The nourishing, radiant offspring of Tvaṣṭṛ, straight-moving and steadfast, carry Agni, the one to be borne. Supported and shining in their forms, they enter his sacred seat, as if uniting the two worlds into one. These divine beings know the blessings bestowed by the strong, ruddy Agni; at the command of the spotted one, they roar in joy. They are the brilliant lights of heaven, their hymns counted among the greatest, and they belong to Iḷā. With the two fathers, these beings have brought forth a mighty sound from the great ones. Where the bull, Agni, circles the enclosure of the milker, there the singer declares his own abode. The seven sages, alongside five priests, guard the beloved, established path of the bull. The forward-yoked, untiring ones rejoice on this path; indeed, the gods follow the vows of the gods. The divine priests, the foremost, have taken their seats; the seven pure ones rejoice in their own nature. Proclaiming truth, they call upon the friend of truth, and the shining keepers of vows faithfully follow their vows. The strong ones are yoked for the great journey, their bright rays well-harnessed for the mighty one. O divine priest Agni, most delightful and wise, bring here the great gods, and unite the two worlds. Those who are yoked to the pure, eloquent, and well-guided have summoned the radiant dawns. Agni, even if by the greatness of earth some offense has been committed, forgive it for our great good. Grant us, O Agni, abundant and lasting wealth in cattle, the best sustenance for your worshipers. May our sons and their offspring be victorious, and may your good favor be ever with us. At the sacrifice, O Lord of the Forest, you are anointed with celestial honey. Whether you stand upright or rest in the lap of your mother, may you grant wealth here, above or below. Taking shelter before the kindled one, we compose hymns and strive for the undying, noble Agni. Drive far from us hostile thoughts and rise up for our great good fortune. Rise up, O Lord of the Forest, upon the earth; measure out good counsel and establish your radiance to carry the sacrifice. Young, well-clad, and wrapped in splendor, he comes forth, ever better as he is born. The wise and the poets raise him up, self-ruled, worshipping with their minds. Born anew in the brightness of days, growing strong in the assembly, the wise purify the offerings with thought, and the inspired priest raises the hymn with devotion. Whatever men or worshipers have fashioned for you, O Lord of the Forest, or whatever the carver has shaped, may those gods, standing with their own sound, grant us treasure and offspring. Those who are cut and set upon the earth, those who are fashioned with straight edges, may they grant us abundant gifts, divine and fruitful in the field. The Ādityas, Rudras, Vasus—guides of the good path—Heaven and Earth, the broad earth and midspace, may all the gods together protect the sacrifice and raise high the sign of the ritual. Like swans in a shining line, clothed in white, the singers come; raised by poets at the front, the gods walk the path of the gods. Like the horns of horned ones, the singers with their drinking vessels are seen upon the earth; whether by words or by call, may they hear and protect us in contests for victory. O Lord of the Forest, hundred-branched, grow forth; thousand-branched, may we grow forth. You whom the carver, sharpening, has brought forth for great good fortune, flourish. As friends, we have chosen you, O god and mortal, offspring of the waters, fortunate, shining, and of good guidance, for help and praise, sinless. When you, Agni, move among the woods, among your mothers, among the waters, there is no turning back for you, whether far or near. You surpass the thirsty, and thus you are gracious; some go forth, others sit around—those in whose friendship you have taken refuge. Swift-moving, never failing, always accompanying, the long-enduring, harmless ones found you, as a lion dwelling in the waters. As one who has sent himself forth, Agni, thus hidden, Mātariśvan brought you here from afar, churned out from the gods. Mortals have taken hold of you, Agni, as the carrier of offerings for the gods; you oversee all sacrifices for men by your will, youngest one. Your tongue, Agni, covers good fortune, even for ripening, when the cattle gather around you, kindled, even in darkness. Offer up the pure, well-ordered, brilliant flame, swift messenger, tireless, ancient, and worthy of praise; honor the divine one who hears. Three hundred, three thousand, and thirty-nine gods have honored Agni; they anointed him with ghee, spread the sacred grass for him, and seated him as the officiant. Agni, you are established by the wise as the sovereign of peoples; mortals invoke you, the god, at the sacrifice. In rituals, you are called as the officiant and priest; shine forth as the guardian of truth in your own house. He who serves you, Jātavedas, with kindling, gains heroic strength and prospers. As the sign of sacrifices, Agni comes adorned with the gods, together with seven priests, to the one offering oblations. Bring forth the ancient, lofty speech to Agni as the priest, who bears the radiant lights for the wise. May our hymns strengthen Agni, from whom praise is born, for great wealth and vision. Agni, most fit for sacrifice, worship the gods for the worshiper; as the delightful priest, you shine forth, dispelling obstacles. O pure one, shine for us; grant us radiant heroism; be the closest to the singers for our well-being. You, whom the inspired, vigilant priests kindle—immortal, strong, carrier of offerings—may you be ever present. Agni is the priest, the householder, the wise one of the sacrifice; he knows the ritual for mankind. Immortal, carrier of offerings, swift messenger, Agni is established; he fulfills the ritual with thought. With his insight, Agni perceives all; he is the ancient sign of sacrifice, for he knows its purpose.