7 Taken upon a base art thou. Savitar's giver of delight art thou. Giver of joy art thou: vouchsafe me joy. Speed thou the sacrifice, speed thou the sacrifice's lord to win his share. Thee for the God, for Savitar. 8 Taken upon a base art thou. Thou art a good protector, firmly stablished. To the Great Bull be reverential homage. Thee for the Visvedevas. This is thy home: Thee for the Visvedevas. 9 Taken upon a base art thou. May it be mine to prosper the libations of thee Brihaspati's son, O radiant Soma, of thee, strong Indu, mated with thy Consorts. I am in heaven above, on earth beneath it. The intermediate region was my father. I saw the Sun both from above and under. I am what Gods in secret hold the highest. 10 Agni, associate with the Dames, accordant with the God Tvashtar, drink. All-hail! Thou art Prajapati, strong male, impregner may I obtain from thee, strong male, impregner, a son who shall himself become a father. 11 Taken upon a base art thou. Thou art bay-coloured, Yoker of Bay Coursers. Thee for the pair of tawny-coloured horses. United with the Soma, ye, for Indra, are corn for his two tawny steeds to feed on. 12 That draught of thine which winneth cows or horses, offered with sacrificial text and lauded 7 He addresses the Soma in the cup. 8 He draws from the Pûtabhrit, a vessel containing strained Soma juice, the Mahavaiṣvadeva Cup or Libation to the Great All-Gods, The Great Bull: Prajapati, the Lord of Creatures. 9 He drawn the Pâtnivata Cup or Libation to Him with Consorts, here meaning Soma. Brihaspati's son: poured forth by priests whose representative is Brihaspati. Indu: drop, juice; a common name of Soma. Consorts; the waters with which Soma is mixed. I am in heaven, etc.: the Adhvaryu recites, identifying himself in his sacerdotal character with the Supreme Self. 10 He offers the Pâtnîvata Cup to Agui. The Dames: the Consorts of the Gods; with a refereuce also in this place to the wife of the Sacrificer. Thou art Prajapati: spoken by the Matron who is led up by the Neshtar (see V. 31) and directed to look at and address the Udgâtar or Sâma Chanter. From thee: through thy favour. 11 He draws the Hariyojana Cup, or Libation to Indra Harnesser of the Haris or Bay Steeds. Ye: grains of parched corn which he throws into the cup. 12 The priests smell the grains taken from the cup, and throw them on the high altar. With chanted hymns and songs of adoration-of that per- 13 Of sin against the Gods thou art atonement. Of every sort of sin thou art atonement. Of sin against Of sin against The sin that I have knowingly committed, the sin that unawares I have committed, of all that wickedness thou art the atonement. 14 We with our bodies have again united, with lustre, vital sap, and happy spirit. Giver of boons, may Tvashṭar grant us riches and smooth whate'er was injured in our body. 15 Lead us with thought to wealth in kine, O Indra, to princes, Lord of Bounty! and to welfare. Lead thou us on to God-inspired devotion, to favour of the 16 Verse 14 repeated. 17 May this please Savitar and liberal Dhâtar, Prajâpati the Treasure-Guard, bright Agni, Tvashtar, and Vishņu: blessing him with children, grant store of riches to the Sacrificer. 18 Gods, we have made your seats easy of access, who, pleased with us, have come to this libation. Bearing and bringing hitherward your treasures, grant to this man, good Lords, abundant riches. All hail! 19 The willing Gods whom, God, thou hast brought hither, send them to their own dwelling-place, O Agni. As all of you have eaten and have drunken, approach the air, the heat, the light of heaven. 13 Thou: a splinter of the Sacrificial Stake. Six of these splinters are thrown on the fire and severally addressed with a formula. 14 The priests touch the Chamasas, cups or bowls, filled with water, and recite the text taken from A. V. VI. 53. 