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iv. 1. 1.
a Yoking mind first,
Extending his thoughts, Savitr
Discerning the light,
Hath brought Agni from the earth.
b Yoking with mind the gods,
Going to the heaven, the sky, with thought,
Those that are to make great light,
Savitr instigates.
c With mind well yoked are we
In the instigation of god Savitr,
For strength to go to the heaven.
d They yoke their minds, they yoke their thoughts,
The priests of the mighty wise priest,
He alone, who knoweth the way, appointeth their functions [1]
Great is the praise of the god Savitr.
e I yoke with honour your ancient prayer;
The praises go like Suras on their way;
All the sons of immortality hear (it),
Who have achieved dwellings divine.
f He whose advance others followed,
Gods, of the god praising might,
He who meted out the regions of earth,
He is the brilliant god Savitr in greatness.
g O god Savitr, instigate the sacrifice, instigate the lord of the sacrifice [2] to good luck; may the divine Gandharva, who purifieth thoughts purify our thought; may the lord of speech to-day make sweet our utterance.
h This sacrifice for us, O god Savitr
Do thou instigate, serving the gods,
Finding comrades, ever victorious,
Winning booty, winning heaven.
i By the Rc make the Stoma to prosper,
By the Gayatra the Rathantara,
The Brhat with the Gayatri for its metre.
k On the impulse of the god Savitr, with the arms of the A�vins, with the hands of Pusan, with the Gayatri metre, I take thee, in the manner of Angiras.
l Thou art the spade, thou art the woman [3], from the abode of the earth I bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras; with the Tristubh metre I grasp thee in the manner of Angiras.
m Thou art the bearer, thou art the woman; through thee may we be strong to dig Agni of the dust in his place; with the Jagati metre I grasp thee in the manner of Angiras.
n Grasping in thy hand, Savitr,
Bearing the spade of gold,
Therewith digging Agni
Do thou bring for us light unperishing.
With the Anustubh metre I grasp thee in the manner of Angiras.
iv. i. 2.
a This bond of order they grasped
At their assemblies in ages gone by, the sages;
Therewith the gods mastered the pressed (juice)--
In the Saman of order proclaiming the stream.
b Swiftly run hither, O steed,
Along the most extended space;
In the sky is thy highest birth,
In the atmosphere thy navel, on the earth thy birthplace.
c Yoke ye two the ass,
In this course, O ye of mighty wealth,
Which beareth Agni, serving us.
d In each need more strong,
In each contest, we invoke,
As friends, Indra to aid us.
e Hastening [1] come hither, trampling the enemy,
Come with wondrous skill from the leadership of Rudra;
Fare along the broad atmosphere,
With happy pastures, bestowing security.
f With Pusan as fellow, from the abode of the earth do thou approach
Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
g We approach Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
h We will bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
i We bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
k Agni gazed along the forefront of the dawns,
Along the days first, the all-knower,
And in many ways along the rays of the sun [2],
He hath extended along sky and earth.
I The steed coming from the way
Driveth every foe;
He is fain to gaze with his eye
On Agni in his great abode.
m Coming to earth, O steed,
Do thou seek Agni with thy radiance;
Turning from earth I tell us
Whence we shall dig him up.
n Thy back is the sky, thy abode earth,
Thy breath the atmosphere, thy birthplace the ocean;
Discerning with thine eye,
Do thou overcome [3] the enemy.
o Arise for great prosperity
From this abode, giving wealth, O steed;
May we enjoy the loving favour of earth,
That are about to dig fire in her lap.
p The strong steed hath stepped forward, giving wealth;
He hath made the place of earth well wrought;
Thence let us dig Agni of fair aspect,
Mounting the heaven on the top of the vault.
q The water divine do thou pour, full of sweetness
To avert diseases for men,
From their place let arise
Plants with fair leaves.
r I touch [4] Agni with mind, with ghee,
Who lordeth it over all the worlds,
Broad, vast, with pervading vital power,
Most extensive, impetuous, winning, food.
s I touch thee with speech, with ghee,
With friendly mind accept it;
With mortal glory, with engaging colour,
Agni, with body full of life may not be touched.
t Round the offerings hath Agni gone,
The sage, the lord of strength,
Bestowing jewels on the donor.
u May we set thee around us, O Agni,
The sage, O strong one, as a fort,
Of daring due, day by day,
Destroyer of that which may be broken.
v Thou, O Agni, with days, fain to shine towards us,
Thou from the waters, thou from the rock,
Thou from the woods, thou from the plants,
Thou, O lord of men, art born pure.
iv. 1. 3.
a On the impulse of the god Savitr, with the arms of the A�vins, with the hands of Pusan, in the abode of earth, I dig Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
b Full of light, thou, O Agni; of fair aspect,
Shining with unaging radiance,
Auspicious and harmless to offspring,
In the abode of earth, I dig Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras.
c Thou art the back of the waters, expansive, wide,
About to bear Agni, least to be laid aside;
Growing to might as the lotus-flower,
Do thou extend in width with the measure of heaven.
d Ye two are protectors [1] and a help,
Unbroken, both expansive;
Do ye expanding be united;
Bear Agni of the dust.
e Be ye united, that win the heaven,
In union of heart and self;
Who shall bear within Agni
Full of light and unaging.
f Thou art of the dust, all-supporting; Atharvan first pressed out thee, O Agni.
g Thee, O Agni, from the lotus
Atharvan pressed out,
From the head of every priest.
h Thee the sage, Dadhya�c,
Son [2] of Atharvan, doth kindle,
Slayer of Vrtra, destroyer of foes.
i Thee Pathya Vrsan doth kindle,
Best slayer of foes,
Winner of booty in every conflict.
k Sit thou, O Hotr, in thine own world, wise,
Place thou the sacrifice in the birthplace of good deeds,
Eager for the gods, do thou sacrifice to them with oblation;
O Agni, bestow great strength on the sacrificer.
l The Hotr hath sat him down in the place of the Hoty, wise,
Glittering, shining, skilful,
With vows and foresight undeceived, most wealthy,
Bearing a thousand, pure-tongued Agni.
m Sit thou down, thou art great,
Burn [3] best servant of the gods;
O Agni, pure one, send forth the ruddy smoke,
O famous one, that can be seen afar.
n Be born noble in the forefront of the days,
Kind to the kindly, red in the woods;
Bestowing seven jewels in every home
Hath Agni sat him down as Hotr.
iv. 1. 4.
a May I Vayu, Matari�van, unite
The broken heart of thee that art outstretched
To him who moveth with the expiration of the gods,
With thee, O goddess, be Vasat.
b Wellborn, with light,
Guard and protector, thou hast sat on the heaven;
O Agni, thy garment of many hues,
Put on, O thou that dost abound in light.
c Arise, thou of fair sacrifice,
Aid us with thy divine radiance;
Brilliant to behold, with mighty blaze,
Do thou come hither, O Agni, in response to our prayers [1].
d Arise erect to aid us,
Like Savitr, the god;
Erect to win the booty,
When in contest we call on thee with the shining praisers.
e Born, thou art the child of the two worlds,
O Agni; a brilliant child distributed among the plants;
A beauteous babe beyond the darkness outspread,
Thou didst come thundering from thy mothers.
f Be firm, of strong limbs,
Swift, a mighty steed;
Be broad, of kindly seat,
Thou art the carrier of dust for Agni.
