MANDALA I, HYMN 148.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 2, VARGA 17.

1. When Matarisvan ... had produced by attrition the Hotri, the ... who belongs to all gods, whom they have established among the human clans, shining like the sun, resplendent that (he might show his beautiful) shape--

2. They did not deceive him who had granted a hymn (to the worshipper). Agni is my protection; therewith he is satisfied. They took pleasure in all his works--(in the works) of the singer who brought praise.

3. Whom the worshipful (gods) took and placed in his own seat (as priest) with their praises: him they have carried forward, taking hold of him in their search, hastening like horses that draw a chariot.

4. The marvellous one destroys many things with his jaws. Then the resplendent one shines in the forest. Then the wind blows after his flame day by day as after the arrow of an archer, after a weapon that has been shot.

5. Him whom no impostors, no harmful foes , no harm-doers may harm when he dwells in (his mother's) womb, him the blind ones bereft of sight did not damage by looking at him . His own friends have protected him.

NOTES.

The same Rishi and metre.--Verse 1 = MS. IV, 14, 15.

Verse 1.

Note [1:148:1:1]1. The first Pada is identical with the first Pada of I, 71, 4 (see our note there) with the exception of the word vishtah, instead of which that parallel passage has the reading vi-bhritah. It seems impossible to explain vishtah, and the concurrence of the metrical irregularity in the same part of the Pada--though metrical irregularities are not infrequent in this hymn--invites to a correction of the text. If vi-bhritah in I, 71, 4 (see note there) refers to Matarisvan, which I consider as doubtful, it would be easy to find for our passage an equivalent of that word little differing from the traditional vishtah, namely, visthitah: 'when Matarisvan, standing in different places, had produced him by attrition.' Of course whoever adopts a conjecture like this, can scarcely avoid understanding vi-bhritah in I, 71, 4 as an epithet of Matarisvan, not of Agni. Another way to correct our passage would be to put into the text a form derived from the root vish, 'to accomplish a work,' for instance, vishtya' (to be read as trisyllabic): 'when Matarisvan by his effort,' &c. Grassmann's vi-sitah is quite improbable.

Note [1:148:1:2]2. Visva-apsum (Samhita text, visva'psum), evidently an epithet of Agni the Hotri, seems corrupt. Shall we read visva-psum ('endowed with all food')--comp. VIII, 22, 12. havam visvapsum visvavaryam--or visva-pusham (Samh., visvapusham, 'all-nourishing') or visva-apasam ('doing all works')? Also visva-psnyam may be thought of. It is impossible, of course, to arrive at any certain conclusion.

Verse 2.