33 Taken upon a base art thou. Thee for the Asvins. This is thy home, etc. 34 Guard of my breath and outward breath, the guardian of mine eye and ear, All-healer of my voice, thou art the mollifier of my mind. 35 Invited I feed upon thee invited, Whom Asvirs, whom Sarasvatî, whom Indra, Good Protector, made. 36 Kindled in forefront of the Mornings, Indra with forward light, long-active, waxing mighty, With three and thirty Gods, the Thunder wielder, smote- 37 Son of Himself, the Praise of Men, the Hero, measuring out the sacrificial stations, Rich in bulls' fat, anointing with sweet butter; wise, bright with gauds of gold, he sacrificeth. 38 Lauded by Gods, Lord of Bay Steeds, the Helper, showing. his greatness, worshipped with oblations, Fort-render, Cowpen-cleaver, Thunder wielder, may he ap proach our sacrifice rejoicing. 39: May Indra, Lord of Bays, sit by direction eastward on earth. accepting our oblation,. And sacred grass, fair, far-spread, widely-stretching, anointed by Adityas and by Vasus. 4) To the strong Indra go the sounding Portals, dames with a goodly husband, swiftly moving!! Well-manned, divine, wide be the Doors thrown open, expanding in their greatness for the Hero! 33 Repeated from X. 32. 34. The officiating priests inhale the odour of the remains of the oblation. 36 The Adhvaryu's part of the ceremony is finished, and the Hotar now begins to officiate. The portals: of the rain-cloud, which the demon of drought had obstructed. 37 This and the seven following verses form an Aprî or propitiatory hymn constituting the Inviting-prayers at the prayajus or fore-offerings. of an animal sacrifice They are addressed to a series of Deities or deified. objects, all of which are regarded by Sayana as manifestations of Agni. See The Hymns of the Rigveda, Index. Son of Himself: or, Tanûnapât, Fire, lighted from Fire, a title of Agni. The Praise of Men or Desire of Men, Narasamsa; Agui. Some families must invoke Tan..nap it and others Narasamsa as their tutelary Deity. 38 Indra is invited to the sacrifice. Port-render splitting the cloudcastles of the demons of drought. Cowpen cleaver: opener of the stores of fertilizing rain. 39 On earth: on the sacrificial ground. 40 Portals of the sacrificial hall. See R.. V.. II. 3. 5. 41 Dawn and Night, lofty, sapful, richly-yielding, fair-showing, as they weave with varied colour The long-extended thread in concert, worship the God of Gods, the lofty Hero Indra. 42 The two first pleasant-voiced celestial Hotars, arranging rites for man in sundry places, At head of sacrifice stablishing Indra, increase the eastern light with sweet oblation. 43 Thriving by sacrifice may the three Bright Ones, taking delight like wedded dames in Indra, Sarasvati, Iḍi, Bârati all-surpassing, with milk preserve our sacred thread unbroken. 44 My Tvashtar coming fron afar, the active, give strength and plenty to strong glorions Indra, And strong, prolific, worshipping, the Mighty at sacrifice's head give the Gods honour. 45 Let the divine Stake, like an Immolator, bind, as one ordered, to himself the victim, And, filling Indra's belly with oblations, season the sacrifice with sweets and butter. 46 Indra the Bull, swift conqueror, wildly rushing bull-like to meet the Indu of the droppings— Delighting in a mind that scatters fatness, let the immortal 47 May Indra come to us for our protection, here, lauded Hero, be our feast-companion. May he whose powers are many, waxen mighty, cherish, like Dyaus, the sovran sway of princes. 48 From near or far away may mighty Indra, giver of succour, come for our protection, Lord of men, armed with thunder, with the Strongest, slaying his foes in conflict, in the battles. 41 Cf. R. V. II. 3. & Long extended thread: their perpetual course of succession to each other. 42 Two.... Hotars: Agni and Vâyu, according to Mabîdhara. According to Siyana, two Agnis, terrestrial and firmamental. 43 Three Bright Ones: or, Goddesses, connected with sacrifice. See R. V. II. 3. 8. 45 Stake: Vanaspati, the Tree; the Sacrificial Stake regarded as a form of Agni. Immolator: the priest who slaughters the victim. 46 Indu of the droppings: Soma connected with the dripping fat or marrow. 47 Taken from R. V. IV. 21 1. 48 Taken from R. V. IV. 20. 1. The Strongest: the Maruts. 49 May Indra come to us with Tawny Coursers, inclined to us, to favour and enrich us. May Maghavan, loud-voiced and wielding thunder, stand by us at this sacrifice, in combat, 50 Indra the Rescuer, Indra the Helper, Hero who listens at each invocation, Sakra I call, Indra invoked of many. May Indra, Bounteous Lord, prosper and bless us. 51 May helpful Indra as our Good Protector, Lord of all treasures, favour us with succour, Baffle our foes and give us rest and safety, and may we be the lords of hero vigour, 52 May we enjoy the grace of him the Holy, yea, may we dwell in his auspicious favour. May helpful Indra as our Good Preserver drive from us even from afar, our foemen. 