g Be auspicious [2], for offspring
Of men, O Angiras;
Scorch not sky and earth,
Nor the atmosphere, nor the trees.
h Let the steed advance, thundering
And resounding, the ass, the flier;
Bearing Agni of the dust
May he fall not before his day.
i The ass, well yoked to your chariot,
O ye strong ones, that thundereth,
May he as swift envoy
Bear hence Agni of the dust.
k The strong, bearing the strong Agni,
Germ of the waters, him of the ocean,
O Agni, come hither, for enjoyment [3],
As holy order and truth.
l O plants, do ye accept Agni here
Who cometh auspicious towards you;
Casting aside all hostilities, all evil imaginings,
Sitting down, may he smite away from us misfortune.
m O plants, do ye rejoice in him,
O ye that are rich in flowers, and have fair berries;
This germ of yours, of due season,
Hath sat him in his ancient seat.
iv. 1. 5.
a Radiant with extending blaze,
Do thou repel the enemy, the Raksas's hostility;
May I enjoy the protection of the great protector,
May I enjoy the leadership of Agni, easy to invoke.
b Ye, waters, are healing;
Further us to strength,
To see great joy.
c The most auspicious flavour that is yours,
Accord to us here,
Like eager mothers.
d To him may we come with satisfaction,
To whose dwelling ye quicken us,
O waters, and propagate us.
e Mitra [1], having united the earth
And the ground with light,
Agni well-born, all-knower,
Common to all men, the wide extending.
f For health I unite thee, for offspring; may the All-gods, common to all men, unite thee with the Anustubh metre, in the manner of Angiras.
g The Rudras, having gathered together the earth,
Kindled a great light;
Their ray undying
Shineth clear among the gods.
h United by the Vasus, the cunning Rudras,
The mud fit for the rite,
Making it smooth with her hands,
May Sinivali fashion [2] this (pan).
i Sinivali, of fair braids,
Of fair head-dress, with fair locks,
May she, O Aditi, O great one,
Place within thy hands the pan.
k Let Aditi fashion the pan with might,
With her arms , with wisdom,
Let her bear Agni in her womb
As a mother a child in her lap.
I Thou art the head of Makha.
m Ye are the two feet of the sacrifice.
n May the Vasus fashion thee with the Gayatri metre, in the manner of Angiras. Thou art the earth; may the Rudras fashion thee with the Tristubh metre, in the manner of Angiras. Thou art the atmosphere [3]; may the Adityas fashion thee with the Jagati metre in the manner of Angiras. Thou art the sky; may the All-gods, common to all men, fashion thee with the Anustubh metre, in the manner of Angiras. Thou art the quarters; thou art the fixed (quarter); fix in me offspring, increase of wealth, richness in cattle, richness in heroes, (subject) his fellows to the sacrificer.
o Thou art the girdle of Aditi.
p Let Aditi seize thy hole with the Pankti metre, in the manner of Angiras.
q Having made the great pan,
Wrought of clay, as a birthplace for Agni,
Aditi gave it to her sons,
(Saying), 'Let them cook it.'
iv. 1. 6.
a May the Vasus fumigate thee with the Gayatri metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the Rudras fumigate thee with the Tristubh metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the Adityas fumigate thee with the Jagati metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the All-gods, common to all men, fumigate thee with the Anustubh metre, in the manner of Angiras; may Indra fumigate thee in the manner of Angiras; may Visnu fumigate thee in the manner of Angiras; may Varuna fumigate thee in the manner of Angiras.
b May Aditi, connected with the All-gods, the goddess, dig thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O trench.
c May the wives of the gods [1], the goddesses, connected with the All-gods, place thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O pan.
d May the Dhisanas, the goddesses connected with the All-gods, kindle thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O pan; may the wives, the goddesses, connected with the All-gods, prepare thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O pan; may the protectors, the women, the goddesses, connected with the All-gods, cook thee on the abode of earth, in the manner of Angiras, O pan.
e O Mitra, cook this pan; may it not break.
f This I place around thee, to prevent breaking.
g Mitra, extending, compasseth
This sky in greatness [2],
And the earth with his fame.
h The fame of Mitra, supporter of the people,
Of the god is eternal,
True, and most varied in fame.
i May the god Savitr dig thee out,
With fair hands, fair fingers,
Fair arms, with his might.
k Breaking not, O earth,
Do thou fill the regions, the quarters;
Arise, become great,
Stand upright, be thou firm.
l May the Vasus fill thee with the Gayatri metre, in the manner of Angiras: may the Rudras fill thee with the Tristubh metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the Adityas fill thee with the Jagati metre, in the manner of Angiras; may the All-gods, common to all men, fill thee with the Anustubh metre, in the manner of Angiras.
iv. 1. 7.
a Let the half-years, the seasons, increase thee, O Agni,
The years, the Rsis, and what truths there are;
Shine with thy heavenly lustre,
Illuminate all the quarters of the earth.
b Be kindled, O Agni, and awake him;
Arise for great good fortune;
May he that waiteth on thee, O Agni, be not harmed;
May thy priests be famous, not the others.
c These Brahmans, O Agni, choose thee;
Be thou propitious, O Agni [1], to us in the sanctuary;
Slaying our rivals, conquering the foes,
Do thou watch unfailing in thine own home.
d Here, O Agni, do thou grant wealth;
May not the overcomers, anticipating (us); overcome thee;
May the lordly power be easily wielded by thee, O Agni
Let him who waiteth on thee prosper, unassailed.
e With good life, O Agni, unite thee with the lordly power;
O Agni, vie with Mitra in friendlihood;
Be thou the midmost of thine equals;
O Agni, shine forth here to be invoked by kings.
f (Be thou) over the [2] enemy, the obstructor,
Unwisdom, niggardliness, O Agni,
All obstacles do thou overcome,
And bestow upon us wealth with heroes.
g Unassailable, all-knower, unoverpowered,
Ruling, O Agni, supporting the lordly power, do thou shine here;
Through all the regions, freeing men from fear,
Do thou this day guard us for increase with kindliness.
h O Brhaspati, instigator, awake him;
The sharp do thou more thoroughly sharpen;
Increase him to great prosperity [3]
Let the All-gods rejoice in him.
i What time, O Brhaspati, thou didst free
From life yonder, from Yama's enmity,
The A�vins removed death from him,
O Agni, the physicians of the gods with their powers.
k We from the darkness,
Gazing on the higher light,
Surya a god among the gods,
Have come to the highest light.
iv. 1. 8.
a Uplifted are his kindling-sticks,
Uplifted and pure are the rays of Agni,
Most brilliant (are they) of the son of fair countenance.
b The son of self, the Asura, all-knower,
God, god among gods,
Anointeth the ways with mead and ghee.
c With mead thou attainest the sacrifice,
Delighting, as Nara�ansa, O Agni,
The kindly god Savitr, with every boon.
d Hither he cometh, with might, with ghee,
The priest implored with adoration;
To Agni the ladles (move) when the rites proceed.
e Worship let him pay to the greatness of him, of Agni;
He [1] indeed is pre-eminent among the delightful,
The wealthy, the wisest, best bestower of wealth.
f The divine doors--all--preserve
The rules of him, of Agni,
Of wide expanse, lording it with dominion.
