O Agni, born in waters yet undying, hidden in the deep places where no mortal eye doth penetrate, yet manifesting in visible flame when the proper art is applied—we marvel at thy mystery and thy paradox.

In the beginning, before the gods themselves brought order forth from chaos, thou didst dwell in the waters of the cosmic ocean. Thou art not a creation of wood or wood-friction, but rather thou art an eternal essence that taketh on the appearance of such things when revealed to mortal senses. The fire that dwelleth in the water, the essence that existeth in the grain even before the grain is grown, the hidden power that causeth all transformation and growth—this art thou.

The seer who knoweth the secret of thy dwelling in the deep waters doth possess knowledge most precious. He understandeth that thou existeth everywhere, in all things, waiting to be kindled. In the stone there is thy potential. In the plant there is thy hidden essence. In the heart of the mortal who seeketh truth, thou dwellest as a spark of divine consciousness.

We pour the water upon the ground and invoke thee. We strike the friction sticks and call upon thee. We lay down the butter and beseech thee to rise forth in visible manifestation. Yet we know that we do not create thee. We merely reveal that which hath always been. We summon forth that which cannot truly be absent, for it dwelleth in the very foundation of existence itself.

O Agni, invisible flame, thou who hidest in the deep and darknesseth of the cosmic waters, we bow before the mystery of thy nature. We honor the paradox that thou art both nothing and everything, both hidden and manifest, both destructible yet eternal. Emerge from thy watery cave. Let thy flames rise forth. Transform the mortal realm through thy sacred presence. Burn away our ignorance and illumine the truth that dwelleth within and without, above and below, forever hidden yet forever revealed.