O Agni, thou radiant one, thou who dost shine forth with the light of a thousand suns! Thou who bringest forth the dawn, thou who dost pierce the darkness.

The night is deep and black, and terror dwelleth therein. But when thou comest, lo, all darkness fleeth away. Thy light doth banish the fear that grippeth the hearts of men.

Thou art the purifier, O Agni! All that is unclean, thou dost make clean. All that is defiled, thou dost make whole again. The very touch of thy flame doth transform all that it toucheth.

In thy fire, the impurities of the soul are burnt away. The sins that have accumulated like dust upon the spirit—these thou consumest in thy bright flame, leaving only the pure essence behind.

Thou dost ride upon the wind, O Agni, and thy sparks do fall like stars upon the earth. Each flame that springeth forth doth sing a song of praise unto the gods. When the altar is lit, thou answerest; when the butter is offered, thou receivest it with joy.

We kindle thee with our prayers; we feed thee with our offerings. As thou consumes the wood, so dost thou consume our sins, our sorrows, our doubts.

O thou that art born of wood and stone, thou that art kindled by the hands of men and the will of the gods! Thou art present at every sacrifice; thou art the messenger that carrieth our prayers to the heavens above.

The gods themselves do depend upon thee, O Agni. Without thee, the sacrifices cannot be offered. Without thy flame, the sacred rites cannot be completed. Thou art the bridge between heaven and earth, the link between the mortal and the divine.

Illuminate the path unto the gods, O Agni! Show us the way that we must walk. Make bright the way that leadeth from this world unto the next. Let not thy light grow dim; let not thy flame be quenched.

The ancient seers did kindle thee in ages past. The fires that they lit did burn upon the altars of their forefathers. That same flame passeth from father unto son, from age unto age. Thou art eternal, O Agni; thou art unchanging.

We call upon thee, O Radiant One! Be our protector; be our guide; be our friend. When we walk in darkness, light our way. When we are afraid, give us courage. When we are heavy-laden, lighten our burden.

Carry our prayers unto the feet of Indra! Carry our praises unto the ears of the Ādityas! Let the gods hear the voice of their worshippers; let them know that we remember them, that we honor them, that we seek to serve them always.

The night shall end; the dawn shall come. This is thy power, O Agni. The seed shall grow in the dark earth; the plant shall reach toward thy light. This too is thy work. All life dependeth upon thee; all growth proceedeth from thee.

Be pleased with us, O Agni. Accept our offerings; accept our prayers. Make us pure that we might approach the gods with clean hands and pure hearts. Let thy light dwell within us forevermore.