g May day and night
Like heavenly maidens in his birthplace
Protect this our sacrifice and offering.
h O ye divine Hotrs, sing ye
To our uplifted sacrifice, to Agni's tongue,
Make for us good offering.
i May the three goddesses sit on this strew,
Ida, Sarasvati [2], Bharati, the great, being sung.
k That seminal fluid of ours, wondrous,
Abundant, may Tvastr release
As increase of wealth with good heroes, as offspring to us.
l O tree, let free,
Bestowing with thyself among the gods;
Let Agni as queller make ready the oblation.
m O Agni, utter 'Hail!' O all-knower, over the oblation for Indra;
May all the gods rejoice in this offering.
n The golden germ first arose;
Born he was the only lord of creation;
He supporteth the earth and the sky [3]
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
o He that alone by his might is king
Of the breathing, the winking world,
Who is lord of these bipeds and quadrupeds;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
p He who is giver of breath, giver of strength,
Upon whose bidding all, even the gods, wait,
Whose shadow is immortality and death;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
He whose are these snowy mountains through his might,
Whose they call the ocean with the Rasa [4],
Whose two arms are these quarters;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
r To whom the armies stablished
Through his aid gazed with minds disturbed,
Over whom on the rising of the sun it goeth;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
s He by whom the dread earth and the sky were made firm,
By whom the heaven was established, by whom the vault,
Who is the measure of the region in the atmosphere;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
t When the waters, the great ones, went
Bearing all [5] strength, begetting Agni,
Then one breath of the gods arose;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
u He who in his might beheld the waters
Bearing strength, begetting Agni,
Who was the god alone over the gods;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
iv. 1. 9.
a Purpose, Agni, impulse, hail! Mind, intellect, Agni, impulse, hail! Thought, knowledge, Agni, impulse, hail! Discrimination of speech, Agni, impulse, hail! To Manu, lord of creatures, hail! To Agni Vai�vanara hail!
b Let every man choose the companionship
Of the god who leadeth;
Every man prayeth for wealth;
Let him choose glory that he may prosper; hail!
e Be not broken, nor come to harm;
Be firm and enduring;
O mother, daringly show thy heroism [1];
With Agni wilt thou do this deed.
d Be firm, O goddess earth, for prosperity;
Thou art the wile of the Asura, made with power;
Let this oblation be pleasing to the gods;
Do thou emerge uninjured at this our sacrifice.
e O Mitra, heat this pan; may it not break.
f This I place around thee, to prevent breaking.
g Feeding on wood, sipping clarified butter,
The ancient desirable Hotr,
Son of strength, the wondrous.
h From a far region
Come hither to these lower ones [2]
Favour those in the region where I am.
i From a far distance
Do thou of ruddy steeds come hither;
Of the dust, dear to many,
O Agni, do thou overcome obstructions.
k Do thou sit down in the lap of this mother,
O Agni, knowing all the ways;
Consume her not with light nor with heat,
Within her shine with pure radiance.
l O Agni, with glow
Within thine own seat of the pan,
Heating with her blaze,
Be thou, O all-knower, auspicious.
m Becoming auspicious to me, O Agni,
Do thou sit down auspicious;
Having made all the quarters auspicious
Sit here on thine own birthplace.
iv. 1. 10.
a Whatever logs we place
In thee, O Agni,
Be that ghee for thee;
Accept it, O youngest one.
b What the insect eateth,
What the ant climbeth over,
All that be ghee for thee;
Accept it, O youngest one.
c Mighty by night, unfailingly bearing (food)
For him as fodder to a stalled horse,
May we, O Agni, thy neighbours, be not harmed,
Rejoicing in increase of wealth, in food.
d Kindled on earth's navel [1], Agni
We invoke for great increase of wealth,
Delighting in drink, recipient of great praise, worthy of offering,
The victor, Agni, sustainer in battles.
e The hosts that attack,
That pierce, the trooping,
The thieves and the robbers,
Them, O Agni, do I place in thy mouth.
f With thy tusks the burglars,
With thy teeth the robbers,
With thy jaws the thieves, O blessed one,
Do thou chew, well chewed.
g The burglars among men,
The thieves and robbers in the forest,
The [2] mischief-workers in the thickets,
Them I place within thy jaws.
h The man who is hostile to us,
And him who hateth us,
Him who revileth us, and him who seeketh to hurt,
Every one of them do thou crush to atoms.
i Sharpened is my holy power,
Sharpened the strength and might,
Sharpened the conquering lordly power of him
Whose domestic priest I am.
k Their arms have I uplifted,
Their radiance, their might;
With holy power I waste the foes,
I support [3] my own.
I Shining like gold, he hath become widely resplendent,
For glory shining with immortal life;
Agni became immortal in his strength
What time prolific Dyaus begat him.
m The sage showeth all forms;
He hath produced bliss for biped and quadruped;
Savitr, the desirable, hath discerned the vault;
After the moving forward of the dawn he shineth.
n Night and the dawn, one-minded but of various form,
United suckle one child;
The radiant one shineth between sky and earth [4]
The gods, granters of wealth, support Agni.
o Thou art the bird of fair feathers; thy head the Trivrt (Stoma), thy eye the Gayatra, thy breath the Stoma, thy body the Vamadevya Saman, thy wings the Brhat and the Rathantara, thy tail the Yaj�ayaj�iya, thy limbs the metres, thy hoofs the altars, thy name the Yajus formulae.
p Thou art the bird of fair feathers; go to the sky, fly to the heaven.
iv. 1. 11.
a O Agni, that sacrifice, that offering,
Which on all sides thou dost encircle,
It of a truth goeth to the gods.
b O Soma, the wondrous aids
That there are of thine for the generous man,
With these be thou our helper.
c Agni the, head.
d Be.
e Thou, O Soma.
f These abodes of thine.
g That excellent glory of Savitr,
The god, we meditate,
That he may stimulate our prayers.
h What we have done in thoughtlessness against the host divine,
With feeble insight, with violence as is man's way [1],
Among gods and men, do thou, O Savitr,
There instigate us to sinlessness.
i Impeller of righteousness,
Instigator of devotions,
Sarasvati hath established the sacrifice.
k May the maiden of the lightning, the one of varied life,
Sarasvati, wife of a hero, inspire our devotion;
In accord with the ladies, may she accord to the singer
Protection uninjured, and guardianship unsurpassable.
I May Pusan follow the cows for us,
May he guard our horses;
May Pusan win booty for us.
m Bright is part of thee, worthy of offering another [2],
Like day and night of various hue, like the sky art thou;
All magic thou dost further, O powerful one;
Propitious here, O Pusan, be thy bounty.
n They grew in might with their own power;
They mounted the vault, they made a broad seat;
When Visnu helped the strong one who causeth gladness,
Like birds they sat on the dear strew.
o Bear ye variegated praise to the strong singer,
The host of the Maruts, which hath strength;
Who with might endure might [3],
For the jocund ones, O Agni, the earth shakes.
p The All-gods.
q O All-gods.
r May sky and earth this day
Place among the gods this sacrifice,
Successful, touching the sky.
s Bring forward the parents born of old with now songs,
In the seat of holy order,
Come to us, O sky and earth, with the host divine;
Great is your protection.
t Awaken Agni with the praise,
Kindling the immortal;
May he place our oblations among the gods.
u Bearing the oblation, immortal,
The eager messenger, well-inclined,
Agni uniteth with our prayer.
v Health be they.
w For each prize.
