With deep reverence, the sages prepared to invoke the ancient prayer, setting it forth like a chariot rolling along its destined path. They called upon all the sons of immortality who dwell in the divine abodes to listen to their hymn. They remembered the time when, after the departure of a great god, the other deities followed, moved by the might and greatness of the divine one. It was Savitṛ, the god who measured out the realms of earth; by his immense power, he established the regions and set the world in order. Turning to Savitṛ, the priests entreated him to inspire their sacrifice and bless the lord of the ritual with good fortune. They invoked the celestial Gandharva, the knower of sacred signs, to purify their inspiration, and prayed that the lord of speech would make their words sweet. “O Savitṛ,” they pleaded, “lead our sacrifice to the divine, to friendship, to victory in the assembly, to the gaining of wealth, and to the winning of heaven. Strengthen our hymn with the Gāyatrī, the Rathantara, and the great Gāyatrī measure—svāhā!” By the impulse of Savitṛ, the arms of the Aśvins, and the hands of Pūṣan, they placed the sacred fire with the Gāyatrī metre, calling upon Angiras to bring forth the purifying Agni with the Triṣṭubh metre. Addressing the sacred cloud and the divine woman, they prayed for the power to kindle Agni from the earth’s seat, using the Jagatī metre. Savitṛ himself was envisioned bearing the golden cloud in his hand, drawing forth Agni’s light from the earth with the Anuṣṭubh metre. “Swift one,” they called, “run forward to the prize, following the best course. Your highest birth is in heaven, your navel in the midspace, your womb on earth.” They invoked the mighty Aśvins, asking them to yoke the ass for the rite, bearing Agni, the bringer of blessings. In every union and contest, they called upon the most powerful as friends, seeking Indra’s aid. “Come forward,” they prayed, “turning aside misfortune! Come, O Rudra’s lord of hosts, bringer of joy. Traverse the wide midspace with Pūṣan as ally, safeguarding the herds, granting well-being and fearlessness.” Again and again, they entreated Angiras to bring forth the purifying Agni from the earth’s seat, that they might obtain the sacred fire. For Agni had followed the forefront of the dawns, the knower of all births, first through the days. He had extended the sun’s many rays and stretched out heaven and earth. As the swift one traveled the path, shaking off all hostilities, Agni, seated in greatness, longed to be seen with his shining eye. “O swift one,” they urged, “having stepped upon the earth, seek Agni with your radiance. Tell us, for the one who seeks, where we may dig him up.” They recognized that heaven was Agni’s back, earth his seat, the midspace his very self, and the ocean his womb. Manifest with vision, Agni was asked to stand firm against all attackers. “Step forth for great good fortune from this seat, O giver of wealth, O swift one. May we be wise upon the earth as we dig Agni in her lap.” Nearby, the swift giver of wealth had stepped forth to the good, well-made earth. From there, they would dig Agni, radiant and beautiful, who ascended by his own power to the highest heaven. With mind and with offerings of ghee, they approached Agni, who pervades all worlds—vast, strong, abundant in food, eager, and shining. From every side they drew near, praying he would accept them with a mind free from harm. Touching Agni, radiant and youthful, ever growing, they honored his desired form. Agni, lord of strength and wise sage, encompassed the offerings, bestowing treasures upon the worshipper. Around him, they placed the city—wise and mighty—day by day, unyielding and the slayer of foes. Agni, they proclaimed, is from the heavens, the swiftest, from the waters, the stones, the woods, and the plants. Born pure among men, he is the lord of all. By the impulse of Savitṛ, the arms of the Aśvins, and the hands of Pūṣan, they dug Agni from the earth—rich in offerings, radiant, auspicious, and harmless. He is the back of the waters, the womb of Agni, swelling about the ocean, growing great and emerging in the lotus, spreading wide by the measure of heaven. Agni is both shelter and armor, unbroken and abundant, gathering his goods with spreading radiance. With united dwellings, knowing the light, harmonious in strength and self, they bore Agni within, ever radiant. Atharvan was the first to churn out Agni from the lotus, the summit of all that moves. The seer Dadhyanc, son of Atharvan, kindled Agni—the slayer of Vritra and destroyer of fortresses. The bull Pathya also kindled him, the slayer of foes and winner of wealth in every battle. “Sit, O Hotar, in your own place, wise one,” they invited. “Seat the sacrifice in the womb of good deeds. Worship the gods with offering, O Agni, and grant great vigor to the worshipper.” The Hotar, knowing and skilled, sat in his seat, shining fiercely, with unbroken vow and firm resolve—Vasiṣṭha, bearer of a thousand, with pure tongue. “Sit together, blaze forth, most beloved of the gods. Send forth your reddish smoke, O Agni, let it rise, praised and beautiful. Send forth the divine waters, sweet and free from disease, for the offspring. Let the well-fruited plants rise up from their seat.” They prayed that the wind, Mātariśvan, would place for Agni a heart upright and pure, for he moves among the gods as the breath of life. May the offering be made to him, the god. “Born well, together with light, may you attain shelter and protection, O Agni. O shining one, wrap yourself in the garment of all forms. Rise up, O flawless one, with our divine thought. Shine forth with your great radiance for vision—come, Agni, with auspicious praises.” They called for Agni to stand upright for their help, as the god Savitṛ does—upright giver of strength, invoked with anointments and offerings. Agni, born as the embryo of earth and heaven, lovely and carried in the plants, moved around the seasons, crying out from his mothers, echoing among the cows. “Be firm, O strong one; be swift, O vigorous steed; be broad, O well-seated one, Agni, bearer of the sacrificial offerings,” they concluded, affirming his central place in the sacred rite and in the world itself.