In the beginning, Vishnu, who knows the highest, was born mighty, and took upon himself the guardianship of the third and loftiest realm. When the wise ones prepared his nourishing essence, they worshipped him with their own offerings, recognizing his greatness. Thus, the nourishing mothers approached the divine one, bringing him food, so that he grew strong and moved with nourishment. Ever transforming, he would return in another form, and among human tribes, he became the revered priest. As the priest with a splendid chariot, Agni shone as the sign of sacrifice, his glory radiant and his presence a mark of the divine. He was the honored guest among the people, resplendent, and by his greatness, he stood firm against all opposition. Agni, the navel of the earth, adorned himself with garments and ornaments; born bright at the foot of Ilā, he became the chief priest and king, ruling the gods in their assemblies. Heaven and earth both nurtured Agni as a mother nurtures her son, ever supporting him. O youngest and shining Agni, they called, come forth in your brilliance and bring the gods here with your strength. Satisfy the gods, O shining one, youngest and lord of the seasons, knowing the right time for every offering. You, Agni, are the most worshipful among all divine priests. As priest and purifier, Agni bestowed wealth and righteousness upon the people. With the sacred utterance 'svāhā,' the offerings were made, and Agni, the god, worshipped the gods, worthy of the highest honor. On the path of the gods, the people moved as best they could, trusting Agni to arrange the sacrifices and the seasons, for he alone knew their true order. When mortals, less wise than the wise, broke the sacred vows, Agni, knowing all, filled the needs of the gods, arranging them with the right seasons. Even when humans, with weak minds and lacking skill, neglected the sacrifice, Agni, as priest, knew the power and worshipped the gods as was proper, according to the right times. Agni became the visible sign of all sacrifices, the splendid banner raised by the creator. Following the path of the noble ones, he brought forth abundant and universal gifts, worshipping with reverence. Heaven and earth, the waters, Tvashtar, and all the well-born had produced Agni; following the path of the ancestors, Agni blazed forth, shining for all to see. Agni, the king, was kindled—fierce in skill, radiant, and visible to all. Wise and brilliant, he was praised as the white one, shining with great splendor. When the dark night gave birth to the young dawn, daughter of the great father, she raised the sun’s radiance upward, and delight shone with the treasures of heaven. The fortunate one joined with the fortunate; the lover drew near to his sister in secret. Agni stood with clear signs, adorned in heavenly colors, taking his place in beauty. His movements, like those of the great, were never hidden. His companions, the auspicious ones, were kindled, noble and mighty, their breaths shining as they moved through the night in varied brightness. Agni’s breaths, like the resounding ones, flowed forth—he was the shining, the great, the radiant. With the eldest and the strongest, his playful, abundant rays never harmed the sky. His powers were seen and never concealed, striving with his resounding helpers. With the ancient, shining, most divine ones, delight spread widely, rejoicing in his presence. He would carry the people and sit among them, the delight of heaven and earth, ever youthful. Agni, well-born, with swift, noble horses, was called to come quickly to the worshippers. To Agni, the ancient king, offerings and thoughts were sent forth, so that he might be worthy of praise in the sacred rites. Like water in the desert, he was the source for the worshipper. The people approached Agni as cows approach the warmth of their enclosure; youngest among the gods, he was the messenger between gods and mortals, moving among the great lights. Like a child, Agni was nurtured, carried by the mother who sought his companionship. He moved along the river’s course, eager and striving, released like a beast set free. The wise, knowing his greatness, saw him lying in the enclosure, moving with his tongue, the lord of the house approaching the young woman. He was born anew in every dwelling, standing in the woods with his banner of grey smoke. Unsatiated, like a bull, he moved forth, guided by the wise and the mortals. Hidden in the woods, bound with ten straps, he was like a body-thief; yet this, Agni, was your newest thought—harnessing the chariot with shining parts. Prayers and reverence were offered to Agni, the knower of all births, with songs to nourish him always. He was asked to protect the children and offspring, to guard the people and their bodies without ceasing. Agni was the single ocean, the foundation of all riches, beholding all from the heart, born many times. He stirred the udder of the twin mothers, and in the lap of the source, the path of the bird was set. The bulls, clothed alike, joined with the mares; the poets guarded the path of truth, holding the names in secret. The truthful and the magical united, giving birth to the child and nurturing him. Moving at the navel of all, steadfast, the poets wove the thread with their minds. For the sake of truth, the offerings united, drawing strength from heaven, nourishing the two worlds with clarified butter and honeyed foods. The wise one, desiring to be seen, released the seven sisters—the rushing rivers of honey. Seeking, he found the ancient enclosure in the midst of space, the hidden place of Pūṣan. The poets fashioned seven boundaries, one of which was set apart and difficult to cross. The pillar of iron stood deep in the foundation, in the expanse of the paths and supports. The existent and the non-existent were in the highest heaven, in the womb of Aditi at the birth of Dakṣa. For us, Agni is the first-born of cosmic order, the ancient bull and the cow. In Agni’s shelter, with new praises, the singer grew strong, favored by Agni. Surrounded by the greatest lights of the seers, Agni moved about, shining brightly. He shone forth with his rays, ever true with the gods, spreading friendship among friends, swift as a racer among horses. He ruled over all divine aid and all life at the dawn. In Agni, the offerings were placed with mindful intent; he was the most excellent charioteer, upholding all with his powers. Strengthened by hymns, he swiftly approached the gods, eager for the offering. The gentle Hotṛ, most worthy of sacrifice, Agni mingled with the gods and tasted the offerings. He was honored with words and reverence, like Indra, ever victorious. The wise praised him with their thoughts, the knower of all births, the strong one with the offering. In him, all treasures gathered, as horses with seven reins in a contest. Agni was asked to grant the most Indra-like and Vāta-like aids, bringing them near. Then, by his greatness, Agni sat down and became the offering as soon as he was born. The gods followed his sign, and the first mothers increased his strength. Thus, Agni stands ever at the heart of the cosmic order—priest, messenger, and radiant guest—uniting gods and mortals, sustaining sacrifice, and shining as the eternal flame.