Hear now the tale of Agni, the radiant one, as sung by the ancient seers. Whoever serves Agni, the immortal, or makes him a friend through offerings, let such a one’s wealth never diminish. May sin and harm pass him by. For the one whose sacrifice Agni, the god, has graciously accepted—well-placed by mortal hands—may his offerings be pleasing, and may the wise men’s hymns bring him ever-increasing prosperity. The discerning sage gathers thought upon thought, separating the righteous from the unrighteous among mortals, as one carefully places things in order. O god, grant us wealth and lordship; bestow upon us both the finite and the infinite, mighty Agni. The faultless poets have instructed the sage, upholding the two difficult paths. Therefore, Agni, you witness these wonders with your own eyes, as a noble one sees with his own. You are the best guide for the worshipper, for the one who has pressed Soma, O youngest one. Bring wealth to the eager and diligent, O protector of people, and grant us wide and shining aid. Whatever we have done for you, Agni, with our feet, hands, and bodies—like those who mount a chariot, avoiding obstacles—those who strive swiftly have found the right path. May we, seven inspired ones, be born as the first men of wisdom, O child of dawn. May we become Angirases, sons of heaven, shining and breaking open the wealthy mountain. Just as our ancient fathers, O Agni, striving for truth, made their light pure, chanting hymns, breaking through the dark earth and driving away the dusky ones, so too may we act. Those of good deeds, shining and godly as the gods at their birth, performed their rites in purity. They strengthened Agni and Indra, seeking the wide wealth of cattle, and gathered in harmony. Like cattle in a herd, the strong one proclaimed the generations of the gods, when their births were mighty. Even among mortals, the wide-ruling one showed favor, increasing for both the high and the low. We have not performed your works, O self-luminous one; yet we have entered the truth, the shining dawns. Agni, ever new, of many forms, is the lovely eye of the god who delights in hymns. To you, Agni, wise one, we have spoken these praises; accept them, O sage. Shine forth, make us prosperous, and grant us great wealth, O bestower of many gifts. Come now, Rudra, king of the rite, true-offering priest of both worlds; make Agni, the ancient, golden-formed, the thunderer’s helper, your aid. This is the seat we have prepared for you, as a wife, adorned, prepares for her husband. Draw near, surrounded, and sit down; may your benevolent, approving thoughts turn toward us. To you, the attentive, unsated one, I offer my hymn, O wise one of kindly will. To the god, the immortal, I proclaim praise, as a stone presses out the sweet drink, I invoke you. You alone, Agni, are our reconciler in this matter; be aware of the truth, knowing the truth, self-guided. When will your hymns, those of the shared feast, when will friendships dwell in your house? How, O Agni, shall we speak to Varuṇa, how to Heaven, so that we may not offend? How to Mitra the gracious, to Earth, to Aryaman, to Bhaga? How, O Agni, to the mighty Dhishṇyas, to Vāta the swift, the auspicious? How to the far-traveling Aśvins, to Rudra, the slayer of men? How to Pūṣan, the bestower of nourishment, to Rudra the generous with our offering? How to Viṣṇu, the wide-striding, for his seed? How, O Agni, to Śarva the great? How to the host of Maruts, the immortal, how to Sūrya the great, when questioned? Answer to Aditi, the mighty, O knower of birth, wise one, for the accomplishment of heaven. By truth, O Agni, the established truth is invoked for you, together with the cows and the honeyed ripe offering. Though dark, she is nourished by the shining one; this one has been filled with milk by her spouse. Indeed, by truth, even the bull, though unyoked, is nourished with milk from the back. Unmoving, he wandered with two companions; the bull drew forth the bright milk from the speckled one. By truth, breaking open the mountain, the Angiras, rejoicing with the cows, surrounded the dawn. The men circled her; she appeared, the light was born in Agni. By truth, the divine, immortal waters, untainted, O Agni, with waves and honeyed sweetness, like steeds in their courses, have placed themselves to flow forth for the seat. Let us not covet the wonder of another, nor the cows of the house, nor the wealth of the neighbor. O Agni, let us not accept the debt of a brother’s falsehood, nor the skill of a friend, nor the strength of an enemy. Protect us, O Agni, with your protections; delighting, well-armed, bring joy. Strike back, break apart the oppressor; destroy the demon, even if it has grown mighty. With these praises, be gracious, O Agni; touch these offerings with my hymns, heroic one. Also accept the prayers of the Angiras; may your blessing, divine, grow old with you. All these paths, O Agni, the wise creator has made known to you, the hidden words. The utterances, the poet’s poetry, I praise with thoughts and the chants of the inspired. Make a path, O Agni, broad as the earth; advance like a king with an elephant. Following the path with your companions, stand firm and strike the demons with your blazing flames. Your sparks fly swiftly, touching everywhere, shining fiercely. Burn the insects with your heat; send forth embers in all directions. Send forth your spies, be the swiftest, the unassailable guardian of this people. Whoever speaks evil of us from afar or near, let none of them harm us, O Agni. Rise up, stretch yourself out; let the enemies flee from your sharpness. Whoever has created hostility against us, burn him down like dry wood. Be upright, shoot back on our behalf, reveal the divine powers, O Agni. Lower the strength of the sorcerers; destroy both kin and non-kin, annihilate the enemies. He knows your favor, youngest one, who seeks you and has approached the path for prayer. For him, all bright days and riches shine forth; the noble ones illuminate the distant places. May he be fortunate, O Agni, generous, who pleases you with constant offerings and hymns. May he prosper in his own life and home; for him, all bright days and blessings assemble. I praise your favor with a loud voice; may this song grow old with you. May we honor you with fine horses and splendid chariots; may we uphold dominion for ourselves day by day. Here, may you dwell abundantly, come near morning and evening, shining day by day. With cheerful hearts, may we serve you; with your brilliance, may we stand among the people. Whoever approaches you, O Agni, with fine horses, splendid gold, and a chariot full of wealth, you become his protector and friend, delighting in the hospitality of men. I loosen the bonds of greatness with words of kinship; thus I follow after the lineage of my father, Gotama. You, O Hotar, youngest, well-intentioned, master of the household, know the meaning of this speech for us. Ever-wakeful, swift, well-disposed, untiring, unmalicious, most diligent—may these guardians, sitting together, O Agni, protect us from harm. Thus is sung the glory and guardianship of Agni, who brings light, wealth, and protection to those who honor him with truth, devotion, and generous praise.