be difficult, however, to say why the milkers of Rita (i. e. the priests?) are called 'hidden at the birthplace of the god.' Prof. Max Muller thinks of a reading parivritah, 'surrounding Agni.' He refers the 'streams of Rita' (nom.) to the water, cf. I, 105, 12. ritam arshanti sindhavah.

Note [1:144:2:2]2. Svadha'h adhayat ya'bhih i'yate. In my opinion svadha' means 'the inherent power,' 'the power of moving according to one's own will,' and then the drink which confers this power on a being, especially on the dead ancestors.--Comp. M. M., vol. xxxii, p. 32 seq.; H. O., Religion des Veda, 531, note 2.

Verse 3.

Note [1:144:3:1]1. According to Sayana the two beings spoken of here and in the next verse are the Hotri and the Adhvaryu.

Note [1:144:3:2]2. See I, 130, 5. ayungata samanam artham akshitam; III, 6i, 3. samanam artham karaniyamana.

Note [1:144:3:3]3. On bhagah ni havyah, see Geldner, Vedische Studien, I, 121.

Note [1:144:3:4]4. The charioteer is Agni.

Verse 4.

Note [1:144:4:1]1. See verse 3, note 1.

Note [1:144:4:2]2. Comp. Gaedicke, Der Accusativ, p. 175. He translates: 'bei Tage noch bei Nacht ergrauend.'

Verse 5.

Note [1:144:5:1]1. Vris (apax legomenon) is ranged in the Nighantus among the angulinamani and explained by Sayana accordingly. The word seems indeed to mean 'finger.' Compare with our passage IX, 8, 4; 15, 8; 93, 1; 97, 57.

Note [1:144:5:2]2. Comp. I, 33, 4. dhanoh adhi vishunak te vi ayan, and especially X, 4, 3. dhanoh adhi pravata yasi haryan. I cannot follow Pischel (Vedische Studien, II, 69 seq.) in explaining these passages. 'Over the heavenly expanse he hastens down towards us.' M. M.

Note [1:144:5:3]3. See Pischel, Vedische Studien, I, 300. Like Pischel I do not know who 'they who approached Agni' are. Possibly the worshippers or priests are alluded to. 'He received new praises with (or from) those who approached him.' M. M.

Verse 6.

Note [1:144:6:1]1. Sayana explains the two female beings here in question as Heaven and Earth. Does the 'crooked movement' refer to the daily revolution of the sky?

Verse 7.

Note [1:144:7:1]1. The last Pada recurs X, 64, 11.