Note [4:2:11:3]3. For Prof. Max Muller's interpretation of this passage, comp. vol. xxxii, p. 256. See also Bergaigne, Rel. Vedique, III, 97; Pischel, Vedische Studien, I, 297 seq. It is very strange that the poet should ask the god to keep off Aditi (comp. I, 152, 6. aditim urushyet) who must here be considered, consequently, as a malevolent deity. I think that this conception of Aditi is derived from the idea of this goddess as punishing sin; it is the same goddess who may free the sinner from the bonds of sin and who may fetter and destroy him. Keeping off Aditi seems to mean, consequently, removing from the mortal the danger of being bound by the fetters of sin; the idea is the same as above in IV, 1, 5, where Agni is invoked to make Varuna, the son of Aditi, go away (comp. H. O., Religion des Veda, p. 336, note 1). In that case granting Diti would mean granting freedom from those same fetters. (On Diti, who very appropriately has been called a mere reflex of Aditi, see M. M., loc. cit.; Bergaigne, III, 97 seq.)

Verse 12.

Note [4:2:12:1]1. On Ayu, the mythical ancestor of the human race, see Bergaigne, Religion Vedique, I, p. 59 seq.

Note [4:2:12:2]2. On padbhih, comp. Pischel, Ved. Studien, I, 228 seq.; Bartholomae, Bezzenberger's Beitrage, XV, 3 seq.; Bloomfield, Contributions to the Interpretation of the Veda, Second Series, p. 32 seq. (American Journal of Philology, XI, 350 seq.). I believe that in our verse padbhih should be derived from a noun pas, and translated, 'with thy eyes,'

while in verse 14 we ought to read padbhih, and to translate, 'with the feet.'

Note [4:2:12:3]3. Pischel (Ved. Studien, I, 229, note I) believes that aryah is nom. sing., referring to Agni. But compare VI, 51, 2. rigu marteshu vrigina' ka pasyan abhi kashte su'rah aryah evan. This verse makes it very probable that aryah is a genitive dependent on evaih, evan ('beholding right and wrong deeds among the mortals, the Sun looks upon the Arya's ways'). On the stem ari, 'the Arya,' see Pischel, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenlandischen Gesellschaft, XL, p. 125.

Verse 14.

Note [4:2:14:1]1. This verse has been commented upon by Pischel, Ved. Studien, I, 229 seq.

Note [4:2:14:2]2. On padbhih or rather padbhih, comp. verse 12, note 2.

Note [4:2:14:3]3. In translating bhurig I have followed, though not without doubt, the theory of Pischel, Ved. Studien, I, 239 seq.--Pischel seems to be right in making ritam depend both on yemuh (comp. IV, 23, 10) and on asushana'h (comp. above, IV, 1, 13, and below, verse 16).

Verse 15.

Note [4:2:15:1]1. The seven Rishis or Angiras, the sons of Heaven and the Dawn (cf. above 1, 16).

Note [4:2:15:2]2. nri'n (or rather nri'm) is genitive plural. See Lanman, p. 430; Pischel, Vedische Studien, I, p. 42.