This Sukta seems to be composed of two independent hymns. Grassmann believed that the first three verses are the fragment of one hymn, and that verses 4-20 form a second hymn. His reason was that verses 1-3 are composed in metres similar to Atyashti, while the rest are composed in Trishtubh. I think that he was on the right way, but his opinion should be slightly modified. In verses 1-5 Agni is invoked to appease the anger of Varuna; while, on the other hand, no allusion to Varuna occurs in verses 6-20. I believe, therefore, that the first hymn should be considered as consisting of verses 1-5; it is composed in the metres of the Atyashti class (1-3) with two concluding Trishtubh verses (4, 5). The second hymn comprises the verses 6-20. The arrangers of the Samhita, however, considered these two hymns as one, as is shown by the position which they have assigned to it, before the second Sukta, which has the same number of verses (20) as this first Sukta. Comp. my Prolegomena, p. 141.

Verse 1.

Note [4:1:1:1]1. I. e. with the intention that he should act as the steward of the gods. As to iti kratva, comp. I, 138, 3. iti

kratva bubhugrire. Delbruck, Altindische Syntax, p. 530, paraphrases iti kratva: mit Entschluss 'so sei es.'

Note [4:1:1:2]2. Sayana, whom Ludwig follows, seems to be right in explaining yagata as a vocative ('yaganiya'), and ganata as 3rd plural ('aganayan'). Bergaigne takes both forms as 2nd plural imperative: 'honorez l'immortel chez les mortels; engendrez le Dieu qui honore les Dieux.'

Note [4:1:1:3]3. I cannot believe that Bergaigne is right in translating visvam a'devam, 'celui qui honore tous les Dieux.' His theory is that visvam depend ... de a', qui logiquement gouverne le terme deva a l'accusatif.'

Verse 2.

Note [4:1:2:1]1. The metre shows, as Benfey (Vedica und Verwandtes, p. 19, note 1) has pointed out, that this vocative agne is a spurious addition.

Note [4:1:2:2]2. Should we not read devam? 'Turn to brother Varuna with thy kindness, towards the god who accepts the sacrifice.'

Note [4:1:2:3]3. Or 'for the sake of his kindness,' 'for winning his favour (for the mortals)'? Sumati' may be dative; see Lanman, p. 382; Brugmann, Grundriss der vergleichenden Grammatik, II, p. 602. Comp. I, 186, 10. akkha sumna'ya vavritiya deva'n, 'may I turn to the gods for the sake of their favour.'

Verse 3.

Note [4:1:3:1]1. I believe that rathyeva (Padapatha rathya-iva) stands for rathyam-iva. Comp. Lanman, p. 331; Roth, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenlandischen Gesellschaft, XLVIII, p. 681 seq. Prof. Max Muller refers rathya-iva to two horses; he translates: 'O friend, bring hither thy friend, as two swift chariot-horses bring rapidly a swift wheel.'

Verse 5.

Note [4:1:5:1]1. I. e. the nearest to men.