Krishna Yajur Veda
Translator – Arthur Berriedale Keith
KANDA I
PRAPATHAKA I
i.
1. 1.
a. For
food thee, for strength thee!
b. Ye
are winds, ye are approachers.
c. Let
the god Savitr impel you to the most excellent offering.
d. O
invincible ones, swell with the share for the gods, Full of strength, of milk,
rich in offspring, free from sickness, from disease.
e. Let
no thief, no evil worker, have control over you.
f . Let
Rudra’s dart avoid you.
g. Abide
ye, numerous, with this lord of cattle.
h. Do
thou protect the cattle of the sacrificer.
i. 1. 2
a. Thou
art the substance of the sacriflee.
b. The
Raksas is burned up, the evil spirits are burned up.
c. The
Vedi hath come to the sacrificial straw, Made by Manu, fashioned with the
Svadha call. The sages fetch it from in front, The delightful straw for the
gods to sit on here.
d. Thou art
impelled by the gods.
e. Thou
art made to grow by the rains.
f. O
divine straw, lot me not hit thee either across or along,
g. Let
me hit thy joints,
h. Let
me come to no harm in cutting thee.
i O
divine straw, rise with a hundred shoots, Let us rise with a thousand shoots.
k. Guard
from the contact of earth.
l. I
gather thee with good gathering.
m. Thou
art the girdle of Aditi, the cord of Indrani.
n. Let
Pusan tie a knot for thee, that knot shall mount me.
o. I
hold thee up with the arms of Indra, I seize thee with the head of Brhaspati.
p. Fare
along the wide atmosphere.
q. Thou
art going to the gods.
i. 1. 3.
a. Be ye
pure for the divine rite, the sacrifice to the gods.
b. Thou
art the cauldron of Matariçvan.
c. Thou
art the heaven, thou art the earth.
d. Thou
art the all-supporting with the highest support.
e. Be
firm, waver not.
f. Thou
art the strainer of the Vasus, of a hundred streams, thou art that of the
Vasus, of a thousand streams.
g. The
spot (stoka) has been offered, the drop has been offered.
h. To
Agni, to the mighty firmament!
i. Hail
to sky and earth!
k. This
is she of all life, this is the all-encompassing, this is the all-doing.
I. Be ye
united, that follow holy orders,Ye that wave and are fullest of
sweetness,Delightful for the gaining of wealth.
m. With
Soma I curdle thee, curds for Indra.
n. O
Visnu, guard the offering.
i. 1. 4.
a. For
the rite you two, for the gods may I be strong.
b. Thee
for accomplishment!
c. The
Raksas is burnt up, the evil spirits are burnt up.
d. Thou
art the yoke.
e.
Injure him who injures us, injure him whom we injure.
f. Thou
art of gods the most firmly jointed, the most richly filled, the most
agreeable, the best of carriers, the best caller of the gods.
g. Thou
art the oblation-holder that wavers not.
h. Be
firm, waver not.
i. I
gaze on thee with the eye of Mitra.
k. Be
not afraid, be not troubled, let me harm thee [1] not.
l. (Be
thou) wide open to the wind.
m. On
the impulse of the god Savitr, with the arms of the Açvins,with the hands of
Pusan, I offer thee dear to Agni, to Agni and Soma.
n. This
of the gods, this of us too.
o. For
prosperity thee, not for misfortune.
p. May I
behold the light, the radiance for all men.
q. May
they that have doors stand firm in heaven and earth.
r. Fare
along the wide atmosphere.
s. I
place thee in the lap of Aditi.
t. O
Agni, guard the offering.
i.
1. 5.
a. Let
the god Savitr purify you, with a filter that has no flaw, with the rays of the
bright sun.
b. Ye
divine waters, that go in front and first purify, forward lead this sacrifice,
place in front the lord of the sacrifice.
c. You
Indra chose for the contest with Vrtra, ye chose Indra for the contest with
Vrtra.
d. Ye
are sprinkled.
e. I
sprinkle you agreeable to Agni, to Agni and Soma.
f. Be ye
pure for the divine rite, for the sacrifice to the gods.
g. The
Raksas is shaken off, the evil spirits are shaken off.
h. Thou
art the skin of Aditi, may the earth’ recognize thee [1].
i. Thou
art the plank’ of wood, may the skin of Aditi recognize thee.
k. Thou
art the body of Agni, loostener of speech.
l. I
grasp thee for the joy of the gods.
m. Thou
art the stone of wood.
n. Do
thou with good labour elaborate this offering for the gods.
o. Utter
food, utter strength;
p. Make
ye glorious sounds.
q. May
we be victorious in contest.
r. Thou
art increased by the rain.
s. May
that which is increased by the rain recognize thee.
t. The
Raksas is cleared away, the evil spirits are cleared away.
u. Thou
art the share of the Raksases.
v. Let
the wind separate you.
w. Let
the god Savitr of golden hands, seize you.
i. 1. 6.
a. The 7
Raksas is shaken off, the evil spirits are shaken off.
b. Thou
art the skin of Aditi, may the earth recognize thee.
c. Thou
art the supporter of the sky, may the skin of Aditi recognize thee.
d Thou
art a bowl of rock, may the supporter of the sky recognize thee.
e. Thou
art a bowl made of the rock, may the rock recognize thee.
f. On
the impulse of the god Savity, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands of
Prisan, I pour thee out.
g. Thou
art stimulating, stimulate the gods.
h. For
expiration thee, for inspiration thee, for through-breathing thee (I pound).
i. May I
extend for long the life (of the sacrificer).
k. Let
the god Savitr, of golden hands, seize you.
1.
1. 7
a. Bold
art thou, support our prayer.
b. O
Agni, drive off the fire that eats raw flesh, send away the corpse-eating one,
bring hither the fire that sacrifices to the gods.
c. The
Raksas is burnt, the evil spirits are burnt.
d. Thou
art firm; make firm the earth, make life firm, make offspring firm, make his
follows subordinate to this sacrificer.
e. Thou
art a supporter, make firm the atmosphere, make expiration firm, make
inspiration firm, make his fellows subordinate to this sacrificer.
f. Thou
are supporting, make the heaven firm, make the eye [1] firm, make the ear firm,
make his fellows, &c.
g. Thou
art a support, make the quarters firm, make the organ firm, make offspring
firm, make his fellows, &c.
h. Ye
are gatherers, bring offspring to this sacrificer, wealth to him, make his
fellows, &c.
i. Be ye
heated with the heat of the Bhrgus and the Angirases.
k. The
potsherds which wise men collect for the cauldron, these are in Pusan’s
guardianship. Lot Indra and Vayu set them free.
i. 1. 8.
a. I
pour together.
b. The
waters have joined with the waters, the plants with sap.
c. Join
ye rich ones with the moving ones, sweet ones with the sweet.
d. From
the waters ye are born, be united with the waters.
e. For
generation I unite thee.
f. For
Agni thee, for Agni and Soma.
g. Thou
art the head of Makha.
h. Thou
art the cauldron that contains all life.
i. Be
extended wide, let the lord of the sacrifice be extended wide.
k. Grasp
the skin.
I. The
Raksas is obstructed, the evil spirits are obstructed.
m. Let
the god Savitr make thee ready on the highest firmament.
n. May
Agni burn not too much thy body.
o. O
Agni, guard the offering.
p. Be
united with our prayer.
q. Hail
to Ekata, hail to Dvita, hail to Trita.
i.
1. 9.
a. I
grasp (thee).
b. Thou
art Indra’s right arm with a thousand spikes, a hundred edges.
c. Thou
art the wind of sharp edge.
d. O
earth whereon sacrifice is offered to the gods, let me harm not the root of thy
plant.
e. Araru
is smitten away from the earth.
f. Go to
the fold where the cattle are.
g. May
heaven rain for thee.
h. O god
Savitr, bind thou in the furthest distance with a hundred fetters him who
hateth us and whom we hate, thence let him not free.
i. Araru
is smitten away from the earth, the place of sacrifice.
k. Go to
the fold [1] where the cattle are.
l. May
heaven rain for thee.
m O god Savitr &c.
m O god Savitr &c.
n. Araru
is smitten away from the earth, he that sacrifices not to the gods.
o. Go to the fold where the cattle are.
o. Go to the fold where the cattle are.
p. May
heaven rain for thee.
q. O god
Savitr, &c. [2]
r. Let
not Araru mount the sky for thee.
s. Let
the Vasus grasp thee with the Gayatri metre, let the Rudras grasp thee with the
Tristubb. metre, let the Adityas grasp thee with the Jagati metre.
t. On
the impulse of the god Savitr wise ones perform the rite.
u. Thou
art the right, thou art the seat of right, thou art the glory of right.
v. Thou
art the holder, thou art the self-holder.
w. Thou
art broad, and wealthy art thou.
x.
Before the cruel foe slips away, O glorious one, Taking up the earth, with
plenteous drops, The earth which they place in the moon by their offerings,
Which wise men use to guide them in the sacrifice.
i.
1. 10.
a. The
Raksas is burnt up, the evil spirits are burnt up.
b. With
Agni’s keenest flame I burn you.
c. May I
not brush the place of the cattle, I brush thee that art strong and overcomest
foes.
d.
Speech, breath, eye, ear, offspring, the organ of generation may I not brush, I
brush thee that art strong and overcomest foes.
e.
Beseeching favour, offspring, prosperity, in devotion to Agni, I gird my body
for good action.
f. With
fair offspring, with noble husbands, We are come to thee, O Agni, to thee that
deceivest the foe, The undeceivable, we that are not deceived.
g. I
loosen this bond of Varuna,Which Savitr the kindly hath bound,And in the
birthplace of the creator, in the place of good action, I make it pleasant for
me with my husband.
h. With
life, with offspring,O Agni, with splendour again, As wife with my husband I am
united. United be my spirit with my body.
i. Of
the great ones thou art the milk, of plants the sap. Of thee that art the
imperishable I make the offering.
k. Thou
art the milk of the great ones, of plants the sap; with undeceived eye I gaze
on thee for fair offspring.
l. Thou
art brilliance; follow thou brilliance; may Agni not take away the brilliance.
m. Thou
art the tongue of Agni, the good one of the gods.
n Be
thou (good) for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every prayer.
o. Thou
art the shining, the radiance, the brilliance.
p. May
the god Savitr purify you With a flawless strainer, With the rays of the bright
sun.
q. I
grasp thee shining in the shining, for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every
prayer.
r. I
grasp thee radiance in the radiance, thee resplendent in the resplendence for
every sacrifice, for the gods, for every prayer.
i.
1. 11.
a Thou I
art a black deer, living in the lair, to Agni thee, hail!
b. Thou
art the altar, to the strew thee, hail!
c. Thou
art the strew,’ to the ladles thee, hail
d. To
the sky thee, to the atmosphere thee, to the earth thee!
e. Be
thou refreshment to the fathers, strength to those that sit on the strew.
f. With
strength go ye to the earth.
g. Thou
art the hair-knot of Visnu.
h. Soft
as wool I strew thee, offering a good seat to the gods.
i. Thou
art the Gandharva, Viçvavasu (possessing all wealth), the fence of the
sacrificer from every attacker, praised and to be praised.
k. Thou
art the right arm of Indra, the fence of the sacrificer, praised and to be
praised.
l. May
Mitra and Varuna lay thee around in the north with firm law, thou art the fence
of the sacrificer, praised and to be praised.
m. May
the sun in the east protect thee from all evil.
n. May
we kindle thee, O wise one, That dost invite to the sacrifice, the radiant one,
O Agni,
thee that art mighty at the sacrifice.
o. Ye
two are the props of the people.
p. Sit
on the seat of the Vasus, Rudras, Adityas.
q. Thou
art named juhu, upabhrt, dhruva, loving the ghee, sit on thy dear seat with thy
dear name.
r. These
have sat down in the world of good action.
s.
Protect them, O Visnu.
t.
Protect the sacrifice, protect the lord of the sacrifice, protect me that
conduct the sacrifice.
i. 1. 12.
a. Thou
art the world, be extended.
b. O
Agni, sacrificer, this reverence.
c. O
juhu, come hither, Agni summons thee for the sacrifice to the gods.
d. O
upabhrt, come hither, the god Savitr summons thee for the sacrifice to the
gods.
e. O
Agni and Visnu, let me not step down upon you.
f. Be ye
parted, consume me not.
g. Make
ye a place for me, ye place-makers.
h. Thou
art the abode of Visnu.
i. Hence
Indra wrought mighty deeds.’
k.
Great, grasping the sky, imperishable.
l. The
sacrifice of the lord of the sacrifice is undisturbed.
m.
Offered to Indra, hail!
n. Great
light.
o. Guard
me, O Agni, from misfortune, place me in good fortune.
p. Thou
art the head of Makha, be light united with light.
i. 1. 13.
a. With
the impulse of strength, With elevation he hath lifted me up; Then Indra hath
made my enemies Humble by depression.
b. The
gods have increased my prayer. What is elevation and depression; Then do ye, O
Indra and Agni,
Scatter my foes on every side.
Scatter my foes on every side.
c. To
the Vasus thee, to the Rudras thee, to the Adityas thee!
d.
Licking the anointed lot the birds go asunder.
e. May I
not brush offispring and the organ.
f.
Swell, ye waters and plants.
g. Ye
are the spotted steeds of the Maruts.
h. Fare
to the sky [1], thence bring us rain.
i.
Guardian of life art thou, O Agni, guard my life.
k.
Guardian of the eye art thou, O Agni, guard my eye.
l. Thou
art the secure one.
m. The
fence which thou didst put round thee When thou wast beset by the Panis, O god
Agni, That do I bring here to thee that thou mayst rejoice in it, That it be
not removed from thee.
n. Go ye
two to the place of the gods.
o. Ye
are sharers in the remains (of the oblation), well nourished, mighty Ye gods
that are on the prastara and sit on the strew [2]. Accepting this supplication,
do ye all, Seated on this strew enjoy yourselves.
p. I set
thee in the seat of Agni whose abode is secure.
q. For
goodwill, O ye two with goodwill, place me in goodwill.
r. Guard
ye the yoke-horses at the yoke.
s. O
Agni, with life unhurt, with not-cool body, guard me this day from the sky,
guard from bondage, guard from error in sacrifice, guard from evil food, guard
from ill deed.
t. Make
our food free from poison, the lap pleasant to sit in; hail!
u. O ye
gods that know the way, knowing the way, go ye the way.
v. O
lord of mind, this sacrifice for us place among the gods, O god, hail! in
speech, hail! in the wind, hail!
i. 1. 14.
a. Ye
twain shall be summoned, O Indra and Agni. Ye twain shall rejoice together in
the offering. You both givers of food and riches, You both I summon for the
winning of strength.
b. For I
have heard that ye both are more generous Than a worthless son-in-law or a
wife’s brother. So with the offering of Soma I make for you, O 1ndra and Agni,
a new hymn of praise;
c. O
Indra and Agni, ninety forts Of which the Dasas were lords ye overtbrew
Together in one deed.
d. This
pure new-born hymn of praise this day, O Indra and Agni, slayers of Vrtra,
accept with joy [1]. For on you both I call that are ready to listen, You that
are ever readiest to give strength to the eager.
e. We
thee, O lord of the path, As a chariot to win the prize, Have yoked for our
prayer, O Pusan.
f. Lord
of each way with eloquence; Driven by love he went to Arka; May he give us the
comfort of gold,
May Pusan further our every prayer.
May Pusan further our every prayer.
g. By
the lord of the field As by a friend may we win What nourishes our kine and
horses; May he be [2] favourable to such as we are.
h. O
lord of the field, the honey-bearing wave, As a cow milk, so for us milk; May
the lords of right graciously accord us That which drops honey and is well
purified like ghee.
i. O
Agni, lead us by a fair path to wealth, O god, knowing all the ways; Keep away
from us the sin that makes us wander; We will accord to thee most abundant
honour.
k. We
have come to the path of the gods To accomplish that which we have power to do;
Let wise Agni sacrifice [3], let him be Hotr Let him arrange the offerings him
the seasons.
l. What
carrieth best is for Agni;Sing aloud, O thou of brilliant radiance. From thee
wealth, like a cow, From thee strength riseth forth.
m. O
Agni, once more lead us With thy favour over every trouble. Be a broad, thick,
wide fortress for us,
Health and wealth for our children and descendants. Thou, O Agni, art the guardian of law, Among the gods and mortals; Thou art to be invoked at the sacrifices. o If laws of you wise ones, O gods, In our ignorance we transgress, May Agni make good all that, He that knoweth the seasons wherein he may satisfy the gods.
Health and wealth for our children and descendants. Thou, O Agni, art the guardian of law, Among the gods and mortals; Thou art to be invoked at the sacrifices. o If laws of you wise ones, O gods, In our ignorance we transgress, May Agni make good all that, He that knoweth the seasons wherein he may satisfy the gods.
PRAPATHAKA II
The Soma Sacrifice
The Soma Sacrifice
i.
2. 1.
a. May I
the waters wet (thee) for life, For length of days, for glory.
b. O
plant, protect him.
c. Axe,
hurt him not.
d.
Obedient to the gods I shear these.
e. With
success may I reach further days.
f. Let
the waters, the mothers, purify us, With ghee let those that purify our ghee
purify us, Let them bear from us all pollution, Forth from these waters do I
come bright, in purity.
g. Thou
art the body of Soma, guard my body.
h. Thou
art the milk of the great ones, thou art the giver of splendour; splendour [1]
place in me.
i. Thou
art the pupil of Vrtra’s eye, thou art the guardian of the eye, guard my eye.
k. Let
the lord of thought purify thee, let the lord of speech purify thee, let the
god Savitr purify thee
With the flawless purifier, With the rays of the bright sun.
With the flawless purifier, With the rays of the bright sun.
l. O
lord of the purifier, with thy purifier for whatsoever I purify myself, that
may I have strength to accomplish.
m. We
approach you, O gods, Ye that have true ordinances at the sacrifice What O gods
ye can assent to,
For that we ask you, O holy ones.’
For that we ask you, O holy ones.’
n. Indra
and Agni, heaven and earth, waters, plants.
o. Thou
art the lord of consecrations, guard me that am here.
i. 2. 2.
a. To
the purpose, to the impulse, to Agni, hail! To wisdom, to thought, to Agni,
hail! To consecration, to penance, to Agni, hail! To Sarasvati, to Prisan, to
Agni, hail!
b. O ye
divine, vast, all-sootbing waters! Heaven and earth, wide atmosphere! May
Brhaspati rejoice in our oblation, hail!
c. 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!
d. Ye
are images of the Rc and the Saman. I grasp you two; do ye two [1] protect me
until the completion of this sacrifice.
e. O
god,Varuna, do thou sharpen this prayer of him who implores thee, Sharpen his
strength, his insight; May we mount that safe ship Whereby we’ may pass over
all our difficulties.
f. Thou
art the strength of the Angirases, soft as wool; grant me strength, guard me,
harm me not.
g. Thou
art the protection of Visnu, the protection of the sacrificer, grant me
protection.
h. Guard
me from the lustre of the Naksatras.
i. Thou
art the birthplace of Indra [2]; harm me not.
k. For
ploughing thee, for good crops, l For the plants with good berries thee!
m. Thou
art of easy access, divine tree. Being erect, guard me until the completion (of
the sacrifice).
n. Hail!
with my mind the sacrifice (I grasp); hail! from heaven and earth, bail! from
the broad atmosphere, hail! from the wind the sacrifice I grasp.
i. 2. 3.
a. The
thought divine we meditate, Merciful, for our help, That giveth glory, and
carrieth the sacrifice.
May it guide us safely according as we will.
May it guide us safely according as we will.
b. The
gods, mind-born, mind-using, The wise, the sons of wisdom, May they guard us,
may they protect us,
To them honour! to them hail!
To them honour! to them hail!
c. O
Agni, be thou wakeful; Let us be glad; Guard us to prosperity; Grant to us to
wake again.
d. Thou,
O Agni, art the guardian of vows, Among the gods and men. Thou [1] art to be
invoked at our sacrifices.
e. All
the gods have surrounded me, Pusan with gain, Soma with a gift, The god Savitr
the giver of brightness.
f. O
Soma, give so much, and bear more hither.
g. May
he that filleth never miss of fullness. Let me not be parted with life.
h. Thou
art gold; be for my enjoyment. Thou art raiment; be for my enjoyment. Thou art
a cow; be for my enjoyment. Thou art a horse; be for my enjoyment [2]. Thou art
a goat; be for my enjoyment. Thou art a ram; be for my enjoyment.
i. To
Vayu thee; to Varuna thee; to Nirrti thee; to Rudra thee!
k. O
divine waters, son of the waters, the stream Fit for oblation, mighty, most
exhilarating, That stream of yours may I not step upon.
l. Along
an unbroken web of earth may I go.
m. From
good to better do thou advance.
n. May
Brhaspati be thy leader; Then set him free, on the chosen spot of earth; Drive
afar the foes with all thy strength.
o. We
have come to the place on earth for sacrifice to the gods, Wherein aforetime
all the gods rejoiced. Accomplishing (the rite) with Rc, Saman, and Yajus, Let
us rejoice in fullness of wealth, in sustenance.
i. 2. 4.
a. This
is thy body, O pure one. This is thy splendour. With it be united. Win
brightness.
b. Thou
art the strong, grasped by mind, acceptable to Visnu.
c. In
the impulse of thee, of true impulse, may I win a support for my speech. Hail!
d. Thou
art pure, thou art nectar, thou art the sacrifice for all the gods.
e. I
have mounted the eye of the sun. The pupil of the eye of Agni, When thou goest
with thy steeds,
Blazing with the wise.
