May there be auspiciousness for all beings and the offspring of humankind, O descendant of Angiras. Let heaven and earth, your sacred flames, the midspace, and the trees remain unharmed by any misfortune. Let the roaring, neighing steed and the braying ass emerge, carrying Agni—the divine bearer of offerings. May this powerful and virile Agni, the very embryo of waters, the oceanic one, come forth for our delight, but let him not tread upon the path of life itself. Truth upon truth, we proclaim: we bear Agni, endowed with the spirit of Angiras, the sacred bearer of offerings. O plants, rejoice as this auspicious Agni comes to you; let him scatter all calamities and evil, driving away harmful thoughts from our minds. O plants, embrace those among you with flowers and sweet fruits. Here is your embryo, the priestly one—let him be established in the ancient, sacred seat. Shining with broad radiance, may Agni drive away our enemies, demons, and diseases. May we dwell under his great shelter, guided by the well-invoked Agni. O waters, you bring delight—grant us nourishment for great battles and for vision. Share with us your most auspicious essence, nurturing us as mothers nourish their children. Therefore, we come to you, O waters, for by your dwelling you invigorate all; generate us anew. Mitra, the well-born knower of births, joins earth and land with his light. I join with Mitra for the blessing of offspring and freedom from disease. The Rudras, joining with earth, have kindled the great, pure light whose radiance shines eternally among the gods. United with the Vasus, the Rudras, and the wise, may the earth be made soft for our work; let Sinīvālī, with her gentle hands, make it so. Sinīvālī, with her beautiful braids, good children, good offspring, and nourishing milk—may Aditi herself place the great yoke in your hands. Let her prepare the fire-pit with strength and insight; as a mother bears her child in her lap, so may she bear the fire as an embryo, for you, O fire, are the head of the sacrifice. Let the Vasus, with the Gāyatrī metre, make you firm, O descendant of Angiras—you are steadfast, you are the earth. By your support, may we have offspring, wealth, cattle, heroic strength, and kindred for the sacrificer. Let the Rudras, with the Triṣṭubh metre, make you firm—you are the midspace. Let the Ādityas, with the Jagatī metre, make you firm—you are the sky. Let all the gods and universal Agnis, with the Anuṣṭubh metre, make you firm—you are the directions. By your support, may we have abundance and prosperity. You are strong by the power of Aditi. May Aditi open your entrance. Having made the earth into a fire-pit, a clay womb for Agni, Aditi offered it to her sons, bidding, "Let it be cooked." Let the Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas, and all the gods purify you, O descendant of Angiras, with their respective metres. May Indra, Varuṇa, and Viṣṇu purify you as well. May Aditi, accompanied by all the goddesses, dig you, O fire-pit, in the seat of the earth. May the wives of the gods, the Dhīṣaṇās, the Varūtrīs, the Graces, and the Janayas—all accompanied by the goddesses—place, kindle, and cook you, O fire-pit, in the sacred seat of the earth. The favor of Mitra, supporter of peoples, is the strength of the god; may it bring us the highest glory and renown. May the god Savitṛ lift you up with his beautiful hands and strong arms, filling all quarters and directions upon earth. Rise up, become great, and remain steadfast. I place this fire-pit under the favor of Mitra; may it remain unbroken and unharmed. Let the Vasus, Rudras, Ādityas, and all the gods sprinkle you, O descendant of Angiras, with their respective metres. With intention, mind, wisdom, thought, understanding, speech, and restraint, I set Agni in motion—svāhā! To Prajāpati, to Manu, to Agni Vaiśvānara—svāhā! May every mortal seek the friendship of the divine leader. Let all strive for prosperity and choose glory for well-being—svāhā! O strong mother Earth, do not break or be harmed; be bold and heroic, for Agni will accomplish this. Be firm for our well-being, O goddess Earth, made by the power of the Asurī and your own nature. May this oblation please the gods; rise up unharmed in this sacrifice. The offering of clarified butter flows to Agni, the ancient Hotṛ, the wondrous son of strength. From the farthest region, from distant places, bring her here—wherever I am, bring her there. From the farthest distance, O red horse, come here! You, Agni, moist and beloved, may you overcome our foes. Whatever woods we offer you, O Agni, let all be as clarified butter for you; accept them, O youngest one. Whatever the upajihvikā eats, whatever the ant creeps over, let all be clarified butter for you; accept them, O youngest one. Day after day, Agni stands, bearing without weariness, like a horse brought fresh grass; rejoicing in nourishment and food, may we remain unharmed by your neighbors, O Agni. At the navel of the earth, in the kindling of Agni, for the increase of wealth, we invoke the great, joy-giving, much-praised, worshipful Agni—the conqueror, mighty in battle. All fearless armies and bands, even thieves and robbers, O Agni, I place them into your mouth. With your jaws, devour the filth-covered and the robbers; with your teeth, O blessed one, consume the thieves and those easily consumed. All who are filthy, thieves and robbers in the forest, evil-doers in the thickets—I place them between your jaws. Whoever is hostile or hateful toward us, whoever reviles or slanders us—turn them all to ashes. My prayer, strength, and power are sharpened; the authority of the victorious one for whom I serve as priest is sharpened. Their arms, splendor, and strength are raised, but by prayer I destroy the foes and lead my own to victory. O Lord of food, grant us vigorous, disease-free sustenance, and the generous giver who helps us cross over; bestow strength for both bipeds and quadrupeds. Then, shining and golden, Agni blazed forth over the wide earth, difficult to endure, his very life radiant for glory. Thus was Agni, the immortal, born with all his powers when heaven, rich in seed, gave him birth.