3. 15 He makes nine offerings called Samishtayajuses or final sacrificial texts and oblations, and with the first he recites the text taken from R. V. V. 42. 4. Princes wealthy sacrificers who will liberally reward our services. 16 The second offering is made with repetition of verse 14. 17 The third offering, with the text from A. V. VII. 17. 4. This our oblation. Liberal: or rati may mean the Oblation personified. Dhátar: the Creator, or Ordainer. Grant: ye, the Deities mentioned. 18 The fourth, with the text whose first three Padas are taken from A. V. VII. 97. 4. Easy of access: sacrifice leading the worshipper to heaven. 19 The fifth, with the text from A. V. VII. 97. 3. Eaten; the sacrificial rice cakes. Drunken: libations of Soma. 20 Here, Agni, as this sacrifice proceedeth, have we elected thee to be our Hotar. Special have been thine offerings and thy labour. Well knowing sacrifice, as sage, come near us. 21 Do ye, O Gods, discoverers of the Pathway, go forward on the path when ye have found it. O God, thou Lord and Master of the Spirit, bestow-Allhail!-this sacrifice on Vâta. 22 Go, Sacrifice, to the sacrifice: seek thou the sacrifice's lord, seek thine own home. All-hail! Lord of the sacrifice, this is thy sacrifice, followed by many heroes, loud with hymns of praise. Accept it thou. Allhail! 23 Become no serpent thou, become no viper. King Varuna hath made a spacious pathway, a pathway for the Sun wherein to travel. Where no way was he made him set his footstep, and warned afar whate'er afflicts the spirit. To Varuna be reverential homage! Varuna's noose beneath our feet is trampled. 24 The waters, face of Agni, bave I entered, O Waters' Child, repelling evil spirits. Offer the fuel in each home, O Agni. Let thy tongue dart 25 Thy heart is in the flood, within the waters. With thee let plants and waters be commingled, That, Lord of Sacrifice, we may adore thee with singing praise and telling forth our homage. All-hail! 26 This, O celestial Waters, is your offspring. Support him dearly loved and gently nurtured. 20 The sixth, with the text whose first line is taken from A. V. VII. 97. 1. 21 The seventh, with the text repeated from II. 21. Pathway: the sacrifice. The path: your own homeward way. O God: Prajapati. 22 The eighth, with the text. This is thy sacrifice: he offers the ninth and last oblation of the series. 23 After this set of oblations, the Adhvaryu throws the black-buck's horn (see IV. 10, note) and the girdle into the Châtvâla or pit. Thou: the girdle of rope (see VI. 12). The Sacrificer then recites the text from R. V. I. 24. 8. To Varuna: spoken by the Sacrificer as he steps into the Avabhritha or other water. Varuna's noose; affliction sent as a punishment for sin by the Moral Governor of the world. 24 The Sacrificer throws a kindling-stick into the water and makes an offering thereon with four ladlefuls of butter. 25 The Adhvaryu floats a jar containing the dregs of the Soma, and recites the text. Thy heart: 0 Soma. 26 This: Soma. Bring.... ward off: I follow Mahidhara. Prof. Eggeling refers vakshva in both cases to vaksh instead of vaḥ: 'thrive thou well therein and thrive thou thoroughly.' This is thy station, O celestial Soma; therein bring happiness and ward off evil. 27 O restless Purifying Bath, thou glidest onward restlessly. May I with aid of Gods remove the stain of sin against the Gods, and wash away with mortals' help the wrong that hath been done to men. Preserve me, God, from injury, from the loud-roaring demon foe. Thou art the fuel of the Gods. 28 Let, still unborn, the ten-month calf move with the following after-birth. Even as the wind is moving, as the gathered flood of ocean moves, So may this ten-month calf come forth together with the after-birth. 