Blazing with the wise.
f. Thou
art thought, thou art mind, thou art meditation, thou art the gift (to the
priests) [1], thou art of the sacrifice, thou art of kingly power, thou art
Aditi, double-headed.
g. Be
thou successful for us in going, successful in returning.
h. May
Mitra bind thee by the foot.
i. May
Pusan guard the ways,
k. For
Indra, the overseer!
l. May
thy mother approve thee, thy father, thy brother sprung of the same womb, thy
friend in the herd.
m. Go,
goddess, to the god, to Soma for Indra’s sake.
n. May
Rudra guide thee hither in the path of Mitra.
o. Hail!
Return with Soma as thy comrade, with wealth
i.
2. 5.
a. Thou
art a Vasvi, thou art a Rudra, thou art Aditi, thou art an Aditya, thou art
Çukra, thou art Candra.
b. May
Brhaspati make thee rejoice in happiness. May Rudra with the Vasus be
favourable to thee.
c. I
pour thee on the head of the earth, on the place of sacrifice, on the abode of
the offering, rich in ghee; hail!
d. The
Raksas is enclosed, the evil spirits are enclosed. Thus I cut the neck of the
Raksas.
e. Thus
I cut the neck of him who hates us and whom we hate [1].
f. With
us be wealth, with thee be wealth, thine be wealth.
g. Gaze,
O goddess, together with the goddess Urvaçi.
h. Let
me attend on thee, with Tvastr’s aid; rich in seed, bearing seed, may I find a
hero in thy presence.
i. May I
not be separated from abundance of wealth.
i. 2. 6.
a. Let
thy shoot be joined with shoot, joint with joint, let thy scent further desire,
let thy savour which falls not cause rejoicing. Thou art a home dweller, thy
libation is bright.
b. Unto
that god, Savitr, within the two bowls, The sage, I sing, him of true impulse,
The bestower of treasures, unto tile wise friend; He at whose impulse the
resplendent light shone high, The golden-banded sage hath measured the heaven
with his form.
c. For
offspring thee! For expiration thee! For cross-breathing thee! Breathe thou
after offspring. Let offspring breathe after thee.
i. 2. 7.
a. I buy
Soma from thee, strong, rich in sap, full of force, overcoming the foe, the
pure with the pure I buy, the bright with the bright, the immortal with the
immortal, to match thy cow.
b. With
us be the gold.
c. Thou
art the bodily form of penance, Prajapati’s kind, I buy (Soma) with the last
offspring of thee that bast a thousandfold prosperity.
d. With
us be union with thee; with me let thy wealth abide.
e. With
us be light, darkness be on the Soma-seller.
f. Come
as a friend to us, creating firm friendships.
g. Enter
the right thigh of Indra, glad the glad, tender the tender.
h. O
Svana, Bhraja, Anghari, Bambhari, Hasta, Suhasta, and Krçanu, here are your
wages for Soma; guard them, let them not fail you.
i. 2. 8.
a. Up
with life, with fair life, Up with the sap of plants, Up with the force of
Parjanya, Up have I arisen along with the immortals.
b. Fare
along the wide atmosphere.
c. Thou
art the seat of Aditi.
d. Sit
on the seat of Aditi.
e. The
bull hath stablished the sky, the atmosphere; Hath meted the breadth of the
earth; Hath set him in all worlds as king. All these are Varuna’s ordinances.
f. He
hath stretched out the sky over the woods; He hath placed strength in horses,
milk in kine; Varuna hath set skill in the heart [1], Agni in dwellings, The
sun in the sky, the Soma on the hill.
g. Thee,
all-knowing god, Thy rays bear upwards, The sun for all to see.
h. Come
hither, ye oxen, strong to bear the yoke, Tearless, slaying not man, furthering
the prayer.
i. Thou
art the pillar of Varuna.
k. Thou
art the prop of Varuna’s pillar.
I.
Varuna’s noose is tied.
i. 2. 9.
a. Move
I forward, O lord of the world, To all thy stations. Let no opponent find thee,
Let not robbers find thee; Let not the evil-working wolves (find) thee; Nor the
Gandharva, Viçvavasu, injure thee.
b.
Become an eagle and fly away to the place in the house of the sacrificer which
we have prepared with the gods (for thee). Thou art the good luck of the
sacrificer.
c. We
have reached the path Which leadeth to bliss, without a foe, Whereby a man
defeateth all his foes and winneth wealth.
d.
Honour to the radiance of Mitra and Varuna. This worship, this reverence offer
to the god; To the far seeing, god-born, the banner, The son of the sky, the
sun, do ye sing.
c. Thou
art the pillar of Varuna.
f. Thou
art the prop of Varuna’s pillar.
g.
Varuna’s noose is loosened.
i. 2. 10.
a. Thou
art the hospitality of Agni. For Visnu thee! Thou art the hospitality of Soma.
For Visnu thee! Thou art the hospitality of the stranger. For Visnu thee! For
Agni thee, giver of wealth, for Visnu thee; for the eagle, bringer of the Soma,
thee, for Visnu thee!
b. Thy
powers which they honour with oblation, May they all envelop the sacrifice!
Giver of wealth, impeller, rich in heroes, Slaying not heroes, O Soma, enter
the dwellings.
c. Thou art
the seat of Aditi; sit on the seat of Aditi [1].
d Thou
art Varuna who guardeth law; thou art of Varuna.
e. Be
prosperity ours from our friendship with the gods. May we be not severed from
our service of the gods.
f. For
him who rushes on I seize thee; for him who rushes around I seize thee; for
Tanunapat I seize thee; for the mighty I seize thee; for the mightiest in
strength I seize thee.
g. Thou
art unapproached, the unapproachable might of the gods, guarding from
imprecations, impervious to imprecations.
h. May
the lord of consecration approve my consecration, the lord of penance my
penance. Speedily may I attain truth. Place me in good fortune.
i.
2. 11.
a. May
thy every shoot, O god Soma, swell, For Indra who gaineth the chiefest wealth;
May Indra swell for thee; Do thou swell for Indra.
b. Make
thy comrades to swell with wealth and skill; with good fortune may I accomplish
thy pressing, O god Soma.
c.
Desired are riches exceedingly for food, for prosperity. Be right to the
proclaimers of right. Honour to the sky, honour to the earth!
d. Agni,
lord of vows, thou art the vow-lord of vows; this body of mine be in thee [1],
that body of thine be in me. Together, O lord of vows, be the vows of us two
that keep vows.
e. Thy
dread form, O Agni, with that protect us; hail to that form of thine!
f. That
form of thine, O Agni, which rests in iron, which rests in silver, which rests
in gold, the highest, that dwells in the cleft,
g. (By
it) I have driven away harsh speech, (by it) I have driven away angry speech.
Hail!
i. 2. 12.
a. Thou
I art the abode of riches for me; thou art the resort of the afflicted for me;
protect me when in want; protect me when afflicted.
b. May
Agni, named Nabhas, know (thee).
c. Agni
Angiras, thou who art in this earth, come with the name of Ayus. Whatsoever
unapproached, holy name is thine, [1] therewith I take thee up.
d. Agni
Angiras, thou who art in the second (the third) earth, come with the name of
Ayus. Whatever inviolate, holy name is thine, therewith I take thee up.
e. Thou
art a lioness; thou art a buffalo.
f.
Extend wide; let the lord of the sacrifice extend wide for thee.
g. Thou
art firm.
h. Be
pure for the gods; be bright for the gods.
i. May
the cry of Indra guard thee in front with the Vasus; may the swift of mind guard
thee on the right with the Pitrs; may the wise one guard thee behind with the
Rudras; may Viçvakarman guard thee on the left with the Adityas.
k. Thou
art a lioness, overcoming rivals; hail! Thou art a lioness, bestowing fair
offspring; hail! Thou art a lioness, [2] bestowing increase of wealth; hail!
Thou art a lioness, winning (the favour of) the Adityas hail! Thou art a
lioness; bring the gods to the pious sacrificer; hail!
l. To
beings thee!
m. Thou
containest all life, strengthen the earth; thou restest firm, strengthen the
atmosphere; thou restest inviolable, strengthen the heaven.
n. Thou
art the ashes of Agni; thou art the rubble of Agni.
i. 2. 13.
a. They
yoke their minds, and yoke their thoughts, The priests of the mighty wise
priest; He alone, who knows the way, ordains their priestly functions; Great is
the praise of the god Savitr.
b. With
fair voice, O god, do thou address the dwelling.
c. Ye
two, famed among the gods, make proclamation among the gods.
d. For
us be born a hero of great deeds, On whom we may all depend, Who shall be ruler
over many.
e. Over
this Visnu strode; Thrice did he set down his foot; (All) is gathered [1] in
its dust.
f. So
then be ye two rich in food, in cows, In good grass, ye that are famous, for
man These two firmaments Visnu held asunder; He holdeth the earth on all sides
with pegs.
g. Come
ye two then forward, ordaining the offering; bring upward the sacrifice; do not
falter; there rest on the height of the earth.
h. From
the sky, O Visnu, or from the earth, Or from the great (sky), or from the
atmosphere, Fill thy hands with many good things, Give to us [2] from right and
from left.
i. I
shall proclaim the mighty deeds of Visnu Who meted out the spaces of the earth,
Who established the highest abode, Stepping thrice, the far-goer.
k. Thou
art the forehead of Visnu; thou art the back of Visvu.
I. Ye
two are the corners’ of Visnu’s mouth.
m. Thou
art the thread of Visnu.
n. Thou
art the fixed point of Visnu.
o. Thou
art of Vishu; to Visnu thee!
i. 2. 14.
a. Put forth
thy strength like a spreading net; Come like a mighty king with thy retainers;
Hurling thy swift net thou shootest arrows; Pierce the Raksases with thy
keenest (darts).
b.
Swiftly thy whirling flames descend; bring upward Follow them, glowing in thy fury;
Thy heat, O Agni, thy winged (flames) with thy tongue, Unfettered, on all sides
spread thy firebrands.
c. Send
forth thy spies, swiftest in thy motion; Be an unfailing guardian to this folk,
From him who afar plans evil [1], from him who near; O Agni let no trouble from
thee overwhelm us.
d.
Arise, O Agni; spread thyself out; Burn up our foes, O thou of keen dart; Him
who hath wrought evil for us, O blazing one, Do thou consume utterly like dry
stubble.
e.
Arise; drive from us (our foes); Reveal thy heavenly strength, O Agni, Slacken
the strung (weapon) of the demon-driven; Crush our foes, kin or not kin.
f. He
knows thy [2] loving kindliness, O most youthful one, Who hath given
furtherance to this devotion;
All happy days for him, glory, and wealth –Opening the doors of the miser–he hath revealed.’
All happy days for him, glory, and wealth –Opening the doors of the miser–he hath revealed.’
g. Let
him, O Agni, be fortunate and munificent, Who with constant oblation, who with
praise, Seeks to delight thee in his life in his house; May all days be happy
for him; be that the will.
h. I
praise thy loving kindness; loud sounding (thou singest) a reply; Let this song
of mine, beloved of thee, sing with thee [3] With good steeds and fair chariots
may we adorn thee; Maintain for us the lordly power as the days go by.
i. Here
let each serve thee readily, That shinest in the darkness, as the days go by;
Happy and joyous may we attend thee That dost surpass the glories of men.’
k. He
who with good steeds and rich in gold Approacheth thee, O Agni, with a rich
chariot, His protector thou art, the comrade of him Who duly offereth thee glad
reception.
l. The
great I overcome [4] through kinship and my songs; That hath descended to me
from Gotama, my sire;
Pay heed to this song of ours, O Hotr, most youthful, skilful, friend of the house.
Pay heed to this song of ours, O Hotr, most youthful, skilful, friend of the house.
m.
Sleepless, speedy, propitious, Unwearied, never hostile, unexhausted, May thy
guardians, O Agni, taking their places here united, Protect us, O wise one.
n. In
Thy guardians, O Agni, who seeing, Guarded from ill the blind Mamateya, He of
all wisdom guarded these kindly ones; The foes that were fain to deceive could
not [5] deceive.
o. In
unison with thee, aided by thee, Under thy leadership, let us gain strength;
Fulfil both our desires, O truthful one; Perform it forthwith, O fearless one.
p. With
this fuel, O Agni, will we serve thee; Accept the song of praise recited for
thee; Burn those that revile, the Raksases; guard us, From the foe, the
reviler, O rich in friends, from blame. I touch the steed that slayeth the
Raksases; I go for shelter to the friend most spreading; May Agni, enkindled
with our offerings, sharpening (his dart) Guard us by day, [6] from harm and by
night.
q. With
great radiance Agni shineth; All things doth he reveal by his might; He
overcometh godless and malign enchantments He sharpeneth his horns to pierce
the Raksas.
r. Let
the roarings of Agni rise to the heaven, Sharp weapons to slay the Raksas; In
the carouse his radiance bursteth forth The godless assailers cannot restrain
him.
PRAPATHAKA III
The Victim for Agni and Soma
The Victim for Agni and Soma
i.
3. 1.
a. On
the impulse of the god Savity, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands of
Pusan, I take thee; thou art the spade, thou art the woman.
b. The
Raksas is encompassed, the evil spirits are encompassed, here do I cut off the
neck of the Raksas.
c. He
who hates us and whom we hate, here do I cut off his neck.
d. To
sky thee, to atmosphere thee, to earth thee!
e. Pure
be the world where the Pitrs sit.
f. Thou
art barley (yava); bar (yavaya) from us foes, bar evil spirits.
g. Thou
art the seat of the Pitrs.
h.
Support the sky, fill the atmosphere, make firm the earth.
i. May
Dyutana Maruta set thee up according to the established law of Mitra and
Varuna.
k. Thee
that art winner of Brahmans, winner of nobles, winner of fair offspring, winner
of increase of wealth, I close in.
l.
Strengthen the Brahmans, strengthen the nobles, strengthen offspring,
strengthen increase of wealth.
m. With
ghee, O sky and earth, be filled.
n. Thou
art the seat of Indra, the shade of all folk.
o. May
these our songs, O lover of song, Encompass thee on all sides, Strengthening
thee whose life is strong;
May they be dear delights.
May they be dear delights.
p. Thou
art the string of Indra; thou art the fixed point of Indra.
q. Thou
art of Indra.
r. To
Indra thee!
i. 3. 2.
a. I dig
those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, which are of Visnu.
b. Here
do I cast out the spell which an equal or an unequal hath buried against us.
c. Here
do I overthrow him who equal or unequal is ill-disposed to us.
d. The
spell is overcome by the Gayatri metre.
e. What
is here? Good. Let it be ours.
f .Thou
art Viraj, slaying our rivals; thou art Samraj, slaying our foes; thou art
Svaraj, slaying the enemy; thou art Viçvaraj, slayer of all destructive things
[1].
g. I
sprinkle those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of
Visnu.
h. I
pour down those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of
Visnu.
i. Thou
art barley (yava); bar (yavaya) from us foes, bar evil spirits.
k. I
bestrew those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of
Visnu.
l. I
pour the libation over those which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and
which are of Visnu.
m. I lay
down the two Which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of
Visnu.
n. I
surround the two which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of
Visnu.
o. I
bestrew the two which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of
Visnu.
p. The
two which slay the Raksas, which slay the spell, and which are of Visnu.
q. Thou
art great, with a great pressing stone; call forth to Indra with a great voice.
i. 3. 3.
a. Thou
I art the expanding, the carrier.
b. Thou
art the bearer which carrieth the offering.
c. Thou
art the savoury, the wise.
d. Thou
art Tutha, the all-knower.
e. Thou
art Uçij, the wise.
f. Thou
art Anghari, Bamhhari.
g. Thou
art the seeker of aid, the worshipper.
h. Thou
art the bright, the Marjaliya.
i. Thou
art the king, Kyçanu.
k. Thou
art the purifying, around which men must sit.
1. Thou
art the impetuous, the cloudy.
m. Thou
art the untouched, the preparer of the offering.
n. Thou
art be whose home is right, whose light is the heaven.
o. Thou
art be whose light is the Brahman, whose home is the heaven.
p. Thou
art the goat with one foot.
q. Thou
art the dragon of the deep.
r. With
thy dread countenance guard me, Agni; content me; hurt me not.
i. 3. 4.
a. Thou,
O Soma, art the giver of wide protection from hostility, brought about by
ourselves or by others; hail!
b. May
the active one gladly partake of the ghee.
c. May
Agni here make room for us; May he go before us cleaving the foe; Joyously may
he conquer our foes;
May he win booty in the contest for booty.
May he win booty in the contest for booty.
d. Step
widely, O Visnu; Give us broad space for dwelling in; Drink the ghee, thou
whose birthplace is in the ghee; Lengthen (the years) of the lord of the
sacrifice.
e. Soma
goeth, who knoweth the way; He approacheth the place of the gods, To sit on the
birthplace of Order .
f. Thou
art the seat of Aditi.
g. Do
thou sit on the seat of Aditi.
h. This,
god Savitr, is the Soma of you (gods); guard it; let it escape you not.
i. So, O
Soma, god to the gods, hast thou gone, and I here man to man, with offspring,
with increase of wealth.
k.
Honour to the gods I Homage to the Pitrs!
l. Here
(may) I (be free) from Varuna’s noose; may I gaze on the heaven, on the light
that is for all men,
m. Agni,
lord of vows, thou art the vow-lord of vows.
n. May
my body that bath been in thee be here in me; may thy body that hath been in me
be there in thee.
o. Be
aright the vows, O vow-lord, of both of us votaries.
i. 3. 5.
a. I
have passed by some, I have not approached others.
b. I
have found thee nearer than the farther, farther than the near.
c. So I
welcome thee, that art of Visnu, for the sacrifice to the gods.
d. Let
the god Savitr anoint thee with honey.
e. O
plant, guard it.
f. O
axe, harm it not.
g. With
thy top graze not the sky, with thy middle harm not the atmosphere, with earth
be united.
h. O
tree, grow with a hundred shoots; may we grow with a thousand shoots.
i. Thou,
whom this sharp axe hath brought forward for great good fortune, uncut, with
wealth of heroes, (give us) riches.
i.
3. 6.
a. To I
earth thee! To atmosphere thee! To sky thee!
b. Pure
be the world where the Pitrs sit.
c. Thou
art barley (yava); bar (yavaya) from us foes, bar evil spirits.
d. Thou
art the seat of the Pitrs.
e. Thou
art easy of approach, first among leaders; the tree will mount thee, be aware
of it.
f. Let
the god Savitr anoint thee with honey.
g. For
the plants with good berries thee!
h.
Support the sky, fill the atmosphere, with thy base make firm the earth.
i. To
these dwellings of thine are we fain to go, Where are the many-horned active
kine; There is resplendent the highest step Of the wide-stepping Visnu, the
mighty!
k.
Behold the deeds of Visnu Wherein he displayed his laws, Indra’s true friend.
l. That
highest step of Visnu The singers ever gaze upon Like an eye stretched in the
sky.
m. Thee
that art winner of Brahmans, winner of nobles, winner of fair offspring, winner
of increase of wealth, I close in.
n.
Strengthen the Brahmans, strengthen the nobles, strengthen offspring,
strengthen increase of wealth,
o. Thou
art invested; lot the clans of the gods invest thee; let increase of wealth,
let (the clans) of men invest the sacrificer here.
p. On
the slope of the atmosphere I conceal thee.
i. 3. 7.
a. For
striving thee!
b. Thou
art the impeller.
c. To
the gods the servants of the gods have come, the priests, the eager ones.
d. O
Bihaspati, guard wealth.
e. Let
thy oblations taste sweet.
f. O god
Tvastr make pleasant our possessions.
g. Stay,
ye wealthy ones,
h. Thou
art the birthplace of Agni.
i. Ye
are the two male ones.
k. Thou
art Urvaçi, thou art Ayu, thou art Pururavas.
l.
Anointed with ghee, do ye produce a male.
m. Be
born with the Gayatri metre, with the Tristubh metre, be born with the Jagati
metre.
n. Be ye
of one mind for us, one dwelling, spotless.
o. Harm
not the sacrifice nor the lord of the sacrifice, O all-knowing; be ye two
auspicious to-day with us.
p. The
fire moveth entering into the fire, The son of the Rsis, the overlord he; With
the cry of Hail! I offer to thee with devotion; Do thou not spoil the share of
the gods.
i. 3. 8.
a. I
grasp thee.
b.
Offering to the gods, I seize thee with the noose of sacred order.
c. Fear
not men.
d. For
the waters thee, for the plants thee, I sprinkle.
e. Thou
art a drinker of the waters.
f. Ye
divine waters, make it palatable, a very palatable offering for the gods.
g. Let
thy breath be united with the wind, thy limbs with the sacrificial, the lord of
the sacrifice with his prayer.
h.
Anointed with ghee, do ye guard the beast.
i. Ye
wealthy ones, do ye kindly I resort to the lord of the sacrifice.
k. O
broad atmosphere, in unison with the god [1] wind, sacrifice with the life of
this offering; be united with its body; extending more broadly, make the
sacrifice of the lord of the sacrifice most successful.
l. Guard
from contact with earth.
m.
