MANDALA I, HYMN 1.

ASHTAKA I, ADHYAYA 1, VARGA 1-2.

1 . I magnify Agni, the Purohita, the divine ministrant of the sacrifice, the Hotri priest, the greatest bestower of treasures.

2. Agni, worthy to be magnified by the ancient Rishis and by the present ones--may he conduct the gods hither.

3. May one obtain through Agni wealth and welfare day by day, which may bring glory and high bliss of valiant offspring.

4. Agni, whatever sacrifice and worship thou encompassest on every side, that indeed goes to the gods.

5. May Agni the thoughtful Hotri, he who is true and most splendidly renowned, may the god come hither with the gods.

6. Whatever good thou wilt do to thy worshipper, O Agni, that (work) verily is thine, O Angiras

7. Thee, O Agni, we approach day by day, O (god) who shinest in the darkness ; with our prayer, bringing adoration to thee--

8. Who art the king of all worship, the guardian of Rita, the shining one, increasing in thy own house.

9. Thus, O Agni, be easy of access to us, as a father is to his son. Stay with us for our happiness.

NOTES.

The hymn is ascribed to Madhukkhandas Vaisvamitra, and may possibly belong to an author of the Visvamitra family. See my Prolegomena, p. 261. Metre, Gayatri. The hymn has been translated and commented upon by M. M., Physical Religion, pp. 170-173.

Verse 1 = TS. IV, 3, 13, 3; MS. IV, 10, 5. Verse 3 = TS. III, 1, 11, 1; IV, 3, 13, 5; MS. IV, 10, 4 (IV, 14, 16). Verse 4 = TS. IV, 1, 11, 1; MS. IV, 10, 3. Verse 7 = SV. I, 14. Verses 7-9 = VS. III, 22-24; TS. I, 5, 6, 2; MS. I, 5, 3.

Verse 1.

Note [1:1:1:1]1. This verse being the first verse of the Rig-veda as we now possess it, seems already to have occupied the same position in the time of the author of the hymns X, 20-26. For, after a short benediction, the opening words of this collection of hymns are also agnim ile, 'I magnify Agni.' Comp. my Prolegomena, p. 231.