O Agni, kindled at the dawn, thou radiant God, the household priest—
By thee the offerings mount on high; through thee the gods receive their share of mortal gift.

Thy flames are tongues of the Immortals, bright and swift,
Thou burnest clear, thou risest up, a beacon set upon the earth.
The wood doth burst beneath thy teeth; the smoke doth climb unto the sky.

Thou art the Mouth, the Tongue of all the gods that dwell on high,
The carriers of the sacrifice do gather at thy seat, O Fire.
For thou art the priest who knoweth all the sacred forms and names.

From every dwelling thou dost rise in morning light,
The kindred gather nigh to thee with hands of honour raised.
Thou burnest bright as heaven's own flame, and warmed by thee, the gods grow strong.

Great Agni, mightily thou roarest as the foe doth fall before thy power,
Thy strength is known in every land; the waters flee before thy breath.
He that hath kindled thee doth stand with trembling heart in holy awe.

Thou art the bridge between the world of men and seats of gods on high,
The messenger who beareth up the sweet-smelling smoke of sacrifice.
No god among the host of heaven doth refuse thy summons, O Fire.

Bearer of the gift, O Agni, make it pleasing to the gods above,
That they may grant us riches vast, and herds that multiply without end.
Guard thou our folk from every ill; be thou our shield and our delight.

The singer calleth unto thee with voice upraised at breaking dawn,
"Come swift, O Golden-Tongued, to hear the praises sung in thy renown.
Accept our worship and our gifts; be gracious unto us this day."

By thy protection shall we live; the nights and days shall pass in peace,
No evil spirits shall draw nigh to those whom thou dost hold beneath thy guard.
O Agni, keeper of our house, remain with us forevermore.

Thy colour gleameth like the sun; thy lustre shineth bright as gold,
The flaming one, the radiant lord, thou burnest in the hearts of men.
All fear and trembling flee away before the glory of thy fire.

When morning breaketh o'er the earth and men do wake from slumber deep,
'Tis thou that warmeth all their limbs and giveth them their strength anew.
The cattle crowd around thy heat; the birds do sing their songs of praise.

O Fire of Fires, thou mightiest among all the gods who dwell on high,
The sacrifice can find no fruit unless thou takest it in hand.
Therefore with voices clear and true we call upon thy sacred name.

The priest doth know thy secret rites, the words by which thy power is bound,
He summeth thee with ancient hymns, and thou dost hear and makest haste.
Grant us, O Agni, all the wealth that we do crave with longing heart.

O thou that dwellest in the wood and in the hearts of mortal men,
Thou burnest in the sacrifice as thou hast burned in ages past.
Through thee our fathers came to heaven; through thee shall we obtain that realm.

The womb of earth hath given thee birth; the waters know thy secret name,
Yet thou transcendest all that is, and none among the gods hath power like thine.
Guard us, O sacred Flame, that we may live and prosper all our days.

Most generous of all the gods, hear thou the prayer of those that call,
Accept the gift we lay before thee, though it be but mean and small.
For thou art gracious unto all, and rewardest every faithful heart.