PRAPATHAKA II
The Preparation of the Ground for the Fire
iv. 2. 1.
a Thou art the step of Visnu, overcoming hostility, mount the Gayatri metre, step along the earth, excluded is he whom we hate. Thou art the step of Visnu, overcoming imprecations, mount the Tristubh metre, step along the atmosphere, excluded is he whom we hate. Thou art the step of Visnu, overcomer of the enemy, mount the Jagati metre, step along the sky, excluded is he whom we hate. Thou art the stop of Visnu [1], overcomer of the foe, mount the Anustubh metre, step along the quarters, excluded is he whom we hate.
b Agni hath cried, like Dyaus thundering,
Licking the earth, devouring the plants
Straightway on birth he shone aflame,
He blazeth with his light within the firmaments.
c O Agni, returner, to us return
With life, with radiance, with gain, with wisdom, with offspring, with wealth.
d O Agni [2], O Angiras, a hundred be thy returns,
A thousand thy movements;
With the increase of their increase
Do thou bring back for us what is lost,
Bring back to us wealth.
e Return with strength,
Return, O Agni, with food and life;
Again guard us on all sides.
f Return with wealth,
O Agni, fatten with the stream,
All-gaining on every side.
g Unloose from us, O Varuna, the highest,
The lowest, the midmost knot [3];
Then may we, O Aditya, in thy rule,
Be guiltless before Aditi.
h I have drawn thee, thou hast become within,
Be thou firm and motionless,
Lot all the folk desire thee;
In him establish the kingship.
i In greatness hath he arisen erect in the van of the dawns;
Emerging from the darkness, he hath come with the light;
Agni, with radiant brilliance, fair limbed,
On birth hath filled every seat.
k Do thou sit down in the lap of this mother [4],
O Agni, knowing all the ways;
Consume her not with light nor with heat,
Within her shine with pure radiance.
1 O Agni, with glow
Within thine own seat of the pan,
Heating with her blaze,
Be thou, O all-knower, auspicious.
m Becoming auspicious to me, O Agni,
Do thou sit down auspicious;
Having made all the quarters auspicious,
Sit here on thine own birthplace.
n The gander seated in purity, the bright one seated in the atmosphere,
The Hotr seated at the altar, the guest seated in the house,
Seated among men, seated in the highest, seated in holy order, seated in the firmament,
Born of the waters, born of the cows, born of holy order, born of the mountain, the great holy order.
iv. 2. 2.
a From the sky was Agni first born,
From us secondly he who knoweth all,
In the waters thirdly the manly,
The pious man singeth of him, the undying, as he kindleth him.
b We know thy three places threefold, O Agni,
We know thy seat that is established in many places;
We know thy highest name in secret;
We know the spring whence thou hast come.
c The manly souled kindleth thee in the ocean, in the waters,
In the breast of the sky, O Agni, he who gazeth on men;
Thee standing in the third region [1],
In the birthplace of holy order, the steers inspirited.
d Agni hath cried, like Dyaus thundering,
Licking the earth, devouring the plants;
Straightway on birth he shone aflame,
He blazeth with his light within the firmaments.
e Eager, purifying, the envoy, the wise one,
Agni, the immortal, hath been established among men;
He beareth and darteth forward his ruddy smoke;
The sky he attaineth with his pure radiance.
f The banner of the whole world, the germ [2],
Filled on birth the firmaments;
Even the firm mountain he cleft passing over,
When the five peoples sacrificed to Agni.
g Receptacle of prosperity, supporter of riches,
Granter of thoughts, guardian of the Soma,
Son of the bright one, of strength, the king
Is resplendent within the waters, kindled before the dawns.
h He who first maketh for thee to-day, O thou of wondrous radiance,
A cake rich in ghee, O god Agni;
Do thou bear him ever on to the better,
To glory allotted by the gods, O youngest one [3].
i Give him portion, O Agni, in praises;
Give him portion in every hymn that is sung,
Dear shall he be before Surya, dear before Agni
With what is born, what is to be born shall he be victorious.
k Thee, O Agni, the sacrificers through the days
Bear as many riches desirable;
With thee desiring wealth,
Eagerly they revealed the stall rich in kine.
l Shining like gold, he hath become widely resplendent,
For glory shining with immortal life;
Agni became immortal in his strength,
What time prolific Dyaus begat him.
iv. 2. 3.
a O Lord of food, accord us food,
Uninjurious, impetuous;
Do thou further the donor,
Bestow strength on our bipeds, our quadrupeds.
b May the All-gods thee,
O Agni, bear up with their thoughts;
Be thou to us most propitious,
With kindly face, abounding in light,
c Come forward, O Agni, rich in light,
With auspicious rays;
Shining with great radiance,
Harm not our offspring with thy body.
d With kindling-wood serve Agni,
Awaken the guest with ghee;
In him [1] offer oblations.
e Far-famed is this Agni of Bharata,
Since his great light shineth like the sun;
He who overcame Puru in battle
Hath shone forth, the heavenly guest, propitious for us.
f O ye waters divine, accept these ashes;
Place them on a resting-place, in the fragrant region
To him may the ladies with noble spouses bow;
Like a mother her son, do ye kindly bear him.
g In the waters, O Agni, is thy seat [2],
Thou enterest the plants;
Being in the germ thou art born again.
h Thou art the germ of plants,
The germ of trees,
The germ of all things,
O Agni, thou art the germ of the waters.
i With ashes having satisfied thy birthplace
And the waters, on the earth, O Agni,
In unison with thy mothers,
Full of light hast thou again taken thy seat.
k Having again come to thy seat,
And to the waters, to the earth, O Agni,
Within her thou liest, most auspicious,
As on the lap of a mother.
l Return with strength [3],
Return, O Agni, with food and life;
Again guard us on all sides.
m Return with wealth,
O Agni, fatten with the stream,
All-gaining on every side.
n May the Adityas, the Rudras, the Vasus, kindle thee again;
The Brahmans again with offerings, O bringer of wealth;
With ghee do thou increase our bodies;
May the wishes of the sacrificer become true.
o Hearken to this our call, that is offered, O youngest one,
Of the most generous one, O thou that hast power;
One hateth, one praiseth.
