Born at the first light of dawn, O Agni, thou dost spring forth with urgent purpose. The night hath held thee captive in its darkness, but now thou art free. Thy flames leap with joy at the return of the sun. Thou art the herald of the new day, the messenger of the light that banisheth all fear.

Swift dost thou move between the realms! The gods in heaven have need of us, and we mortals have need of the gods. Who shall carry our words upward? Who shall interpret our yearning, our sacrifice, our prayer? Thou alone, O Agni, speakest both languages. Thou knowest the voices of the immortals and the voices of men.

At dawn thou risest with purpose. Thy smoke carriageth prayers to the high reaches where Indra ruleth. Where Viṣṇu watcheth. Where the Maruts ride their wild chariots. Thou art the divine messenger, the dūta, the one appointed to carry messages of grave import. The gods trust thee. They wait for thy coming each morning.

But thou bringest blessings downward as well. When the gods have heard our prayers and taken pity upon us, it is through thee that their grace descendeth again to earth. In the warmth of thy flames, in the light of thy presence, in the healing power of thy heat — this is the answer to our pleading. This is the gods' reply.

Messenger between worlds! Herald of the dawn! Thou art the liaison, the ambassador, the sacred intermediary who honoreth both those above and those below. Carry our gratitude to the immortals. Bring their blessings back to us. In thy flames, O Agni, all that is separated is made whole. Through thee, dūta divine, earth and heaven are joined forever.