Homage to thee, O extended one.
n. Come
forward, irresistible, along the stream of ghee, with offspring, with increase
of wealth.
o O ye waters, goddesses, purifying and pure, do ye bring the gods; may we, pure and served (by you), be servers upon you.
o O ye waters, goddesses, purifying and pure, do ye bring the gods; may we, pure and served (by you), be servers upon you.
i. 3. 9.
a. Let
thy speech swell, let thy breath swell, let thine eye swell, let thine ear
swell.
b. The
pain that hath reached thy vital airs, that (hath reached) thine eye, that
(hath reached) thine ear, what is harsh in thee, what is in its place,–let that
swell, let that hereby be pure.
c. Lot
thy navel swell, let thine anus swell.
d. Be
thy feet pure.
e. Hail
to the waters [1]! Hail to the plants! Hail to earth! Hail to night and day!
f. O
plant, protect him.
g. O
axe, harm him not.
h. Thou
art the share of the Raksases.
i. This
Raksas here I lead to the lowest darkness.
k. Him
who hateth us and whom we hate, here him I lead to the lowest darkness.
I. For
food thee!
m. In
ghee, O sky and earth, be covered.
n.
Uncut, with wealth of heroes, (give us) riches.
o. Fare
along the broad atmosphere.
p. O
Vayu, taste the drops.
q. Hail!
go to Urdhvanabhas, offspring of the Maruts.
i. 3. 10.
a. Let
thy mind with the mind, let thy breath with the breath (of the gods be united).
b. Be
this offering rich in ghee pleasing to the gods; hail!
c. May
Indra’s expiration be set in every limb; May Indra’s inspiration be in every
limb.
d. O god
Tvastr, let mind be united for thee, When ye that are various become of one
form; Over thee as thou goest among the gods for help let thy comrades And thy
father and mother rejoice.
e. Thou
art fortune (çri).
f. Let
Agni cook (çrinatu) thee.
g. The
waters are come together.
h. For
the whirl of the wind [1] thee, for the rush of Pusan, for the growth of the
waters, of the plants.
i. Drink
ghee, ye drinkers of ghee; drink fat, ye drinkers of fat.
k. Thou
art the oblation of the atmosphere.
l. Hail!
thee to the atmosphere!
m. The
quarters, the Pradiçes, the Adiçes, the Vidiçes, the Uddiçes.
n. Hail
to the quarters!
o.
Homage to the quarters.
i. 3. 11.
a. Go to
the ocean, hail! Go to the atmosphere, hail! Go to god Savitr, hail! Go to day
and night, hail! Go to Mitra and Varuna, hail! Go to Soma, hail! Go to the
sacrifice, hail! Go to the metes, hail! Go to the sky and the earth, hail! Go
to the clouds of the sky, hail! Go to Agni Vaiçvanara, hail!
b. To
the waters thee! To the plants thee!
c. Give
me mind and heart!
d. May I
acquire body, skin, son, and grandson.
e. Thou
art pain; pain him who hateth us and whom we hate.
f. From
every rule of thine, O King Varuna, set us free; From whatever oath by the
waters, by the kine, by Varuna, we have sworn, From that, O Varuna, set us
free.
i.
3. 12.
a. These
waters are rich in oblation,Rich in oblation is the divine sacrifice,Rich in
oblation he seeks to win (the gods?),Rich in oblation be the sun.
b. In
the seat of Agni whose home is abiding I set you down, kindly for kindness,
accord to me kindness.
c. Ye
are the share of Indra and Agni; ye are the share of Mitra and Varuna; ye are
the share of the all-gods.
d. Be
watchful over the sacrifice.
i. 3. 13.
a. To
the heart thee! To mind thee! To the sky thee! To the sun thee!
b. Raise
aloft the sacrifice; in the sky guide to the gods the prayers.
c. O
King Soma, come hither, descend.
d. Fear
not, tremble not.
e. Lot
me not harm thee.
f. Do
thou descend to creatures; let creatures descend to thee.
g Let
Agni (kindled) with the kindling-stick hear my appeal, Let the waters hear, and
the divine Dhisanas; Hearken, ye pressing stones, to the sacrifice of me the
wise one,Let the god Savitr hearken to my appeal.
h. Ye
divine waters, child of the waters, that wave, Which is rich in oblation,
powerful and sweetest, Give to the gods among the gods, Pure to the drinkers of
the pure, (to them) whose share ye are; hail
i. Thou
art the dragger; do thou (drag) away the foe of the waters.
k. I
draw you for the sustenance of the waters.
l. That
mortal, O Agni, whom thou hast helped in the battles,Whom thou hast
strengthened in the contest for booty,He winneth I abiding strength.
i. 3. 14.
a. Thou,
O Agni, art Rudra, the Asura of the mighty sky,Thou art the host of the Maruts,
thou art lord of food;
Thou farest with ruddy winds, blessing the household;Thou, as Pasan dost, protectest thy worshippers with thyself.
Thou farest with ruddy winds, blessing the household;Thou, as Pasan dost, protectest thy worshippers with thyself.
b.
Rudra, king of the sacrifice,True offerer, priest of both worlds,Agni before
the dreadful thunder,’Of golden colour, win ye for help.
c. Agni
hath set him down as priest, good sacrificer,On the lap of his mother, in the
fragrant place,The youthful, the wise, pre-eminent among men [1],
righteous,Supporter of the folk in whose midst he is kindled.
d. Good
hath he made our sacrifice this day;The hidden tongue of the sacrifice have we
foundHe hath come, fragrant, clothed in life;He hath made our sacrifice this
day to prosper.
e. 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.In thee, O many-faced sacrificer [2], Morning and evening, the
sacrificers place their treasures, In whom, purifying, good things are placed,
even as the heaven and earth (support) all beings.
f.To thee,
best of Angirases, All folk with fair dwellings severally,
g. Agni,
have turned to gain their wish.
h. May
we win by thy help, O Agni, our wish, Wealth with fair offspring, O wealthy
one: May we win booty, seeking for booty; May we win, O deathless, undying
glory.
i. O
Agni, of the Bharatas, youngest,Bear to us excellent, glorious wealth, [3]O
bright one, wealth which many desire.
k. White
robed is he, thundering, standing in the firmament. Youngest, with
loud-sounding immortal ones,
Who, purifying, most manifold, Agni, marcheth devouring many broad (forests).
Who, purifying, most manifold, Agni, marcheth devouring many broad (forests).
l. May
he give thee life on every side, Agni here, the desirable. Let thy breath come
back to thee; I drive away the disease from thee.
m.
Giving life, O Agni, rejoicing in the oblation Be thou faced with ghee, and
with birthplace of ghee Having drunk the ghee, the sweet, the delightful
product of the cow, As a father his son [4], do thou protect him.
n. To
thee, the eager one, O knower of all, O active one, Agni, I offer this fair
praise.
o. 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.
The pious man singeth of him, the undying, as he kindleth him.
p. Pure,
O purifying one, to be lauded, O Agni, mightily thou shinest, To whom offering
is made with ghee.
q.
Shining like gold, he hath become widely resplendent, For glory shining with
immortal life; Agni became immortal in his strength [5], What time prolific
Dyaus begat him.
r. What
time his glory urged the lord to strength, Then (did) Dyaus (let) the pure seed
be sprinkled openly;
Agni begot the host, the blameless, the youthful, The worshipping, and gave it impulse.
Agni begot the host, the blameless, the youthful, The worshipping, and gave it impulse.
s. He
(flourishes) with keener mind, aided by thee. O giver! give (us wealth) in good
offspring; O Agni, may we enjoy wealth richest in heroes; (Wealth) that is
excellent, uttering praises to thee.,’
t. O
Agni, bring us strong wealth, By the force of thy glory, That is above [6] all
men And openly prevaileth in contests for booty.
u. O
Agni, mighty one, bring to us That wealth which prevaileth in contests; For
thou art true, wondrous,
The giver of booty of kine.
The giver of booty of kine.
v. To
Agni let us make service with hymns, Who feedeth on bull and cow, The disposer,
backed with Soma.
w. For
thou art, O son, a singer, seated at the feast; Agni made at birth a path and
food; Do thou, O giver of strength, bestow strength upon us; Be victorious like
a king; thou rulest within without a foe.
x O
Agni, thou purifiest life [7]; Do thou give food and strength to us; Far away
drive ill-fortune.
y. O
Agni, good worker, purify for us Glory in good heroes; Giving increase and
wealth to me.
z. O Agni the purifying, with thy light, 0 god, with thy pleasant tongue, Bring hither the gods and sacrifice.
z. O Agni the purifying, with thy light, 0 god, with thy pleasant tongue, Bring hither the gods and sacrifice.
aa. Do
thou, O shining and purifying one, O Agni, bring hither the gods To our
sacrifice and our oblation.
bb.
Agni, of purest vows, Pure sage, pure poet, Shineth in purity, when offering is
made.
cc. O
Agni, thy pure,Bright, flaming (rays) arise, Thy lights, thy flames.
PRAPATHAKA IV
The Soma Cups
The Soma Cups
i.
4. 1.
a. I
take thee. Thou art the stone which maketh the sacrifice for the gods; make
this sacrifice deep, with thy highest edge, (make) the Soma well pressed for
Indra, rich in sweetness, in milk, bringing rain.
b. To
Indra, slayer of Vrtra, thee! To Indra, conqueror of Vrtra, thee! To Indra,
slayer of foes, thee! To Indra with the Adityas, thee! To Indra with the
all-gods, thee!
c. Ye
are savoury, conquerors of Vrtra, delightful through your gifts, spouses of
immortality, Do ye, O goddesses, place this sacrifice among the gods Do ye,
invoked, drink the Soma; Invoked by you [1] let Soma drink.
d. With
thy light which is in the sky, on the earth, in the broad atmosphere, do thou
for this sacrificer spread wealth broadly; be favour able to the giver.
e. Ye
Dhisanas, that are strong, be strengthened; gather strength, and give me
strength; let me not harm you, harm me not.
f.
Forward, backward, upward, downward, let these quarters speed to you; O mother,
come forth.
g Thy
unerring, watchful name, O Soma, to that of thee, O Soma, to Soma, hail!
1 4. 2.
a. Be
pure for the lord of speech, O strong one; male, purified by the arms with the
shoots of the male; thou art the god purifier of gods; to those thee whose
portion thou art!
b. Thou
art he who is appropriated; make our food full of sweetness for us; to all the
powers of sky and earth thee!
c. May
mind enter thee.
d. Fare
along the broad atmosphere.
e. Hail!
Thee, of kindly nature, to the sun!
f. To
the gods that drink the rays thee
g. This
is thy birthplace; to expiration thee!
i. 4. 3.
a. Thou
art taken with a support.
b. O
bounteous one, restrain (it), protect Soma, guard wealth, win food by
sacrifice, I place within thee sky and earth, within thee the broad atmosphere;
in unison with the gods, the lower and the higher, O bounteous one, do thou
rejoice in the Antaryama (cup).
c. Thou
art he who is appropriated; make our food full of sweetness for us; to all the
powers of sky and earth thee!
d. May
mind enter thee.
e. Fare
along the broad atmosphere.
f. Hail!
Thee, of kindly nature, to the sun!
g. To
the gods that drink the rays thee!
h. This
is thy birthplace; to inspiration thee!
i. 4. 4.
a. O
Vayu, drinker of the pure, come to us; A thousand are thy teams, O thou that
hast all choice boons. For thee this sweet drink hath been drawn, Whereof, O
god, thou hast the first drink.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Vayu thee!
c. O
Indra and Vayu, these draughts are ready; Come ye for the libations, For the
drops desire you.
d. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra and Vayu thee! This is thy birthplace; to
the comrades thee!
i. 4. 5.
a. This
Soma is pressed for you, O Mitra and Varuna, Who prosper holy order; Hearken ye
now to my supplication.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Mitra and Varuna thee! This is thy birthplace; to
the righteous thee!
i. 4. 6.
a. That
I whip of yours which is rich in sweetnessAnd full of mercy, O Açvins, With
that touch the sacrifice.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to the Açvins thee! This is thy birthplace; to the
sweet thee!
i. 4. 7.
a. Ye
that yoke early be unloosedO Açvins, come ye hither, To drink this Soma.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to the Açvins thee! This is thy birthplace; to the
Açvins thee!
i. 4. 8.
a. Vena
hath stirred those born of Prçni, He enveloped in light, in the expanse of the
welkin; Him in the meeting-place of the waters, of the sun, Like a child, the
priests tend with their songs.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Çanda thee! This is thy birthplace; guard the
folk.
i. 4. 9.
a. Him,
as aforetime, as of old, as always, as now, The prince, who hath his seat on
the strew and knoweth the heaven, The favouring, the strong, thou milkest with
thy speech, The swift who is victor in those among whom thou dost wax.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Marka thee! This is thy birth. place; guard
offspring.
i. 4. 10.
a. Ye
gods that are eleven in the sky, Eleven on the earth, Who sit mightily in the
waters, eleven in number,
Do ye accept this saerifice.
Do ye accept this saerifice.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; thou art the leader, thou art the good leader;
quicken the sacrifice, quicken the lord of the sacrifice; guard the pressings;
let Visnu guard thee, do thou guard the folk with thy power; this is thy
birthplace; to the All-gods thee!
i. 4. 11.
a. Three
and thirty in troops the Rudras Frequent the sky and earth, the destructive
ones, Eleven seated on the waters;May all of them accept the Soma pressed for
the pressing.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; thou art the leader, thou art the good leader;
quicken the sacrifice, quicken the lord of the sacrifice; guard the pressings;
let Visnu guard thee, do thou guard the folk with thy power; this is thy
birthplace; to the all-gods thee!
i. 4. 12.
a. Thou
art taken with a support. To Indra thee, to him of the Brhat (Saman), The
strong, eager for praise.
Thy great strength, O Indra, To that thee! To Visnu thee! This is thy birthplace; to Indra, eager for praise, thee!
Thy great strength, O Indra, To that thee! To Visnu thee! This is thy birthplace; to Indra, eager for praise, thee!
i. 4. 13.
a. The
head of the sky, the messenger of earth, Vaiçvanara, born for holy order, Agni,
The sage, the king, the guest of men, The gods have produced as a cup for their
mouths.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Agni Vaiçvanara thee! Thou art secure, of secure
foundation, most secure of the secure, with securest foundation of those which
are secure. This is thy birthplace; to Agni
Vaiçvanara thee!
Vaiçvanara thee!
i.
4. 14.
a. Thou
art Madhu and Madhava; thou art Çukra and Çuci; thou art Nabha and Nabbasya;
thou art Isa and Urja; thou art Saha and Sahasya; thou art Tapa and Tapasya.
b. Thou
art taken with a support.
c. Thou
art Samsarpa.
d. To
Anhaspatva thee!
i. 4. 15.
a. O
Indra and Agni, come For our prayers to the pressed drink, the delightful fumes
Drink ye of it, impelled by our prayer.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra and Agni thee! This is thy birthplace; to
Indra and Agni thee!
i. 4. 16.
a. Ye
dread ones, guardians of men, O All-gods, come ye, Generous, to the pressed
drink of the generous one.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to the All-gods thee! This is thy birthplace; to the
All-gods thee!
i. 4. 17.
a. Him with
the Maruts, the mighty bull, The bountiful, the divine ruler, Indra,
All-powerful, the dread, giver of strength, For present aid let us invoke.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra with the Maruts thee! This is thy
birthplace; to Indra with the Maruts thee!
i. 4. 18.
a. O
Indra with the Maruts drink here the Soma, As thou didst drink the pressed
drink with Çaryata Under thy guidance, in thy protection, O hero, The singers
skilled in sacrifice are fain to serve.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra with the Maruts thee! This is thy
birthplace; to Indra with the Maruts thee!
i. 4. 19.
a. Indra
with the Maruts, the bull, for gladness, Drink the Soma, for joy, to thy
content; Pour within thy belly the wave of sweetness; Thou art from of old the
king of the pressed drinks.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra with the Maruts thee, This is thy
birthplace; to Indra with the Maruts thee!
i. 4. 20.
a. Great
is Indra who through his might Is like Parjanya with the rain; He waxeth with
the praises of Vatsa.
b. Thou
art taken with a foundation; to Mahendra thee! This is thy birthplace; to
Mahendra thee!
i. 4. 21.
a. Great
is Indra, manfully controlling men, Unfailing in strength, of double force;
Towards us for strength doth he wax; Broad and wide hath he been adorned by the
offerers.
b. Thou
art taken with a foundation; to Mahendra thee! This is thy birthplace; to
Mahendra thee!
i. 4. 22.
a. Never
art thou barren, O Indra, Never dost thou fail thy worshipper; Now more and
more is thy divine gift increased, O bountiful one.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to the Adityas thee!
c. At no
time art thou heedless, But dost guard the two generations; The pressing is thy
strength, O fourth Aditya The ambrosia is ready in the sky.
d. The
sacrificer seeketh the favour of the gods; Be ye kindly, O Adityas; May thy
lovingkindness come hither,
That it may the more free us from affliction.
That it may the more free us from affliction.
e. O
bright Aditya, this is thy Soma drink, Delight in it, have gladness in it; may
we that gladden thee have gladness; With the rain of the sky I mix thee.
i. 4. 23.
a.
Prosperity to-day, O Savitr, prosperity to-morrow, Day by day prosperity mayst
thou procure for us; Through this prayer may be won the prosperity Of many a
prosperous dwelling, O god.
b. Thou
art taken with a foundation; to the god Savitr thee!
i. 4. 24.
a. O
Savitr with unfailing guardians, Propitious, do thou to-day guard our house;
Golden-tongued do thou protect us for new prosperity; May no plotter of evil
overpower us.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to the god Savity thee
i. 4. 25.
a. To
help us I summon The golden-handed Savitr He as a god knoweth the place.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to the god Savitr thee!
i. 4. 26.
a. Thou
givest good protection, and art well established.
b. Homage
to the great bull!
c. This
is thy birthplace; to the All-gods thee!
i. 4. 27.
a. Of
thee, O drop, pressed by Brhaspati, and possessing power, I draw the cup
connected with the wives.
b. O
Agni, with the wives, in unison with the god Tvastr, drink the Soma, hail.
i. 4. 28.
a. Thou
art a bay, yoker of bays, mounter on the bays, bearer of the bolt, lover of
Prçni; to thee, O god Soma, for whom the formula of sacrifice is uttered, the
song sung, the hymn recited, I draw the cup connected with the bays.
b. Ye
two are bays; ye are the grains for the bays, mixed with Soma.
c. To
Indra hail!
i. 4. 29.
a. O
Agni, thou purifiest life; Do thou give food and strength to us; Far away drive
ill fortune.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Agni the radiant thee! This is thy birthplace; to
Agni the radiant thee!
i. 4. 30.
a.
Arising in might, Thou didst move thy jaws, O Indra, When thou hadst drunk the
cup-pressed Soma.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra the mighty thee! This is thy birthplace; to
Indra the mighty thee!
i. 4. 31.
a.
Overcoming, seen of all, Light-making art thou, Surya; Thou dost illumine all
the firmament.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Surya the radiant thee! This is thy birthplace; to
Surya the radiant thee!
i. 4. 32.
a. Swell,
O sweetest Soma, With all thy aids, Be fullest of help for us.
i. 4. 33.
a.
Departed are those mortals who in days gone by behold An earlier dawn of
morning; Dawn now hath become visible to us; They come who shall behold her in
days to come.
i.
4. 34.
a. I
place thee that hast light.
b. I
place thee that makest light.
c. I
place thee that findest light.
d I
place thee that shinest.
e. I
place thee that burnest.
f. I
place thee that flashest.
g. I
place thee that art aflame.
h. I
place thee that blazest.
i. I
place thee that art immortal.
k. I
place thee that hast great light.
l. I
place thee that awakenest.
m. I
place thee that art awake.
i. 4. 35.
a. To
energy hail! To effort hail! To distraction hail! To attempt hail! To endeavour
hail! To striving hail! To heat hail! To burning hail! To heating hail! To the
hot hail! To the slaying of a Brahmin hail! To all hail!
i. 4. 36.
a. Çitta
with the sinew, Bhava with the liver, Rudra with the taniman, Paçupati with the
thick heart, Agni with the heart, Rudra with the blood, Çarva with the kidneys,
Mahadeva with the intestinal flesh, him that slayest most quickly with the
entrails.
i. 4. 37.
a. Mount
thy car, O slayer of Vrtra; Thy steeds are yoked by our prayer; May the
pressing-stone with its voice Incline thy mind towards us.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace;
to Indra of the Sodaçin thee!
i. 4. 38.
a. Indra
his two steeds bear, Him of unequalled strength, To the praises of the Rsis and
the sacrifice of men.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace;
to Indra of the Sodaçin thee!
i. 4. 39.
a. The
Soma hath been pressed for thee O Indra; O most strong, O impetuous one, come
hither; Let power encompass thee, Even as the sun encompasses the atmosphere
with its rays.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace;
to Indra of the Sodaçin thee!
i. 4. 40.
a.
Earth, covering all, Hath placed thee in her lap; Be gentle and rest kindly on
him Grant him protection, extending wide.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace;
to Indra of the Sodaçin thee!
i. 4. 41.
a Great
is Indra of the Sodaçin, With the bolt in his arm, may he grant protection; May
the bountiful give us prosperity, May he smite him who hateth us.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace;
to Indra of the Sodaçin thee!
i. 4. 42.
a. In
unison and in fellowship with the Maruts, Indra, Drink the Soma, O slayer of
Vrtra, O hero, O wise one;
Slay our foes, drive away the enemies, And thus make for us on all sides security.
Slay our foes, drive away the enemies, And thus make for us on all sides security.
b. Thou
art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace;
to Indra of the Sodaçin thee!
