1To thee, O Agni, the bull, the wise, I have come, generating thee ever new; Be our household rites not halting; With thy keen holy power sharpen us.

3The image of the year Which men revere in thee, O night, Making his offspring rich in heroes, May he obtain all life.

5With the light wherewith the gods went upward, Wherewith the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, Wherewith the Angirases attained greatness, With that let the sacrificer go in prosperity. The fire is piled for the world of heaven [2]; (with the words) With the light wherewith the gods went upwards', he lights the fire in the pan; verily he puts down the bricks connected with the trees, to win the world of heaven.

6(Homage) to the hundred-weaponed, him of a hundred powers, Him of a hundred aids, the overcomer of hostility, To Indra who shall lead us over all obstacles Through autumns without fail.

7The four paths going to the gods Which stretch between sky and earth, To him, O gods, do ye all accord us Who brought to them unfailing power and untirelessness [3].

8Summer, winter, and spring for us, Autumn, the rains be favourable for us; May we enjoy the favour and protection Of these seasons through a hundred autumns.

9To the Idu year, the complete year, the year Pay ye honour great; In their lovingkindness that are worthy of sacrifice

10May we long be unfailing, unsmitten.

11Better than good have the gods brought together; With thee as aid may we win thee; Do thou, wonder-working, O drop [4], enter us, Be propitious and kindly to our children, our descendants.

12He puts down these unfailing (bricks), they are the gods unconquered; verily he enters them; he is not conquered. k The theologians say, 'Since the months, the half-months, the seasons, the years cook the plants, then why is the offering of first-fruits made to other deities?' The gods conquered these (plants); if he were to offer to the seasons, he would cause strife with the gods; having offered the offering of first-fruits, he offers these libations; verily he delights the half-months, the months, the seasons, the year; he does not cause strife with the gods. 'Better than good have the gods brought together', he says, for the eating of the offering, to prevent the defeat of the sacrificer.