Night and dawn, though of different forms, are united in purpose; together, they nurture their single child. Within the embrace of heaven and earth, the golden one—Agni—shines forth, upheld by the gods, givers of wealth. The sage, Agni, assumes all forms, bestowing prosperity on creatures both two-legged and four. Savitar, the worthy, reveals the highest path and shines brilliantly along the way of dawn. You, Agni, are the splendid eagle, Garutmat. Your head is threefold, the Gāyatrī is your eye, the Bṛhadrathantara your wings. Praise is your very soul, the meters are your limbs, Yajus your name, Sāman your body, and Vāmadeva your tail, fit for sacrifice. The platforms are your thighs, the claws your feet. As the glorious Garutmat, soar to heaven, fly to the sun. You are the stride of Viṣṇu, conqueror of rivals. Ascend the earth with the Gāyatrī meter, stride forth with strength. Again, as Viṣṇu’s stride, ascend the atmosphere with the Triṣṭubh, overcoming adversaries. In heaven, you rise with the Jagatī, destroying enemies, and with the Anuṣṭubh, you stride forth in all directions, slaying foes. When Agni roared, his thunder echoed like the sky; the earth trembled, and the plants dressed themselves in splendor. Born in a moment, Agni blazed forth, shining with radiance between heaven and earth. “O Agni,” we pray, “return to us and do not turn away. Come with life, splendor, offspring, wealth, intelligence, riches, and nourishment.” Agni, Angiras, may a hundred of your fires be uncovered and a thousand covered. With abundance upon abundance, restore to us what was lost—restore to us our wealth. Return again, Agni, with nourishment, with food and life. Protect us anew from every harm. Come back with wealth, swell with sustenance, and encompass all from every side. We have brought you forth from within the earth, O Agni, firm and unmoving. May all people desire you; may your kingdom never slip away. O Varuṇa, lift away from us your highest noose, loosen the middle, and remove the lowest, so that, sinless, we may belong to your rule of truth and to Aditi. At the fore, Agni rose high among the dawns, driving away darkness and arriving with light. Shining with radiant form, he was born and filled all dwellings. The swan dwells in purity; the wealth-bringer abides in the midspace; the priest sits on the altar, the guest in the house. Agni is present among men and gods, in truth and in the sky—born of waters, of cows, of truth, of mountains—truth, the great. O Agni, sit in the lap of this mother, knowing all paths. Do not burn her with your heat or flame; shine forth as the bright light within her. Within, dwell with your radiance in the hearth’s own seat; with your blazing power, O Jātavedas, be auspicious. Having become auspicious, Agni, sit for us; make all directions auspicious, and settle in your own origin here. Agni was first born from the sky; then Jātavedas was born a second time. The third time, with men, he is ever kindled in the waters—those who know their own nature nourish him. We know your threefold forms, O Agni; we know your abodes, scattered in many places. We know your supreme name, hidden and mysterious; we know the source from which you have come. In the ocean, O Agni, you are kindled among men, in the waters, with men’s vision, drawn from the sky’s udder. In the third region you stand, and in the lap of the waters the mighty ones have increased you. Again, Agni roared, thundering like the sky; the earth trembled and the plants adorned themselves. Newly born, blazing up, he declared himself, shining between heaven and earth with his radiance. He is the generous supporter of riches, the foundation of treasures, the source of wisdom, the guardian of Soma. The son of strength, king in the waters, Agni shines at the fore, kindled among the dawns. He is the beacon of all, the embryo of the world; being born, he filled heaven and earth. He broke even the stronghold and went beyond, when people worshipped Agni in five ways. Pure, shining, unwearied, and wise, Agni—immortal among mortals—is established. He sends forth red smoke, bearing it, and with his bright flame, touches the sky. Shining, he adorned the wide earth with his splendor—difficult to withstand, radiant with glory. Agni, immortal, became youthful when heaven, rich in seed, gave him birth. Whatever auspicious offering with clarified butter is prepared for you today, O Agni, god of bright flame—lead that offering straight to wealth, favor, and divine grace, youngest one. Share it with him who is famed in hymns, share in the praised hymn. Beloved is he to Sūrya, beloved to Agni, who, being born, breaks forth, who by birth splits open. O Agni, to you the sacrificers have entrusted all desirable riches throughout the days. Desiring wealth, together with you, worshippers have gone to the cattle-abounding enclosure. May Agni, gracious among men, universal, together with the seers who guard Soma, stand firm. May we invoke Heaven and Earth without enmity. O gods, grant us wealth and heroic strength. Honor Agni with kindling; awaken the guest with offerings of ghee; offer the oblations into him. May all the gods raise you up, O Agni, with their thoughts. Be auspicious to us, you of beautiful form, O radiant one. Go forth, Agni, shining with light, with auspicious flames and great rays. With your brilliance, do not harm our offspring or bodies. Once more, Agni roared, thundering like the sky; the earth trembled, the plants adorned themselves. Newly born, he blazed forth, spreading and shining between heaven and earth with his radiance. The fame of Agni, of the Bharata, is renowned, even when the sun withholds its great light. He who stood firm for Pūru in battles, the divine guest, shone forth, auspicious for us. Receive, O divine Waters, this sacred ash; make it gentle and fragrant in this world. May the clans bow to him; may he beget good wives. As a mother carries her son, so bear away this sin in the waters. O Agni, you dwell among the waters, together with the plants; you are born again from their wombs. You are the embryo of the plants, the embryo of the trees, the embryo of all beings, O Agni; you are the embryo of the waters. Having entered your womb with ash, and the waters and the earth, O Agni, you, shining, are joined with your mothers and sit again. Having returned again to your seat, to the waters and the earth, you lie as in the lap of your mother, most auspicious within her. Return again with nourishment, return, O Agni, with food and life; protect us again from harm. Return with wealth, O Agni, thrive with sustenance; spread out on every side, everywhere.