On the earth's centre, at libation's place let the Priest worship Indra with the kindling-stick.

The mightiest of the lords of men is kindled on the height of heaven.

Let him enjoy the butter. Hotar, worship.

2 Him let the Hotar worship, him Tanûnapât with ready aids; the conqueror never overcome,

Indra, the God who finds heaven's light on paths most rich in pleasant sweets, with Narâsamsa all aglow. Let him enjoy, etc., as in verse 1.

3 With viands let the Hotar worship Indra immortal, praised, receiver of oblations.

The God, the equal of the Gods in vigour, the thunderwielder, breaker-down of castles. Let him eujoy, etc.

4 Let the Priest worship Indra, Bull who sitteth on sacred grass, doer of manly actions.

Let him be seated on the grass with Vasus and Rudras and
Adityas for companions. Let him enjoy, etc.

5 Let the Priest sacrifice. The Doors have strengthened Indra, his force and conquering might and vigour.

At this our worship let the Doors be opened, easy to pass, the strengtheners of Order: wide let them open out for bounteous Indra. Let them enjoy, etc.

6 Let the Priest sacrifice to Night and Morning, the teeming Cows of Indra, Mighty Mothers.

Indra their calf with lustre have they strengthened, even as two mothers of a calf in common. Let them enjoy, etc.

7 Let the Friest worship both the heavenly Hotars, Friends, Leeches, healing Indra with oblation.

The sages, Gods preeminent for wisdom bestow on Indra his surpassing power. Let them enjoy, etc.

This Book is closely connected with, and supplementary to, Books XIX. XXI. which treat of the Sautrâmanî ceremony.

1 Verses 1-11 form an Aprî or Propitiatory Hymn. See XX. 37, note. The Priest: the divine Hotar in heaven, whose example the human Hotar is to follow. Earth's centre: the altar. Hotur: the human Hotar is addressed. 2 Tanûnapât: Son of Himself; Agni as continually reproduced from other fire. Naraṣamsa: Praise or Desire of men; Agni.

3 Castles: the cloud-castles of the demons who withhold the rain.

5 Doors: of the sacrificial hall.

7 Hoturs: Firmamental and Terrestrial Agni.

8 Let the Priest offer sacrifice to the three Goddesses and balm. Let the three triple active Ones, let Idâ and Sarasvatî and Bharatî the mighty Dames, Consorts of Indra, who receive our sacrificial offerings, enjoy the butter, etc.

9 Let the Priest worship Tvashṭar radiant Indra, Physician good at sacrifice, graced with butter,

Multiform and prolific, rich and bounteous.

Let Tvashṭar, giving wondrous powers to Indra, enjoy, etc.

10 Let the Priest worship him, the Forest-Sovran, the Immolator, Lord of Hundred Powers, the lover of the prayer, the friend of Indra.

Balming with mead, may he on easy pathways sweeten our sacrifice with savoury butter. Let him enjoy, etc.

11 Let the Priest offer sacrifice to Indra: with Hail! to Gods of butter; with Hail! to Gods of marrow; with Hail! to Gods of drops; with Hail! to Gods of offerings paid with Svâhâ; with Hail! to Gods of sacrificial hymns.

All-hail! May butter-drinking Gods and Indra rejoicing taste the butter. Hotar, worship.

12 Vigorous, strewn by Gods upon the altar the right Gods' sacred Grass hath strengthened Indra.

Cut in the day, cherished by night it hath surpassed those who have sacrificial Grass with wealth. For gain of riches let him taste. Pay sacrifice.

13 Firm, closely joined, the Doors divine have strengthened Indra in the rite.

Pressed by a calf or tender boy may they drive off the

courser as he tosses up the sand.

them enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

For gain of wealth let

14 Morning and Night, the Goddesses, have called on Indra as the rite advanced.

May they well-pleased and ordered well make the Celestial Tribes come forth. For gain of wealth let them enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

8 Three Goddesses: see XX. 43. Active Ones: said to mean Agni, Vâyu, Surya.

9 Radiant Indra: identified with, or mighty as, Indra. Multiform: as creator of all living beings.

See XX. 45, note.

10 Forest-Sovran: Vanaspati, the Sacrificial Stake.
11 Of drops: who enjoy the dripping fat or marrow. Cf. XX. 46.

13 Pressed by a calf, etc.: that is, easily elosed for protection from raiders. Cf. R. V. VI. 28. 4.

14 Celestial Tribes: Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, All-Gods, Maruts, etc.

15 Two Goddesses, wealth-givers, kind, have heightened radiant Indra's strength.

One drives away hatreds and sins; the other shall bring the Sacrificer boons and treasure.

Instructed, let them both enjoy, for gain of wealth. Pay sacrifice.

16 Bringers of strengthening sacrifice, the Goddesses, the teeming Cows, have prospered Indra with their milk.

Let one bring food and energy, the other feast and banqueting. Bringers of strengthening sacrifice, allotting the several portions they have put together old energy with new and new with olden, strengthening boons and treasures for the Sacrificer. Instructed, let them, etc., as in verse 15. 17 The two Celestial Hotars, Gods, have heightened radiant Indra's might.

Freed from slain sinners these have brought the Sacrificer wealth and boons. Instructed, let them, etc.

