Thou wast appointed priest before all priests, O Agni! In the beginning, when the cosmos was young and the gods had not yet chosen their stations, Manu the lawgiver placed the sacred fire upon the earth and said: "Thou shalt be the hotṛ of all sacrifices. Thou shalt offer the oblation on behalf of mortals. Thou shalt speak the ancient word to the gods in heaven."

Since that time immemorial, Agni, thou hast stood first in the ritual order. No god enters the sacrifice before thee. No offering reaches the heavenly realm save through thy voice. Thou art the mediator between the mortal and the immortal, the bridge that no other can cross.

We behold thee seated upon the altar, thy flames rising as the smoke of a thousand offerings. Thy tongue is the golden spoon that lifts each mortal gift and carries it to the celestial throne. The gods themselves await thy word. Indra listens for thy call. Varuṇa bends his ear to thy message.

O ancient priest, appointed by Manu himself! We know that thou wast priest before time began. The Bhāradvājas kindle thee and speak thy office anew: Be thou our voice before the gods. Carry our prayer beyond the seven heavens. Make our oblation acceptable.

Agni, in thy priesthood lies the power of the sacrifice. Without thy sacred word, our offerings fall to earth like ash. With thy word, they ascend as incense to the infinite. We honor thee as the first priest, the eternal hotṛ, the intermediary between worlds.