Let the sacred ladles, filled with clarified butter, approach you, O Agni, so that you may delight in our offerings. I sing your praises, Agni—the gracious priest, the timely officiant, radiant and brilliant, shining forth; may you hear my words. Guard us, Agni—guard with one song, with a second, with three songs, O lord of nourishment; guard us with four, O gracious one. Protect us from all harm and evil, and grant us success in our contests. We seek you, nearest to the gods, for our increase. When, O king, your flame is kindled, fierce and skillful, splendid and wise, it appears, shining with great light, purifying the darkness. When, by your very form, you envelop the dark, you generate the dawn from the great father; you uphold the sun’s radiance, and your flame shines forth with the gifts of heaven. The good one comes together with the good; like a lover approaching his sister from behind, Agni stands upright with clear signs and bright colors, settling in delight. Agni Angiras, child of strength, by what praise may we honor you, O god, to win your favor? For whom, with what intent, should we serve the sacrifice, the might, the strength? To whom should this reverence be spoken? Then, indeed, you make for us all prosperous dwellings, giver of strength and riches, with your songs. Agni, come here with the fires; as Hotar we choose you. May the prepared, offering-bearing one call you; most fit for sacrifice, come and sit on the sacred grass. To you, O son of strength, O Angiras, the ladles move at the ritual; we seek you, Agni, child of strength, with ghee-bright hair, the ancient one in sacrifices. May our songs reach you, O radiant one, most beautiful; may the sacrifices, offered with reverence, reach the much-praised, much-glorious one for aid. Agni, son of strength, knower of all births, you grant treasures; among mortals, you alone are the immortal Hotar, most delightful and most distinguished. Agni, unassailable, leader of peoples, of men, swift as a chariot, ever new—by your shining flame, the worshipper, through your conveyance, reaches his dwelling; thus the mortal attains his home, O pure-shining one. You call all rivals, you are the will of the gods, unwearied—Agni, most renowned. May Agni, when invoked, be auspicious for us; may the gift be auspicious, O fortunate one, the sacrifice auspicious, and auspicious too the praises. Make our mind auspicious for overcoming obstacles, with which you prevail in battles; strengthen our bodies, and may we win much by your favor. Agni, lord of strength abounding in cattle, of power and might, grant us, O knower of all births, great renown. He who is kindled, rich in goods—Agni, worthy of praise with song—shine forth for us, O leader, with wealth. O king Agni, by your nature, by night and by day, and by the dawns, with your sharp jaws burn away the demons. In every house, exalting you as guest, beloved by many, Agni, I praise your ancient word with my hymns of strength. Whom the people, offering oblations, praise with their praises, as a friend with clarified butter. You are the wise knower of all births, who, surpassing the gods, bore the offerings upward to heaven. The kindled Agni, with fuel and with song I praise—the pure, shining one, foremost at the sacrifice, the steadfast sage, Hotar of many boons, sinless poet, whom we seek with blessings, O knower of all births. You, Agni, immortal messenger, have been established in every age as the carrier of offerings, the guardian, and the one worthy of praise. Both gods and mortals, vigilant and mighty, lord of the clans, have approached you with reverence. Adorned, Agni, you follow both sets of laws; as messenger of the gods, you traverse the realms. We seek your wisdom and favor; thus, be gracious and threefold protector for us. To you, the wives send their songs, directed towards you, as offerings are placed in the domain of Vayu. Upon your triple-covered sacred grass, steadfast and joined, even the waters have set their step. The step of the generous god, with unconquered approaches, is auspicious, like the gaze of the sun. The seventh, the third part, they sing to you, Indra, with ancient praises; the skillful ones, harmonious, the Rudras, celebrate the ancient one. Indra has grown in strength and power through the exhilaration of the pressed Soma; today, the mighty ones praise his greatness as in former times. The singers, skilled in hymns and guidance, praise you, Indra and Agni; I seek your favor and wealth. Indra and Agni, you have together shaken ninety fortresses of the Dasa women with a single deed. Indra and Agni, the prayers approach you, following the paths of truth. Your mighty powers and abodes, and your beneficial actions, are unfailing. Grant, O Indra, master of power, with all unconquered approaches, fortune; for you, renowned and knowing wealth, we strive, O hero. Many are the gifts of horses and cattle, O god, the golden source; do not withhold the giving, but grant whatever I seek. Come, indeed, to the one who desires; grant fortune and wealth. Raise up sweetness for the seeking of cattle, and for the seeking of horses, O Indra.