18 Goddesses three, three Goddesses have heightened their Lord Indra's strength.

One, Bharatî, hath touched the sky, Sarasvatî the sacrifice with Rudras, and, enriched with wealth, Idâ the homesteads of the folk. For gain of wealth let them enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

19 The radiant Indra, Praise of Men, thrice-shielding, borne on three car-seats, hath heightened radiant Indra's strength. Set on a hundred white-backed cows, yea, on a thousand forth he goes. Mitra and Varuņa alone deserve to be his Hotar-Priests, Brihaspati his Chanter, and the Aṣvins his Adhvaryavas. For gain of wealth let him enjoy. Pay

sacrifice.

20 Vanaspati, a God with Gods, with golden leaves, sweet boughs, fair fruit, hath heightened radiant Indra's strength. Sky with his summit hath he touched, and firmament, and stablished earth. For gain of wealth let him enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

15 Two Goddesses: Heaven and Earth, or Day and Night.

16 Instructed: knowing reality or the true nature of things. 19 Indra: equal to Indra; endowed with sovereign power. Praise of Men: Narâṣamsa Agni. Three car-seats: the Sadas or Priests' shed, the Havirdhana or store of sacrificial elements, and the Âguîdhra or hearth where sacred fire is kindled; or, according to Mahîdhara, the three Vedas. Cows: as the sources of the milk and butter required for oblations. Chanter: singer of hymns of praise. Adhvaryavas: or Adhvaryus; the Asvins being invested with the functions of these priests among the Gods.

20 Firmament: with his waist. Earth with his foot.

21 The grassy robe of water-plants, divine, hath heightened Indra's strength.

This, the fair seat where Indra sits, hath topped all other sacred grass. For gain of wealth let it enjoy. Pay sacrifice. 22 Agni, Fair-offering-maker, bright, hath heightened radiant Indra's strength.

To-day may Svishtakṛit, Fair-offering-maker, paying good sacrifice, for us perform it. For gain of wealth let him enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

23 To-day the Sacrificer hath elected-dressing messes of cooked food and a rice-cake, binding a goat for Indra-Agni as his Hotar.

To-day divine Vanaspati hath with a goat served Indra well. He hath eaten from the fat, he hath accepted the cooked food, he hath waxed strong with the rice-cake.

Thee, to-day, O Rishi, etc., as in XXI. 61.

24 Let the Priest worship Agni, Indra, kindled, splendidly kindled, excellent strength-giver,

Lending him mighty power, Gâyatrî metre, a cow aged eighteen months, and vital vigour. Let him enjoy the butter. Hotar, worship.

25 Let the Priest serve with sacrifice him who breaks forth, Tanûnapât, the germ which Aditi conceived, 'pure Indra who bestoweth strength,

Bringing him mighty power, the Ushnih metre, an ox of two years old, and vital vigour. Let him enjoy, etc.

26 Let the Priest sacrifice to Soma, Indra, adorable, adored, best Vṛitra-slayer, strength-giver, might, to be adored with viands,

Bringing him mighty power, Anushṭup metre, a cow of thirty months, and vital vigour. Let him enjoy, etc.

27 Let the Priest worship Indra, strength-bestower, immortal, with fair grass, allied with Pûshan, seated on sacred grass, dear, everlasting,

Bringing him mighty power, Brihatî metre, a steer of three years' age and vital vigour. Let him enjoy, etc.

28 Let the Priest worship the wide-opening Portals, easy to pass, divine, Law-strengthening, golden, Indra, the Brahman Priest, the strength-bestower,

21 Water-plants: see XXI. 57.

22 Fair-offering-maker: Svishṭakṛit. See XXI. 47.

23 Cf. XXI. 59.

24 Cf. XXI. 60.

Bringing him mighty power, the Pankti metre, a bullock four years old, and vital vigour. Let them enjoy the butter. Hotar, worship.

29 Let the Priest worship lofty Night and Morning, welldecked, of varied hue, lovely to look on, Indra the Universal, strength-bestower,

Bringing him mighty power, the Trishṭup metre, a bullock four years old, and vital vigour. Let them enjoy the butter. Hotar, worship.

30 Let the Priest worship both celestial Hotars, the Gods' best glory, sages famed for wisdom, the two companions, Indra strength-bestower,

Bringing him mighty power, Jagatî metre, an ox that draws the wain, and vital vigour. Let them enjoy the butter. Hotar, worship.

31 Let the Priest sacrifice to three well-decorated Goddesses, gold-decked, great, lofty, Bhâratîs, Indra their Lord who giveth strength,

Bringing him mighty power, Virâj the metre, and a cow in milk. Let him enjoy the butter. Hotar, worship.

32 Let the Priest worship Tvashṭar the prolific, strengthener of growth, maintaining varied growth and form, Iudra who giveth vital force,

Bringing him Dvipad metre, mighty power, and an ox fullgrown. Let him enjoy the butter. Hotar, sacrifice. 33 Let the Priest serve with sacrifice the Forest Lord Vanaspati, the Immolator, hundred-powered, praise-worthy, goldenleafed, who wears the girdle, loved, the gracious Lord, Indra who gives the strength of life,

Giving him Kakup metre, mighty power, a barren, a calfslipping cow, and vital vigour. Let him enjoy the butter. Hotar, sacrifice.

34 Let the Priest offer worship to the Svâhâkṛiti Goddesses, to Agni Household Lord apart, to Varuna the Leech and Sage, might, Indra who bestoweth strength, Bringing him Atichhandas metre, great and mighty power, a strong bull, in his prime, and vital vigour. Let them enjoy the butter. Hotar, sacrifice.

31 Bharatis: that is, Bhâratî and her two constant companions, Sarasvati and Idâ.

33 The girdle the cord with which the victim is attached.

34 Svahakriti Goddesses: the deities of the Prayâjas or Fore-offerings; Introductory Oblations deified.