Agni, the divine fire whose very being is established in truth, whose realm is truth itself, is invoked as the Gandharva—the celestial being whose plants and waters are called delight. To Agni, we offer our salutations, praying that he may guard for us this sacred knowledge and power. To him, svāhā; to the sacred enclosures, svāhā. The Sun, too, is invoked, radiant and united with all melodies, another aspect of the Gandharva, whose rays and waters are named life. We seek his protection for this sacred knowledge and power, offering to him, svāhā; to the enclosures, svāhā. Then comes Suṣumṇa, the sun’s ray, and the moon, again as Gandharva, whose stars and waters are called the shining ones. May he watch over this sacred wisdom and strength. To him, svāhā; to the enclosures, svāhā. We call upon Iṣira, the all-pervading wind, Gandharva, whose waters are nourishment itself. Let him shelter this sacred knowledge and power. To him, svāhā; to the enclosures, svāhā. Bhujyu, the eagle, the very spirit of sacrifice, Gandharva, whose gifts and waters are called praise, is invoked next. May he preserve this sacred knowledge and power. To him, svāhā; to the enclosures, svāhā. Prajāpati, the all-creator, the mind itself, Gandharva, whose hymns and melodies are offerings, is entreated to protect this knowledge and power. To him, svāhā; to the enclosures, svāhā. We turn to the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of progeny, whose dwellings are above and whose power is here among us. We ask him to grant great protection to the Brahman and the Kshatriya. Svāhā. You are the ocean, the sky, the moist giver, the auspicious, the bringer of joy—carry me forth. Svāhā. You are the wind, the host of the Maruts, the auspicious, the bringer of joy—carry me forth. Svāhā. You are the helper, the giver of good, the auspicious, the bringer of joy—carry me forth. Svāhā. O Agni, those rays of yours in the sun that stretch across the heavens—by all those lights today, make us radiant among people. O gods, those lights of yours in the sun, in cows, in horses—Indra and Agni, by all those lights, grant us radiance, O Brihaspati. Grant us radiance among Brahmans, radiance among kings; grant radiance among people, among Shudras, and place radiance in me with radiance. I approach you, honoring with Brahman, the sacrificer worships you with offerings; be aware here, O Varuna, without anger, O wide-minded one, do not take away our life. Golden warmth, svāhā. Golden sun, svāhā. Golden brilliance, svāhā. Golden light, svāhā. Golden Surya, svāhā. I harness Agni with might and with ghee, the heavenly, winged, mighty one; with him may we reach the realm of the radiant, ascending to the highest heaven. These two wings of yours, Agni, unfailing and swift, with which you drive away the demons—by them may we fly to the world of the virtuous, where the ancient, first-born sages have gone. Indu, Daksha, the hawk, the righteous, golden-winged, the mighty bird—firmly seated in the great abode; we offer reverence to you, and ask you not to harm us. You are the head of heaven, the navel of earth, the strength of waters and plants; universal shelter, widely spread, reverence to the path. You stand above the head of all, established in the ocean; your heart is in the waters, your life is given by the waters, you break open the ocean; from the sky, from the rain, from the atmosphere, from the earth—grant us rain. The desired sacrifice, blessed by the Bhrigus and Vasus; may we obtain here the wealth of the pleased, desired one. May the desired Agni, invoked, nourish us; may the desired offering be pleasing; homage to the gods. Whatever is gathered from intention, from the heart, from the mind, or from the eye—after that, proceed to the world of the virtuous, where the ancient, first-born sages have gone. I place this seat for you, which the knower of births brings as a treasure; the lord of sacrifice will follow you here—know him in the highest heaven. Know him in the highest heaven, O gods, the seat, recognize his form; when he comes by the paths of the gods, may you perform the desired and the fulfilled for him. Awaken, O Agni, rise up; let the desired and fulfilled be released, and this one too; in this seat, in the higher one, let all the gods and sacrificers sit. By whom you bear a thousand, by whom, O Agni, all the knowledge of the Vedas; by that one, lead this sacrifice of ours to heaven, to be received among the gods. Whatever is given, whatever is returned, whatever is constructed, and whatever gifts are offered—may Agni, the universal worker, carry all this of ours to heaven, to be received among the gods. Where the streams of honey and clarified butter flow unceasingly—may Agni, the universal worker, carry us there to heaven, to be received among the gods. I am Agni by birth, the Knower of all births; clarified butter is my sight, immortality is my food; I am the sun, the threefold support, the vehicle of the atmosphere; I am the inexhaustible heat, I am the offering, this is my name. I am called the Ṛc verses, I am called the Yajus formulas, I am called the Sāman chants; among all the fires born facing east on this earth, you are the highest among them—grant us the good for living. For the slaying of obstacles, for overcoming enemies in battle, O Indra, we set you in motion. O much-invoked Indra, you struck down the powerful, the enduring, the handless one, and crushed the cunning one; you, with your strength, slew the growing Vṛtra, the hostile, the footless one. O Indra, strike down our foes, subdue those who contend against us; whoever attacks us, cast him down, send him to the lower darkness. Like a fearsome beast roaming the mountains, you have destroyed those far away, those of the other side; draw your sharp-edged arrow, O Indra, strike down the enemies, scatter the foes. Like Vaiśvānara, let your aid come forth from afar; O Agni, accept our well-praised offerings. Established in heaven, established on earth, Agni has entered all the plants; Vaiśvānara, established by force—Agni—may he protect us from harm by day and by night. May we attain that desire, O Agni, by your help; may we attain wealth, abundant riches, and heroic strength; may we attain prize after prize, may we attain your unfailing glory. Today we have fulfilled your desire, with upraised hands, approaching with reverence; with the most worshipful mind, offer to the gods, O Agni, with unwavering thought, O inspired one. Agni, Indra, Brahman, god Bṛhaspati, all the mindful gods—may they protect our sacrifice, may they grant us auspiciousness. You, youngest one, protect the worshippers, listen to our songs; guard our offspring and ourselves. I release you, sweet with sweetness, strong with strength, immortal with immortality, honeyed with honey, together with Soma; you are Soma; cook for the Aśvins, cook for Sarasvatī, cook for Indra the mighty.