MANDALA I, HYMN 142.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 2, VARGA 10-11.

APRI HYMN.

1. Being inflamed, Agni, bring hither to-day the gods to the man who holds forth the (sacrificial) ladle. Spin out the ancient thread (of sacrifice) for the sacrificer who has prepared Soma.

2. Measure out, O Tanunapat , the sacrifice rich in ghee, rich in honey, of a priest like me, of a sacrificer who has toiled hard.

3. The brilliant, purifying, wonderful Narasamsa mixes the sacrifice with honey three times a day, the god worthy of worship among the gods.

4. Agni, magnified by us, bring hither the bright, beloved Indra. For this my prayer is addressed to thee whose tongue is good.

5. (Priests) hold forth the (sacrificial) ladle, strewing the sacrificial grass at the decorous service of the sacrifice;--I trim (the sacrificial grass) which best receives the gods with its wide extent, a big shelter for Indra.

6 . May the divine doors open themselves, the increasers of Rita, the never sticking, large ones, the purifying, much-desired (doors), that the gods may come forth.

7. May Night and Dawn, of glorious appearance, the two neighbouring (goddesses), wearing beautiful ornaments , the young mothers of Rita, sit down together on the sacrificial grass .

8. May the two divine Hotris, eager in praising (the gods), the sages with lovely tongues, perform

for us to-day this successful sacrifice which attains to Heaven.

9. The brilliant (goddess) placed among the gods, among the Maruts , Hotra Bharati , Ila, Sarasvati, and Mahi : may these worshipful (goddesses) sit down on the sacrificial grass.

10. May Tvashtri, inclined towards us, pour forth for us, in our navel , that wonderful seed with many treasures , plentiful by itself, for the sake of prosperity and wealth .

11. Letting go (the sacrificial food to the gods) sacrifice by thyself to the gods, O tree . May Agni make the offerings ready , the god among the gods, the wise one.

12. For Him who is accompanied by Pushan and by the Maruts, by the Visve devah, (by) Vayu , who is moved by the Gayatra song, for Indra pronounce the Svaha over the offering.

13. Come hither to the offerings over which the Svaha has been pronounced, in order to feast. Indra! Come hither! Hear our call! Thee they call at the worship.

NOTES.

The hymn is an Aprisukta. The same Rishi. Metre, Anushtubh. The whole hymn is closely related to I, 13.--Verse 10: cf. VS. XXVII, 20; TS. IV, 1, 8, 3; MS. II, 12, 6.

Verse 1.

Note [1:142:1:1]1. The third Pada of this verse is identical with VIII, 13, 14.

Verse 2.

Note [1:142:2:1]1. Comp. I, 13, 2, note 1.

Verse 3.

Note [1:142:3:1]1. Comp. I, 13, 2, note 1.

Verse 4.

Note [1:142:4:1]1. 'Magnified' is ilitah; comp. the note on I, 1, 1. The verse is addressed to the Idah.