O Agni, friend of all mortals! Thou art the gentle one, the kind one, the protector of all creatures. When we kindle thee with trembling hands and uncertain hearts, thou dost not reject us. Thou dost not turn away from the poor and the lowly. No—thou receivest all alike, rich and poor, strong and weak, wise and ignorant.

In the household thou dwellest as a friend. The woman who tends thy flame is not serving a master—she is caring for a companion. The child who watches thy dancing light learns kindness and courage from thy presence. The old man who gathers wood for thy pyre doth this as an act of love, not of fear.

Thou knowest the secrets of all creatures, O Agni! The birds confide in thee their thoughts. The beasts trust thee with their young. The plants offer thee their very substance—wood and leaf and flower—that thou mayest transform them. Even the stones rest peacefully in thy presence, warmed by thy gentle heat.

When sorrow comes to mortals, we kindle thee and find comfort. When fear takes hold of our hearts, we see thee burning bright and know that we are not alone. When the night groweth dark and cold, thy warmth sustaineth us. Thou art there at every moment, never failing, never turning away.

Yet thou art not weak, O Fire! Thy gentleness doth not mean that thou lackest strength. When evil cometh nigh, thy fury is terrible to behold. Thou dost protect the innocent with a violence that is righteous and pure. Thou art friend to the good and enemy to the wicked.

Therefore do we love thee, O Agni! Not from fear alone, but from genuine affection. Come to our hearths and our altars. Dwell with us always. Be thou our companion through all the days of our lives, from birth unto death and beyond!