As praiser I praise thy body, O Agni.
p Be thou a bounteous patron,
Giver of riches, lord of riches;
Repel from us the foes.
iv. 2. 4.
a Go hence depart, creep away, hence,
Ye that are here of old and ye that are new,
Yama hath given this resting-place of earth,
The Pitrs have made this world for him.
b Thou art the ash of Agni, thou art the dust of Agni.
c Thou art accord, fulfilling love; in me be the fulfilling of thy love.
d Be united your dear bodies,
Be united your dear hearts,
Be your breath united [1],
United my body.
e This is that Agni in whom as a belly
Indra placed the pressed Soma eagerly;
Thou art praised, O all-knower, for winning
Booty a thousandfold, like a swift steed.
f O Agni, thou comest to the wave of the sky,
To the gods thou speakest, those of the altar;
The waters above in the realm of the sun,
And those below wait (on thee).
g O Agni, thy radiance in the sky, the earth,
The plants [2], or the waters, O holy one,
That whereby thou didst outspread the broad atmosphere,
Glittering is thy gleam, moving and men espying.
h May the Agnis of the dust
In unison with those of the floods
Accept the oblation offered,
The rich healthful viands.
i As food, O Agni, accord to the sacrificer
The gain of a cow, wondrous enduring;
Be to us a son, a scion, full of life;
This, O Agni, be thy lovingkindness towards us.
k This is thy due place of birth,
Whence born thou didst shine,
Mount it, O Agni, knowing it [3],
And make our wealth increase.
l Thou art a piler; in the manner of Angiras be firm with that deity.
m Thou art a piler round; in the manner of Angiras be firm with that deity.
n Fill the world, fill the hole, do thou sit down auspicious;
Indra and Agni and Brhaspati
Have placed thee on this birthplace
o The dappled kine, streaming with milk,
Mix the Soma,
Clans in the birthplace of the gods,
In the three realms of sky.
iv. 2. 5.
a Be united, be in harmony, in affection,
Radiant, with kindly thought,
Clothed in food and strength,
United have I made your minds, your ordinances, your hearts.
b O Agni of the dust be overlord for us;
Bestow food and strength on the sacrificer.
c Thou, O Agni, art of the dust,
Rich, full of increase,
Making all the regions propitious
Thou hast sat down on thine own birthplace.
d Be ye of one mind for us,
One dwelling [1], spotless;
Harm not the sacrifice, nor the lord of the sacrifice, O all-knowers;
Be ye two auspicious to-day unto us.
e As a mother her son, the earth,
The pan, hath borne Agni of the dust in his own birthplace
In unison with the All-gods, the seasons,
Let Prajapati, all-worker, release it.
f The bright light
Born beyond this firmament,
May that convey us beyond our foes,
O Agni Vai�vanara, hail!
g Homage to thee, O Nirrti of every form [2],
Loosen ye this bond made of iron;
Do thou in accord with Yama and Yami
Mount this highest vault.
h The bond that Nirrti, the goddess,
Bound on thy neck, not to be loosened,
This I loosen for thee as from the middle of life;
Then living, let loose, do thou eat the food.
i Thee in whose cruel mouth here I make offering,
For the loosening of these bonds,
As 'earth' men know thee,
As 'Nirrti' [3], I know thee on every side.
k Seek the man who poureth not offering nor sacrifices;
The road of the thief and robber thou followest;
Seek another than us, that is thy road;
Homage be to thee, O Nirrti, O goddess.
l Praising Nirrti, the goddess,
Like a father his son, I weary her with my words;
She who knoweth all that is born,
Discerneth, the lady, every head.
m Abode and collector of riches,
Every form she discerneth with might [4],
Like the god Savitr of true laws,
Like Indra, she standeth at the meeting of the ways.
n Make firm the straps,
Fasten the buckets;
We shall drain the well full of water,
That never is exhausted, never faileth.
o The well with buckets fastened,
With strong straps, that yieldeth abundantly,
Full of water, unexhausted, I drain.
p The sages yoke the ploughs;
They stretch apart the yokes,
Wise with goodwill among the gods.
q Yoke the ploughs, stretch apart the yokes,
Here sow in the womb made ready the seed [5]
Through our song be there audience with profit for us;
May the ripe (grain) be brought low by the sickle.
r The plough, of keen share,
Propitious, with well-polished handle,
Plougheth up a cow, a sheep,
And a fat blooming maid,
A chariot support with a platform.
s With prosperity may our ploughs cleave the ground,
With prosperity may the ploughers go round the yokes;
Prosperity (may) Parjanya (give) with honey and milk,
And do ye, O �una and Sira, accord prosperity to us.
t Wishes, O milker of wishes, do thou milk
To Mitra and Varuna;
To Indra, to Agni, to Pusan,
To the plants, and to offspring.
u The furrow anointed with ghee, with honey,
Approved by the All-gods, the Maruts,
Full of strength, swelling with milk,
Do thou, O furrow, turn towards us with milk.
iv. 2. 6.
a The plants born
Three generations before the gods,
Of the brown ones I celebrate
The seven and a hundred abodes.
b A hundred, O mother, are your abodes,
A thousand too your shoots,
Therefore do ye, with a hundred powers,
Make him whole for me.
c With flowers, with shoots,
Fruit-bearing and without fruit,
Like steeds victorious
The plants are strong to help.
d 'Plants', O ye mothers,
I hail you, O goddesses;
Go bearing away defilement,
Defilement [1] destroying.
e In the A�vattha is your seat,
In the Parna is your dwelling made;
Cows shall in truth be your share
If ye shall gain this man.
f In that in strength I seize
These plants in my hand,
The soul of the disease perisheth,
As before one that taketh alive.
g When the plants come together
Like princes at the assembly,
Sage is the physician called,
Slayer of Raksases, overpowerer of diseases.
h Remover is your mother by name,
And ye are helpers;
Ye are winged streams [2];
Remove whatever is unwell.
i Let one of you aid another,
Let one be of assistance to another;
All the plants in unison
Do ye further this speech of mine.
k The strength of the plants hath arisen
Like cows from the pasturage,
Of them that are fain to win gain,
To the self of thee, O man.
I Beyond all obstacles,
Like the thief the pen, they have strode,
The plants have shaken away
Every defilement in the body.
m Those [3] that have mounted thy self,
That have entered every limb,
May they repel thy disease,
Like a dread intercessor.
n O disease, do thou fly forth
With the eagle, the blue jay (kikidivi)
With the rush of the wind,
With the whirlwind do thou disappear.
o Rich in steeds, rich in Soma,
Full of strength, full of power,
I have found all the plants
For his safety.
p The fruitful, the fruitless,
The flowering, the flowerless,
Impelled by Brhaspati,
May they free us from tribulation.
q The [4] plants whose king is Soma,
And which have entered the earth,
Of them thou art the highest,
Impel us to long life.
r Falling from the sky
The plants said,
'He, whom we reach while in life,
Shall not come to ill.'
s Those that hear now
And those that are gone far away,
Coming all together here
Give ye him healing.
t May the digger of you come to no ill,
Nor he for whom I dig you;
May all our bipeds and quadrupeds
Be free from disease.
u The plants hold converse
With Soma, the king,
'The man for whom the Brahman prepares (us),
We, O king, bring to safety.'
iv. 2. 7.
a May I be harm us not who is father of earth
Or who, of true law, created the sky,
And he who created the great bright waters;
To what god shall we offer with oblation?
b Turn towards (us), O earth,
With the sacrifice, with milk;
Over thy caul let Agni, aroused, creep.
c O Agni, that of thee which is pure, which is bright,
Which is cleansed, which is fit for offering,
That we bear to the gods.
d Food and strength do I take hence [1],
From the abode of holy order, from the birthplace of immortality.
