From the very earth, I rose upward, ascending through the atmosphere and on to the heights of heaven itself. From the summit of the celestial vault, I reached the radiant light of heaven. Those who journey to this divine light do not glance back; they move ever forward, ascending between heaven and earth—these are the wise ones, those who have spread the all-supporting sacrifice. At the forefront of these worshippers strides Agni, the foremost among those who honor the gods, the eye of both gods and mortals. United with the ancient Bhṛgus, let all sacrificers proceed toward the light, blessed with well-being. Night and dawn, though different in form, are united in purpose, nurturing together their single child. Heaven and earth are illuminated from within by the golden one, while the gods, givers of every treasure, uphold Agni at the center. O Agni, you of a thousand eyes, with a hundred heads and a hundred breaths, with a thousand vital airs—you are the lord of inexhaustible wealth, and to you we offer worship for strength and vigor. You are Garutman, the splendid-winged one; settle upon the back of the earth, fill the midspace with your radiance, illumine the heavens, and with your brilliance, make all directions steadfast. With offerings, O beautiful Agni, take your proper place at the front of the sacred assembly. In this seat, and in the higher realms, may all the gods and the worshipper be seated together. I choose the bright favor of Savitar, the desirable, universal blessing which Kanva once milked from the great, thousand-streamed cow. We honor you, Agni, in your highest birth and with hymns in your lower seat. From the womb from which you have arisen, we worship you; to you, when kindled, the offerings are brought. Shine forth, O Agni, blaze before us with unfailing, youthful energy. To you, ever, the prizes come. Agni, today may our hymns bring us that swift and wise horse, that auspicious power which touches the heart, by your help. With mind and with clarified butter, I offer discernment, just as the righteous gods, upholders of truth, once came to this place. For the lord of all beings, the all-creator, I offer this oblation, which fulfills every desire. O Agni, your kindlings are seven, your tongues are seven, seven are the sages, and seven your beloved abodes. Seven are the priests, sevenfold is their worship; fill seven wombs with ghee. Brilliant light, variegated light, true light, and the radiant one—these are the bright guardians of truth, the great ones. Such as these, and those that are different, and those that are similar and corresponding—measured, well-measured, and bearing together. Order, truth, the stable, and the supporter; the holder, the arranger, and the sustainers. Conqueror by order, by truth, and in battle with good troops; friend at the border, unfriendly at a distance, the host. Let all such powers and beings, those measured and well-measured, O Maruts, come today, strong and present for our sacrifice. Possessing wealth, the devourer, the inflamer, the householder; the playful, the branch-bearer, the exciter. The fierce, the terrible, the dark, the shaker; the powerful, the assailant, the hurler—may all these, O Maruts, as divine hosts once followed Indra, so may divine and human hosts follow this worshipper. O Agni, drink this nourishing breast, rich and full in the midst of the body. Accept the honeyed, flowing spring—the oceanic seat—and enter in. Ghee has been produced; ghee is its womb; in ghee it is established; ghee is its abode. Bring it here in due order, rejoice; O bull, carry the offering made with Svāhā. From the ocean, a wave full of sweetness has arisen; with subtlety, it has brought immortality together. The secret name of ghee exists—the tongue is the navel of the gods, the center of immortality. We declare the name of ghee; in this sacrifice, we uphold it with reverence. The inspired priest listens to the praise—this is the four-horned bull that has descended. This bull has four horns, three feet, two heads, and seven hands. Bound in threefold ways, the bull bellows—the great god has entered mortals. The gods found the ghee, hidden in the cow, divided threefold and concealed by the hands. Indra generated one, the Sun one, and one was pressed out by Vena with his own power. These streams flow from the heart, from the ocean, a hundredfold, unobstructed by any foe. I behold the streams of ghee; among them stands a golden reed in the midst. They flow together like rivers, like cows, purified within heart and mind. These waves of ghee rush forth, like deer eager for the swift arrow. Like the roaring of rivers on their course, swift as the wind, the mighty ones fly. The streams of ghee, like a red horse, break through obstacles, swelling with waves. They flow forth together, like women adorned, beautiful, smiling toward Agni. The streams of ghee, as offerings, nourish the kindled fire; Jātavedas delights in accepting them. Like maidens ready for marriage, anointed and adorned, I behold them. Where Soma is pressed, where the sacrifice is performed, there the streams of ghee flow forth. May you flow forth with excellent praise, victorious in contest; grant us auspicious wealth. Lead this sacrifice for us, O deities; let the streams of ghee, full of sweetness, flow. Upon your abode rests all the world—within the ocean, in the heart, in the life within. In the assembly of waters, where that offering is brought, may we partake of that wave full of sweetness. May vigor be mine, may impulse be mine, may aspiration, progress, thought, resolve, sound, praise, fame, hearing, light, and well-being be mine—may all these be accomplished through sacrifice. May breath be mine, the downward and diffused breath, life, mind, understanding, speech, sight, hearing, skill, and strength—may all these be accomplished through sacrifice. May energy be mine, endurance, self, body, protection, armor, limbs, bones, coverings, bodies, life, and old age—may all these be accomplished through sacrifice. May supremacy be mine, lordship, passion, force, abundance, water, greatness, breadth, expansion, rain, length, growth, and increase—may all these be accomplished through sacrifice. May truth be mine, faith, the moving world, wealth, the universe, greatness, play, delight, what is born, what is to be born, good speech, and good deeds—may all these be accomplished through sacrifice. May order be mine, immortality, freedom from disease and illness, long life, long years, freedom from enemies, fearlessness, happiness, good sleep, good awakening, and good days—may all these be accomplished through sacrifice. May the guide be mine, the supporter, security, steadfastness, the universe, greatness, consciousness, knowledge, good offspring, good progeny, ploughing, and rest—may all these be accomplished through sacrifice.