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HALF-YEARS and Seasons strengthen thee, O Agni, the Years and all the Verities and Rishis!

Flash forth with thy celestial effulgence: illumine all four regions of the heaven.

2 Kindle thee, Agni, wake this man to knowledge: rise up erect for great and happy fortune.

Agni, be those uninjured who adore thee, thy priests be glorious and none beside them!

3 The Brahmans present here elect thee, Agni: be thou propitious in our sanctuary.

Slayer of rivals, Agni, quell our foemen: watch in thy house with care that never ceases.

4 Even here do thou, O Agni, stablish wealth: let not oppressors injure thee by thinking of thee first.

Light be thy task of ruling, Agni, with thy power: may he who worships thee wax strong, invincible.

5 Kind to the people, grasp thy power, O Agni: contend thou with the Friend by way of friendship.

Placed, Agui, in the centre of our kinsmen, flash forth to be invoked by Kings around thee.

6 Past those who slay, past enemies, past thoughtless men, past those who hate,

Yea, Agni, drive away all woe and trouble: vouchsafe us opulence with men about us.

7 Holder of sway, shine here refulgent, Agni! invincible, unconquered Jatavedas.

Light all the regions, chasing human terrors: with happy helps guard us to-day for increase.

1 Verses 1-9 are to be used at an animal sacrifice between the 9th and 10th of the normal Gayatri kindling-verses recited while the sacrificial fire is being lighted or when additional fuel is applied to it. See Sacred Books of the East, XLI. pp. 167 (note), 168. Half-years: ṣamáḥ; the warın halves of the years as distinguished from, and equal (sama oμos) to the himah or winters. See Prof. A. Weber, Vedische Beiträge, VII. pp. 1, 2, and Zimmer, Altindisches Leben, p. 371. Verses 1-3 are taken, with variations, from A. V. II. 6. 1-3.

4 Varied from A. V. VII. 82. 3. Let not oppressors: let not the wicked, anticipating our worship, secure thy attention before us, and, as unworthy adorers, insult and degrade thy majesty.

5 A. V. II. 6. 4. The Friend: the God Mitra. By way of friendship: mitradha.

6 A. V. II. 6. 5, slightly varied.

7 Varied, from A. V. VII. 84. 1.

8 Brihaspati, Savitar, give this man knowledge: sharpen him thoroughly though already sharpened.

To great and high felicity exalt him: in him let all the Gods rejoice and triumph.

9 As thou, Brihaspati, from curse hast freed us, from dwelling yonder in the realm of Yama,

The Agvins, Leeches of the Gods, O Agni, have chased Death far from us with mighty powers.

10 Looking upon the loftier light, etc., as in XX. 21.

11 Uplifted are the brands that are his fuel: lofty and brilliant are the flames of Agni,

Splendidly bright of the Son fair of aspect.

12 Taninapât the Asura, all-possessing, God among Gods, the God with mead and butter shall bedew the paths.

13 With mead to sacrifice thou comest, Agui, comest as friendlyminded Narâşamsa, and Savitar righteous God who brings all blessings.

14 He cometh hitherward with power and fatness, the luminous, implored with adoration.

While rites proceed the ladles move to Agni.

15 Let him pay worship to this Agni's greatness, daintily fed : he verily gives enjoyments:

The wisest Vasu he, and best wealth giver.

16 Widely expansive, ruling by foundation, the Doors divineand, after, all

Preserve this Agni's holy works.

17 May Dawn and Night protect-his heavenly Consorts--in his home this our sacrificial worship.

18 Ye two celestial Hotars, greet with praises this lofty rite of ours, the tongue of Agni.

Cause that our sacrifice be well conducted.

8 Varied, from A. V. VII. 16. is identified with these Gods.

Brihaspati, Savitar: meaning Agni who

11 Varied, from A. V. V. 27. 1. This and the eleven following verses form an Apri or Propitiatory Hymn, the whole of which is found, with variations in the same Atharva-veda hymn. The Son: Agni is called the Son of the Sacrificer as being produced and supported by him.

12 Asura: Lord Divine. The paths: the ways or courses of the Sacrifice. 14 The luminous: vahnih; or, the priest; or, the furtherer (of oblations). See M. Müller, Vedic Hymns, I. pp. 37 sqq.

16 Doors: of the sacrificial hall deified. And all: there is no substantive; devih, Gods, is probably understood.

17 Dawn and Night: personified as Goddesses.

18 Celestial Hotars: Agni with Aditya or Varuņa, or Agni terrestrial and firmamental.

19 Upon this grass three Goddesses be seated, Iḍâ, Sarasvati, Bharati the Mighty glorified with song.

20 This our productive wondrous flow may Tvashṭar pour on this man's kin, and wealth and heroes.

down

21 Vanaspati, presenting of thyself, send God-ward! Let Agni, Immolator, season our oblation.

22 Pay sacrifice to Indra, Jâtavedas Agni! with Hail! All Gods accept the gift we offer!

23 Wise, bright, arranger of his teams, he seeketh men with rich food whose treasures are abundant.

They have stood firm of one accord with Vâyu: yea, the men wrought all noble operations.

24 The God whom both these worlds brought forth for riches, whom heavenly Dhishanâ for our wealth appointeth-

His team of harnessed horses waits on Vâyu and, foremost, on the radiant treasure-holder.

26 What time the mighty waters came containing the universal germ, producing Agui,

Thence sprang the Gods' one spirit into being. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

26 Who in his might surveyed the floods enclosing productive force and generating Worship,

He who is God mid Gods, and none beside him-What God shall we adore with our oblation?

