O Agni, invoker! Thou callest the gods to the sacrifice! Thou cryest out upon the altar, and from all the worlds the Devas do gather. Indra heareth thy voice and descendeth. Varuṇa listeneth and riseth from his throne. The Maruts hear and sweep down from the mountains. The Ādityas hear and draw near to the sacred place.

None of the gods would come were it not for thee! Thou art their herald. Thou art their messenger. Without thy call, the heavens would remain silent and distant. The gods would know not that mortals below have prepared the offering. The sacrifice would be in vain. But thou, O Agni, thou speakest in the language that all the gods understand—the language of fire, of smoke, of sacred flame rising toward the sky.

When thou callest, Indra cometh with his hundred thunders. He heareth the crack of thy flames as a warrior heareth the call to battle. When thou speakest, the god of the waters doth not delay but hasteth to the altar. Even the god Soma, hidden in the plant, leapeth forth at the sound of thy roaring.

O invoker supreme! Thou art the herald of all heaven! Thou standest at the boundary between the worlds and cryest out: "Come, O gods! Come and receive the offering of thy devotees! Come and grant them blessings!" And they come. Swiftly they come. Not because they must, but because thou callest with such power, such authority, such ancient right.

Make the gods hear us, O Agni! Let thy flames rise so high that they touch the throne of Indra himself. Let thy smoke be thick and sweet so that all heaven knoweth a sacrifice hath been made. Call them! Command them! Demand that they grant us sons, cattle, long life, and victory over our enemies. Thou hast the power, O invoker. Use it for us this day!