MANDALA III, HYMN 5.

ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 8, VARGA 24-25.

1. Shining Agni has awoke over against the Dawns, the priest who traces the footsteps of the sages . With his broad stream of light kindled by the pious, the carrier (of the gods) has opened the two doors of darkness.

2. Agni has grown strong by praises, by the speeches of the praisers, by hymns, the adorable one. Loving many aspects of Rita the messenger has shone up at the bursting forth of the Dawn.

3. Agni has been established among the tribes of men, the son of the waters, Mitra , acting in the right way. The delightful, worshipful one has reached the top; the priest has become one who should be invoked by prayers.

4. Agni becomes Mitra , when he has been kindled; he the Hotri (Agni becomes) Mitra; he, Gatavedas, (becomes) Varuna. The quick Adhvaryu, the domestic (god, Agni, becomes) Mitra, the Mitra (i. e. friend or ally) of the rivers and of the mountains.

5. He observes the deceiver's dear summit , the footstep of the bird ; the vigorous one observes the course of the Sun. Agni observes at his (?) navel the seven-headed (song?) ; tall (Agni) observes the enjoyment of the gods.

6. The Ribhu has created for himself a good name worthy of being magnified, he, the god who knows all laws. The skin of the herbs , the bird's footstep rich in ghee: Agni watches (all) that, never failing.

7. Agni has approached the place rich in ghee (the altar), with broad passages, (the place) longing (for him), longing (himself). He the resplendent, bright, tall purifier has made his two parents new again and again.

8. As soon as born he has grown by the grass , when the sprouting (grass-)blades strengthen him with ghee. Like waters beautiful on their precipitous path, Agni, being in the lap of his parents, has escaped into wide space.

9. Receiving praise the vigorous one has shone forth with his fuel, on heaven's summit, on the earth's navel. May Agni worthy of being magnified, (being) Mitra and Matarisvan, the messenger, carry hither the gods that they may receive our sacrifice.

10. The tall one has, by (receiving) fuel, upheld the firmament, Agni, becoming the highest of lights, when Matarisvan for the sake of the Bhrigus kindled the carrier of oblations, (Agni) who dwelt in secret.

11 = III, 1, 23.

NOTES.

The same Rishi and metre.--No verse occurs in the other Samhitas.

Verse 1.

Note [3:5:1:1]1. On pada-vi', comp. Pischel, Vedische Studien, I, 299.

Verse 3.

Note [3:5:3:1]1. Mitra has here and in verse 4 two meanings: it is the name of the god Mitra, with whom Agni is identified (Bergaigne, Religion Vedique, III, 134 seq.), and it means also 'friend' or 'ally' (comp. H. O., Religion des Veda, 186, note 1). See von Bradke, Dyaus Asura, p. 13.

Verse 4.

Note [3:5:4:1]1. See verse 3, note 1.

Verse 5.