May it enter us, in cattle and in plants;
I abandon decline, lack of food, and ill-health.
e O Agni, strength and fame are thine,
Thy rays shine mightily, O rich in light;
O thou of broad radiance, with thy might, strength worthy of laud,
Thou bestowest on the worshipper, O sage.
f Do thou extend over men, O Agni,
Ruling over wealth for us, O immortal one;
Thou art the master of a glorious form,
Thou fillest glorious wealth.
g O son of strength, O all-knower,
Rejoice in our fair praises [2], being adored in our prayers;
In thee have they placed food, rich in seed,
Of wondrous aid, of prosperous birth.
h With pure radiance, with bright radiance,
With undiminished radiance, thou comest forth with thy light;
Visiting thy parents thou aidest them;
Thou fillest both worlds.
i The righteous, the bull, common to all men,
Agni, men place before them for favour,
Thee with their speech, that art ready to hear and most extending,
The divine, the generations of men.
k Preparer of the sacrifice, the wise,
Who ruleth for great gain,
The giver of the Bhrgus, the eager, skilled in the sacrifice
Thou fillest glorious wealth.
l Ye are pilers, ye are pilers around, do ye pile upwards as a support,
with that deity, sit ye firm in the manner of Angiras.
m Swell up, let thy strength be gathered
From all sides, O Soma.
Be strong in the gathering of might.
n Let thy milk draughts, thy strength be united,
The mightinesses of him who overcometh the foe;
Swelling for immortality, O Soma,
Place in the sky the highest glories,
iv. 2. 8.
a He hath overcome every foe, every enemy;
That Agni saith, that saith Soma too;
Brhaspati, Savitr, say this of me,
Pusan hath placed me in the world of good action.
b When first thou didst cry on birth,
Arising from the ocean or the dust,
The wings of the eagle, the limbs of the gazelle,
That is thy famed birth, O steed.
c Thou art the back of the waters, the birthplace of Agni,
The ocean swelling on either side;
Growing to might [1] as the lotus flower,
Do thou extend in width with the measure of heaven.
d The holy power born first in the east
Vena hath disclosed from the shining boundary,
He hath revealed its fundamental nearest forms,
The womb of being and of not being.
e The golden germ first rose;
Born he was the only lord of creation;
He supporteth the earth and the sky;
To what god shall we offer with oblation.
f The drop hath fallen on the earth [2], the sky,
On this seat, and on the one which was aforetime;
The drop that wandereth over the third seat
I offer in the seven Hotras.
g Homage to the serpents
Which are on the earth,
The serpents in the atmosphere, in the sky,
To those serpents homage.
h Those that are there in the vault of the sky,
Or those who are in the rays of the sun,
Those whose seat is made in the waters,
To those serpents honour.
i Those that are the missiles of sorcerers,
Or those that are among the trees,
Or those that lie in the wells,
To those serpents honour.
iv. 2. 9.
a Thou art firm, supporting, unoverpowered,
Well wrought by Vi�vakarman;
Let not the ocean smite thee, nor the eagle;
Unshaking do thou make firm the earth.
b May Prajapati seat thee on the back of earth, capacious, extending; thou art extent, thou art earth, thou art the world, thou art the earth, thou art Aditi all-sustaining, sustainer of all the world; sustain the earth, make firm the earth, harm not the earth, for all expiration, cross-breathing, up-breathing, for support [1], for motion; may Agni protect thee with great prosperity, with most auspicious covering; with that deity, in the manner of Angiras, do thou sit firm.
c Arising from every stem,
From every joint,
Do thou, O Durva, extend us
With a thousand, a hundred.
d Thou that extendest with a hundred,
That arisest with a thousand,
To thee, O goddess, O brick,
Let us sacrifice with oblation.
e Unovercomable art thou, overcoming, overcome our enemies, over come those that practise enmity.
f Overcome the foe, overcome the foemen of a thousandfold strength [2] art thou; do thou inspirit me.
g To the pious the winds pour honey,
The streams honey;
Be sweet to us the plants.
h Sweet is the night, and sweet
At dawn the air of earth,
Sweet be the sky, our father.
i Sweet to us be the lord of the forest,
Sweet the sun,
Sweet be the cows to us.
k May the two great ones, sky and earth,
Mingle for us this sacrifice;
May they sustain us with support.
l That highest step of Visnu [3]
The singers ever gaze upon
Like an eye stretched in the sky.
m Thou art firm, O earth,
Overcome the foemen;
Fashioned by the gods hast thou come with ambrosia.
n Those beams of thine, O Agni, which rising
In the sun with rays envelop the sky,
With all of them bring us to brilliance, to men.
o Those flames of yours in the sun,
O gods, in cattle, in horses,
O Indra and Agni, O Brhaspati,
With all of these grant us brilliance.
p The brilliant [4] bore the light, the shining bore the light, the self-resplendent bore the light.
q O Agni, yoke,
O god, thy good steeds,
The swift that readily bear.
r Yoke, like a charioteer, O Agni,
The steeds that best invite the gods
Sit down as ancient Hotr.
s The drop hath fallen on the earth, the sky,
On this seat and on the one which was aforetime
The drop that wandereth over the third seat
I offer in the seven [5] Hotras.
t There hath come into being this might of all the world,
And of Agni Vai�vanara,
Agni full of light with light,
The disk radiant with radiance.
w For the verse thee, for brilliance thee
v Like streams the offerings flow together,
Purified within with heart and mind;
I behold the streams of ghee;
A golden reed is there in the midst of them.
w In it sitteth an eagle, honey-making, nested,
Assigning honey to the deities,
On its brink sit seven tawny ones,
Milking at will the stream of ambrosia.
iv. 2. 10.
a Anointing with milk Aditya, the embryo,
Counterpart of a thousand, of every form,
Spare him, injure him not with thy heat;
Make him of a hundred (years of) life, as thou art piled.
b Injure not this biped of animals,
O hundred-eyed one, being piled for the sacrifice;
I appoint for thee the wailer in the forest;
Therewith piling thy forms, be seated.
c The rush of the wind, the navel of Varuna,
Born as a steed in the midst of the waters,
The child of the streams, the tawny one, rooted in the mountain,
O Agni, harm him not [1] in the highest heaven.
d Harm not this one-hooved of cattle,
The thundering, the courser among the contests;
I appoint for thee the Gayal of the forest;
Therewith piling thy forms, be seated.
e The undying drop, the ruddy, the active,
Agni I hymn with praises with first inspiration;
Do thou forming thyself with joints in due order,
Harm not the cow, Aditi, the resplendent.
f This ocean, the spring of a hundred streams,
Expanded in the middle of the world,
Aditi milking ghee for men,
O Agni, harm not [2] in the highest heaven;
I appoint for thee the Gayal of the forest;
Therewith piling thy forms, be seated.
g Guard of Tvastr, navel of Varuna,
Born as the sheep from the furthest region,
The great thousandfold wile of the Asura,
O Agni, harm not in the highest heaven.
h This woolly wile of Varuna,
The skin of cattle, biped and quadruped,
The first birthplace of the offspring of Tvastr,
O Agni, harm not in the highest heaven;
I appoint for thee the buffalo of the forest [3];
Therewith piling thy forms, be seated.
i The Agni born of the heat of Agni,
From the burning of the earth or of the sky,
That whereby Vi�vakarman attained creatures,
Him, O Agni, let thy wrath spare.
k The goat was born from Agni as an embryo;
She beheld her begetter before;
Thereby those worthy of sacrifice attained pre-eminence,
Thereby first the gods attained godhead;
I appoint for thee the �arabha of the forest;
Therewith piling thy forms, be seated.
iv. 2. 11.
a O Indra and Agni, the realms of the sky
Ye adorn in your strength;
That might of yours is dear.
b The foe shall he pierce and wealth he doth gain
Who worshippeth Indra and Agni, the strong ones,
Who rule over much wealth,
The most strong who with strength show their power.
c Men ye surpass in the battle call,
Earth ye surpass, and sky,
The mountains and the streams (ye surpass) in greatness,
And, O Indra and Agni, all other worlds.
d In whose house [1], O Maruts,
Ye drink, O joyous ones of the sky
That man hath the best of guardians.
e Either through sacrifices receiving worship,
Or from the prayers of the singer,
Do ye, O Maruts, hearken to our call.
f For glory they are wreathed in flames,
In the rays (of the sun), adorned with rings they (are accompanied) with singers;
They wearing daggers, impetuous, fearless,
Have found the dear home of the Maruts.
g Thy wrath.
h The highest.
i With what aid will he come to us,
Our wondrous, ever-waxing, friend?
