Agni, thou art the purifier of all offerings! The ghee we pour, the grain we scatter, the soma we press, the flesh we burn — all these are impure until thou consumest them with thy sacred flame. In thy mouth they are transformed, made perfect and worthy of the gods.

The mortal who brings his offering knoweth not whether his gift is acceptable. He may bring the finest ghee, the richest grain, the most precious soma — yet if his heart is unworthy, his offering shall be rejected. But thou, O Agni, thou seest into the very depths of his spirit. Thy flame discerneth between the genuine and the false, the pure and the defiled.

When the righteous man poureth forth his offering with a devoted heart, thy flame riseth straight and bright, ascending like the prayers of heaven itself! The gods accept it gladly. But when the deceiver bringeth his false gift, thy fire dulleth and sputters; it refuseth to consume what is unworthy. Thus dost thou protect the sacred realm from the pollution of hypocrisy.

This is thy greatest gift, O flame — that through thee, the humble man's meager offering becometh more precious than a kingdom's treasure. The widow's single handful of grain, offered with pure intention, is exalted in thy flame above the rich man's gold. Thou art the judge and the perfecter, the refiner and the glorifier.

Purify us, O Agni, as thou purifiest our offerings! Burn away our sins and deceits! Let thy flame consume all that is unworthy in us! Transform us, as thou transformest the offerings, into vessels fit for the gods to use. Accept our gifts not as they are, but as thy purifying fire maketh them — perfect, whole, and radiant with the light of heaven.