The
Daksina Offerings
i. 4. 43.
a. His
rays bear up the god Who knoweth all, The sun for all to see.
b. The
radiant countenance of the gods hath risen, The eye of Mitra, Varuna, Agni; He
hath filled the sky and earth and atmosphere; The sun is the self of all that
moveth and standeth.
c. O
Agni, lead us by a fair path to wealth, O god, knowing all the ways; Drive from
us the sin that maketh us wander; We will accord to thee most abundant honour.
d. Go to
the sky, fly to heaven.
e. With
my form [1] I approach your form; with my age your age.
f. May
Tutha, all knowing, allot to you in the highest firmament.
g. This
gift of thine, Agni, cometh, impelled by the Soma.
h. Lead
it by the path of Mitra.
i. Go ye
on by the path of holy order, of brilliant gifts, Leading prosperity by the
path of the sacrifice.
k. May I
win a Brahman to-day, a seer and sprung from seers, of (famous) father and
grandfather, fit for the sacrificial gift.
l. Gaze
on the heaven, gaze on the atmosphere.
m. Join
those in the seat.
n. Given
by us, go to the gods, full of sweetness; enter the giver; without leaving us
fare by the path leading to the gods; sit in the world of the righteous.
o. Be
this complete for us.
i. 4. 44.
a. May
Dhatr the giver, may Savitr, rejoice in this, Prajapati, the lord of treasures,
and Agni, for our sake;
May Tvastr, Visnu, accord generously Wealth with offspring to the sacrificer.
May Tvastr, Visnu, accord generously Wealth with offspring to the sacrificer.
b. O
Indra, unite us in heart, with cattle,O bountiful one, with generous ones, with
prosperity; With the holy power that is made by the gods, With loving kindness
of the gods to whom sacrifice is made.
c. With
glory, with milk, with ourselves, Are we united, with auspicious hearts; May
Tvastr make fortune for us [1]; May he set right whatever is amiss in our
bodies.
d. In
that to-day, O Agni, we choose thee As Hotr as our sacrifice proceeded,
Prosperously hast thou sacrificed, Prosperously hast thou laboured; Come wise
and foreseeing one to the sacrifice.
e. With
Hail! to you, O gods, have we made this seat, Ye who have come hither rejoicing
in this as the pressing; When ye have eaten and drunken, Ye all, give to us,
wealthy ones, wealth.
f. The
gods whom eager thou didst bring hither, O god, Them [2], O Agni, do thou
incite in their own abode;
Bearing and bringing oblations, The rich draught, do ye mount the sky.
Bearing and bringing oblations, The rich draught, do ye mount the sky.
g. O
sacrifice, go to the sacrifice; go to the lord of the sacrifice; go to thine
own birthplace; hail!
h. This
is thy sacrifice, O lord of the sacrifice, with its utterance of hymns and
producing noble heroes; hail!
i Ye
gods that find the way, finding the way, go on the way.
k.. O
lord of mind, place this sacrifice, O god, for us among the gods, hail! or
speech, hail! or the wind, hail!
i. 4. 45.
a. King
Varuna hath made a broad path For the sun to travel; He hath made him set his
feet in the pathless way; He driveth away whatever woundeth the heart.
b. A
hundred remedies are thine, O king, a thousand; Broad and deep be thy loving
kindness. Overcome the enmity, the hostility; Remove from us whatever sin hath
been committed.
c. The
noose of Varuna is overcome.
d. The
face of Agni hath entered the waters, The child of the waters guarding against
the demons’ power,
In each home [1] do thou offer the kindling-stick, O Agni; Let thy tongue seek the ghee.
In each home [1] do thou offer the kindling-stick, O Agni; Let thy tongue seek the ghee.
e. In the
sea is thy heart, within the waters; Let the plants and the waters enter thee;
With the offerings of the sacrifice, O lord of the sacrifice, Let us worship at the utterance of the hymn, at the utterance of homage.
With the offerings of the sacrifice, O lord of the sacrifice, Let us worship at the utterance of the hymn, at the utterance of homage.
f.. O
bath, O flood, thou glidest, O flood; thou hast removed by sacrifice the sin
committed by the gods, through the gods, the sin committed by mortals, through
mortals; guard us, O god, from wide hostility.
g. Be
the water and plants friendly to us [2]; be they hostile to him who hateth us
and whom we hate.
h. Ye
divine waters, this is thy foetus, glad and well tended have we made it for
you; proclaim us as doers of good deeds among the gods.
i. The
noose of Varuna is tied, the noose of Varuna is loosed.
k. Thou
art fuel; may we prosper; thou art kindling; thou art brilliance, grant me
brilliance.
l. I
have penetrated to the waters; We are united with the sap; I have come rich in
milk, O Agni;Do thou unite me with radiance.
i. 4. 46.
a. I who
deeming thee immortal, Mortal myself, call on thee with prayerful heart. Upon
us, O wise one, bestow glory; O Agni, through offspring may I attain
immortality.
b. He,
for whom, O Agni, thou dost make, O wise one, For his good deeds a kindly
world, Shall win prosperity and wealth, Rich in sons, in heroes, in kine.
c. To
thee, O son of strength, they turn Who have desires to be fulfilled; None
excelleth thee, O Indra.
d. At
each hymn the Soma delighteth Indra, The pressed (juices), the bountiful one
[1], What time in unison with equal effort They call him to aid, like sons a
father.
e. O
Agni, O wise one, with sap, With brilliance thou shinest, Slayer of Raksases,
suppressor of demons.
f. I
have penetrated to the waters We are united with the sap; I have come rich in
milk, O Agni; Do thou unite me with radiance.
g. Rich
art thou, lord of riches, O Agni, rich in radiance; May we enjoy thy loving
kindness.
h. Thou,
O Agni, riches-lord of riches, I hail [2], O lord in the sacrifices; Through
thee in strife may we be victorious; May we overcome the hostilities of mortal
men.
i. Thee,
O Agni, best gainer of booty, The sages nourish, well lauded; Do thou give us
wealth of heroes.
k. May
Agni here make room for us; May he go before us cleaving the foe, Joyfully may
he conquer our foes;
May he win booty in the contest for booty.
May he win booty in the contest for booty.
l. By
Agni is Agni kindled, The wise, the young, the lord of the house, The bearer of
the oblation, with ladle in his mouth.
m. Thou,
O Agni, by Agni, The sage by the sage, the good by the good, The comrade by the
comrade, art kindled.
n. O
Agni, thy pure.
o. With
radiance.
PRAPATHAKA V
The Rekindling of the Fire
The Rekindling of the Fire
i.
5. 1.
The gods
and the Asuras were in conflict; the gods, in anticipation of the contest,
deposited in Agni their desirable riches (thinking),’This will still be ours,
if they defeat us. Agni desired it and went away with it. The gods having
defeated (the Asuras) pursued (Agni) desirous of recovering it. They sought
violently to take it from him. He wept; in that he wept (arodit), that is why
Rudra has his name. The tear that [1] was shed became silver; therefore silver
is not a suitable gift, for it is born of tears. He who gives on the strew, in
his house before the year is out they weep; therefore one should not give on
the strew. Agni said, ‘Let me have a share; then this will be yours.’ They
replied, ‘The re-establishing shall be thine alone.’ ‘He shall prosper’, he
said, who shall establish the fire with me as its divinity.’ Pusan established
it; therefore [2] did Pusan prosper; therefore cattle are said to be Pusan’s.
Tvastr established it; therefore did Tvastr prosper; therefore cattle are said
to be Tvastr’s. Manu established it; therefore did Manu prosper; therefore
offspring are said to be Manu’s. Dhatr established it; therefore Dhatr
prospered; Dhatr is the year; therefore offspring and cattle are born in the
course of the year. He who knows thus the prosperity of the re-establishing [3]
prospers. He who knows his connexions becomes possessed of connexions himself.
Agni desiring a share after being established assailed the offspring and cattle
of the sacrifice. Having removed it, one should re-establish it; thus he unites
him with his own portion; verily he is appeased. He should establish under
Punarvasu; Punarvasu is the Naksatra for the re-establishing; verily by
establishing it under its own deity he becomes resplendent. He establishes with
Darbha grass, for variety. He establishes with Darbha; verily winning it from
the waters and the plants he establishes it. The sacrificial cake is offered on
five potsherds; the seasons are five; verily he wins it from the seasons and
establishes it.
i. 5. 2.
He who
removes the fire casts away the sacrifice and cattle. The sacrificial cake is
offered on five potsherds; the sacrifice is fivefold, cattle are fivefold;
verily he wins the sacrifice and cattle. Now he who removes the fire is the
slayer of the hero among the gods; Brahmans desirous of holiness did not
aforetime eat his food; the Yajyas and Anuvakyas are in the Pankti metre; the
sacrifice is fivefold, man is fivefold; verily making recompense to the gods
for the hero he re-establishes the fire [1]. They are of a hundred syllables;
man lives a hundred years and has a hundred powers; verily he rests on life and
power. In that Agni when established does not prosper, (it is that he is)
desiring a greater portion; in that it is all Agni’s, that is his prosperity.
Speech is uttered together in the house of him who removes the fire; the
sacrificer is liable to perish on account of the uttering together of speech.
There are discriminations, to sever speech and preserve the sacrificer [2]. He
makes a discrimination; verily he makes the holy power (Brahman). He speaks the
Yajus, muttering; it is as if one who has found a rich treasure hides it. To
Agni Svistakrt he speaks aloud; it is as if one who has found a rich treasure
is fain to go openly. Uttering the discrimination he makes the Vasat cry with
the foresacrifice; verily he leaves not his abode. The sacrificial cake is the
sacrificer, the oblations are cattle; in that he offers these libations on
either side of the cake [3], he thus surrounds the sacrificer on either side
with cattle. ‘After performing the Yajus and collecting the apparatus’, they
say: ‘the apparatus should not be collected, the Yajus should not be
performed,’ they say: the apparatus should be collected and the Yajus
performed, for the prosperity of the sacrifice. The sacrificial fee is a
renovated chariot, a newly-sewn garment, a draught ox let loose again, for the
prosperity of the re-establishing. ‘Seven are thy kindling-sticks, O Agni,
seven thy tongues’; (with these words) he offers the Agnihotra. Wherever there
is anything of his nature, thence [4] does he win him. Now he who removes the
fire is the slayer of the hero among the gods, Varuna is the exactor of the recompense;
he should make an offering on eleven potsherds to Agni and Varuna; him whom he
slays and him who exacts the recompense he delights with their own portion; the
sacrificer is not ruined.
i. 5. 3.
a. (Thou
I art) earth in depth, sky in breadth, atmosphere in greatness; In thy lap, O
goddess Aditi, Agni I place, food-eater for the eating of food.
b. The
spotted bull hath come And reached again the mother And the father, faring to
the heaven.
c.
Thirty places be ruleth; Speech resorteth to the bird Bear it with the days.
d. With
her inspiration from his expiration, She wandereth between the worlds; The bull
discerneth the heaven.
e. If
thee [1] in anger I have scattered, In rage or through misfortune, That of
thee, O Agni, be in good order,
Again thee we relight.
Again thee we relight.
f.
Whatever of thee scattered in rageWas spread over the earth,That the Adityas,
the All-gods
And the Vasus gathered together.
And the Vasus gathered together.
g. Mind,
light, rejoice in the oblation.May be unite this scattered sacrifice;May
Brhaspati extend it;
May the All-gods rejoice herein.
May the All-gods rejoice herein.
h. Seven
are thy kindling-sticks, O Agni, seven thy tonguesSeven seers [2], seven dear
abodes,
Seven priesthoods sevenfold sacrifice to thee;Seven birthplaces with ghee do thou fill.
Seven priesthoods sevenfold sacrifice to thee;Seven birthplaces with ghee do thou fill.
i.
Return with strength, return,O Agni, with food and life;Again guard us on all
sides.
k.
Return with wealth, O Agni,Fatten with the stream,All gaining on every side.
l. Leka,
Salekha, Sulekha, may these Adityas rejoicing partake of our oblation; Keta,
Saketa, Suketa, may these Adityas rejoicing partake of our oblation; Vivasvan,
Aditi, Devajuti, may these Adityas rejoicing partake of our oblation.
i. 5. 4.
‘Earth
in depth, sky in breadth,’ he says; with this benediction he establishes it.
The serpents thought that they were growing worn out; Kasarnira Kadraveya
beheld this Mantra; then did they strike off their worn-out skins. With the
verses of the queen of serpents he establishes the Garhapatya, and so renewing
it he establishes it as immortal. Pure food did not come to the earth; she [1]
beheld this Mantra; then food came to her. In that he establishes the
Garhapatya with the verses of the serpent queen (it serves) for the winning of
food; verily he establishes it firm in the (earth). ‘If thee in anger I have
scattered’, he says; verily he conceals it from him. ‘Again thee we relight’,
he says; verily he kindles him all together. ‘Whatever of thee scattered in
rage’, he says; verily by means of the deities [2] he unites him. The sacrifice
of him who removes the fire is split; he pays reverence with a verse containing
the word Brhaspati; Brhaspati is the holy power (Brahman) of the gods; verily
by holy power (Brahman) he unites the sacrifice. ‘May he unite this scattered
sacrifice’, he says, for continuity, ‘May the All-gods rejoice herein’, he
says; verily continuing the sacrifice he points it out to the gods. ‘Seven are
thy kindling-sticks, O Agni, seven thy tongues’ [3], he says, for sevenfold in
seven-wise are the dear forms of Agni; verily he wins them. ‘Return with
strength’, ‘Return with wealth’, (with these words) he offers oblations on
either side of the sacrificial cake; verily with strength and with wealth he
surrounds on either side the sacrificer. The Adityas went from this world to
yonder world, they were thirsty in yonder world, having returned to this world
and having established the fire, they offered these oblations; they prospered,
they went to the world of heaven. He, who establishes a fire after the second
establishment, should offer these oblations; be prospers with the prosperity
where with the Adityas prospered.
The
Reverence of the Fire
i.
5. 5.
a As we
approach the sacrifice,Let us utter a hymn to Agni,Who heareth us, even from
afar.
b After
his ancient splendour,The bold ones have drawn the white milkFrom the seer who
winneth a thousand.
c Agni
is the head of the sky, the height,Lord of the earth here,He quickeneth the
seed of the waters.
d Here
hath he first been established by the establishers,Youngest Hotr to be invoked
at the sacrifices,
Whom Apnavana and the Bhrgus caused to shine,Bright in the woods, spreading from house to house.
Whom Apnavana and the Bhrgus caused to shine,Bright in the woods, spreading from house to house.
e Ye
twain shall be summoned, O Indra and Agni [1],Ye twain shall rejoice together
in the offeringYou both, givers of food and riches,You both I summon for the
winning of strength.
f This
is thy due place of birth,Whence born thou didst shine;Mount it, O Agni,
knowing it,And make our wealth increase.
g O
Agni, thou purifiest life;Do thou give food and strength to us;Far away drive
ill-fortune.
h O
Agni, good worker, purify for usGlory in good heroes,Giving increase of wealth
[2] to me.
i O
Agni, the purifying, with thy light,O god, with thy pleasant tongue,Bring
hither the gods and sacrifice.
k Do
thou, O shining and purifying one,O Agni, bring hither the godsTo our sacrifice
and our oblation.
l Agni,
of purest vows,Pure sage, pure poet,Shineth in purity when offering is made.
m O
Agni, thy pure,Bright, flaming (rays) arise,Thy lights, thy flames.
n Thou
art giver of life, O Agni; give me life [3]. Thou art giver of radiance, O
Agni; give me radiance. Thou art guardian of the body, O Agni; guard my body.
o O
Agni, whatever is deficient in my body, do thou make that good for me.
p O thou
of various splendour, in safety may I reach the end of thee.
q
Kindling thee may we kindle thee for a hundred winters, in radiance, strong the
giver of strength, famous the giver of fame, with good heroes, the undeceived,
O Agni, the deceiver of foes in the highest firmament.
r Thou,
O Agni, hast attained the radiance of the sun, the praises of the Rsis, thy
beloved abode.
s Thou,
O Agni, hast the radiance of the sun; grant me life, radiance, and offspring.
i. 5. 6.
a I gaze
on offspring,Offspring of Ida, connected with Manu;May they all be in our
house.
b Ye are
water; may I share your water. Ye are greatness, may I share your greatness; ye
are might, may I share your might; ye are strength, may I share your strength.
c Ye
wealthy ones, stay in this place, this fold, this dwelling, this birthplace; be
ye here; go not hence; be many for me [1].
d Thou
art composed of every form; enter me with strength, with lordship of kine, with
increase of wealth.
e May I
prosper with your thousandfold prosperity; may your wealth rest in me.
f To
thee, O Agni, day by day,That shinest in the darkness, with our devotion,We
come bearing honour.
g Lord
of the sacrifices, Guardian of holy order, shining, Waxing in his own horne.
h O
Agni, be of easy access to us, As a father to his son; Befriend us for
prosperity.
i O Agni
[2] be thou our nearest, Our protector, kindly, a shield; Thee, O shining and
most radiant one,
We implore for favour, for our friends; Agni, bright, of bright fame, Come hither in thy greatest splendour and give us wealth.
We implore for favour, for our friends; Agni, bright, of bright fame, Come hither in thy greatest splendour and give us wealth.
k With
strength I gaze on you; gaze on me with strength. With increase of wealth I
gaze on you; gaze on me with increase of wealth.
l Ye are
food, making sweetness; kindly enter me, nourishment and drink; may I prosper
with your thousandfold prosperity [3], may your wealth rest on me,
m That
excellent glory of Savitr The god we meditate, That be may stimulate our
prayers.’
n Make
famous the Soma-presser, O lord of prayer, Even as (thou did make famous)
Kaksivant Auçija.
o Never
art thou barren, O Indra, Never dost thou fail thy worshipper; Now more and
more is thy divine gift increased, O bountiful one.
p May we
set thee around us, O Agni, The sage, the strong, as a fort, Of daring hue, day
by day
Destroyer of that which may be broken.
Destroyer of that which may be broken.
q O
Agni, lord of the house, through thee as lord of the house, may I be a good
lord of the house; through me as lord of the house, mayst thou be a good lord
of the house; for a hundred winters, this blessing I invoke, bringing light for
the race; this blessing I invoke, bringing light for N. N.
i. 5. 7.
There is
no sacrifice without a Saman. ‘As we approach the sacrifice’, he says; verily
he yokes a Stoma with it. ‘Approach’, he says; offspring and cattle approach
the world; verily he approaches cattle and offspring and this world. ‘After his
ancient splendour’, he says; the ancient is the world of heaven; verily he
mounts upon the world of heaven. ‘Agni is the head of the sky, the height’, he
says; verily he makes him the head [1] of his equals, and verily from the world
of the gods he rests in the world of men. ‘Here hath he first been established
by the establishers’, he says; verily he makes him the principal. ‘Ye twain
shall be summoned, O Indra and Agni’, he says; verily he wins might and force.
‘This is thy due place of birth’, he says; wealth is cattle; verily he wins
cattle. With six (verses) he pays reverence; the seasons are six [2]; verily he
rests on the seasons. With six subsequent (verses) he pays reverence; they make
up twelve; the year has twelve months; verily he rests on the year. Just as a
man, a horse, a cow, are worn out, so the fire when established wears out; at
the end of the year he pays reverence with (verses) containing the words Agni
and pu; verily he renews it and makes it unageing, and also purifies it. He
pays reverence; that is his union. He pays reverence [3]; that is his bond. He
pays reverence; that is his appeal. He pays reverence; that is as if an
inferior brings (something) to a superior and pays him honour. ‘Thou art giver
of life, O Agni; give me life’, he says, for he is a giver of life. ‘Thou art
giver of radiance, O Agni; give me radiance’, he says, for he is a giver of
radiance. I Thou art guardian of the body, O Agni; guard my body’, he says [4],
for he is a guardian of the body. ‘O Agni, whatever is deficient in my body, do
thou make that good for me’, he says; ‘whatever is deficient in my offspring
and cattle, do thou make that good for me’, be says in effect. ‘O thou of
various splendour, in safety may I reach the end of thee’, he says; that of
various splendour is the night. The Brahmans aforetime feared its not dawning;
verily he wins the dawn. ‘Kindling thee for a hundred winters’ [5], he says;
man lives a hundred years and has a hundred powers; verily he rests on life and
power. This is a pipe with projections; by it the gods made piercings of
hundreds of the Asuras; in that he takes up the kindling-stick with this verse,
the sacrificer hurls the hundred-slaying (verse) as a bolt against his enemy to
lay (him) low without fail. ‘Thou, O Agni, hast attained the radiance of the
sun’, he says; ‘that thou art, thus may I be’, he says in effect. ‘Thou, O
Agni, hast the radiance of the sun’, he says; verily he invokes this blessing.
i. 5. 8.