53 Come hither, Indra, with Bay Steeds, joyous, with tails like peacock plumes. Let no men check thy course as fowlers stay the bird: pass o'er them as o'er desert lands. 54 Verily the Vasishthas hymn with praises Indra the mighty One whose arm wields thunder. Praised, may he guard our wealth in men and cattle. Ye 55 Fire hath been kindled, Asvins Twain ! the Gharma warmed, the Radiant pressed, Here the Milch-Cow Sarasvatî hath poured bright Soma, 56 When Soma flows Sarasvatî and both the Agvins, Leeches and Body-guards, bear to Indra strength by passage through the realms of air. 49 Taken from R. V. IV. 20. 2. Maghavan: the Bounteous Lord, Indra. 50-52 Taken from K. V. VI. 47. 11-13. 53 R. V. III. 45 1. 54 R. V. VII. 23. 6. 55 The Radiant or the Ruler, the Prince; Soma. Twelve propitiatory verses follow in praise of the Asvins and Sarasvati. The Asvins, as the divine Physicians, attend Iudra as a matter of course, but Sarasvati's part in his cure is not so easily accounted for. According to the SatapathaBrâhmana, V. 5. 4. 16, Sarasvatî here is Vâk, Speech, the healing Word. Prof. Weber suggests the rationalistic explanation that Sarasvatî the river, that is, cold water (Amrit is in the waters, in the waters healing medicine. R. V. I. 23. is referred to. 57 When Soma flowed the Asvins Twain, the Leeches, brought sweet medicine, With Men's Desire Sarasvati for Iudra, Soma, Nagnahu. 58 Worshipped, Sarasvati bestowed on Indra, senses, manly power. The Asvins, through oblations paid, combined food, energy, and wealth. 59 The Asvins brought from Namuchi pressed Soma bright with foaming juice. Sarasvatî with sacred grass brought that to Indra for his drink. 60 Sarasvati and Indra with the Asvins Twain milked out desires From heaven and earth, the regions, the resounding and expansive doors. 61 Ye Asvins, Dawn and Night, by day and in the evening, fair of hue, Accordant, with Sarasvati, deck Indra with surpassing powers. 62 Guard us, O Aṣvius, through the day, guards us by night, Sarasvati. Celestial Hotars, Leeches! both guard Indra when the juice is pressed. 63 The Asvins, and the Three, apart, Sarasvati, Idi, Bhâratî, As drink to gladden Indra, poured strong Soma with the foaming juice. 64 The Aṣvins, our Sarasvati, and Tvashṭar, when the juice was shed, Gave Indra balm, yea, mead as balm, glory and fame and many a shape. 65 Praising with foaming liquor at due times, Indra, Vanaspati, Sarasvati as cow gave forth sweet beverage with the Asvins Twain. 66 Asvins. to Indra ye with cows, with Mâsara and foaming drink Gave, with Sarasvatî-All hail!—the pressed-out Soma juice and mead. 57 Men's Desire: or the Praise of Men, Narasamsa, Agni. Sacrifice, according to Mahidhara. Nagnahu: the drug used for fermenting the Surâ. See XIX. 14, 83. 59 Namuchi: see X. 33. 63 Foaming juice: Surâ. 65 Sweet beverage: kilala. See II. 34; III. 43. 67 The Asvins and Sarasvatî by wit from fiendish Namuchi Brought unto Indra sacred food, strength, brilliant treasure, ample wealth. 68 That Indra, strong through sacrifice by Asvins and Sarasvati, Cleft Vala through to win him wealth, with Namuchi of Asura birth. 69 Supporting him in sacrifice with sacred food and mighty powers, Sarasvati, both Aṣvins and the cattle hymned that Indra's praise. 70 Indra whom Bhaga, Savitar, and Varuņa supplied with power, Lord of the sacrifice, may he, Good Guardian, love the worshipper. 71 Savitar, Varuna bestow gifts on the liberal offerer, Strength, power and treasure which the Good Protector took from Namuchi! 72 Varuna giving sway and power, Savitar grace with happiness, The Good Protector giving strength with fame, obtained the sacrifice. 73 With cows the Asvins, mighty power, with horses manly vigour, strength, With sacred food Sarasvati, made Indra, Sacrificer, strong. 74 May those Nâsatyas, fair of form, the Men who ride on paths. of gold, Oblation-rich Sarasvatî, thou, Indra! help us in our rites. 75 Those Leeches righteous in their deeds, She, rich in milk, Sarasvati, That Vṛitra-slayer hundred-powered, invested Indra with his might. 76 Ye Aşvins and Sarasvatî, joint drinkers of the Surâ draught, In Namuchi of Asura birth, give aid to Iudra in his deeds. 77 As parents aid a son, etc., as in X. 34. 78 He in whom horses, bulls, oxen, and barren cows, and rams, when duly set apart, are offered up, To Agni, Soma-sprinkled, drinker of sweet juice, Disposer, with thy heart bring forth a pleasant hymn. 68 Vala: the rain-with-holding cloud, personified as a demon of drought who stole, like Cacus, the cows of the Gods and concealed them in a cave. See R. V. X, 68. 5-10. 74 Nasatyas: the Asvins. 78 Taken, with variations, from R. V. X. 91. 14. Disposer: Arranger of the sacrifice; priest. The Adhvaryu is addressed. Bring forth: or, beget. |