MANDALA II, HYMN 10.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 6, VARGA 2.

1. Agni is to be invoked as the first like a father, when he has been inflamed by Manus in the abode of Id . When he has invested himself with beauty, the wise immortal, he, the glorious strong (horse) is to be smoothed (by the worshippers as by grooms).

2. Agni with bright splendour, mayest thou hear my call with all my prayers, thou a wise immortal. The two tawny (horses) draw thy chariot or the two red (horses), or He the wide-ranging one has made the two ruddy (horses draw his chariot) .

3. They have generated the well-born (Agni) in her who lies on her back . Agni became a germ in the manifoldly-adorned (wives) . Even in the ... the wise one dwells by night uncovered in his powers .

4. I besprinkle with my offering, with Ghrita, Agni who abides turned towards all beings, who widely extends throughout, who is mighty in his vigour, who shows himself most capacious by the food (which he consumes), and robust .

5. I besprinkle Him who is turned towards (us) from all sides; may he gladly accept that with his benevolent mind. Agni, who is like a beautiful youth, who has the appearance of one eagerly striving, is not to be touched, when he hurries around with his body.

6. Mayst thou know the portion (belonging to thee), being strong through thy desire. With thee as our messenger may we speak like Manu. Gaining

wealth I invoke with my (sacrificial) ladle, with my eloquence, the faultless Agni who mixes the honey-drink.

NOTES.

The same Rishi and metre. On the position of this hymn in the collection and its division into Trikas, see the note on II, 9.--Verses 4-5 = VS. XI, 23-24; TS. IV, 1, 2, 4. 5; MS. II, 7, 2.

Verse 1.

Note [2:10:1:1]1. Comp. VII, 2, 3. Manuna samiddham.

Note [2:10:1:2]2. Id is a synonym of ida; ilah pade means the same as ilayah pade.

Verse 2.

Note [2:10:2:1]1. I cannot accept Prof. Lanman's scansion of this Pada (Noun-Inflection, 342), uta arusha'ha kakre vibhritrah. In my opinion the only reading in conformity with the use of Vedic poets is uta'rusha' aha, &c.

Verse 3.

Note [2:10:3:1]1. Comp. III, 29, 3 (see below). Of course the kindling-stick is alluded to.

Note [2:10:3:2]2. The wives are the plants.--Comp. Lanman, p. 548.

Note [2:10:3:3]3. The meaning of sirina (apax legomenon) is unknown. The Indian explanation ('night') of course is a guess, but this guess may be right.

Note [2:10:3:4]4. 'Uncovered by the night,' M. M. On mahobhih, cf. vol. xxxii, p. 197.

Verse 4.

Note [2:10:4:1]1. See vol. xxxii, p. 212.

Verse 6.

Note [2:10:6:1]1. There is no reason for conjecturing dhanasa'm (Ludwig). Comp. X, 65, 10. indriyam somam dhanasa'h u imahe.