MANDALA II, HYMN 7.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 5, VARGA 28.

1. Bring us, O youngest god, Bharata , Agni, the best, resplendent, much-desired wealth, O Vasu !

2. May no malign power of a god or of a mortal overcome us. Help us across such hostile power.

3. And may we dive with thee across all hostile powers as across streams of water.

4. Bright, O purifier, worthy of adoration, Agni, thou shinest mightily; thou hast been worshipped by offerings of ghrita .

5. Thou, O Bharata , Agni! hast been worshipped by us with offerings of heifers, of bulls, of eight-footed (cows) .

6. The old excellent Hotri who feeds on wood and drinks butter, he is the wonderful son of strength.

NOTES.

The same Rishi and metre.--Verse 1 = TS. I, 3, 14, 3; MS. IV, 11, 4. Verse 4 = TS. I, 3, 14, 5. Verse 6 = VS. XI, 70; TS. IV, 1, 9, 2; MS. II, 7, 7.

Verse 1.

Note [2:7:1:1]1. Agni Bharata is Agni as the protector of the Bharata tribe or as invoked by that tribe.

Note [2:7:1:2]2. With the beginning of this verse, I, 44, 4 should be compared.

Verse 4.

Note [2:7:4:1]1. Comp. VIII, 19, 22. agnih ghritebhih a'hutah.

Verse 5.

Note [2:7:5:1]1. See verse 1, note 1.

Note [2:7:5:2]2. Roth (Petersb. Dictionary) supplies vagbhih or rigbhih; comp. VIII, 76, 12. va'kam ashta'padim. But there is no doubt that ashta'padi, standing by the side of vasa' and ukshan, has the same meaning as in the later ritual, viz. a cow with calf.