O Agni, thou ancient friend! Since the first dawn of creation thou hast burned. Since the first man discovered fire by striking stone upon stone, thou hast answered the call. Thou art older than memory, yet forever young. Thou art the unchanging flame in a world of flux and decay.

The fathers of the fathers have kindled thee. Their fathers before them. And before them, the ṛṣis of old who first learned the sacred art of the sacrifice. Through countless ages thou hast burned in the altars. Through empires that have crumbled to dust, thou hast remained. Kings have passed to the grave; thou endureth. Civilizations have vanished; thy fire continueth.

O ancient one! Thou hast seen more sunrises than can be numbered. Thou hast witnessed the great wars, the rising and falling of heroes, the ages of the gods. Yet thou rememberest us! Thou dost not tire of us mortals and our small prayers. Each new generation, thou comest again when called. Each new man who striketh the sticks, thou leapest forth to greet him.

We are the children of thy children's children. We carry in our blood the knowledge that Agni burneth eternal. Our ancestors gathered round thee in the darkness. They sang thy praise. They made thee offerings. And now we come, like them, to kindle thee, to honour thee, to speak thy name. We are but a moment in thy vast existence, yet thou knowest us. Thou carest for us.

O faithful one! O eternal companion! Thou hast warmed our ancestors through the cruel winters. Thou hast cooked their food. Thou hast lit their ceremonies. Now warm us. Now feed us. Now hear our song. We are grateful for thy ancient kindness. We pledge to keep thy fire burning, as our ancestors did before us. Forever and ever, the flame shall not be extinguished.