12. And may the brilliant, joyful Hotri with quick horses, with a shining chariot hear us. May he, the wise Agni, lead us on the best leading (paths) to happy welfare and to bliss.

13. Agni has been praised with powerful songs, he who has been brought forward furthermore for sovereignty. May both those our liberal lords and we ourselves spread out (our power over all foes) as the sun (spreads out its light and by it destroys) the mist.

NOTES.

The same Rishi. The metre is Gagati; the two last verses again are Trishtubh.--None of its verses occurs in the other Samhitas.

Verse 1.

Note [1:141:1:1]1. The meaning seems to be that if Agni be unwilling to officiate at the sacrifice, the prayer nevertheless reaches its aim and induces him to do his duty as the divine Hotri.

Note [1:141:1:2]2. The verb sadh is very frequently connected with substantives such as dhiyah or the like. Comp. also matina'm ka sa'dhanam, X, 26, 4.

Verse 2.

Note [1:141:2:1]1. It seems probable that prikshah is the nominative of priksha, and not the genitive of priksh. Comp. VI, 8, 1, where it is said of Agni 'prikshasya vrishnah arushasya.' On the meaning of priksha, see above, I, 127, 5, note 1.

Note [1:141:2:2]2. The poet seems clearly to describe the second and third form of Agni's existence, his dwelling in the waters and his birth from the fire-sticks. But he is less explicit with regard to the first form. The epithet pituma'n

would seem to point to Agni as the sacrificial fire and the receiver of offerings. But it is rather strange that this form of the god should be distinguished from the Agni procreated by the ten females, i. e. produced by the ten fingers, by the attrition of the kindling-sticks.--Prof. Max Muller differs from me in referring the words dasapramatim ganayanta yoshanah, not to the third form of Agni, but to Agni in general. He translates: 'The powerful one, rich in food, rests always on that wondrous sight (Agni on the altar, garhapatya Agni). The second rests in the seven kind mothers (vidyudrupa; Agni in the clouds); the third is for milking the powerful one (Agni as the sun, adityarupa)--the ten maidens (the fingers) have brought forth the guardian.'

Note [1:141:2:3]3. Grassmann no doubt is right in proposing to read sapta siva'su. Of course the waters are alluded to.

Note [1:141:2:4]4. Read dasa pramatim (Boehtlingk-Roth). On Agni as the son of the ten fingers, comp. Bergaigne, II, 7.

Verse 3.

Note [1:141:3:1]1. The buffalo Agni was hidden in the depth. Comp. X, 8, 1. apa'm upa-sthe mahishah vavardha; I, 95, 9. budhnam vi-rokamanam mahishasya dha'ma.

Note [1:141:3:2]2. The preposition anu seems to stand here with an ablative (pra-divah).