MANDALA III, HYMN 4.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 8, VARGA 22-23.

APRI HYMN.

1. Log by log be kind towards us. Flash by flash grant us thy, the Vasu's, favour . Bring hither, O god, the gods that we may sacrifice. Sacrifice, O Agni, as a kind friend to thy friends.

2. Thou whom the gods, Varuna, Mitra, Agni, thrice every day bring hither by sacrifice day by day, Tanunapat, make this our sacrifice honey-sweet, having its abode in ghee , (this sacrifice) which worships (the gods).

3. (Our adoring) thought rich in all boons goes forward for worshipping as the first the Hotri of the sacred food (il), for saluting the strong bull with adoration and homage. May he, the best sacrificer, incited (by our prayers) sacrifice to the gods .

4. Upwards your course has been directed at the worship; upwards (your) flames are gone; ready (for receiving you) is the air . Or the Hotri has sat down at heaven's navel. We spread out the sacrificial grass which receives the gods.

5 . Choosing in their mind the sevenfold work of the Hotris , enlivening everything (the gods) came hither in the right way. (The divine doors ) with men as their ornaments , born at the sacrifices , have come hither and thither to this sacrifice, many of them.

6. Hither (shall come) the two Dawns , the neighbourly (goddesses) of glorious appearance .

[paragraph continues] Of different forms, they both smile. (They shall come) that Mitra and Varuna may be satisfied with us, and Indra accompanied by the Maruts with their powers .

7. I catch hold of the two divine Hotris first. The seven strong ones rejoice according to their wont. Teaching the right, they proclaim the right, the guardians of law, contemplating the law.

8 . May Bharati, in concord with the Bharatis, Ila with the gods, Agni with men, Sarasvati with all (beings) belonging to Sarasvati (come) hither; may the three goddesses sit down on this sacrificial grass.

9. O divine Tvashtri, grant us and send forth this our seed which is to thrive: (the seed) from which a manly son is born able and skilful, who sets to work the press-stones, loving the gods.

10. O tree , send (the offering) forth to the gods. May Agni the slaughterer make the offering ready. May the same, the very true Hotri, sacrifice according as he knows the generations of the gods.

11. Agni, being kindled, come hither, on one chariot with Indra, with the quick gods. May Aditi, the mother of noble sons, sit down on our sacrificial grass. With Svaha may the immortal gods rejoice.

NOTES.

The same Rishi. Metre, Trishtubh.--Verse 9 = TS. III, 1, 11, 1; MS. IV, 13, 10. Verse 10 = VS. XXVII, 21; TS. IV, 1, 8, 3; MS. II, 12, 6.

Verse 1.

Note [3:4:1:1]1. Agni is invoked as personified in each log of fuel which is put on the sacrificial fire.

Note [3:4:1:2]2. Comp. VII, 39, 1. sumatim vasvah.

Verse 2.