‘I gaze
on offspring’, he says; verily he wins all the domesticated animals. ‘Ye are
water; may I share your water’, he says, for they are water. ‘Ye are greatness;
may I share your greatness’, he says, for they are greatness. ‘Ye are might;
may I share your might’, he says, for they are might. ‘Ye are strength; may I
share your strength’, he says [1], for they are strength. ‘Ye wealthy ones,
stay’, he says; the wealthy ones are cattle; verily he makes cattle stay with
himself. ‘Be ye here; go not hence’, he says; verily he makes them constant,
departing not. Now one fire is piled with bricks, one with cattle. ‘Thou art
composed Of every form’, (with these words) he strokes the calf; verily he
piles it up and makes it piled with cattle. He falls away [2] from this world
who pays reverence to the Ahavaniya; he pays reverence to the Garhapatya;
verily he rests on this world, and also he makes amends to the Garhapatya. He
pays reverence with Gayatri verses; the Gayatri is brilliance; verily he
confers brilliance upon himself; moreover in that he repeats the triad (of
verses), (it serves) for continuity. Because of the Garhapatya men are born
with two feet; to him who knowing thus pays reverence to the Garhapatya with
(verses) of two feet [3], a hero son is born. ‘With strength I gaze upon you;
gaze on me with strength’, he says; verily he invokes this blessing. ‘That
excellent glory of Savitr’, he says, for instigation. ‘Famous the
Soma-presser’, he says; verily he wins the Soma draught. ‘Make, O lord of
prayer’, he says; verily he wins splendour. ‘Never art thou barren’, be says;
no barren night does he pass [4], who knowing thus pays reverence to the fire.
May we (set) thee around, O Agni, as a fort’, he says; verily he sets around a
barrier, that nothing be spilt. ‘O Agni, lord of the house’, he says; that is
according to the text. ‘For a hundred winters’, he says; ‘for a hundred winters
may I kindle thee’, he says in effect. He utters the name of his son; verily he
makes him an eater of food. ‘This blessing I invoke bringing light for the
race’, he should say, who has no son born; verily is born to him a son
brilliant and resplendent. ‘This blessing I invoke bringing light for N. N.’,
he should say who has a son born; verily he confers upon him brilliance and
splendour.
i. 5. 9.
i. 5. 9.
He
offers the Agnihotra; whatever there is. of the Sacrificer’s own, that is
(still) his. In the generative organ he pours seed, for Agni is the generative
organ. Then he burns at the end the plants; they then grow more numerous. In
that he offers in the evening, he thus pours seed, and makes it productive by
the morning (offering). Seed when poured does not prove fruitful unless modified
by Tvastr; as many modifications of seed when poured [1] as Tvastr makes, in so
many shapes does it become fruitful; the sacrificer is the divine Tvastr. He
pays reverence with many (verses); verily he makes many modifications of the
seed when poured. He is fruitful and day by day becomes greater, who knowing
thus pays reverence to the fire. The day was the gods’, the night the Asuras’.
The Asuras entered night with all the precious wealth of the gods [2]; the gods
thought that they were abandoned; they perceived, ‘The night is Agni’s, cattle
are Agni’s; verily let us praise Agni here; he being praised by us will restore
our cattle.’ They praised Agni; be praised by them delivered their cattle from
night to day; the gods having gained their cattle per formed their desires. He
who knowing thus pays reverence to the fire becomes possessed of cattle [3].
The sun went from this world to yonder world; he having gone to yonder world
bethought him again of this world; having returned to this world he had fear of
death, for this world is, as it were, yoked with death. He reflected, ‘Let me
praise Agni here; he, praised, will make me go to the world of heaven.’ He
praised Agni; he, praised, made him go to the world of heaven. He who [4]
knowing thus pays reverence to the fire, goes to the world of heaven and lives
all his days. He mounts these two fires who pays reverence to them; he acts
according to the desires of one who has attained a higher place. He pays
reverence at night, not in the morning, for vows are mingled at night, the bad
and the good are on the same level, the fire is the light, the evening is the
darkness; in that [5] he pays reverence by night, he overcomes the darkness by
light. ‘Should reverence be paid to the fire or not?’ they say; ‘he who day by
day makes a present to a man and then begs of him assuredly molests him; and
who then will day by day beg of the gods?’ Then they say, ‘The sacrificer
sacrifices for the sake of the benediction.’ The reverence of the fire is [6]
the benediction of him who has established a fire; therefore reverence should
be paid to the fire. Prajapati created cattle; being created they entered day
and night; he recovered them by means of the metres. In that he pays reverence
with the metres, he seeks to recover his own. ‘There is not monotony then’,
they say, ‘if one pays reverence day by day.’ If a man pays reverence to the
fire facing it, it burns him; if with averted (face), he is deprived of
offspring and cattle; he should pay reverence with (face) somewhat to the side,
then (the fire) does not burn him, he is not deprived of offspring or cattle.
i.
5. 10.
a. The
name that first, O alI-knower,My father and my mother bestowed upon me
aforetime,Do thou bear it until I return;O Agni, may I bear thy name.
b. My
name and thine, O all-knower,Which like men changing garments we bear,Let us
exchange again,Thou for life, and we to live.
c.
Homage to Agni, the unpierced,Homage to the unapproachable, homage to the
king!Irresistible is Agni [1], the very vigorous, all-conquering,Powerful, the
best, the Gandharva.
d .O
Agni, the gods have thee for father,Offer to thee oblations, and have thee as
an umpireWith life, with lordship of cattle (endow) meAnd bestow on me good
fortune.
e. Agni
here is of all the best,He is most adorable,Must ready to win (us) a
thousand;To him be all good strength.
f. Mind,
light, rejoice in the oblationMay he unite the scattered sacrifice;The
offerings at dawn and evening
I. unite with oblation and ghee.
I. unite with oblation and ghee.
g. Rich
in milk are the plants [2],The milk of the shoot is rich in milk,With the milk
of the milk of the waters,
O.Indra, do thou unite me.
O.Indra, do thou unite me.
h. O
Agni, lord of vows, I shall perform this vow; may I accomplish it; may it be
successful for me.
i. Agni,
the priest, I summon hither;The gods worthy of sacrifice whom we invoke,Let
these gods come in kindly mind;Let the gods enjoy this oblation of me.
k. Who
yoketh thee? Let him yoke thee.
l. The
potsherds for the cauldron [3],Which wise men collect,These are in Pusan’s
guardianship;
Indra and Vayu set them free.
Indra and Vayu set them free.
m.
Unbroken is the cauldron, sprinkling abundantly,It hath returned to that whence
it came;The kindling-wood, the Vedi, and all the enclosing-sticksAttend the
life of the sacrifice.
n. The
three and thirty threads that stretch,That maintain in security the sacrifice,Of
these the broken one I restore; hail!
Let the
cauldron go to the gods.
i. 5. 11.
a. Let
Vaiçvanara with succour for us Come from afar, Agni through the hymn which
brings (him).
b. The
righteous Vaiçvanara, Lord of right and of light, The immortal cauldron we
seek.’
c. A
greater than the marvels of Vaiçvanara By his craftsmanship the sage hath
performed alone;
Magnifying both parents, sky and earth, Rich in seed, was Agni born.
Magnifying both parents, sky and earth, Rich in seed, was Agni born.
d.
Desired in the sky, Agni, desired on earth, Desired he entereth all the plants;
Agni Vaiçvanara eagerly desired, May he by day [1] and night protect us from the foe.
Agni Vaiçvanara eagerly desired, May he by day [1] and night protect us from the foe.
e. In
that, when born, O Agni, thou didst survey the worlds, Like a busy herd that
goeth around his flock,
Do thou, O Vaiçvanara, find a way for the Brahman; Do ye protect us ever with your blessings.
Do thou, O Vaiçvanara, find a way for the Brahman; Do ye protect us ever with your blessings.
f. Thou,
O Agni, blazing with light, Didst fill the firmament at thy birth; Thou, O
Vaiçvanara, wise one, by thy might Didst free the gods from misfortune.’
g. O
Agni, among our bountiful lords, preserve The lordship, uninjured, unageing,
rich in heroes; May we win booty a hundred, a thousandfold, O Vaiçvanara [2], O
Agni, through thy help.
h. May
we enjoy the loving kindness of Vaiçvanara, For he is the king, the orderer of
the worlds Hence born be discerneth all the (earth), Vaiçvanara vieth with the
sun.
i. Thine
anger, O Varuna, would we avert with reverence, With sacrifices, with oblations
Ruling, O wise Asura, O king, Do thou unloose the sins we have committed.
k.
Unloose from us, O Varuna, the highest, The lowest, the midmost knot; Then may
we, O Aditya [3], in thy rule, Be guiltless before Aditi.
l. Of
Dadhikravan have I sung, The swift strong horse; May he make our mouths
fragrant; May he lengthen our days.
m.
Dadhikra with his glory hath overspread the five peoples, As the sun with his
light the waters; May the strong steed, winning a hundred, a thousand, Fill
with boney these words of ours.
n. Agni,
the head. o Thou art.
o. O
Maruts, what time seeking your favour We call on you from the sky, Do ye come
unto us [4].
p. The
protections which ye have for the earnest worshipper, Threefold do ye grant
them to the generous giver, To us, O Maruts, do ye accord them; O strong ones,
give us wealth rich in heroes:
q. Let
Aditi save us, Let Aditi give us protection, Let Aditi guard us from
tribulation.
r. The
mighty mother of the righteous, The spouse of holy order, let us invoke to aid
us, The powerful, the unageing, the wide Aditi, who giveth good protection and
good guidance.
s. Earth
strong to save, sky unrivalled, Aditi who giveth good protection and good
guidance, The divine ship with good oars, the blameless, Which leaketh not, let
us mount for prosperity.
t.
Happily have I mounted this ship With a hundred oars and a hundred spars,
Without leak, able to convey across.
Without leak, able to convey across.
PRAPATHAKA VI
The Part of the Sacrificer in the New and Full Moon Sacrifices.
The Part of the Sacrificer in the New and Full Moon Sacrifices.
i.
6. 1.
a. By
the Yajus I pour on theeOffspring, life, and wealth.Instigated by Brhaspati may
the sacrificer here come to no harm.
b. Thou
art butter, thou art truth, thou art the overseer of truth, thou art the
oblation of Vaiçvanara, of the All-gods, with pure strength, of true might;
thou art power, overpowering; overpower hostility, overpower those who practise
hostility; overpower enmity, overpower those who practise emnity; thou art of a
thousandfold strength; do thou quicken me; thou art of butter the butter; thou
art of truth the truth; thou hast true life [1]; thou hast true strength; with
truth I besprinkle thee; may I share thee that art such.
c. For a
prop, a support, of the five winds I take thee.
d. For a
prop, a support, of the five seasons I take thee.
e. For a
prop, a support, of the five quarters I take thee.
f. For a
prop, a support, of the five five-peoples I take thee.
g. For a
prop, a support, of the pot with five holes I take thee.
h. For
the brilliance of the Brahman, for a prop, a support, I take thee.
i. For
the might of the ruling class, for a prop, a support, I take thee [2].
k. For
the people, for a prop, a support I take thee.
l. For
excellence of strength I take thee.
m. For
wealth of offspring I take thee.
n. For
increase of wealth I take thee.
o. For
splendour I take thee.
p. The
earth ours, the oblation the gods, the benedictions the sacrificers’; for the
divinities of the gods I take thee.
q For
desire I take thee.
i. 6. 2.
a. Thou
art secure; may I be secure among my equals, wise, a guardian, a granter of
wealth.
b. Thou
art dread; may I be dread among my equals, dread, a guardian, a granter of
wealth.
c. Thou
art overcoming; may I be overcoming among my equals, overcoming, a guardian, a
granter of wealth.
d. I
yoke thee with the divine Brahman,To bear this oblation, O wise one;Kindling
thee, may we live long with good children,With good heroes, bearing thee
tribute.
e.
Whatever, O Agni, in this sacrifice of mine may be spoiled [1],Whatever of the
butter, O Visnu, may be spilt,
Therewith do I smite the rival who is hard to slay;I place him on the lap of destruction.
Therewith do I smite the rival who is hard to slay;I place him on the lap of destruction.
f. Bhur,
Bhuvah, Suvar!
g. O
Agni, do thou strengthen the sacrificer; weaken him who plotteth evil.,
h. O
Agni, kindled by the gods, kindled by Manu, with sweet tongue,I touch the head
of thee, the immortal, O Hotr, for increase of wealth, good offspring,
strength.
i. Thou
art mind, derived from Prajapati; with mind in true existence do thou enter me.
k. Thou
art speech, derived from Indra, destroying the foe [2]; do thou enter me with
speech, with power (indriyena).
l. Of
the seasons spring I delight; delighted may it delight me.
m. Of
the seasons summer I delight; delighted may it delight me.
n. Of
the seasons the rains I delight; delighted may they delight me.
o. Of
the seasons the autumn I delight; delighted may it delight me.
p. Of
the seasons the winter and the cool I delight; delighted may they two delight
me.
q. By
sacrifice to the gods, Agni and Soma, may I be possessed of sight.
r. By
sacrifice to the god Agni, may I be an eater of food [3].
s. Thou
art a deceiver; may I be undeceived, may I deceive N. N.
t. By
sacrifice to the gods, Agni and Soma, may I be a slayer of foes.
u. By
sacrifice to the gods, Indra and Agni, may I be powerful and an eater of food.
v. By
sacrifice to the god Indra, may I be powerful.
w. By
sacrifice tothe god Mahendra, may I attain superiority and greatness.
x. By
sacrifice to the god Agni Svistakrt, may I attain security through the
sacrifice, enjoying long life.
i. 6. 3.
a. May I
Agni protect me from evil sacrifice, Savitr from evil report.
b. Him
who near or afar plots evil against me, with this may I conquer.
c. O
thou of fair rain colour, comeTo this blessed home,Approach me in devotion.
d. Touch
the heads.
e. O
Ida, come hither; O Aditi, come hither; O Sarasvati, come hither.
f. Thou
art delight, thou art delighting, thou art fair.
g. O
thou in whom joy is taken, may I attain joy from thee; O thou who art invoked,
may I obtain invocation [1] from thee.
h. May
the prayer of the sacrificer be fulfilled for me.
i. With
untroubled mind may I have strength for this.
k. May
the sacrifice mount the sky, may the sacrifice reach the sky.
l. The
path that leadeth to the gods, along it may the sacrifice go to the gods.
m. On us
may Indra bestow power; Us may wealth and sacrifices attend Ours be blessings;
To us be she dear, victorious, bountiful.
n. Thou
art joy, give joy to us; thou art enjoyed by us [2], may I attain joy from
thee.
o. Mind,
light, rejoice in the sacrifice May he unite this scattered sacrifice; May
Brhaspati extend this for us.
May the All-gods rejoice here.
May the All-gods rejoice here.
p.
Swell, O ruddy one.
q. May
(my act) as I give be not destroyed; may (my act) as I work not perish.
r. Thou
art the portion of Prajapati, full of strength and milk.
s.
Protect my expiration and inspiration; protect my breathing together and
cross-breathing; protect my out-breathing and cross-breathing.
t. Thou
art imperishable, for imperishableness thee; mayst thou not perish for me,
yonder, in yonder world.
i. 6. 4.
a. By
sacrifice to the divine straw, may I be possessed of children.
b. By
sacrifice to the god Naraçansa, may I be possessed of cattle.
c. By
sacrifice to the god Agni Svistakrt, may I attain security through the
sacrifice, having long life.
d. May I
be victorious through the victory of Agni.
e.. May
I be victorious through the victory of Soma.
f. May I
be victorious through the victory of Agni.
g. May I
be victorious through the victory of Agni and Soma.
h. May I
be victorious through the victory of Indra and Agni.
i. May I
be victorious through the victory of Indra [1].
k. May I
be victorious through the victory of Mahendra.
l. May I
be victorious through the victory of Agni Svistakrt.
m. With
the impulse of strength, With elevation he hath seized me; then Indra hath made
my enemies
Humble with depression.
Humble with depression.
n. The
gods have increased my prayer Which is elevation and depression; Then do ye, O
Indra and Agni,
Scatter my foes on every side.
Scatter my foes on every side.
o.
Hither these blessings have come, fain for milking, Possessing Indra [2], may
we win, May we milk offspring and food.
p. With
the red steed may Agni convey thee to the god; with the tawny ones may Indra
convey thee to the god; with Etaça may Sarya convey thee to the god.
q. I
unyoke thy head ropes, thy reins, Thy yokings, thy harness; Bestow upon us
wealth and what is good;
Proclaim us sharers among the gods.
Proclaim us sharers among the gods.
r. By
sacrifice to the god Visnu, by the sacrifice, may I attain health and wealth,
and security.
s. By
sacrifice to the god Soma [3], possessing good seed, may I impregnate seed.
t. By
sacrifice to the god Tvastr, may I prosper the form of cattle.
u. The
wives of the gods, Agni lord of the house, are the pair of the sacrifice; by
sacrifice to these deities, may I be propagated with a pair.
v. Thou
art the bundle, thou art gain, may I gain.
w. Thou
art action, thou art making, may I make.
x. Thou
art winning, thou art the winner, may I win.
y. May
the bundle bestow increase of wealth, Rich in ghee, rich in houses, A
thousandfold, strong.
i.
6. 5.
a. Let
the Dhruva swell with ghee, For each sacrifice for the worshippers;In the udder
of the sun maiden, in the lap of Aditi, Broad streamed be the earth at this
sacrifice.
b.
Prajapati’s is the world called Vibhan. In it I place thee along with the
sacrificer.
c. Thou
art real, be real for me; thou art all, be all for me; thou art full, be full
for me; thou art imperishable, perish not for me.
d. In
the eastern quarter may the gods, the priests, make (me) bright; in the
southern [1] quarter may the months, the fathers, make (me) bright; in the
western quarter may the houses, the cattle, make (me) bright; in the northern
quarter may the waters, the plants, the trees make (me) bright; in the zenith
may the sacrifice, the year, the lord of the sacrifice make (me) bright.
e. Thou
art the step of Visnu, smiting enmity; with the Gayatri metre I step across the
earth; excluded is he whom we hate.
f. Thou
art the step of Visnu, smiting imprecations; with the Tristubh metre I step
across the atmosphere; excluded is he whom we hate.
g. Thou
art the step of Visnu, smiter of him who practiseth evil; with the Jagati metre
I step across the sky; excluded is he whom we hate.
h. Thou
art the step of Visnu, smiter of the hostile one; with the Anustubh metre I
stop across the quarters; excluded is he whom we hate.
i. 6. 6.
a. We
have come to the heaven; to the heaven we have come.
b. May I
not be cut off from seeing thee; what heat is thine, to that of thee may I not
be brought low.
c. Thou
art good, the best of rays, thou art life-bestowing, bestow life
upon me; thou art radiance-bestowing, bestow radiance upon me.
upon me; thou art radiance-bestowing, bestow radiance upon me.
d. Here
do I exclude my enemy, N. N., from these quarters, this sky, this atmosphere,
this earth, this food. Excluded is he whom we hate [1].
e. I
have been united with the light.
f. I
turn the turning of Indra.
g. May I
be united with offspring, offspring with me.
h. May I
be united with increase of wealth, increase of wealth with me.
i. Kindled,
O Agni, shine for me; kindling thee, O Agni, may I shine.
k. Be
rich the sacrifice; may I be rich.
l. O
Agni, thou purifiest life; Do thou give food and strength to us; Far away drive
ill-fortune.
m. O
Agni, good worker, purify for us Glory in good heroes [2], Giving increase and
wealth to me.
n. O
Agni, lord of the house, through thee as lord of the house, may I be a good
lord of the house; through me as lord of the house, mayst thou be a good lord
of the house; for a hundred winters; this blessing I invoke bringing light for
the race; this blessing I invoke bringiug light for N. N.
o. Who
yoketh thee? Let him set thee free.
p. O
Agni, lord of vows, I have performed my vow; for that I have had strength; that
hath been accomplished by me.
q. The
sacrifice hath become, it hath [3] come into being, It hath been born, it hath
waxed great;
It hath become the overlord of the gods, May it make us overlords, May we be lords of wealth.
It hath become the overlord of the gods, May it make us overlords, May we be lords of wealth.
r. Rich
in cattle, in sheep, O Agni, in horses, is the sacrifice, With manly
companions, ever unalterable;
Rich in food is this, O Asura, rich in offspring, Enduring wealth, deep based and rich in houses.
Rich in food is this, O Asura, rich in offspring, Enduring wealth, deep based and rich in houses.
i. 6. 7.
Even as
the Soma (sacrifices) come together in competition, so the new and full moon
(sacrifices) are sacrifices which come together in competition. Whose sacrifice
then do the gods approach and whose not? He, who among many sacrificers first
appropriates the gods, sacrifices to them when the next day comes. The
Ahavaniya is the abode of the gods, between the fires of cattle, the Garhapatya
of men, the Anvaharya pacana of the fathers. He takes the fire; verily he
appropriates [1] the gods in their own abode; to them he sacrifices when the
next day comes. By means of a vow is Agni, lord of vows, pure, the Brahman is a
supporter of vows. When about to undertake a vow he should say, ‘O Agni, lord
of vows, I shall perform the vow.’ Agni is the lord of vows among the gods;
verily after announcement to him he undertakes the vow. At the full moon be
undertakes his vow with the (strewing of the) straw, with the (driving away of
the) calves at new moon; for that is their abode. ‘The fires, both in the front
and at the back, must be bestrewed’, they say; men [2] indeed desire what is
bestrewed, and, how much more the gods whose is a new dwelling. With him, when
sacrifice is to be made on the next day, do the gods dwell, who knowing this
bestrews the fire. ‘The sacrificer should win both beasts of the wild and of
the village’, they say; in that he refrains from those of the village, thereby
be wins them; in that he eats of the wild, thereby he wins them of the wild. If
be were to fast without eating, the Pitrs would be his divinity [3]; he eats of
the wild, the wild is power, and so he bestows power upon himself. If he were
to fast without eating, he would be hungry; if he were to eat, Rudra would plan
evil against his cattle; he partakes of water; that is neither eaten nor not
eaten; he is not hungry and Rudra does not plot evil against his cattle. The
sacrificer is a bolt, the enemy of man is hunger; in that he fasts without
eating, he straightway smites with the bolt the enemy, hunger.
i. 6. 8.
