O Agni, shield of the righteous, ward off the rākṣasas that prowl in the darkness! The demons and the evil spirits do hunger for our homes, they do lust for our cattle and our children, they seek to pull down all that we have built with patient labor. But thou art our protector, our guardian most fierce!

Thy flame is a wall of fire that no demon can cross. The rākṣasas shriek in terror when they perceive thy brightness, for they are creatures of darkness and thy light doth pain them. They scatter like cowards before thy fury, they flee back to their distant lairs, they dare not come near any house where thy sacred fire is kindled.

Not only the rākṣasas do thou ward off, O mighty one! The sorceress and the sorcerer, those who would harm us through their dark arts, they too art powerless before thee. The evil eye that would curse our prosperity, the malevolent spells that would strike down our loved ones — all these thou consumest in thy holy flame.

And the subtle evils too art thou our defense against — the creeping despair that would steal into our hearts, the lies that would poison our councils, the doubt that would weaken our resolve. All these are but shadows, O Agni, and where thy light shineth there can be no shadow. Where thy warmth reacheth there can be no cold despair.

Therefore, O mighty protector, O fierce defender, we call upon thee! Kindle thyself within our homes, stand thou as guardian at the thresholds of our dwellings. Burn away all that would harm us, consume all that would debase us, keep us safe through the long nights and the dark seasons. For thou art our shield and our refuge, our fortress of light in a world beset by perils. Guard us well, O Agni, guard us well.