With what most potent aid [2]?
k Who to-day yoketh to the pole of holy order
The oxen, eager, of keen spirits, the furious,
With darts in their mouths, heart-piercing, healthful?
He who attaineth their service shall live.
l O Agni, lead.
m Of the gods.
n May they be prosperous for us
o In every contest.
In the waters, O Agni, is thy seat,
Thou enterest the plants;
Being in the germ thou art born again.
q Thou art strong, O Soma, and bright;
Thou art strong, O god, and strong thy rule;
Strong laws dost thou establish.
r This for me, O Varuna.
s That of thine I approach.
t Thou, O Agni.
u Do thou to us, O Agni.
PRAPATHAKA III
The Five Layers of Bricks
iv. 3. 1.
a I place thee in the going of the waters; I place thee in the rising of the waters; I place thee in the ashes of the waters; I place thee in the light of the waters; I place thee in the movement of the waters.
b Sit on the billows as thy place of rest; sit on the ocean as thy place of rest; sit on the stream as thy place of rest; sit in the abode of the waters; sit on the seat of the waters.
c I place thee in the seat of the waters; I place thee in the dwelling of the waters; I place thee in the dust of the waters; I place thee in the womb of the waters; I place thee in the stronghold of the waters.
d The metro the Gayatri; the metre the Tristubh; the metro the Jagati; the metre the Anustubh; the metre the Pankti.
iv. 3. 2.
a This one in front the existent; his, the existent's breath; spring born of the breath; the Gayatri born of the spring; from the Gayatri the Gayatri (Saman); from the Gayatra the Upan�u (cup); from the Upan�u the Trivrt (Stoma); from the Trivrt the Rathantara; from the Rathantara Vasistha, the Rsi; with thee taken by Prajapati, I take breath for offspring.
b This one on the right, the all-worker; his, the all-worker's, mind; summer born of mind; the Tristubh born of summer; from the Tristubh the Aida (Saman); from the Aida the Antaryama (cup); from the Antaryama the fifteenfold (Stoma); from the fifteenfold the Brhat; from the Brhat Bharadvaja, the Rsi; with thee taken by Prajapati, I take mind for offspring [1].
c This one behind, the all-extending; his, the all-extending's, eye; the rains born of the eye; the Jagati born of the rains; from the Jagati the Rksama (Saman); from the Rksama the �ukra (cup); from the �ukra the seventeenfold (Stoma); from the seventeenfold the Vairupa; from the Vairupa Vi�vamitra, the Rsi; with thee taken by Prajapati, I take the eye for my offspring.
d This one on the left, the light; his, the light's, ear; the autumn born of the ear; the Anustubh connected with the autumn; from the Anustubh the Svara (Saman); from the Svara the Manthin (cup); from the Manthin the twenty-onefold (Stoma); from the twenty-onefold the Vairaja; from the Vairaja Jamadagni, the Rsi; with thee taken by Prajapati [2], I take the ear for offspring.
c This one above, thought; his, thought's, speech; the winter born of speech; the Pankti born of winter; from the Pankti that which has finales; from that which has finales the Agrayana (cup); from the Agrayana the twenty-sevenfold and the thirty-threefold (Stomas); from the twenty-sevenfold and the thirty-threefold the �akvara and Raivata; from the �akvara and Raivata Vi�vakarman, the Rsi; with thee taken by Prajapati, I take speech for offspring.
iv. 3. 3.
a The east of the quarters; the spring of the seasons; Agni the deity; holy power the wealth; the Trivrt the Stoma, and it forming the path of the fifteenfold (Stoma); the eighteen-month-old calf the strength; the Krta of throws of dice; the east wind the wind; Sanaga the Rsi.
b The south of the quarters; the summer of the seasons; Indra the deity; the kingly power the wealth; the fifteenfold the Stoma, and it forming the path of the seventeenfold (Stoma); the two-year-old the strength; the Treta of throws; the south wind the wind; Sanatana, the Rsi.
c The west of the quarters; the rains of the seasons; the All-gods the deity; the peasants [1] the wealth; the seventeenfold the Stoma, and it forming the path of the twenty-onefold (Stoma); the three-year-old the strength; the Dvapara of throws; the west wind the wind; Ahabuna the Rsi.
d The north of the quarters; the autumn of the seasons; Mitra and Varuna the deity; prosperity the wealth; the twenty-onefold the Stoma; and it forming a path of the twenty-sevenfold (Stoma); the four-year-old the strength; the Askanda of throws; the north wind the wind; Pratna the Rsi.
e The zenith of the quarters; the winter and the cool season of the seasons; Brhaspati the deity; radiance the wealth; the twenty-sevenfold the Stoma, and it forming a path of the thirty-threefold; the draught ox the strength; the Abhibhu of throws; the wind all through the wind; Suparna the Rsi.
f Fathers, grandfathers, near and far, may they protect us, may they help us, in this holy power, this lordly power, this prayer, this Purohita-ship, this rite, this invocation of the gods.
iv. 8. 4.
a Firm is thy dwelling, thy place of birth, firm art thou
Settle thou duly in thy firm place of birth;
Banner of the fire in the pan,
May the two A�vins, the leeches, set thee here first in the east.
b In thine own skill sit thou whose sire is skill,
As the great earth bountiful among the gods,
Be of kindly approach and come with thy body,
Kindly as a father to his son;
May the two A�vins, the leeches, set thee here.
c Nesting, rich in wealth, strength bestowing,
Increase for us wealth, abundant, rich in heroes [1],
Driving away hostility and enmity,
Granting the lord of the sacrifice a share in increase of wealth,
Do thou bestow the heaven as increase to the sacrificer;
May the two A�vins, the leeches, set thee here.
d Thou art the dust of Agni, the leader of the gods;
May the All-gods favour thee as such;
With Stomas for thy back, rich in ghee, sit thou here,
And win to us by sacrifice riches with offspring.