He who
offers sacrifice without faith, they place not faith in his sacrifice. He
brings waters forward, the waters are faith; verily with faith he offers
sacrifice, and both gods and men place faith in his sacrifice. They say, ‘They
foam over the barrier, they foam over speech, but over mind they do not foam.’
He brings them forward with mind; mind is this (earth) [1]; verily with this
(earth) he brings them forward. The sacrifice of him who knows thus does not
spill. He collects the weapons of the sacrifice; the weapons of the sacrifice
are the sacrifice; verily he collects the sacrifice. If he were to collect them
one by one, they would have the Pitrs as their divinity; if all together, (they
would have) men as their divinity. He collects them in pairs, and so he makes
the form of the Yajya and the Anuvakya, and thus there is a pair. If a man
knows the ten weapons of the sacrifice, his sacrifice is in order at the
beginning. The wooden sword [2], the potsherds, the offering-spoon, the basket,
the black antelope skin, the pin, the mortar and pestle, the lower and upper
millstones, these are the ten weapons of the sacrifice; the sacrifice of him who
knows thus is in order at the beginning. If a man sacrifices after announcing
the sacrifice to the gods, they delight in his sacrifice. He should as the
oblation is being offered recite (the words), ‘Agni, the priest, him I summon
hither’ [3]. Thus he announces the sacrifice to the gods and sacrifices, and
the gods delight in his sacrifice. This is the taking of the sacrifice and so
after taking the sacrifice he sacrifices. After speaking he remains silent, to
support the sacrifice. Now Prajapati performed the sacrifice with mind; verily
he performs the sacrifice with mind to prevent the Raksases following. He who
yokes the sacrifice when the yoking (time) arrives yokes it indeed among the
yokers. ‘Who (ka) yoketh thee? Let him yoke thee’, he says. Ka is
Prajapati–verily by Prajapati he yokes it; he yokes indeed among the yokers.
i. 6. 9.
Prajapati
created the sacrifices, the Agnihotra, the Agnistoma, the full moon sacrifice,
the Ukthya, the new moon sacrifice and the Atiratra. These he meted out; the Agnistoma
was the size of the Agnihotra, the Ukthya that of the full moon sacrifice, the
Atiratra that of the new moon sacrifice. He who knowing thus offers the
Agnihotra obtains as much as by offering the Agnistoma; he who knowing thus
offers the full moon sacrifice obtains as much as by offering the Ukthya [1];
he who knowing thus offers the new moon sacrifice obtains as much as by
offering the Atiratra. This sacrifice was in the beginning Paramesthin’s, and
by means of it he reached the supreme goal. He furnished Prajapati with it, and
by means of it Prajapati reached the supreme goal. He furnished Indra with it,
and by means of it Indra reached the supreme goal. He furnished Agni and Soma
with it, and by means of it Agni and Soma reached the supreme goal. He who [2]
knowing thus offers the new and full moon sacrifices reaches the supreme goal.
He who sacrifices with an abundant offering is multiplied with offspring, with
cattle, with pairings. ‘The year has twelve months, there are twelve pairs of
new and full moon sacrifices; these are to be produced’, they say. He lets the
calf go free and puts the pot on the fire: he puts down (the rice), and beats
the millstones together; he scatters (the grains) and collects the potsherds;
the cake [3] he puts on the fire and the melted butter; he throws the clump of
grass, and gathers it in; he surrounds the Vedi and he girds the wife (of the
sacrificer); he puts in place the anointing waters and the melted butter. These
are the twelve pairs in the new and full moon sacrifices. He, who thus
sacrifices with these, sacrifices with an abundant offering and is multiplied
with offspring, with cattle, with pairings.
i. 6. 10.
‘Thou I
art secure; may I be secure among my equals’, he says; verily he makes them
secure.’ ‘Thou art dread; may I be dread among my equals’; verily he makes them
harmonious. ‘Thou art overcoming; may I be overcoming among my equals,’ he
says; verily he overthrows him who rises against him. ‘I yoke thee with the
divine Brahman’, he says; this is the yoking of the fire; verily [1] with it he
yokes it. With the prosperous part of the sacrifice the gods went to the world
of heaven, with the unsuccessful part they overcame the Asuras. ‘Whatever, O
Agni, in this sacrifice of mine may be spoiled’, he says; verily with the
prosperous part of the sacrifice the sacrificer goes to the world of heaven,
with the unsuccessful part he overcomes the foes. With these Vyahrtis he should
set down the Agnihotra. The Agnihotra is the beginning of the sacrifice, these
Vyahrtis are the Brahman; verily at the beginning of the sacrifice he makes the
Brahman [2]. When the year is completed he should thus with these (Vyahrtis)
perform the setting down; verily with the Brahman he surrounds the year on both
sides. He who is undertaking the new and full moon and the four monthly
offerings should set in place the oblations with these Vyahrtis. The new and
full moon and the four monthly sacrifices are the beginning of the sacrifice,
these Vyahrtis are the Brahman; verily at the beginning of the sacrifice he
makes the Brahman. When the year is completed, he should thus with them
(Vyahrtis) set down (the oblations), and so with the Brahman he surrounds the
year on both sides. To the kingly class falls the blessing of the part of the
sacrifice which is performed with the Saman [3]; to the people (falls) the
blessing of what (is performed) with the Rc; now the Brahman sacrifices with an
offering without a blessing; when he is about to recite the kindling-verses he
should first insert the Vyahrtis; verily he makes the Brahman the commencement,
and thus the Brahman sacrifices with an offering which has a blessing. If he
desire of a sacrificer, ‘May the blessing of his sacrifice fall to his foe’, he
should insert for him those Vyahrtis in the Puronuvakya (verse); the
Puronuvakya has the foe for its divinity; verily the blessing of his sacrifice
falls to his foe [4]. If he desire of sacrificers, ‘May the blessing of the
sacrifice fall to them equally’, he should place for them one of the Vyahrtis at
the half-verse of the Puronuvakya, one before the Yajya, and one at the
half-verse of the Yajya, and thus the blessing of the sacrifice falls to them
equally. Even as Parjanya rains down good rain, so the sacrifice rains for the
sacrificer; they surround the water with a mound, the sacrificer surrounds the
sacrifice with a blessing. ‘Thou art mind derived from Prajapati [5], with mind
and true existence do thou enter me’, he says; mind is derived from Prajapati,
the sacrifice is derived from Prajapati; verily he confers upon himself mind
and the sacrifice. ‘Thou art speech, derived from Indra, destroying the foe; do
thou enter me with speech, with power’, he says; speech is derived from Indra;
verily he confers upon himself speech as connected with Indra
i.
6. 11.
He who
knows the seventeenfold Prajapati as connected with the sacrifice rests secure
through the sacrifice, and falls not away from the sacrifice. ‘Do thou
proclaim’ has four syllables; ‘Be it proclaimed’ has four syllables; ‘Utter’
has two syllables; ‘We that do utter’ has five syllables; the Vasat has two
syllables; this is the seventeenfold Prajapati as connected with the sacrifice;
he who knows thus rests secure through the sacrifice and does not fall away
from the sacrifice. He who knows the beginning, the support, the end of the
sacrifice [1] reaches the end with a secure and uninjured sacrifice. ‘Do thou
proclaim’; ‘Be it proclaimed’; ‘Utter’; ‘We that do utter’; the Vasat call,
these are the beginning, the support, the end of the sacrifice; he who knows
thus reaches the end with a secure and uninjured sacrifice. He who knows the
milking of the generous one milks her indeed. The generous one is the
sacrifice; (with the words) ‘Do thou proclaim’, he calls her; with ‘Be it
proclaimed’ [2], he lets (the calf) go up to her; with ‘Utter’, he raises (the
pail); with ‘We that do utter’, he sits down beside her, and with the Vasat
call he milks. This is the milking of the generous one; he who knows thus milks
her indeed. The gods performed a sacrificial session; the quarters were dried
up; they discerned this moist set of five; (with the words) ‘Do thou proclaim’,
they produced the east wind; with ‘Be it proclaimed’, they caused the clouds to
mass together; with ‘Utter’ they begat [3] the lightning; with ‘We that do
sacrifice’ they made rain to fall, and with the Vasat call they caused the
thunder to roll. Then for them the quarters were made to swell; for him who
knows thus the quarters are made to swell. One knows Prajapati, Prajapati knows
one; whom Prajapati knows, he becomes pure. This is the Prajapati of the texts,
‘Do thou proclaim’, ‘Be it proclaimed’, ‘Utter’, ‘We that do utter’, the Vasat
call; he who knows thus becomes pure. ‘Of the seasons spring [4] I delight’, he
says; the fore-sacrifices are the seasons; verily he delights the seasons; they
delighted place themselves in order for him; the seasons are in order for him
who knows thus. ‘By sacrifice to the gods, Agni and Soma, may I be possessed of
sight’, he says; the sacrifice is possessed of sight through Agni and Soma;
verily by means of them he confers sight upon himself. ‘By sacrifice to the god
Agni, may I be an eater of food’, he says; Agni is among the gods the eater of
food; verily by means of him [5] he confers the eating of food upon himself.
‘Thou art a deceiver; may I be undeceived; may I deceive N. N.’, he says; by
that deceit the gods deceived the Asuras; verily by this he deceives his foe.
‘By sacrifice to the gods, Agni and Soma, may I be a slayer of foes’, he says;
by means of Agni and Soma Indra slew Vrtra; verily by means of them he lays low
his foe. ‘By sacrifice to the gods, Indra and Agni, may I be powerful and an
eater of food’, he says; verily he becomes powerful and an eater of food. ‘By
sacrifice to the god Indra, may I be powerful’, he says; verily he becomes
powerful. ‘By sacrifice to the god Mahendra, may I attain superiority and
greatness’, he says; verily he attains superiority and greatness. ‘By sacrifice
to the god Agni Svistakrt, may I attain security through the sacrifice,
enjoying long life’, he says; verily he confers long life upon himself and
attains security through the sacrifice.
i. 6. 12
a. Indra
for you we invoke On all sides from other men; Be he ours only.
b. Indra
men call in reverence That he may cause their prayers to be accomplished; Hero,
men overpowering, delighting in strength, Do thou confer upon us a stall full
of kine.
c. O
Çatakratu, the strength of thine That is in the five folks, That do I choose of
thee.
d.To
thee hath been assigned for mighty power, For ever, in the slaying of Vrtra,
All lordship, and all strength, O thou that art worthy of sacrifice In the
overcoming of man, by the gods, O Indra [1].
e. In
whom the seven Vasavas rest As it were firm rooted, The Rsi of farthest hearing,
The glowing pot is the guest of Indra.
f. In
the raw thou didst produce the cooked, And madest the sun to mount in the sky;
Like the glowing pot heat ye the Saman With good prayers, delightful to the lover of song.
Like the glowing pot heat ye the Saman With good prayers, delightful to the lover of song.
g. Indra
the singers aloud, Indra with praises the praisers, Indra the songs have
praised.
h. The
singers sing thee [2]; The praisers hymn thy praise; The Brahmans raise thee, 0
Çatakratu, like a pole.
i. Let
us offer our praise to him who delivereth from trouble, Swiftest to give,
celebrating his loving kindness;
O Indra, accept this oblation; May the desires of the sacrificer be fulfilled.
O Indra, accept this oblation; May the desires of the sacrificer be fulfilled.
k. That
to which Dhisana impelled me have I produced;
l. shall
praise Indra before the decisive day; Him that goeth as with a ship Both
parties invoke that there he may rescue us. l First lord of sacrifices [3],
Freeing from trouble, the best of those worthy of offering,
Son of the waters, the impeller, O ye Açvins; Do ye confer power and strength on this one.
Son of the waters, the impeller, O ye Açvins; Do ye confer power and strength on this one.
m. Smite
away our foes, O Indra; Cast down the warriors; Make him low Who is hostile to
us.
n. O
Indra, thou wast born for rule, for prosperous strength Of the people, O strong
one;Thou didst smite away the unfriendly folk, And madest wide room for the
gods.
o. Like
a dread beast, evil, roaming the mountains, He hath come from the furthest
place [4]; Sharpening thy lance, thy sharp edge, O Indra, Smite the foes, drive
away the enemy.
p. Drive
away the foe, the enemy, Smash the jaws of Vrtra; In rage do thou avert the
anger
Of him who is hostile to us.
Of him who is hostile to us.
q. The
guardian Indra, the helper Indra, The hero ready to hear at every call, Indra,
I invoke the strong one, invoked of many, Indra; May Indra in his bounty bestow on us prosperity.
I invoke the strong one, invoked of many, Indra; May Indra in his bounty bestow on us prosperity.
r. May
we not [5], O strong one, in this distress, Be handed over to evil, O lord of
the ways;
Guard us with true protection; May we be dear to you among the princes.
Guard us with true protection; May we be dear to you among the princes.
s. The
Anus have wrought a chariot for thy steed; Tvastr a glorious bolt, O thou
invoked of many;
The Brahmans magnifying Indra with their praises Have strengthened him for the slaying of the serpent.
The Brahmans magnifying Indra with their praises Have strengthened him for the slaying of the serpent.
t. What
time the strong sang praise to the strong, O Indra, the stones and Aditi in
unison,
Without steeds or chariots were the fellies Which, sped by Indra, rolled against the Dasyus.
Without steeds or chariots were the fellies Which, sped by Indra, rolled against the Dasyus.
PRAPATHAKA VII
The Part of the Sacrificer in the New and Full Moon Sacrifices
The Part of the Sacrificer in the New and Full Moon Sacrifices
i.
7. 1.
Cattle
attend the cooked offerings of him who has established a fire. The cooked
offering is the Ida; it is placed in the world of the sacrifice between the
fore- and the after-offerings. Over it as it is brought up he should say, ‘O
thou of fair rain colour, come hither’; the cattle are the Ida; verily he
summons cattle. The gods milked the sacrifice, the sacrifice milked the Asuras;
the Asuras, being milked by the sacrifice, were defeated; he, who knowing the
milking of the sacrifice [1] sacrifices, milks another sacrificer. ‘May the
blessing of this sacrifice be fulfilled for me’, he says; this is the milking
of the sacrifice; verily with it he milks it. The cow is milked willingly, and
willingly the Ida is milked for the sacrificer; these are the teats of Ida,
‘Ida is invoked’. Vayu is the calf. When the Hotr summons the Ida, then the
sacrificer looking at the Hotr should in mind reflect on Vayu [2]; verily he
lets the calf go to the mother. By the whole sacrifice the gods went to the
world of heaven; Manu laboured with the cooked offering; the Ida went to Manu;
the gods and the Asuras called severally upon her, the gods directly, the
Asuras indirectly; she went to the gods; the cattle choose the gods, cattle
deserted the Asuras. If he desire of a man, ‘May he be without cattle’, he
should invoke the Ida indirectly for him; verily he becomes without cattle [3].
If he desire of a man, ‘May he be rich in cattle’, he should invoke the Ida
directly for him; verily he becomes rich in cattle. The theologians say, ‘He
would invoke the Ida indeed who in invoking the Ida should invoke himself in
the Ida.’ ‘To us be she dear, victorious, bountiful’, he says; verily in
invoking the Ida he invokes himself in the Ida. The Ida is as it were a breach
in the sacrifice; half they eat [4], half they wipe; in this regard the
sacrifice of the Asuras was broken; the gods united it by the holy power
(Brahman). ‘May Brhaspati extend this for us’, he says; Brhaspati is the holy
power (Brahman) of the gods; verily by the holy power (Brahman) he unites the
sacrifice. ‘May he unite this scattered sacrifice’, he says, for continuity.
‘May the All-gods rejoice here’, he says; verily continuing the sacrifice he
indicates it to the gods. The [5] sacrificial fee which he gives at the
sacrifice his cattle accompany; he having sacrificed is like to become without
cattle; ‘the sacrificer must so arrange’, they say, ‘that he may place among
the gods what is given, but keep his cattle with himself.’ ‘Swell, O ruddy
one’, he says; the ruddy one is the sacrifice; verily he magnifies the
sacrifice; thus he places among the gods what is given, but keeps his cattle
with himself. ‘May (my act) as I give be not destroyed’, he says; verily he
avoids destruction; ‘May (my act) as I work not perish’, he says; verily he
attains prosperity.
i. 7. 2.
Samçravas
Sauvarcanasa said to Tumiñja Aupoditi: ‘When thou hast been a Hotr of Sattrins,
what Ida hast thou invoked?’ ‘Her I have invoked’, he said, ‘who supports the
gods by her expiration, men by her cross-breathing, and the Pitrs by her
inspiration.’ ‘Does she divide, or does she not divide’ (he asked). ‘She
divides’, he replied. ‘Her body then hast thou invoked’, he said. Her body is
the cow [1]; of the cow were they two talking. She who is given in the
sacrifice supports the gods with her expiration; she by whom men live
(supports) men by her cross-breathing; she whom they slay for the Fathers
(supports) the Fathers by her inspiration; he who knows thus becomes rich in
cattle. ‘Her too I have invoked’, he said, ‘who is available to people as they
increase.’ ‘Her food then [2] hast thou invoked’, he replied. This food is
plants, plants are available to people as they increase; he who knows thus
becomes an eater of food. ‘Her too I have invoked’, he said, who supports
people in distress and succours them as they improve.’ Her support then hast
thou invoked’, he replied. Her support is this (earth) [3], this (earth)
supports people in distress and succours them as they improve; he who knows
thus finds support. ‘Her too I have invoked’, he said, ‘in whose step people
drink the ghee they live upon.’ ‘Does she divide, or does she not divide?’ (he
asked). ‘She does not divide’, he said, ‘but she propagates.’ ‘Indeed hast thou
invoked the Ida herself ‘, he replied. The Ida is rain; in the step of rain
people drink the ghee they live upon; he who knows thus is propagated with
offspring; he becomes an eater of food.
i. 7. 3.
Secretly
offering is made to one set of gods, openly to another. The gods who receive
offering secretly, he thus offers to them in sacrifice; in that he brings the
Anvaharya mess–the Brahmans are the gods openly–them he verily delights. This
is his sacrificial fee: verily he mends the rent in the sacrifice; whatever in
the sacrifice is harsh or is injured, that he makes good (anvaharati) [1] with
the Anvaharya mess, and that is why it has its name. Now the priests are the
messengers of the gods; in that he brings the Anvaharya mess, he delights the
messengers of the gods. Prajapati distributed the sacrifice to the gods; he
reflected that he was empty; he per ceived this Anvaharya mess unallotted; he
conferred it upon himself. The Anvaharya is connected with Prajapati; he, who
knowing thus brings the Anvaharya, assuredly enjoys Prajapati. An unlimited
amount should be poured out, Prajapati is unlimited; (verily it serves) to win
Prajapati [2]. Whatever the gods did in the sacrifice, the Asuras did; the gods
perceived the Anvaharya connected with Prajapati; they seized it – then the
gods prospered, the Asuras were defeated; he who knowing thus brings the
Anvaharya prospers himself, his foe is defeated. By the sacrifice there is
offering, by the cooked food satisfying. He who knowing thus brings the
Anvaharya, accomplishes at once sacrifice and satisfaction. ‘Thou art the
portion of Prajapati’ [3], he says; verily he unites Prajapati with his own
portion. ‘Full of strength and milk’, he says; verily he confers upon him
strength and milk. ‘Protect my expiration and inspiration; protect my breathing
together and cross-breathing’, he says; verily he invokes this blessing. ‘Thou
art imperishable, for imperishableness thee; mayst thou not perish for me,
yonder, in yonder world’, he says. Food perishes in yonder world, for given
hence in yonder world people live upon it; in that he touches thus, he makes it
imperishable; his food perishes not in yonder world.
i. 7. 4.
‘By I
sacrifice to the divine strew, may I be possessed of children’, he says; by the
strew Prajapati created offspring, verily he creates offspring. ‘By sacrifice
to the god Naraçansa, may I be possessed of cattle’, he says; by Naraçansa
Prajapati created cattle; verily he creates cattle. ‘By sacrifice to the god,
Agni Svistakrt, may I attain security through the sacrifice, having long life’,
he says; verily he confers life on himself, and finds support through the
sacrifice. With the victory of the new and full moon sacrifices [1] the gods
conquered, and by means of the new and full moon sacrifices they drove away the
Asuras. ‘May I be victorious through the victory of Agni’, he says; verily
through the victory of the deities in the new and full moon sacrifices the
sacrificer is victorious, and by means of the new and full moon offerings
drives away his enemies. With two verses containing the word ‘strength’, he
accompanies the separation (of the ladles) strength is food verily he wins
food; (he uses) two, for support. He who sacrifices knowing the two milkings of
the sacrifice milks thus the sacrifice on both sides [2], in front and behind;
this is one milking of the sacrifice, another is in the Ida. When the Hotr
utters the name of the sacrificer, then he should say, ‘Hither these blessings
have come, fain for milking’; verily he milks the deities which he praises
together; verily he milks the sacrifice on both sides, in front and behind.