29 0 thou who hast a womb of gold and offspring meet for sacrifice, Him with all limbs unbroken have I brought together with his dam. All-hail! 30 Multiform, rich in wondrous operation, the strong juice hath enrobed itself with greatness. Let the worlds praise her uniped and biped, three-footed and four-footed and eight-footed. All-hail! 31 Verily, best of guardians hath he in whose dwelling-place ye drink, O Maruts, giants of the sky. 32 May Heaven and Earth, the Mighty Pair, besprinkle this our sacrifice, And feed us full with nourishments. 27 He immerses the jar. Purifying Bath: he addresses the Avabhṛitha. The text is repeated from III. 48. Thou art the fuel: he puts a kindlingstick on the Ahavantya fire. 28 A course of expiation to be followed when a sacrificial cow, supposed to be barren, is found after immolation to be in calf. Cf. R. V. V. 78. 7-9, which Sâyana calls 'the liturgy of child-birth.' Ten-month: although the embryo be not of ten months' growth', says Mahîdhara, 'the priest makes it such by prayer and sacrificial text.' 29 0 thou: the Vaşâ or Sacrificial Cow is addressed. Him: the embryo calf. 30 Multiform: the fat juice of the embryo, with butter poured over it, is offered as an oblation, Greatness: derived from the cow. Praise: or celebrate; prakhyđtâm kurvantu: Mahîdhara. Uniped: as containing one chief element of sacrifice, the omentum. Biped: containing omentum and limbs for sacrifice. Three-footed: with elements of by-offerings in addition. Eight-footed: when in calf. Cf. R. V. II. 7. 5. 31 When the Samishṭayajus oblations are finished, he takes the embryo wrapped in a bandage and offers it on the sacrificial hearth to the Maruts, with the text from R. V. I. 86. 1. 32 The embryo is covered up with coals, and the text from R. V. I. 22. 13 is recited. 33 Slayer of Vritra, mount thy car: thy Bay Steeds have been yoked by prayer. May, with its voice, the pressing-stone draw thine attention Taken upon a base art thou. For Indra thee, for Shoḍasi. 34 Harness thy pair of strong Bay Steeds, long-maned, whose bodies fill the girths, And, Indra, Soma-drinker, come to listen to our songs of praise. Taken upon a base, etc., as in 33. 35 His pair of tawny Coursers bring Indra of unresisted might Hither to Rishis' songs of praise and sacrifice performed by men. Taken upon a base, etc., as in 33. 36 Than whom there is none other born more mighty, who hath pervaded all existing creatures— Prajapati, rejoicing in his offspring, he, Shoḍasî, maintains the three great lustres. 37 Indra chief Lord and Varuņa the Sovran have made this draught of thine the first and foremost. I, after, drink their draught. May she, the Goddess of 38 Skilled in thy task, O Agni, pour lustre and hero strength on us, Granting me wealth and affluence. Taken upon a base art thou. For Agni thee, for splendour. Thou, lustrous Agni, mid the Gods art splendid. May I 33 Formulas for additional Soma sacrifices, and, first, the Shoḍaşî (sixteenfold, or sixteen-hymned) libation to Indra who is called Shoḍasî as connected with this service. The libation is drawn at the Morning-Pressing in a fourcornered cup of Khadira wood, with the text from R. V. I. 84. 3. 34 Or this text from R. V. I. 10. 3 may be recited. 35 Or a third text from R. V. I. 84. 2. 36 He approaches the cup and recites the text. Three great lustres: Agni, Vayu, Surya, or Fire, Wind, and Sun. 37 He drinks the cup. The Goddess of Speech: Sarasvati. Prâna: the Genius of Vital Breath. 38 Formulas for the Dvâdaşâha or Twelve-Day Ceremonial, of which the Prishthyashadaha, a period of six sacrificial days, forms part. On the first three days of this period the three Atigrâhyas (Additional or Superiority Cups) are drawn with appropriate texts for Indra, Agni, and Sûrya. The first cup is for Agni, with the text in Gâyatrî from R. V. IX. 66. 21. |