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, Indra 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 Svâhâkriti Goddesses, to Agni Household Lord apart, to Varuņa 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 Iḍâ.

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.

35 The Grass divine hath added might to radiant Indra strengthgiver,

Laying in Indra wondrous power and sight and strength by
Gayatrî. For gain of wealth let him enjoy the butter.
Offer sacrifice.

36 The Doors divine have magnified bright Indra, who bestoweth strength,

With Ushnih laying mighty power in Indra, vital breath
For gain of wealth let them enjoy the butter.

and force.

Offer sacrifice. 37 Morning and Night, divine Ones, have strengthened bright Indra, strength-giver, the Goddesses advanced the God, With the Anushṭup laying power in Indra, strength and vital force. For gain of wealth let them enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

38 Kind, bounteous, and divine, they have strengthened bright Indra, force-giver, the Goddesses advanced the God,

Laying in Indra power and force and hearing with the Brihatî. For gain of wealth let them enjoy. Pay sacrifice. 39 Bringers of strengthening sacrifice, the Goddesses, two teeming cows, have heightened Indra's power with milk, Laying bright power in Indra with Pankti, and vital energy. For gain of wealth let them enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

40 The Gods, two heavenly Hotars, have strengthened bright Indra, force-giver, those Gods have magnified the God, With Trishṭup giving Indra power, impetuous might, and vital strength. For gain of wealth let them enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

41 Goddesses three, three Goddesses have heightened their Lord Indra's strength, his who bestoweth vital force, Laying in Indra power and might and vital strength with Jagati. For gain of wealth let them enjoy. Pay sacrifice. 42 The God, the Praise of all men, hath strengthened bright Indra force-giver, the God bath maguified the God, Laying in Indra with Virâj beauty and power and vital force. For gain of wealth let him enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

43 The God the Forest Sovran hath strengthened bright Indra, force-giver, the God hath magnified the God,

With Dvipad storing Indra with fortune and power and vital strength. For gain of wealth let him enjoy. Pay sacrifice.

38 They the deities of the Anuyâjas or Post-offerings.

42 Viraj: the metre of that name, four Pådas of ten syllables each.

44 The Grass divine of water-plants hath helped bright Indra force-giver, the God hath magnified the God,

Laying in Indra mighty power with Kakup, fame and vital strength. For gain of wealth let it enjoy. Pay sacrifice. 45 Agni, the God who makes fair rites, hath strengthered Indra force-giver, the God hath magnified the God, Laying with Atichhandas power in Indra, sway, and vital strength. For gain of wealth let him enjoy. Pay sacrifice. 46 To-day the Sacrificer hath elected, etc., as in verse 23. To-day divine Vanaspati, etc.

Thee, to-day, O Ṛishi, etc.

44 Kakup: a metre of three Pâdas, 8+12+8 syllables.

45 Atichhandas: hypermeter; any metre of more than forty-eight syllables.

DECKING the treasure-house of prayers, O Agni, enkindled, pouring forth sweet-tasted butter,

Swift-moving, bearing curd, O Jâtavedas, bear what they love to the Gods' habitation.

2 Balming the paths that lead to heaven with fatness, let the Steed go unto the Gods well-knowing.

Courser, the Quarters of the sky attend thee! Bestow thou food upon this Sacrificer.

3 Thou, Steed, art meet for laud and veneration; swift, fit for sacrifice art thou, O Courser.

In concert with the Gods and Vasus Agui Omniscient waft thee a contented bearer!

4 Pleased with much Sacred Grass which we have scattered wide spread upon the earth, a pleasant carpet,

Joined with the Gods may Aditi, accordant, bestowing bliss award it happy fortune.

5 May these your Doors divine that wear all colours, auspicious, with uplifted leaves unfolding,

Lofty and closely fitted and sonorous, rich in adornment, offer easy passage.

6 Your two Dawns rich in gold and varied colour, travelling on 'twixt Varuņa and Mitra,

Acquainted with the face of sacrifices, I settle here within the home of Order.

7 Your two chief Hotars have I pleased, bright coloured, borne on one car, Gods who behold all creatures,

Those who prepare your rules and ordinances and make you see the light by their direction.

8 Bhâratî with Âdityas love our worship! Sarasvati with Rudras be our helper,

And Iḍâ in accord, invoked with Vasus! Goddesses, place our rite among the Immortals.

This Book is supplementary to Book XXII.-XXV. which treat of the Asvamedha or Horse-Sacrifice.

1 This and the ten following verses form an Âprî or Propitiatory Hymn. See XX. 37, note.

5 Leaves: sides of the double door of the sacrificial hall.

6 Two Dawns: Morning and closely connected Night. Varuna and Mitra: representing, respectively, sky and earth.

7 The light: according to Mahtdhara, the Âhavaniya fire. Direction: commanding them to offer sacrifice.

9 The God-devoted son Tvashtar produces: from Tvashṭar springs to life your fleet-foot Courser.

Tvashṭar gave being to this All about us. Priest, worship here the mighty work's achiever.

10 Let the Steed seek his home, and balmed with butter go of himself unto the Gods in season.

To the Gods' world Vanaspati, well-knowing, bear our obłations which the fire has tasted!

11 Thou, waxing by Prajâpati's strong fervour, born quickly, guardest sacrifice, O Agni.

With consecrated offering go, preceding, and let the Sadhyas,
Gods, eat our oblation.

12 What time, first springing into life, thou neighedst, proceeding from the sea or clondy vapour,

Limbs of the deer hadst thou, and eagle pinions. O Steed, thy birth is high and must be lauded.

13 This Steed, bestowed by Yama, Trita harnessed, and Indra was the first to mount and ride him.

His bridle the Gandharva grasped. O Vasus, from out the
Sun ye fashioned forth the Courser.

14 Yama art thou, O Horse; thou art Âditya; Trita art thou by secret operation.

From Soma thou art thoroughly divided. They say there are three bonds in heaven that hold thee.

15 Three bonds, they say, thou hast in heaven to bind thee, three in the waters, three within the ocean.

11 Sadhyas: see XXIV. 27, and R. V. I. 164. 50; X. 90. 7, 16.

12 This and the twelve following verses are taken from R. V. I. 163. From the sea the Sacrificial Horse identified with the Sun who rises in the ocean of air.

13 Yama: according to Sayana, meaning the Controller. Agni. Trita: as a Solar deity, God of the distant birthplace of the Sun. The Gandharva: Visvavasu, a celestial being connected with the Sun and regarded as the chief of that class of semi-deities.

14 Yama: Agni, according to Sâyaṇa. Aditya: the Sun. Secret operation: the mysterious effect of sacrifice. From Soma, etc.: the meaning is obscure. According to Sayana and Mahîdhara, the translation should be 'With Soma thou art thoroughly united', that is, identified with the Moon. This would certainly be preferable if viprikte h, excluded separated, could possibly mean 'united.' Three bonds: According to Sayana, his 'media of origin,' the Vasus, Âditya, and Heaven.

15 The waters: meaning here, says Sayana, the habitable world, the bonds being seed, rain, and tillage. Ocean: of air, in which the bonds are cloud, lightning, and thunder. Varuna: on account of the three bonds with which Varuna binds the sinner. See R. V. I. 24. 15.