‘With the red steed may Agni convey thee to the god’, he says; these are the
steeds of the gods [3], the straw is the sacrificer; in that he casts forward
the straw with them, he makes the sacrificers to go by the steeds of the gods
to the world of heaven. ‘I unyoke thy head ropes, thy reins’, he says; that is
the unyoking of Agni; verily thereby he unyokes him. ‘By sacrifice to the god
Visnu, by the sacrifice may I attain health and wealth and security’, he says;
Visnu is the sacrifice; verily the sacrifice finds support at the end. ‘By
sacrifice to the god Soma, possessing good seed [4], may I impregnate seed’, he
says; Soma is the impregnator of seed; verily he confers seed upon himself. ‘By
sacrifice to the god Tvastr, may I prosper the form of cattle’; Tvastr is the
form-maker of the pairings of cattle, and thereby he confers upon himself the
form of cattle. ‘The wives of the gods, Agni, the lord of the house, are the
pair of the sacrifice; by sacrifice to these deities may I be propagated with a
pair.’ ‘Thou art the bundle, thou art gain, may I gain’, he says; by the bundle
(vedena) the gods won (avindanta) the desirable wealth of the Asuras, and that
is why the bundle has its name. Whatever of his foe’s he may covet, the name of
that he should utter; verily he wing it all from him. ‘May the bundle bestow
increase of wealth, rich in ghee, rich in houses, a thousandfold, strong’, he
says; he obtains a thousand cattle. In his offspring a strong one is born who
knows thus.
i. 7. 5.
Through
the emptying of the Dhruva the sacrifice is emptied, through the sacrifice the
sacrificer, through the sacrificer offspring. Through the swelling of the
Dhruva, the sacrifice is made to swell, through the sacrifice the sacrificer,
through the sacrificer offspring. ‘Let the Dhruva swell with ghee’, he says;
verily he makes the Dhruva to swell; through its swelling the sacrifice is made
to swell, through the sacrifice the sacri ficer, throuo – h the sacrificer
offspring. ‘Prajapati’s is the world called Vibhan. In it I place thee along
with the sacrificer’, he says [1]; the world of Prajapati, named Vibhan, is
this (world); verily he places it in it along with the sacrificer. In that he
sacrifices he is as it were emptied; in that he eats the sacrificer’s portion,
he fills himself. The sacrifice is the size of the sacrificer’s portion, the
sacrificer is the sacrifice; in that he eats the sacrificer’s portion, he
places the sacrifice in the sacrifice. There is good grass and good water where
the strew and the waters are [2]; the Vedi is the abode of the sacrificer; in
that he places the full bowl within the Vedi, he establishes good grass and good
water in his own abode. ‘Thou art real, be real for me’, he says; the sacrifice
is the waters, ambrosia is the water; verily he bestows upon himself the
sacrifice and the waters. All creatures attend him who is performing the vow.
‘In the eastern quarter may the gods, the priests, make (me) bright’, he says;
this is the concluding bath of the new and full moon sacrifices [3]. He goes to
the bath along with the creatures which attend him as he performs the vow.
Headed by Visnu the gods won these worlds by the metres so as to be
irrecoverable; in that he takes the steps of Visnu the sacrificer becoming
Visnu wins these worlds by the metres so as to be irrecoverable. ‘Thou art the
step of Visnu, smiting imprecations’, he says; the earth is the Gayatri, the atmosphere
is connected with the Tristubh, the sky is the Jagati, the quarters are
connected with the Anustubh; verily by the metres he wins these worlds in
order.
i. 7. 6.
‘We have
come to the heaven: to the heaven we have come’, he says; verily he goes to the
world of heaven. ‘May I not be cut off from seeing thee; what heat is thine, to
that of thee may I not be brought low’, he says; that is according to the text.
‘Thou art good, the best of rays; thou art life-bestowing, bestow life upon
me’, he says; verily he invokes this blessing. He falls away from this world,
who [1] takes the steps of Visnu, for from the world of heaven the steps of
Visnu are taken. The theologians say, ‘He indeed would take the steps of Visnu
who after acquiring these worlds of his foe should descend again to this
world.’ This is his return descent to this world, in that he says,’Here do I
exclude my enemy N. N. from these quarters, from this sky’; verily having
acquired these worlds of his foe he descends again to this world. ‘I have been
united [2] with the light’, he says; verily he rests on this world. ‘I turn the
turning of Indra’, he says; Indra is yonder sun; verily he turns his turning.
He turns to the right; verily he revolves round his own strength; therefore the
right side of a man is the stronger; verily also he turns the turning of the
sun. ‘May I be united with offspring, offspring with me’, he says; verily [3]
he invokes this blessing. ‘Kindled, O Agni, shine for me; kindling thee, O
Agni, may I shine’, he says; that is according to the text. ‘Be rich the
sacrifice; may I be rich’, he says; verily he invokes this blessing. Within the
Garhapatya much variegated work is performed; with two verses to Agni, the
purifier, he pays reverence to the Garhapatya; verily he purifies the fire, he
purifies himself; (he uses) two for support. ‘O Agni, lord of the house’, he
says [4]; that is according to the text. ‘For a hundred winters’, he says; ‘for
a hundred winters may I kindle thee’, he says in effect. He utters the name of
his son; verily he makes him an eater of food. ‘This prayer I utter, bringing
light for the race’, he should say who has no son born to him, verily is born
to him a brilliant and resplendent son. ‘This prayer I utter, bringing light to
N. N.’, he should say who has a son born [5]; verily he bestows upon him
brilliance and splendour. He who having yoked the sacrifice does not let it
free becomes without a support. ‘Who yoketh thee? Let him set thee free’, he
says; Who (ka) is Prajapati; verily by Prajapati he yokes him, by Prajapati he
lets him free, for support. The vow if not released is liable to consume (the
sacrificer); ‘O Agni, lord of vows, I have performed my vow’, he says; verily
he releases his vow [6], for atonement, to prevent burning. The sacrifice goes
away, and turns not back; to him who sacrifices knowing the restoration of the
sacrifice it does turn back; ‘The sacrifice hath become, it hath come into
being’, he says; this is the restoration of the sacrifice, and thereby he
restores it. Excellence has not been obtained by him who having established a
fire has no retinue; cattle indeed are the retinue of a Brahman. Having
sacrificed, he should step forward to the east and say, ‘Rich in cattle, in
sheep, O Agni, in horses is the sacrificer’; he wins his retinue, he obtains a
thousand cattle, in his offspring a strong one is born.
The
Vajapeya
i. 7. 7.
a. O god
Savitr, instigate the sacrifice, instigate the lord of the sacrifice for good
luck; may the divine Gandharva who purifieth thoughts purify our thought; may
the lord of speech to-day make sweet our utterance.
b. Thou
art the thunderbolt of Indra, slaying obstructions, with thee may this one
smite Vrtra.
c. On
the instigation of strength, the mother, the mighty one,We shall proclaim with
our speech, Aditi, by name,Into whom all this world hath entered;In her may the
god Savitr instigate right for us.
d. In
the waters [1] is ambrosia, in the waters is medicine;Through the guidance of
the waters Be ye steeds, O ye that are strong.
e. Or
Vayu thee, or Manu thee, The seven and twenty Gandharvas; They first yoked the
steed;
They placed swiftness in it.
They placed swiftness in it.
f. Child
of the waters, swift one, the towering onrushing wave most fain to win the
prize, with it may he win the prize.
g. Thou
art the stepping of Visnu, thou art the step of Visnu, thou art the stride of
Visnu.
h. May
the two Ankas, the two Nyankas, which are on either side of the chariot,
Speeding on with the rushing wind, The far-darting, powerful one, the winged
one, The fires which are furtherers, further us.
i.
7. 8.
a. On
the instigation of the god Savitr, through Brhaspati, winner of the prize, may
I win the prize.
b. On
the instigation of the god Savitr, through Brhaspati, winner of the prize, may
I mount the highest vault.
c. To
Indra utter your voices, make Indra win the prize, Indra hath won the prize.
d. O
whip, strong, having strength for the prizes, Do thou in the contests
strengthen the steeds.
e. The
swift art thou, the runner, the strong.
f. O
steeds, hasten for the prize; conquer on the instigation of the Maruts: measure
ye the leagues; establish the ways [1]; attain the goal.
g. For
each prize aid us, O ye steeds, For the rewards, O ye wise, immortal, righteous
ones;
Drink of this mead, rejoice in it; Delighted go by paths on which the gods go.
Drink of this mead, rejoice in it; Delighted go by paths on which the gods go.
h. May
the swift coursers, who hear the call, All hearken to our cry.
i.
Strong limbed, winning a thousand, Eager to gain in the gaining of praise, The
steeds, which have won in the contests great prizes, May they be propitious to
us when we call.
k. Among
the gods, strong limbed, good praisers, Destroying the serpent, the wolf, the
Raksases, For ever may they remove from us evil [2].
l. This
steed speedeth his swift course, Bound at the neck, the shoulder, and the
mouth;
Displaying his strength Dadhikra Springeth along the bends of the ways.
Displaying his strength Dadhikra Springeth along the bends of the ways.
m. After
him as he hasteneth in triumphant speed Bloweth the wind as after the wing of
the bird,
Of the impetuous eagle, (after him) Dadhikravan, As in his might he crosseth the winding ways.
Of the impetuous eagle, (after him) Dadhikravan, As in his might he crosseth the winding ways.
n. May
there come to me the instigation of strength; May there come sky and earth with
all healing;
Come to me father [3] and mother; May Soma come to me for immortality.
Come to me father [3] and mother; May Soma come to me for immortality.
o. O ye
steeds, prize winning, about to run for the prize, about to win the prize, do
ye touch Brhaspati’s portion.
p. O ye
steeds, prize winning, that have run for the prize, that have won the prize, do
ye be pure in Brhaspati’s portion.
q. True
hath been the compact That ye did make with Indra.
r.Ye
have made Indra win the prize, O trees; now be ye loosed.
i. 7. 9.
a. Thou
art the caul of the kingly class, thou art the womb of the kingly class.
b. O
wife, come hither to the heaven; let us two mount! Yes, let us two mount the
heaven; I will mount the heaven for us both.
c.
Strength, instigation, the later born, inspiration, heaven, the head, the
Vyaçniya, the offspring of the last, the last, the offspring of being, being,
the overlord.
d. May
life accord with the sacrifice, may expiration accord with the sacrifice, may
inspiration accord with the sacrifice [1], may cross-breathing accord with the
sacrifice, may eye accord with the sacrifice, may ear accord with the
sacrifice, may mind accord with the sacrifice, may the body accord with the
sacrifice, may the sacrifice accord with the sacrifice.
e. We
have come to the heaven, to the gods; we have become immortal; we have become
the offspring of Prajapati.
f. May I
be united with offspring, offspring with me; may I be united with increase of
wealth, increase of wealth with me.
g. For
food thee! For proper food thee! For strength thee! For the conquering of
strength thee!
h. Thou
art ambrosia, thou art prospering, thou art begetting.
i. 7. 10.
a. The
instigation of strength pressed in aforetime This Soma, the lord in the plants,
in the waters; Be they full of sweetness for us; May we as Purohitas watch over
the kingship.
b. The
instigation of strength hath pervaded This (world) and all these worlds on
every side;
He goeth around knowing pre-eminence, Increasing offspring and prosperity for us.
He goeth around knowing pre-eminence, Increasing offspring and prosperity for us.
c. The
instigation of strength rested on this sky And all these worlds as king; May
the wise one make the niggard to be generous, And may he accord us wealth [1]
with all heroes.
d. O
Agni, speak to us; To us be thou kindly disposed; Further us, O lord of the
world Thou art the giver of wealth to us.
e. May
Aryaman further us, May Bhaga, may Brhaspati, May the gods, and the bounteous
one;
May the goddess speech be bountiful to us.
May the goddess speech be bountiful to us.
f.
Aryaman, Brhaspati, Indra, Impel to give us gifts, Speech, Visnu, Sarasvat!,
And Savitr the strong.
g. Soma
the king, Varuna, Agni, we grasp, The Adityas, Visnu, Surya And Brhaspati, the
Brahman (priest).
h. On
the instigation of the god Savitr with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands
of Pusan, with the bond of Sarasvati, of speech, the binder, I anoint thee with
the lordship of Agni, with the lordship of Indra of Brhaspati I anoint thee.
i. 7. 11.
Agni
with one syllable won speech; the Açvins with two syllables won expiration and
inspiration; Visnu with three syllables won the three worlds; Soma with four
syllables won four-footed cattle; Pusan with five syllables won the Parkti;
Dhatr with six syllables won the six seasons; the Maruts with seven syllables
won the seven-footed Çakvari; Brhaspati with eight syllables won the Gayatri;
Mitra with nine syllables won the threefold Stoma [1]; Varuna with ten
syllables won the Viraj; Indra with eleven syllables won the Tristubh; the
All-gods with twelve syllables won the Jagati; the Vasus with thirteen
syllables won the thirteenfold Stoma; the Rudras with fourteen syllables won
the fourteenfold Stoma; the Adityas with fifteen syllables won the fifteenfold
Stoma; Aditi with sixteen syllables won the sixteen fold Stoma; Prajapati with
seventeen syllables won the seventeenfold Stoma.
i. 7. 12.
a. Thou
art taken with a support; thee that sittest among men, that sittest in the
wood, that sittest in the world, I take acceptable to Indra this is thy
birthplace; to Indra thee!
b. Thou
art taken with a support; thee that sittest in the waters, that sittest in the
ghee, that sittest in the sky, I take acceptable to Indra; this is thy
birthplace; to Indra thee!
c. Thou
art taken with a support; thee that sittest on the earth, that sittest on the
atmosphere, that sittest on the vault, I take acceptable to Indra; this is thy
birthplace; to Indra thee!
d. The
cups of the five folk, Of which three are of highest birth,
(And for which) the divine cask [1] has been forced out Of these that have no handles The food and strength have I seized; This is thy birthplace; to Indra thee!
(And for which) the divine cask [1] has been forced out Of these that have no handles The food and strength have I seized; This is thy birthplace; to Indra thee!
e. The
sap of the waters, the vigorous, The ray of the sun that has been gathered, The
sap of the sap of the waters, That of you I take which is the best; This is thy
birthplace; to Indra thee!
f. By
this shape producing mighty deeds, He is dread, a broad way for gain, He hath
come to the top, bearing sweetness, What time he moved a body in his own body.
g. Thou
art taken with a support; agreeable to Prajapati I take thee
this is thy birthplace; to Prajapati thee!
this is thy birthplace; to Prajapati thee!
i. 7. 13.
a. The
months, the woods, The plants, the mountains, The earth and sky in longing, The
waters, followed Indra on his birth.
b. To
thee hath been assigned for mighty power, For ever, in the slaying of Vrtra,
All lordship, and all strength, O thou that art worthy of sacrifice In the
overcoming of man by the gods, O Indra,
c.
Indrani beyond other women I have heard to be favoured with a spouse, For never
at any time [1]
Shall her husband die of old age.
Shall her husband die of old age.
d. I
have not joyed, O Indrani, Without my friend Vrsakapi, Whose oblation rich in
water
Goeth dear to the gods.
Goeth dear to the gods.
e. He
who first born in his wisdom A god, surpassed the gods in insight, From whose
breath the sky and earth recoiled, In the greatness of his manhood, he, O ye
men, is Indra.
f.
Hitherward be thy might with aid, O dread Indra, What time the armies meet in
combat, And the arrow flieth from the arms of the strong men; Let not thine [2]
anger spread on every side.
g.
Destroy us not; bring and give to us That plenteous bounty which thou hast to
give to the pious man,
For this new gift, this song we have sung to thee; Let us speak forth in praise of Indra.
For this new gift, this song we have sung to thee; Let us speak forth in praise of Indra.
h. Bring
it to us, let none intercept it; For we know thee as wealth lord of riches;
That mighty gift of thine, O Indra, Vouchsafe it us, O lord of the bay steeds [3].
i. With
our oblation we summon 1ndra, the giver; Fill both thy hands with bounty;
Give to us from the left and the right.
Give to us from the left and the right.
k. The
giver, the bolt-bearer, the bull, the overpowering, The impetuous, the king,
slayer of Vrtra, drinker of the Soma, Seated at this sacrifice on the strew, Be
thou health and wealth to the sacrificer.
l.
Indra, the protector, the granter of aid with his aids; All knowing, be kindly
to us; Let him restrain the enemy, let him make security, May we be lords of
strength [4].
m. May we
enjoy the favour of him the worshipful, And also his loving kindness;May the
protector Indra, the granter of aid, For ever fend far from us the enemy.
n. Rich
banquets be ours with Indra, With mighty strength, Wherewith fed we may be
glad.
o. To
Indra, here sing strength To place his chariot in the front; Even in conflict
in battle he maketh wide room; Slayer of foes in the contests Be thou our
comforter; Let the feeble bowstrings Of the others break on their bows.
PRAPKTHAKA VIII
The Rajasuya
The Rajasuya
i.
8. 1.
a
Anumati he offers a cake on eight potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a cow. The
(grains) which are thrown down to the west of the support he (offers) on one
potsherd to Nirrti; the sacrificial fee is a black garment with a black fringe.
Go away, hail! rejoicing in the oblation. This is thy share, O Nirrti;
O thou who hast prospered, thou art rich in oblation; Free him from evil. Hail!
Honour to him who hath done this.He offers an oblation to Aditya; the sacrificial fee is a choice (ox). (He offers) to Agni and Visnu on eleven potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a dwarf beast of burden. (He offers) to Agni and Soma [1] on eleven potsherds; the sacrificial fee is gold. (He offers) to Indra on eleven potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a bull as a beast of burden. (He offers) to Agni on eight potsherds, and curds to Indra; the sacrificial fee is a bull as a beast of burden. (He offers) to Indra and Agni on twelve potsherds, and an oblation (caru) to the All-gods; the sacrificial fee is a first-born calf. (He offers) an oblation of millet to Soma; the sacrificial fee is a garment. (He offers) an oblation to Sarasvati, and an oblation to Sarasvant; the sacrificial fee is a pair of oxen.
O thou who hast prospered, thou art rich in oblation; Free him from evil. Hail!
Honour to him who hath done this.He offers an oblation to Aditya; the sacrificial fee is a choice (ox). (He offers) to Agni and Visnu on eleven potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a dwarf beast of burden. (He offers) to Agni and Soma [1] on eleven potsherds; the sacrificial fee is gold. (He offers) to Indra on eleven potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a bull as a beast of burden. (He offers) to Agni on eight potsherds, and curds to Indra; the sacrificial fee is a bull as a beast of burden. (He offers) to Indra and Agni on twelve potsherds, and an oblation (caru) to the All-gods; the sacrificial fee is a first-born calf. (He offers) an oblation of millet to Soma; the sacrificial fee is a garment. (He offers) an oblation to Sarasvati, and an oblation to Sarasvant; the sacrificial fee is a pair of oxen.
i. 8. 2.
He
offers to Agni on eight potsherds, an oblation to Soma, to Savitr on twelve
potsherds, an oblation to Sarasvati, an oblation to Pusan, to the Maruts on
seven potsherds, clotted curds to the All-gods, and on eleven potsherds to sky
and earth.
i. 8. 3.
a. He
offers on eleven potsherds to Indra and Agni, clotted curds to the Maruts,
clotted curds to Varuna, and on one potsherd to Ka.
b. The
voracious we invoke, The Maruts who bear the sacrifice, Rejoicing in the mush.
c. Be
not against us in battles, O god Indra Let there be expiation to satisfy thee,
O impetuous one;
For great is the barley heap of this bountiful one; Rich in oblation are the Maruts whom our song praises.’
For great is the barley heap of this bountiful one; Rich in oblation are the Maruts whom our song praises.’
d. The
wrong we have done in village or wild, In the assembly, in our members, The
wrong to Çudra or Aryan,
The wrong contrary to the law of either, Of that thou art the expiation; hail!
The wrong contrary to the law of either, Of that thou art the expiation; hail!
e. The
doers of the deed have performed the deed, With wondrous speech; Having done
the deed to the gods go ye To your home, ye bounteous ones.
i. 8. 4.
a. To
Agni Anikavant he offers a cake on eight potsherds as the sun rises, an
oblation to the Maruts as the heaters at midday, and to the Maruts as lords of
the house he milks at evening an oblation of all (the cows).
b. O
ladle, fly away filled, And well filled do thou fly back; Like wares, O
Çatakratu, Let us barter food and strength.
c. Give
thou to me; I shall give to thee; Bestow upon me; I shall bestow upon thee;
Accept my offering;
I shall accept thy offering [1].
I shall accept thy offering [1].
d. To
the Maruts, the playful, he offers a cake on seven potsherds at the rising of
the sun; he ofibrs to Agni on eight potsherds, an oblation to Soma, to Savitr
on twelve potsherds, to Sarasvati an oblation, to Pusan an oblation, to Indra
and Agni on eleven potsherds, to Indra an oblation, to Viçvakarman on eleven
potsherds.
i. 8. 5.
a. He
offers to Soma with the Pitrs a cake on six potsherds, to the Pitrs who sit on
the straw fried grains, for the Pitrs prepared by Agni he milks a beverage from
a cow which has to be won over (to another calf).
b. This
for thee, O father, and for thy line; This for thee, O grandfather,
great-grandfather, and for thy line
Do ye Pitrs rejoice in your portions.
Do ye Pitrs rejoice in your portions.
c. May
we gladden thee, O bountiful one, fair to see; Forth now with full chariot seat
Being praised, dost thou fare according to our will; Yoke, O Indra, thy two bay
steeds [1].
d. They
have eaten, they have rejoiced, The dear ones have dispelled (evil), The
radiant sages have been praised with newest hymn; Yoke, O Indra, thy two bay
steeds.
e. The
Pitrs have eaten, the Pitrs have rejoiced, the Pitrs have been glad, the Pitrs
have purified themselves.
f. Go
away, O ye Pitrs, Soma loving, With your majestic ancient paths; Then reach ye
the kindly Pitrs
Who carouse in company with Yama.
