I TAKE within me Agni first, for increase of my wealth, good offspring, manly strength:

So may the Deities wait on me.

2Thou art the waters’ back, the womb of Agni, around the ocean as it swells and surges. Waxing to greatness, resting on the lotus, spread forth in amplitude with heaven’s own measure.

3Eastward at first was Brahma generated. Vena o’erspread the bright Ones from the summit, Disclosed his deepest nearest revelations, womb of existent and of non-existent.

4In the beginning rose Hiranyagarbha, born Only Lord of all created being. He fixed and holdeth up this earth and heaven. Worship we Ka the God with our oblation.

5The Drop leaped onward through the earth and heaven, along this place and that which was before it. I offer up, throughout the seven oblations, the Drop still moving to the common dwelling.

6Homage be paid to Serpents unto all of them that are on earth, To those that dwell in air, to those that dwell in sky be homage paid.

7To those that are the demons’ darts, to those that live upon the trees, To all the Serpents that lie low in holes be adoration paid.

8Or those that are in heaven’s bright sphere, or those that dwell in the Sun’s beams: Serpents, whose home has been prepared in waters, homage unto them!

9Put forth like a wide-spreading net thy vigour: go like a mighty King with his attendants. Thou, following thy swift net, shootest arrows: transfix the fiends with darts that burn most fiercely.

10Forth go in rapid flight thy whirling weapons: follow them closely glowing in thy fury. Spread with thy tongue the wingèd flames, O Agni: unfettered cast thy firebrands all around thee.

11Send thy spies forward, fleetest in thy motion: be, ne’er deceived, the guardian of this people From him who, near or far, is bent on evil, and let no trouble sent from thee o’ercome us.

12Rise up, O Agni, spread thee out before us, burn down our foes, thou who hast sharpened arrows. Him, blazing Agni! who hath worked us mischief, consume thou utterly like dried-up stubble.

13Rise, Agni, drive off those who fight against us: make manifest thine own celestial vigour. Slacken the strong bows of the demon-driven: destroy our foemen whether kin or stranger. I settle thee with Agni’s fiery ardour.

14Agni is head and height of heaven, the Master of the earth is he: He quickeneth the waters’ seed. I settle thee with the great strength of Indra.

15Thou art the leader of the rite and region to which with thine auspicious teams thou tendest. Thy light-bestowing head to heaven thou liftest, making thy tongue the oblation-bearer, Agni!

16Steady art thou, sustainer, laid by Visvakarman in thy place. Let not the ocean nor the bird harm thee: unshaking, steady earth.

17Thee let Prajâpati settle on the waters’ back, in Ocean’s course, Thee the capacious, widely spread.