25 I sing my song of praise to him, Savitar, God between the Bowls, strong with the wisdom of the wise, of true impulsion, wealth-giver, the well-beloved thoughtful Sage. To him at whose impulsion shone aloft in heaven the splendid light. Most wise, the Golden-handed hath measured the sky with skilled design. Foving creatures, thee. Let living creatures breathe after thee. Breathe after living creatures. 26 Thee who art pure, with what is pure I purchase, the bright with bright, immortal with immortal. The Sacrificer keep thy cow. Let thy gold pieces be with us. Fervour's form art thou, and Prajapati's nature. With the most noble animal art thou purchased. May I increase with thousandfold abundance. 27 As friend, the giver of good friends, approach us! Take thou thy seat on the right thigh of Indra, yearning on yearning, pleasing on the pleasing. Anghari, Svâna, Bhrâja, and Bambhâri, O Hasta, and Suhasta and Krisânu, These are your prices for the Soma purchase. Keep them securely, let them never fail you. 28 Keep me, O Agni, from unrighteous conduct: make me a sharer in the path of goodness. 25 The Bowls: heaven and earth, so called from their hemispherical appearance. But see Hillebrandt, Vedische Mythologie, I. p. 177, and Ludwig, Ueber die Neuesten Arbeiten auf dem Gebiete der Rgvedaforschung, p. 87. For living creatures, thee: I tie thee (Soma) up in the wrapper, the ends of which are brought together, for the good of living creatures who will be benefited by the sacrifice. 26 Thee the Soma What is pure gold brought for the purchase. The Sacrificer: spoken by the Adhvaryu. The cow given in exchange for the Soma is now given back, and the gold pieces are similarly returned; the bargaining here being only a form, and the price of the Soma having probably been settled beforehand. See Sacred Books of the East, XXVI. 71; Haug's Aitareya-Brâhmaṇam, II. 59, note 2. Fervour's form: the Sacrificer addresses a she-goat, said to have sprung from the Fervour or Austere Devotion of Prajapati, which has been placed looking westward. Prajapati's nature dear to the Gods as Prajapati the Lord of Creatures; or because she produces young three times a year, hence also called most noble or most excellent 27 He gives the she-goat to the Soma-seller and takes the Soma with his right hand in exchange, reciting the formula. Approach us: O Soma. Indra: the Sacrificer (endowed during the ceremony with the attributes of Indra) on whose bared thigh the Soma is placed. Anghari, etc.: the names of the seven Guardians of the celestial Soma, purchased from them by the Gods. Krisânu is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda. These: the articles given to the Soma-seller. 28 Recited by the Sacrificer. Immortals: especially Soma. I, following Immortals, have arisen with longer life, with a good life before me. 29 Now have we entered on the path that leads to bliss without a foe, The path whereon a man escapes all enemies and gathers wealth. 30 The skin of Aditi art thou. Sit on the lap of Aditi. The Bull hath propped the sky and air's mid-region, the compass of the broad earth hath he measured. He, King Supreme, approached all living creatures. Truly all these are Varuna's ordinances. 31 Over the woods the air hath he extended, put milk in kine and vigorous speed in horses, Set intellect in hearts and fire in houses, Sûrya in heaven and Soma on the mountain. 32 Ascend the eye of Sûrya, mount the pupil set in Agni's eye Where, radiant through the Wise One, thou speedest along with dappled steeds. 33 Approach, ye oxen, fit to bear the yoke; be yoked without a tear. Slaying no man, urging the Brahman forward, go happily to the Sacrificer's dwelling. 34 Lord of the World, thou art my gracious helper: move forward on thy way to all the statious. Let not opponents, let not robbers find thee, let not malignant wolves await thy coming. Fly thou away having become a falcon. Go to the dwelling of the Sacrificer. That is the special place for us to rest in. 29 He puts the Soma on his head and goes the Soma has been brought, reciting the text from R. V. VI. 51. 16. towards the cart in which taken, with one variation, 30 The antelope-skin is spread in the Soma cart by the Adhvaryu who recites the formula. Skin of Aditi: See I. 14. Sit: O Soma. The Bull: the mighty Varuna, here meaning Soma. The text is taken, with alteration of two words, from R. V. VIII. 42. 1. Approached: pervades :' Mahidhara; hath taken his seat over:' Eggeling. Living creatures: or, worlds. 31 He wraps the Soma in a cloth, reciting the texts taken from R. V. V. 85. 2. 32 He addresses the antelope-skin which he hangs up in front of the Soma-cart. Wise One: the All-knowing Sun. The skin, representing the Sun and Agni, will keep off evil spirits. 33 Ye oxen: the pair that draw the Soma-cart. The Brahman: the priest, or the sacrifice. Happily: or, safely, uninjured by evil spirits. 34 Spoken by the Sacrificer. Lord of the World: Soma is addressed. Stations: the Patnîşâlâ or Matron's Hall, the Havirdhâna or OblationStore, and other places in the sacrificial enclosure. 35 Do homage unto Varuna's and Mitra's eye: offer this solemn worship to the Mighty God, Who seeth far away, the Ensign born of Gods. Sing praises unto Sûrya, to the Son of Dyaus. 36 Thou art a prop for Varuņa to rest on. Ye are the pins that strengthen Varuna's pillar. Thou art the lawful seat where Varuņa sitteth. Sit on the lawful seat where Varuņa sitteth. 37 Such of thy glories as with poured oblations men honour, may they all invest our worship. Wealth-giver, furtherer with troops of heroes, sparing the brave, come, Soma, to our houses. 