Agni, bright lord of the sacrifice, thou whom we have praised and honored through the length of this ritual hour—we now bid thee farewell, yet know that our parting is not an ending but a new beginning.

Thou hast been with us in this sacred space, this boundary betwixt the mortal realm and the heavenly. Thou hast accepted our offerings and our praise. Thou hast carried our prayers upon the winds. The gods have heard our call through thy voice, and through thy fire they have granted us their attention and their blessing. Now as the moment of thy departure draweth near, we do not weep, for we know that thou dwellest eternal in all things.

Before we loose thee to return to the realm of spirit, we offer unto thee our final prayer. We thank thee for thy presence, thy constancy, thy willingness to serve as intermediary between ourselves and the powers beyond. We acknowledge thy great role in maintaining the cosmic order, in keeping the sun in its path, in ripening the grain, in burning away all that is false and corrupted.

Yet now the time hath come for other gods to be honored, other powers to be invoked. Indra awaiteth his turn, and the Maruts stir in their heaven, eager to hear the praises sung by mortal lips. So we do not restrain thee, O Agni, though we part with reluctance. Go forth in the radiance of thy glory. Return to the realm from whence thou came. Know that thou shalt be welcomed again when the sun next riseth and the fire next is kindled.

We go forward now into the next portion of this sacred ritual, carrying with us the warmth and light of thy presence. The memory of thy flames shall illumine our way. The echo of thy voice shall ring in our hearts. And when we return to kindle thee again, thou shalt respond with all thy ancient power, with all thy blessing, eternal and unchanged, a bridge forever betwixt earth and heaven, betwixt mortal and immortal.