27 The teams wherewith thou seekest him who offers, within his house, O Vâyu, to direct him,

Therewith send wealth to us with full enjoyment, a hero son and gifts of kine and horses.

28 With thy yoked teams in hundreds and in thousands come to our sacrifice and solemn worship.

O Vâyu, make thee glad at this libation. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.

19 Three Goddesses: of Prayer and Devotion.

21 Vanaspati: the sacrificial stake, regarded as a form of Agni. Send: our offerings to the Gods in heaven.

23 This and the following verse, taken respectively from R. V. VII. 91. 3 and 90. 3, are used at the sacrifice of a white hornless he-goat to Vâyu. 24 Dhishana: a Goddess of abundance and prosperity.

25 This and the following verse, in honour of Prajapati, are taken from R. V. X. 121. 7, 8. What God shall we adore: or, Worship we Ka the God. 27 This and the following verse are taken, in continuation of verse 21, from R. V. VII. 91. 3, 5.

29 Drawn by thy team, O Vâyu, come; to thee is offered this, the pure.

Thou visitest the presser's house.

30 Vâyu, the bright is offered thee, best of the meath at holy rites.

Come thou to drink the Soma juice, God longed-for, on thy team-drawn car.

31 Lover of worship, leader, come Vâyu with thought, to sacrifice, Propitious with propitious teams!

32 With all the thousand chariots that are thine, O Vâyu, come

to us,

Team-drawn, to drink the Soma juice.

33 Come thou with one, and ten, O Self-Existent! with two unto the sacrifice, and twenty.

Three are the teams and thirty which convey thee. O Vâyu, in this place unyoke thy coursers.

34 Wonderful Vâyu, Lord of Truth, thou who art Tvashṭar's Son-in-law,

Thy saving succour we elect.

35 Like kine unmilked we call aloud, Hero, to thee and sing thy praise,

Looker on heavenly light, Lord of this moving world, Lord,
Indra of what moveth not.

36 None other like to thee, of earth or of the heavens, hath been or ever will be born.

Desiring horses, Indra, Bounteous Lord! and kine, as men of might we call on thee.

37 That we may win us wealth and power, we poets call on only thee.

In war men call on thee, Indra! the hero's Lord, in the steed's race-course call on thee.

38 As such, O Wonderful, whose hand holds thunder, praised as mighty, Caster of the Stone!

29 Taken from R. V. II. 41. 2. The pure: Soma juice.
30 Taken from R. V. IV. 47. 1.
32 R. V. II. 41. 1.

34 R. V. VIII. 26. 21. satisfactory explanation. daughter, was wedded to See Hillebrandt, Vedische 35 R. V. VII. 32. 22.

Tvashtar's Son-in-law: the commentators give no
Saranyu (who is perhaps Ushas, Dawn), Tvashtar's
Vivasvân who cannot be identified with Vayu.
Mythologie, I. p. 521.

Moving world: all animated beings.

36 R. V. VII. 32. 23.
37 R. V. VI. 46. 1. In war: literally, in, or among, foes.
38 R. V. VI. 46. 2. The Stone: the thunderbolt.

Pour on us boldly, Indra, kine and chariot-steeds over to be the conqueror's strength.

39 What succour will he bring to us, wonderful, ever-prospering Friend!

With what most mighty company ?

40 What genuine and most liberal draught will spirit thee with juice to burst

Open e'en strongly-guarded wealth?

41 Do thou who art protector of us thy friends who praise thee With hundred aids approach us.

42 Sing to your Agui with each song, at every sacrifice, for strength.

Come, let us praise the Wise and Everlasting God even as a well-beloved Friend.

43 Protect us, Agni, through the first, protect us through the second hymn.

Protect us through three hymns, O Lord of Power and Might; through four hymns, Vasu! guard thou us.

44 The Son of Strength; for is he not our Friend? Let us serve him for offering our gifts.

In battles may he be our help and strengthener, yea, be the
Saviour of our lives.

45 Thou art Samvatsara; thou art Parivatsara; thou art Idâvatsara; thou art Idvatsara; thou art Vatsara.

Prosper thy Dawns! Prosper thy Day-and-Nights! Prosper thy Half-months, Months, Seasons, and Years!

Combine them for their going and their coming, and send them forward on their ordered courses.

In eagle's shape thou art piled up and layered. With that divinity, Angiras-like, lie steady.

39 This and the two following verses are taken from R. V. IV. 31. 1–3. 42 R. V. VI. 48. 1.

43 R. V. VIII. 49. 9. First, etc.: the numbers probably have reference to the four quarters of the sky.-- Ludwig. According to Mahîdhara, first refers to the Rig; second to the Yajur; three to Rig, Yajur, Sâma; four to these three and Nigada or loud recitation.

44 R. V. VI. 48. 2. A continuation of verse 42. Son of Strength: in the accusative case governed by 'let us praise' in the preceding verse.

Agni is

45 The formulas contained in this verse are to be employed in the Agnichayana ceremony at the time when the Sacrificer touches as much as he can of the surface of the newly-constructed Fire-altar. See XVII. 2. addressed, as identified with Prajapati the Presiding Deity of the Year and with the Altar. Samvatsara and the rest are the names given to the years of the five-year cycle intended, with the aid of an intercalary month, to adjust the difference between the lunar and the solar year. See Zimmer, Altindisches Leben, p. 370. In eagle's shape: see XI., first note. Thou: the Fire-altar. Angiras-like: as thou didst when constructed by Angiras. See XII. 53; XI. 9.

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