At the breaking of the dawn, O Agni, we kindle thee! The night hath passed. The stars have faded. The sun is not yet risen. The world dwelleth in that sacred twilight where all is grey and still. Now is the time, O fire! Now we call thee forth!

Thou art born again this morning as thou art born again each morning since the beginning of time. The sticks are struck. The tinder gloweth. The first flame leapeth up, and the day beginneth. O newborn fire! O ancient and ever-young one! Come forth, come forth!

The morning prayer is the most sacred prayer. In the quiet of the dawn, when all the world sleepeth, the voice of the sacrificer is pure and unmixed. There is no distraction. There is no noise but the sound of thy crackling. There is no light but thy light. The gods themselves are nearer at dawn. They have not yet turned their faces away from the earth. They are listening.

O Agni, accept our morning offering! This is the time when the veil between heaven and earth is thin. This is the time when our prayers rise most swiftly to the throne of the immortals. We pour the butter. We speak the sacred words. Thou burnest brightly, hungrily. Thy smoke riseth straight up into the sky, and we know—we know—that the gods are bending down to listen.

O morning fire! O newly kindled one! Give us the strength to face the day. Give us the courage to meet whatever cometh. Give us the wisdom to speak truth and act justly. As thou greeteth the rising sun with thy flames, so let us greet this new day with open hearts and clear minds. Thou art the herald of the morning. Thou art the priest of the dawn. We honour thee, O Agni! Burn brightly! Burn eternal! Let this day be blessed.