MANDALA III, HYMN 29.

ASHTAKA III, ADHYAYA 1, VARGA 32-34.

1 . This is the support on which the rubbing (for producing the fire) is performed ; the creative organ has been prepared. Bring hither the house-wife ; let us produce Agni by rubbing in the old way.

2. In the two fire-sticks dwells Gatavedas, as the germ (lies) safe in pregnant women--Agni who should be magnified day by day by wakeful men who bring offerings.

3. Place it skilfully into her who lies extended . Having conceived she has quickly given birth to the manly one. He whose summit is red--bright is his splendour--the son of Ila has been born in the (due) way .

4. In the place of Ila, on the navel of the earth we will lay thee down, Gatavedas, that thou, O Agni, mayst carry the offerings (to the gods).

5. Rub, ye men, the truthful sage, the wise, the immortal, the fair-faced. Bring forth, ye men, Agni, the banner of sacrifice, the first in the front, the gracious one.

6. When they produce him by rubbing with their arms, he shines forth laming in the wood like a red race-horse. Like the bright one on the path of the Asvins the unrestrained (Agni) spares the stones, burning the grass .

7. Agni, when born, shines forth resplendent, the racer, the priest, praised by the sages, the giver of rain, whom the gods placed in the sacrifices, to be

magnified, as the omniscient carrier of the sacrificial offerings.

8. Sit down, O Hotri, in the space which is thine, as the knowing one. Place the sacrifice in the abode of good works (i. e. on the altar). Eagerly longing for the gods thou shalt worship the gods by offerings. Agni, bestow mighty vigour on the sacrificer.

9. Produce a mighty smoke, ye friends. Without fail go forward towards strength. This Agni is the conqueror in battles, rich in valiant men, he by whom the gods have overpowered the Dasyus.

10. This is thy birth-place in due time whence born thou shonest forth; knowing it, O Agni, sit down on it, and make our prayers prosper.

11. He is called Tanunapat as the Asura's germ. Narasamsa he becomes when he is born, Matarisvan when he has been shaped in the mother . And he has become the rush of the wind in his swift course ,

12. Rubbed forth by skilful rubbing, established by skilful establishing, as a sage, O Agni, perform excellent sacrifices. Sacrifice to the gods for him who is devoted to the gods .

13. The mortals have generated the immortal one, the ... , advancing one with strong jaws. The ten unwedded sisters united take care of the man (Agni) when he has been born.

14. He the god of the seven Hotris shone forth from of old, when he flamed up in his mother's lap, at her udder. Day by day the joyous one never closes his eyes, when he has been born from the Asura's (i. e. of the Heaven's?) belly .