35 The Sacrificer recites the text taken from R V. X. 37. 1. Varuna's and Mitra's eye: Sûrya, the Sun represented by the Soma. Dyaus: Zeus, Heaven or Sky personified, 36 Thou: the prop that supports the pole of the cart, which has now become the support of Varuna represented by the Soma. Ye: two wooden pegs that keep the prop steady. The lawful seat: he addresses the seat or throne on which Soma is placed, the antelope-skin having been spread over it. Varuna is represented by Soma throughout the verse. 37 The Sacrificer recites the text taken from R. V. I. 91. 19, as Soma is brought into the sacrificial hall. Glories: powers: Eggeling. BODY of Agni art thou. Thee for Vishnu. Body of Soma art thou. Thee for Vishņu. Thou art the Guest's Reception. Thee for Vishnu. Thee for the Soma-bringing Falcon. Thee for Vishnu. Thee for the giver of abundance, Agni. Thee for Vishnu. 2 Birth-place art thou of Agni. Ye are sprinklers. Thou art Urvasi. Thou art Âyu. Thou art Purúravas. I rub and churn thee with Gâyatrî metre. I rub and churn thee with the Trishṭup metre. I rub and churn thee with the Jagatî metre. 3 Be ye for us one-minded, be one-thoughted, free from spot and stain. Harm not the sacrifice, harm not the sacrifice's lord. Be kind to us this day, Omniscient Ones! 4 Preserver from the curse, Son of the Rishis, Agni is active having entered Agni. Here for us kindly with fair worship offer oblation to the 5 For him who flies around and rushes onward I take thee, for Tanûnapât the mighty, the very strong, of all-surpassing vigour. Verses 1-4 contain formulas for the Âtithya or Ceremonial Reception and Entertainment of Soma when introduced into the sacrificial hall. 1 The Adhvaryu takes the havis or sacrificial food, that is, the elements. of oblation, from the cart, and addresses it with the formula. Thou: the sacred food. Vishnu: meaning, according to Mahidhara, Soma the pervader of the sacrifice. Thee: 'I take' understood. Falcon: that brought the Soma from heaven. See R. V. IV. 27. 2 Thou: a piece of wood forming the lower part of the fire-drill, in which the spark is produced by rapid friction. Sprinklers: or, stallions, males. Two blades of Kusa grass, placed on the fire drill, are addressed. Thou: the lower piece of the drill. Urvast: a celebrated Apsaras or celestial nymph. Ayu: the butter in the pan is said to be Ayu the son of Urvași. Purúravas: the human husband of Urvast and father of Âyu. The upper piece of the drill is addressed as it is placed on the lower piece. The clarified butter, or sacrifice, is the child produced by the union. For the legend of Urvași and Purûravas, see R. V. X. 95 (The Hymns of The Rigveda, Vol. II. (2nd ed.) pp. 527-530), and Max Müller, Chips from a German Workshop, Vol. IV. (new ed.) pp. 107–114. Thee: Agni, the fire. With Gayatri, etc.: while verses in these metres are recited. 3 Ye: the Ahavaniya fire and the newly-kindled fire which is thrown on it. Omniscient One: jâtavedasau; 'ye knowers of beings:' Eggeling. 4 Son of the Rishis: produced in sacrifice by the priests. 5 Here follow formulas for the Tânûnaptra, a ceremony in which Tanûnapât, usually Agni (Son of Himself, born from other fire), here Vayu the Strength of the Gods, inviolate, inviolable still art thou, the strength that turns the curse away, uncursed and never to be cursed. May I go straight to truth. Place me in comfort. 6 0 Agni, Guardian of the Vow, O Guardian of the Vow, in thee Whatever form there is of thine, may that same form be here on me on thee be every form of mine. O Lord of Vows, let our vows be united. May Diksha's Lord allow my Consecration, may holy Fervour's Lord approve my Fervour. 7 May every stalk of thine wax full and strengthen for Indra Ekadhanavid, God Soma! May Indra grow in strength for thee: for Indra mayest thou grow strong. Increase us friends with strength and mental vigour. May May longed-for wealth come forth for strength and fortune. 8 That noblest body which is thine, O Agni, laid in the lowest deep, encased in iron, hath chased the awful word, the word of terror. That noblest That noblest Svâhâ! Wind-God, is invoked, and the sacrificial butter is touched by sacrificer and priests as a form of adjuration or bond of friendship. Who flies, etc.: Vâyu. Thee: the sacrificial butter. Go straight to truth: faithfully keep the promise which I am making. Place me in comfort: according to Mahidhara, establish me in the fair path, the performance of sacrifice. 6 Formulas for a kind of minor Consecration. The Sacrificer exchanges persons with, and becomes, Agni. Diksha's Lord: Soma, Lord of Consecration. Fervour: or Penance. 7 The priests perform the Apyâyana, the sprinkling of the Soma with water to make it swell. Ekadhanavid: according to Mahidhara, receiver or finder of the one chief prize, i. e. Soma; or, knower of the Ekadhanas, pitchers which hold the water which is to be mixed with the Soma. 8 Formulas for the Upasads (services or sieges; Milton's 'beseeching and besieging'), offerings of butter to Agni, Soma, and Vishnu thrice daily for three days or more. According to the legend, the Asuras or rebel demons, having been defeated in battle by the Gods, made three castles, one of iron on earth, one of silver in mid-air, and one of gold in the sky. Agni, at the Gods' request, in the form of the Upasad deity entered and burnt then and they became the three bodies of Agni mentioned in the text. T awful word: the threats of the Asuras. |