of sacrifices, offering reverence for increase. Wise and beneficent, Agni encompassed the lands with his might, possessing a splendid chariot. People approached his nourishing vows in the household with well-spoken words. Vaiśvānara’s abodes were established, making Agni the knower of light and the discerning one. Born, he filled the worlds—heaven and earth—encompassing all with his own self. From the teeth of Vaiśvānara, the great poet, Agni was born, honoring both parents, heaven and earth, with abundant seed. The people called upon Agni to awaken for them, ever mindful and pure, granting the favor of wealth. They asked him, as friend, to bring the gods for sacrifice, with a gracious mind. The gods, thrice daily, worshipped Agni, Varuṇa, and Mitra; Tanūnapāt, established in the ghee-born altar, was invoked to make the sacrifice sweet. The radiant one, all-blessing, advanced as the first priest, Iḻa, for the sacrifice. With reverence, people praised the bull, inspired to worship the gods, most worthy of sacrifice. Agni’s upright path and flames spread through the spaces. The priest was set at the navel of heaven, and the sacred grass was spread for the gods. The seven priests were chosen with mind, invoked with truth, adorned in assemblies, moving through ancient sacrifices. At dawn, the two sisters approached, displaying their varied forms. Mitra, Varuṇa, Indra with the Maruts, and others were invited to delight in the greatness of the ritual. The divine first priests were arranged, the seven singers rejoiced in their nature. They proclaimed and followed truth, shining as guardians of the vow. Bhāratī with the Bhāratīs, Iḻā with gods and men, Agni, Sarasvatī with the Sarasvats—all these goddesses were invoked to sit upon the sacred grass. Tvaṣṭar, the nourishing god who grants abundance, was asked to be gracious, for from him is born the heroic, skillful, well-equipped one, eager for the gods and acting with excellence. Like a tree, the offering was released to the gods; Agni, the pacifier, prepared the oblation. The true Hotar worshipped, knowing the origins of the gods. Agni was called to come near, kindled together with Indra and the gods, with swift companions. Aditi and her good sons were invited to be seated on the sacred grass, and the immortal gods to rejoice with the invocation. Agni, awakened and aware of the sages’ paths, arose as the priest, broad-footed and shining with divine radiance, dispelling the doors of darkness with his fire. He grew strong through praises, songs, and hymns, perceiving many forms of truth, shining forth at dawn as the messenger. Agni, the seed among men, established by Mitra through truth, arose from the worshipper’s offering, becoming the support of thoughts. When kindled, Agni became Mitra; Mitra was the Hotar, Varuṇa the knower of births; Mitra the Adhvaryu, the inspired householder, and Mitra of the rivers and mountains. Agni protected the beloved, the foremost path of the horse, and guarded the swift course of the sun. He preserved the navel of the seven-headed and the lofty likeness of the gods. The Ribhus fashioned the worthy, beautiful name; Agni, knowing all skills, made every form, wrapping the ghee-filled footstep and protecting, never ceasing. Agni entered the ghee-filled womb, broad-spreading, shining, and radiant; pure, lofty, and bright, he was renewed again and again by his mothers. Newborn, he grew with the plants, nourished by ghee, shining like waters flowing, resting in the lap of his parents. Rising, praised, and kindled, Agni shone today from the navel of heaven and earth. Mitra, Agni, the worthy, Mātariśvan, the messenger, carried the offering to the gods. Kindled, Agni upheld the high heaven, becoming the highest of the shining realms. When Mātariśvan brought the hidden carrier of offerings to the Bhṛgus, Agni was kindled. Agni was invoked to grant abundant wealth, lasting possession of cows, and victory and wisdom for the son of the worshipper, bestowing his favor. Singers, reflecting and devoted, spoke forth the divine hymn, bringing gifts and offerings to Agni, adorned with ghee. Agni filled the two worlds as he was born, and now gifts and offerings were brought, his seven-tongued fires praised both in heaven and on earth. Heaven and earth, worthy of sacrifice, seated Agni as the Hotar in the house; peoples, devoted, invoked his shining flame with abundant offerings. Great and firmly seated in the abode, Agni shone between heaven and earth, radiant, with two companions—ageless and unblemished, nourishing cows of wide praise. Thus, in every ritual and gathering, Agni was honored as the immortal, radiant, wise, and benevolent priest, the bridge between gods and men, the awakener of truth, the source of prosperity, and the protector of all.