May the two A�vins, the leeches, set thee here!
e Thou art the head of sky, the navel of earth, the holder apart of the quarters, the lady paramount of the worlds [2], the wave, the drop of the waters thou art; Vi�vakarman is thy seer; may the two A�vins, the leeches, set thee here.
f In unison with the seasons, in unison with the ordainers, in unison with the Vasus, in unison with the Rudras, in unison with the Adityas, in unison with the All-gods, in unison with the gods, in unison with the gods establishing strength, to Agni Vai�vanara, thee; may the two A�vins, the leeches, set thee here.
g Protect my expiration; protect my inspiration; protect my cross breathing; make my eye to shine widely; make my ear to hear.
h Make thick the waters; quicken the plants; protect bipeds; help quadrupeds; from the sky make rain to start.
iv. 3. 5.
a (Thou art) the calf of eighteen months in strength, the Tristubh metre; the two-year-old in strength, the Viraj metre; the two-and-a-half year-old in strength, the Gayatri metre; the three-year-old in strength, the Usnih metre; the four-year-old in strength, the Anustubh metre; the draught ox in strength, the Brhati metre; the bull in strength, the Satobrhati metre; the bullock in strength, the Kakubh metre; the milch cow in strength, the Jagati metre; the beast of burden in strength, the Pankti metre; the goat in strength, the spacious metre; the ram in strength, the slow metre; the tiger in strength, the unassailable metre; the lion in strength, the covering metre; the support in strength, the overlord metre; the lordly power in strength, the delight-giving metre; the all-creating in strength, the supreme lord metro; the head in strength, the Prajapati metre.
iv. 3. 6.
a O Indra and Agni, do ye two make firm
The brick that quaketh not;
And let it with its back repel
The sky and earth and atmosphere.
b Let Vi�vakarman place thee in the ridge of the atmosphere, encompassing, expanding, resplendent, possessing the sun, thee that dost illumine the sky, the earth, the broad atmosphere, support the atmosphere, make firm the atmosphere, harm not the atmosphere; for every expiration, inspiration, cross-breathing, out-breathing, support, movement; let Vayu protect thee with great prosperity, with a covering [1] most healing; with that deity do thou sit firm in the manner of Angiras.
c Thou art the queen, the eastern quarter; thou art the ruling, the southern quarter; thou art the sovereign, the western quarter; thou art the self-ruling, the northern quarter; thou art the lady paramount, the great quarter.
d Protect my life; protect my expiration; protect my inspiration; protect my cross-breathing; protect my eye; protect my ear; quicken my mind; strengthen my voice; protect my breath; accord me light.
iv. 3. 7.
a (Thou art) Ma metre, Prama metre, Pratima metre, Asrivis metre, Pankti metre, Usnih metre, Brhati metre, Anustubh metre, Viraj metre, Gayatri metre, Tristubh metre, Jagati metre. (Thou art) earth metre, atmosphere metro, sky metre, seasons metre, Naksatras metre, mind metre, speech metre, ploughing metre, gold metre, cow metre, female goat metre, horse metre. (Thou art) Agni, the deity [1], Vata, the deity, Surya, the deity, Candramas, the deity, the Vasus, the deity, the Rudras, the deity, the Adityas, the deity, the All-gods, the deity, the Maruts, the deity, Brhaspati, the deity, Indra, the deity, Varuna, the deity.
b The head thou art, ruling; thou art the firm, the supporting; thou art the prop, the restrainer; for food thee; for strength thee; for ploughing thee: for safety thee! (Thou art) the prop, ruling; thou art the firm, the supporting; thou art the holder, the sustainer; for life thee; for radiance thee; for force thee; for might thee!
iv. 3. 8.
(Thou art) the swift, the triple (Stoma); the shining, the fifteenfold the sky, the seventeenfold; speed, the eighteenfold; fervour, the nineteen. fold; attack, the twentyfold; support, the twenty-onefold; radiance, the twenty-twofold; maintenance, the twenty-threefold; the womb, the twenty-fourfold; the embryo, the twenty-fivefold; might, the twenty sevenfold; inspiration, the thirty-onefold; support, the thirty-threefold; the surface of the tawny one, the thirty-fourfold; the vault, the thirty-six fold; the revolving, the forty-eightfold; the support, the fourfold Stoma.
iv. 3. 9.
a Thou art the portion of Agni, the overlordship of consecration, the holy power saved, the threefold Stoma.
b Thou art the portion of Indra, the overlordship of Visnu, the lordly power saved, the fifteenfold Stoma.
c Thou art the portion of them that gaze on men, the overlordship of Dhatr, the birthplace saved, the seventeenfold Stoma.
d Thou art the portion of Mitra, the overlordship of Varuna, the rain from the sky, the winds saved, the twenty-onefold Stoma.
e Thou art the portion of Aditi, the overlordship of Pusan, force saved, the twenty-sevenfold Stoma.
f Thou art the portion of the Vasus [1], the overlordship of the Rudras, the quadruped saved, the twenty-fourfold Stoma.
g Thou art the portion of the Adityas, the overlordship of the Maruts, offspring saved, the twenty-fivefold Stoma.
h Thou art the portion of the god Savitr, the overlordship of Brhaspati, all the quarters saved, the fourfold Stoma.
i Thou art the portion of the Yavas, the overlordship of the Ayavas, offspring saved, the forty-fourfold Stoma.
k Thou art the portion of the Rbhus, the overlordship, of the All-gods, being calmed and saved, the thirty-threefold Stoma.
iv. 3. 10.
They praised with one, creatures were established, Prajapati was overlord. They praised with three, the holy power: was created, the lord of holy power was overlord. They praised with fire, beings were created, the lord of beings was the overlord. They praised with seven, the seven seers were created, Dhatr was the overlord. They praised with nine, the fathers were created, Aditi was the overlady. They praised with eleven, the seasons were created, the seasonal one was the overlord. They praised with thirteen, the months were created, the year was the overlord [1]. They praised with fifteen, the lordly class was created, Indra was the overlord. They praised with seventeen, cattle were created, Brhaspati was the overlord. They praised with nineteen, the �udra and the Arya were created, day and night were the overlords. They praised with twenty-one, the whole-hooved cattle were created, Varuna was the overlord. They praised with twenty-three, small cattle were created, Pusan was the overlord. They praised with twenty-five, wild cattle were created, Vayu was the overlord. They praised with twenty-seven, sky and earth [2] went apart, the Vasus, Rudras, and Adityas followed their example, theirs was the overlordship. They praised with twenty-nine, trees were created, Soma was the overlord. They praised with thirty-one, creatures were created, the Yavas and the Ayavas had the overlordship. They praised with thirty-three, creatures came to rest, Prajapati was the overlord and chief.
iv. 3. 11.
a This is she that first dawned;
Within this (earth) she hath entered and moveth;
The new-made bride as mother beareth the mothers;
Three greatnesses attend her.
b Charming, the dawns, adorned,
Moving along a common birthplace,
Wives of the sun, they move, wise ones,
Making a banner of light, unaging, rich in seed.
c Three have followed the path of holy order,
Three cauldrons have come with the light,
Offspring one guardeth, strength one [1],
Another the law of the pious guardeth.
d The fourth hath become that of four Stomas,
Becoming the two wings of the sacrifice, O Rsis;
Yoking the Gayatri, Tristubh, Jagati, and Anustubh, the Brhat,
The hymn, they have borne forward this heaven.
e By five the creator disposed this (world),
What time he produced sisters of them, five by five,
By their mingling go five strengths
Clad in various forms.
f Thirty sisters go to the appointed place,
Putting on the same badge [2],
The sages spread out the seasons, the knowing ones
With the metres in their midst, go about in brilliance.
g The shining one putteth on clouds,
The ways of the sun, the night divine;
The beasts of many forms that are born
Look around on the lap of their mother.
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