MANDALA II, HYMN 8.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 5, VARGA 29.

1. As one who runs a race (praises) his chariots, praise thou the yoking of Agni (to the chariot of sacrifice), of the most glorious, bountiful (god)--

2. Who is the best leader for his worshipper, who undecaying makes the malign decay , the cheerful-faced who has been worshipped with offerings--

3. He who is praised in the houses on account of his beauty in the evening and at dawn, whose law is not set at nought,

4. The bright one who shines with his light as the Sun with his splendour, with his undecaying (flames) , he who is anointed (with ghrita).

5. The hymns have strengthened Agni the devourer along (the extent of) his own royalty . He has assumed every beauty.

6. May we unharmed stand under the protection of Agni, Indra, Soma, of the gods; may we overcome our foes.

NOTES.

The Rishi is Gritsamada; the metre is Gayatri, the last verse being Anushtubh, as is frequently the case in Gayatri hymns (see H. O., Hymnen des Rig-veda, I, 146).--No verse occurs in the other Samhitas.

Verse 1.

Note [2:8:1:1]1. Vagayati means 'he strives for vaga,' vagayati 'he incites to quickness.' The accent is not always correct in the traditional text.

Verse 2.

Note [2:8:2:1]1. Comp. II, 16, 1. indram aguryam garayantam.

Verse 4.

Note [2:8:4:1]1. As to agaraih, 'the undecaying (flames),' comp. III, 18, 2; VI, 5, 4; 6, 2; VII, 3, 3; X, 87, 20.

Verse 5.

Note [2:8:5:1]1. That Agni should be identified here with the Rishi Atri (see Bergaigne, II, 468) is very improbable. Possibly atri means simply 'the eater' (from ad), though the poet in calling him so may have intended to allude to the name of the Rishi.

Note [2:8:5:2]2. Comp. I, 80, I seq. arkan anu svara'gyam; 84, 10 seq. vasvih anu svara'gyam.