Who carouse in company with Yama.
g. Mind
let us summon hither With the praise of Naraçansa And the reverence of the
Pitrs.
h. Let
mind return to us [2] For vigour, for insight, for life, And that long we may
see the sun.’
i. May
the Pitrs restore mind to us, May the host of the gods; May we belong to the
band of the living.
k.
Whatever hurt we have done to atmosphere, to earth, to sky, To mother or to
father,
May Agni of the house free me from this sin; May he make me blameless
In respect of all the ill we have wrought.
May Agni of the house free me from this sin; May he make me blameless
In respect of all the ill we have wrought.
i. 8. 6.
a. For
each he offers on one potsherd, and one over.
b. As
many as we are of the house, to them have I made prosperity.
c. Thou
art the protection of cattle, the protection of the sacrifice; give
me protection.
me protection.
d. Rudra
alone yieldeth to no second.
e. The
mole is thy beast, O Rudra; rejoice in it.
f. This
is thy portion, O Rudra, with thy sister Ambika; rejoice in it.
g
.(Give) medicine for ox, for horse, for man, And medicine for us, medicine That
it be rich in healing,
Good [1] for ram and sheep.
Good [1] for ram and sheep.
h. We
have appeased, O lady, Rudra, The god Tryambaka; That he may make us
prosperous,
That he may increase our wealth, That he may make us rich in cattle, That he may embolden us.
That he may increase our wealth, That he may make us rich in cattle, That he may embolden us.
i. To
Tryambaka we make offering, The fragrant, increaser of prosperity; Like a
cucumber from its stem,
From death may I be loosened, not from immortality.
From death may I be loosened, not from immortality.
k. This
is thy portion, O Rudra; rejoice in it; with it for food, do thou go away
beyond the Mujavants.
l. With
unstrung bow, thy club in thy hand, clad in skins.
i. 8. 7.
a. (He I
offers) to Indra and Agni on twelve potsherds, an oblation to the All-gods, a
cake on twelve potsherds to Indra Çunasira, milk to Vayu, to Sarya on one
potsherd; the sacrificial fee is a plough for twelve oxen.
b. To
Agni he offers on eight potsherds, to Rudra an oblation of Gavidhuka, to Indra
curds, to Varuna an oblation made of barley; the sacrificial fee is a cow for
draught purposes.
c. The
gods that sit in the east, led by Agni; that sit in the south, led by Yama;
that sit in the west, led by Savitr; that sit in the north, led by Varuna; that
sit above, led by Brhaspati; that slay the Raksases; may they protect us, may
they help us; to them homage; to them hail! [1]
d. The
Raksases are collected, the Raksases are burnt up; here do I burn up the
Raksases.
e. To
Agni, slayer of Raksases, hail! To Yama, Savitr, Varuna, Brhaspati, the
worshipful, the slayer of Raksases, hail!
f. The
sacrificial fee is a chariot with three horses.
g. On
the instigation of the god Savity, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands
of Pusan, I offer (for) the death of the Raksases; the Raksases are slain; we
have killed the Raksases.
h. The
sacrificial fee is what he wears.
i. 8. 8.
He
offers a cake on twelve potsherds to Dhatr, to Anumati an oblation, to Raka an
oblation, to Sinivali an oblation, to Kuhu an oblation; the sacrificial fee is
a pair of cattle. To Agni and Visnu he offers on eleven potsherds, to Indra and
Visnu on eleven potsherds, to Visnu on three potsherds; the sacrificial fee is
a dwarf beast of burden. To Agni and Soma he offers on eleven potsherds, to
Indra and Soma on eleven potsherds, to Soma an oblation; the sacrificial fee is
a brown (animal). To Soma and Pusan he offers an oblation, to Indra and Pusan
an oblation, to Pusan an oblation; the sacrificial fee is a dark (animal). To
(Agni) Vaiçvanara he offers on twelve potsherds; the sacrificial fee is gold.
To Varuna (he offers) an oblation made of barley; the sacrificial fee is a
horse.
i. 8. 9.
To
Brhaspati he offers an oblation in the house of the Brahman (priest); the
sacrificial fee is a white-backed (animal). (He offers) to Indra on eleven
potsherds in the house of a Rajanya; the sacrificial fee is a bull. To Aditya
(he offers) an oblation in the house of the chief wife; the sacrificial fee is
a cow. To Nirrti (he offers) an oblation in the house of the neglected wife,
made up of rice broken by the nails; the sacrificial fee is a black hornless
(cow). To Agni (he offers) on eight potsherds in the house of the leader of the
host; the sacrificial fee is gold. To Varuna (he offers) on ten potsherds in
the house of the minstrel; the sacrificial fee is a great castrated (ox). To
the Maruts (he offers) on seven potsherds in the house of the village headman;
the sacrificial fee is a dappled (cow). To Savitr (he offers) on twelve
potsherds [1] in the house of the carver; the sacrificial fee is a speckled
(ox). To the Açvins (he offers) on two potsherds in the house of the
charioteer; the sacrificial fee is two born of one mother. To Pusan (he offers)
an oblation in the house of the divider; the sacrificial fee is a black (ox).
To Rudra (he offers) an oblation of Gavidhuka in the house of the thrower of
the dice; the sacrificial fee is a speckled (ox) with raised tail. To Indra,
the good protector, he offers a cake on eleven potsherds and to Indra, who frees
from distress, (with the words),
May the king, the slayer of Vrtra,
Be our king and slay the foe.
There is (an offering) to Mitra and Brhaspati; in the milk of a white (cow) with a white calf which has curdled itself, and in butter which has churned itself, in a dish of Açvattha wood [2] with four corners (made) of a branch which has fallen of itself, he should scatter husked and unhusked rice grains; the husked ones in the milk are Brhaspati’s, the unhusked in the butter are Mitra’s; the Vedi must be self-made, the strew self-cut, the kindling-stick self-made; the sacrificial fee is the white (cow) with a white calf.
May the king, the slayer of Vrtra,
Be our king and slay the foe.
There is (an offering) to Mitra and Brhaspati; in the milk of a white (cow) with a white calf which has curdled itself, and in butter which has churned itself, in a dish of Açvattha wood [2] with four corners (made) of a branch which has fallen of itself, he should scatter husked and unhusked rice grains; the husked ones in the milk are Brhaspati’s, the unhusked in the butter are Mitra’s; the Vedi must be self-made, the strew self-cut, the kindling-stick self-made; the sacrificial fee is the white (cow) with a white calf.
i. 8. 10.
a. To
Agni, lord of the house, he offers a cake of black rice on eight potsherds; to
Soma, lord of the forest, an oblation of millet; to Savitr, of true
instigation, a cake of swift-growing rice on twelve potsherds; to Rudra, lord
of cattle, an oblation of Gavidhuka; to Brhaspati, lord of speech, an oblation
of wild rice; to Indra, the noblest, a cake of large rice on eleven potsherds;
to Mitra, the true, an oblation of Amba grain, and to Varuna, lord of right, an
oblation made of barley.
b. May
Savity of instigations instigate thee, Agni of lords of the house, Soma of
lords of the forest, Rudra of cattle [1], Brhaspati of speech, Indra of nobles,
Mitra of truth, Varuna of lords of right.
c. O ye
gods that instigate the gods, do ye instigate him, descendant of N. N., to
freedom from foes, to great lordship, to great overlordship, to great rule over
the people.
d. This
is your king, O Bharatas; Soma is the king of us Brahmans.
e. This
kingdom hath verily been conferred,Varuna hath diffused his own body;We have
become obedient to pure Mitra;We have magnified the name of the great holy
order.
f. These
have become all the hosts of Varuna, Mitra in his course hath overcome
hostility; The worshipful ones have taken order according to sacred law: Trita
hath taken possession of our old age.
g. Thou
art the stepping of Visnu, thou art the step of Visnu, thou art the stride of
Visnu.
i. 8. 11.
a.. Ye
are active, thou art the lord of the waters, thou art the male wave, thou art
the male host, ye are the pen-dwellers, ye are the strength of the Maruts, ye
have the radiance of the sun, ye have the brightness of the sun, ye are
delightful, ye are obedient, ye are powerful, ye are all supporters, ye are
supporters of men, ye have the brilliance of Agni, ye are the sap of the
waters, of the plants.
b. They
have taken the waters, divine, Rich in sweetness, full of strength, caring for
the royal consecration;
Whereby they anointed Mitra and Varuna, Whereby they led Indra beyond his foes.
Whereby they anointed Mitra and Varuna, Whereby they led Indra beyond his foes.
c. Ye
are givers of the kingdom; give ye the kingdom, hail! Ye are givers of the
kingdom; give N. N. the kingdom.
i.
8. 12.
a. O ye
divine waters, be ye united Full of sweetness with the sweet, Winning great
radiance for the Ksatriya.
b.
Unsurpassed, sit ye down, full of strength, Bestowing great radiance upon the
Ksatriya.
c.
Friend of speech, born of heat, thou art undefeated; thou art the share of
Soma.
d. The
pure I purify you with the pure, the bright with the bright, the immortal with
ambrosia, hail! caring for the royal consecration.
e.
Clothed in these (waters), sharing joy, glorious in strength, Undefeated and
busy, In the waters hath Varuna made his abode, The child [1] of the waters in
those most motherly.
f. Thou
art the caul of kingly power, thou art the womb of kingly power.
g
Notified is Agni, lord of the house; notified is Indra, of ancient fame;
notified is Pusan, all-knower; notified are Mitra and Varuna, increasing holy
order; notified are sky and earth, of sure vows; notified is the goddess Aditi,
of all forms; notified is he, N. N., descendant of N. N., in this folk, this
kingdom, for great lordship, for great overlordship, for great rule over the
people.
h. This
is your king, O Bharatas; Soma is the king of us Brahmans.
i. Thou
art the bolt of Indra [2] slaying foes; with thee may he slay his foe.
k. Ye
are overcomers of foes.
l.
Protect me in front, protect me at the side, protect me from behind; from the
quarters protect me; from all deadly things protect me.
m. Gold
hued in the glowing of the dawns, Bronze pillared at the rising of the sun, O
Varuna, O Mitra, mount your chariot seat, And thence behold ye Aditi and Diti.
i. 8. 13.
a.. Do I
thou mount the kindling (quarter); let the Gayatri of metres help thee; the
Trivrt Stoma, the Rathantara Saman, the deity Agni, the treasure the Brahman
class.
b. Do
thou mount the dread (quarter); let the Tristubh of metres help thee, the
Pañcadaça Stoma, the Brhat Saman, the deity Indra, the treasure the ruling
class.
c. Do
thou mount the shining (quarter); let the Jagati of metres help thee, the
Saptadaça Stoma, the Vairapa Saman, the deity the Maruts, the treasure the peasant
class.
d. Do
thou mount the northern (quarter); let the Anustubh of metres help thee [1],
the Ekavinça Stoma, the Vairaja Saman, the deity Mitra and Varuna, the treasure
the host.
e. Do
thou mount the zenith; let the Pañkti of metres help thee, the Trinava, and
Trayastrinça Stomas, the Çakvara and Raivata Samans, the deity Brhaspati, the
treasure radiance.
f. Such
like, other like, thus like, similar, the measured, commensurate, harmonious,
g. Of
pure radiance, of varied radiance, of true radiance, the radiant, true,
protector of holy order [2], beyond distress.
h. To
Agni hail! To Soma hail! To Savitr hail! To Sarasvati hail! To Pusan hail! To
Brhaspati hail! To Indra hail! To sound hail! To verse hail! To Ança hail! To
Bhaga hail! To the lord of the field hail!
i. To
earth hail! To atmosphere hail! To sky hail! To the sun hail! To the moon hail!
To the Naksatras hail! To the waters hail! To plants hail! To trees hail! To
moving creatures hail! To swimming creatures hail! To creeping creatures hail!
i. 8. 14.
a. Thou
art the glittering of Soma; as thine may my glittering be.
b. Thou
art ambrosia; from death protect me.
c. From
the thunderbolt protect me.
d.
Propitiated are biting flies.
e. Cast
away is Namuci’s head.
f. Soma,
king Varuna, and the gods which instigate righteousness, may they instigate thy
speech, may they instigate thy breath, may they instigate thy sight, may they
instigate thine ear.
g. With
the glory of Soma I besprinkle thee, with the brilliance of Agni [1], with the
radiance of the sun, with the power of Indra, with the strength of Mitra and
Varuna, with the force of the Maruts.
h. Thou
art the lord of kingly powers.
i.
Protect from the sky.
k. Out
from below have they come, Following the serpent of the deep; On the back of
the mountain, the hill,
The ships that pour spontaneously go ever.
The ships that pour spontaneously go ever.
l. O
Rudra, that highest active name of thee, to that thou art offered, thou art
offered to Yama.
m. O
Prajapati, none other than thou Hath encompassed all these beings; Be that ours
for which we sacrifice to thee May we be lords of wealth.
i. 8. 15.
a. Thou
art the bolt of Indra, slaying foes; with thee may he slay his foe.
b. By
the precept of Mitra and Varuna, the directors, I yoke thee with the yoking of
the sacrifice.
c. Thou
art the stepping of Visnu, thou art the step of Visnu, thou art the stride of
Visnu
d. On
the instigation of the Maruts may I conquer.
e. Be
mind ready.
f. May I
be united with power and strength.
g. Thou
art the spirit of cattle; like them may my spirit be.
h.
Homage to mother earth; may I not harm mother earth [1]; may mother earth harm
me not.
i. So
great art thou, thou art life, bestow life upon me; thou art strength, bestow
strength upon me; thou art the yoker; thou art radiance, bestow radiance upon
me.
k. To
Agni, lord of the house, hail! To Soma, lord of the forest, hail! To Indra’s
strength hail! To the Maruts’ force hail!
I. 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.
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.
i. 8. 16.
a. Thou
art Mitra, thou art Varuna.
b. May I
be united with the All-gods.
c. Thou
art the navel of kingly power, thou are the womb of kingly power.
d. Sit
thou on the smooth, sit thou on the pleasant seat.
e. May
she hurt thee not; may she hurt me not.
f.
Varuna, of sure vows, hath set him down In the waters, with keen insight, for
lordship.
g. O
Brahman! Thou, O king, art the Brahman priest, thou art Savitr of true
instigation. O Brahman! Thou, O king, art the Brahman priest, thou art Indra of
true force [1]. O Brahman! Thou, O king, art the Brahman priest; thou art
Indra, the kindly. O Brahman! Thou, O king, art the Brahman priest; thou art
Varuna, of true rule.
h. Thou
art the bolt of Indra, slaying foes; with this subject to me.
i This
king hath surmounted the quarters.
k.. O
thou of good fame! O thou of prosperity! O thou of true rule!
l. To
the son of the waters hail! To the son of strength hail! To Agni, lord of the
house, hail!
i. 8. 17.
He
offers to Agni on eight potsherds; the sacrificial fee is gold. (He offers) to
Sarasvati an oblation; the sacrificial fee is a calf. To Savitr (he offers) on
twelve potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a speckled (ox). To Pusan (he offers)
an oblation; the sacrificial fee is a dark (ox), To Brhaspati (he offers) an
oblation; the sacrificial fee is a white-backed (ox). To Indra (he offers) on
eleven potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a bull. To Varuna (he offers) on ten
potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a great castrated (ox). To Soma (he offers)
an oblation; the sacrificial fee is a brown (ox). To Tvastr (he offers) on
eight potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a white (ox) To Vishnu (he offers) on
three potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a dwarf (ox).
i. 8. 18.
On the
same day they consecrate, on the same day they buy the Soma. He presents a
lotus wreath. He buys the Soma with calves. There is a drink for ten. A hundred
Brahmans drink. The Stotra is the Saptadaça. The two ornaments he gives to the
Adhvaryu, the garland to the Udgatr, the round ornament to the Hotr, a horse to
the Prastotr and Pratihartr, twelve heifers to the Brahman, a cow to the
Maitravaruna, a bull to the Brahmanacchansin, garments to the Nestr and Potr, a
wagon drawn by one ox laden with barley to the Achavaka, a draught ox to the
Agnidh. The Hotr is a Bhargava; the Saman of the Brahman is the Çrayantiya; the
Agnistoma Saman is the Varavantiya. He takes water of the Sarasvati.
i. 8. 19.
To Agni
he offers on eight potsherds; the sacrificial fee is gold. To Indra (he offers)
on eleven potsherds; the sacrificial fee is a bull. To the All-gods (he offers)
an oblation; the sacrificial fee is a tawny heifer. To Mitra and Varuna (he
offers) clotted curds; the sacrificial fee is a cow. To Brhaspati (he offers)
an oblation; the sacrificial fee is a white-backed (ox). To the Adityas he
sacrifices a sheep in young, to the Maruts a dappled heifer. To the Açvins and
Pusan he offers a cake on twelve potsherds; to Sarasvati of true speech an
oblation; to Savitr of true instigation a cake on twelve potsherds; the
sacrificial fee is a dry skin bag and a bow with three arrows.
i. 8. 20.
To Agni
he offers on eight potsherds; to Soma, an oblation; to Savitr on twelve
potsherds; to Brhaspati an oblation; to Tvastr on eight potsherds; to (Agni)
Vaiçvanara on twelve potsherds; the sacrificial fee is the southern drawer of
the chariot stand. To Sarasvati he offers an oblation; to Pusan an oblation; to
Mitra an oblation; to Varuna an oblation; to the lord of the fields an oblation;
to the Adityas an oblation; the sacrificial fee is the northern drawer of the
chariot stand.
i. 8. 21.
a. The
sweet with the sweet, bitter with the bitter, immortal with the immortal, with
the Soma I unite thee; thou art Soma; be ready for the Açvins, be ready for
Sarasvati, be ready for Indra, the good protector.
b. Let
the daughter of the Sun Purify for thee the flowing Soma With the eternal
sieve.
c. Vayu
purified by the strainer, Soma hath sped away,Indra’s dear friend.
d. What
then? As men who have barley Reap the barley in order, removing it, Hither
bring the food of those
Who have not gone to the reverential cutting of the straw.
Who have not gone to the reverential cutting of the straw.
e. To
the Açvins he sacrifices a dusky (ox), to Sarasvati a ram, to Indra a bull.
f. To
Indra he offers on eleven potsherds, to Savitr on twelve potsherds, to Varuna
on ten potsherds.
g. O
Pitrs, beaded by Soma, rejoice.
h. The
sacrificial fee is a mare.
i. 8. 22.
a. O
Agni and Visnu, great is your greatness; Rejoice ye in the secret names of the
ghee; Placing in every house seven treasures, May your tongue move forth to the
ghee.
b. O
Agni and Visnu, great is your dear abode; Ye taste the ghee, rejoicing in its
secrets; In every home increasing lauds, May your tongue move forth to the
ghee.
c. May
the goddess Sarasvati With strength, rich in mares, Further us, she that aideth
prayer.
d. To us
from the sky, from the great [1] mountain; May Sarasvati, the worshipful, come
to the sacrifice
May the goddess rejoicing in our supplication, rich in ghee, May she hearken gladly to our effectual speech.
May the goddess rejoicing in our supplication, rich in ghee, May she hearken gladly to our effectual speech.
e. O
Brhaspati, with the All-gods, Do thou rejoice in our oblations; Grant riches to
the generous giver.
f. Then
to the father, with the All-gods, to the strong one, Let us pay honour with
sacrifices, with reverence, with oblations; O Brhaspati, with good offspring,
with heroes, May we be lords of wealth.
g. That
various wealth bestow upon us, O Brhaspati, that shall surpass the enemy, That
shall shine glorious, with insight among men, That shall be resplendent in
glory, O thou who art born of holy order [2].
h. O
Mitra and Varuna, Bedew our pasturage with ghee With mead the regions, O ye
wise ones.
i. Do ye
unloose your arms for us to live; Do ye bedew our pasturage with ghee; Make us
famous among the folk, O ye young ones; Hearken, O Mitra and Varuna, to these
my supplications.
k. Agni
for you I honour in song, The god first of the bright ones; Honouring him who
prospereth the fields
Like a much loved friend.
Like a much loved friend.
l.
Swiftly (goeth) the chariot of the worshipper [3] Like a hero in every contest;
He who by sacrifice is fain to win the mind of the gods Shall prevail over
those who sacrifice not.
m. Thou
art not harmed, O sacrificer, Nor thou, O pourer, nor thou, O pious one; There
shall be wealth of heroes, And plenteousness of swift steeds No one shall in
act approach him, No one shall anticipate him nor stay him.
n.
Streams, health-bringing, like milch cows, Pour up to the man who hath
sacrificed and shall sacrifice;
Him who filleth and satiateth [4], bringing fame, Streams of ghee approach on all sides.
Him who filleth and satiateth [4], bringing fame, Streams of ghee approach on all sides.
o. O
Soma and Rudra, do ye drive away The evil spirit that hath entered our abode;
Far away from us smite misfortune; Whatever sin we have done remove from us.
p. O
Soma and Rudra, do ye give to us, In our bodies, all these medicines; Loosen
and remove the evil we have done That is bound within our bodies.
q.. O
Soma and Pusan, begetters of wealth, Begetters, of sky, begetters of earth,
Born as protectors of the whole world, The gods have made (you) the navel of
immortality.
r. In
the birth of these gods they rejoiced; They concealed the hateful darkness;
Through these two, Soma and Pusan, The Indra made the cooked (milk) among the
raw cows.
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