With reverence and purpose, the sacrificers call upon the earth herself to advance in harmony with the sacred offering, inviting her to join with the nourishing milk of the ritual. They pray that Agni, the divine fire, be stirred and ascend upon the earth’s richness, his presence sanctifying the rite. Turning to Agni, they gather all that is bright, shining, and pure within him—all that is worthy of sacrifice—and bear it as an offering to the gods. In this act, they draw to themselves food and strength, the very source of truth and the mighty current of power. These blessings, they wish to flow into their cattle and bodies, while casting away disease, barrenness, and misfortune. They praise Agni’s great fame and power—his flames radiant and his might vast—acknowledging his gift of strength and praise to the worshipper. Agni’s pure, unfailing radiance rises upward, filling both worlds as a son moves lovingly between his mothers, his light encompassing all. Agni, known as Jātavedas, offspring of strength, is delighted by good praises and guided by wise thoughts. In him, the bountiful and wondrously born have placed their offerings. As Agni shines forth, he is asked to expand wealth for his devotees, to fill the sacred seat with strength, and to shine in visible form. He is invoked as the wise maker of the rite, the dweller in abundance, bestower of fair, great, and blessed gifts—granting food and riches in plenty. The peoples have placed their trust in Agni, the mighty, all-seeing upholder of order, seeking his favor, and singing his praises across generations. Soma, too, is addressed, urged to fill himself with vigor from all sides and to be present at the gathering of strength. His milks, strengths, and victorious energies are invoked, so that, being filled for immortality, he may place the highest glories in heaven. Soma, most exhilarating, is asked to fill himself with all his streams and be the most renowned friend for increase. The sacrificer’s mind turns to Agni as a calf seeks its distant resting place, longing for him with song. All good dwellings, as well, turn to Agni, the most Angiras, desiring his presence. In beloved abodes, Agni is the desire of what has been and what will be, shining forth as the sole sovereign. Now, the ritualist proclaims, “I take Agni first for myself—for wealth, for good offspring, for heroism—may the deities attend me.” The waters are honored as the back and womb of Agni, swelling around the ocean, growing great and emerging in the lotus, spreading by the vastness of the sky. At the beginning, Brahma was born, radiant and shining before all boundaries, the Vena moving with deep roots, both highest and lowest, the womb of existence and non-existence. Hiraṇyagarbha arose in the beginning, the sole lord of all that exists, sustaining earth and heaven—he is the one to whom sacrifice is offered. A sacred drop descends upon earth and heaven, upon this womb and the former one. The sacrificer offers this drop, moving through the common womb, together with the seven priests. All serpents, wherever they are—upon earth, in the atmosphere, in the sky—are saluted. Even the arrows of demons among trees and in hollows, and those serpents whose seat is in the shining sky, in the sun’s rays, or in the waters, are greeted with salutations. The path is cleared, a course is made like the earth itself. The sacrificer goes forth like a king with a mighty elephant, moving swiftly along the course, standing firm, and striking demons with the fiercest weapons. Agni’s sparks fly swiftly, burning fiercely and boldly touching all. His fiery tongues are sent forth, flames released everywhere, embers scattered without hesitation. Agni is invoked to release his rays and be the swiftest, the unassailable protector of the people. No harm, near or far, should overcome or afflict them. Agni is called to rise and extend himself, scattering enemies with sharpness and burning down those who kindle hostility, as dry wood is consumed by fire. Agni is asked to stand upright, to strike back adversaries, to reveal the divine powers, to remove the firm bonds of sorcerers, to destroy the lineage of the unborn, and to annihilate enemies with his brilliance. He is the crown of heaven, the lord of earth, invigorating the seeds of the waters, and, by Indra’s strength, subduing all that opposes. As leader of sacrifice and the realm, Agni joins with auspicious companions, placing his head in heaven and his tongue in the sun, making himself the carrier of offerings. He is firm, established by the maker of all; may neither the ocean nor the swift-winged bird harm him, and may he strengthen the earth, unshaken. Prajapati is invoked to subdue Agni upon the back of the waters, in the ocean, so that he may spread out, expand, and shine forth as the earth itself. Agni is Bhū, the earth, Aditi—the universal supporter, bearer of all worlds. He is urged to hold and strengthen the earth, never to injure her. For all breath, inhalation, exhalation, upward movement, and foundation, Agni is asked to protect with a shield of peace and the divine Angiras power, to sit firmly. The durva grass, which sprouts again and again from every joint, is invoked to spread forth with a hundred and a thousand shoots, bringing abundance. The divine brick, stretching out in a hundred ways and growing in a thousand, is worshipped with oblation. Agni’s rays in the sun, extending to the sky, are called upon to make the sacrificers shine among people. The gods’ lights in the sun, among cows and horses—Indra and Agni, with all these, and Brihaspati—are asked to bestow radiance. The sovereign and self-ruler have established the light; Prajapati is asked to seat Agni, radiant, on the earth’s surface, granting all light to breath, to expiration, and to circulation. Agni is lord—by that divinity, O Angiras, sit firm. Within Agni are joined the spring seasons, Madhu and Madhava. May heaven and earth, waters and plants, and the fires with their vows, be prepared for supremacy. Let these fires, united in mind between heaven and earth, let these spring seasons approach as the gods approach Indra. By that divinity, O Angiras, sit firm. Thus, the sacred narrative unfolds—an offering of praise, invocation, and unity with the divine powers that uphold and sanctify all creation.