MANDALA IV, HYMN 3.

ASHTAKA III, ADHYAYA 4, VARGA 20-22.

1. Draw Rudra hither for your protection , the king of sacrifice, the truly sacrificing Hotri of the two worlds , the golden-coloured Agni, before the unseen thunderbolt (strikes you).

2. This is the home which we have prepared for thee as a well-dressed, loving wife (prepares the marriage-bed) for her husband . Directed hitherward, dressed (in offerings and prayers?) sit down. These (sacrificial ladles or prayers?) are turned towards thee, O most skilful one !

3. To him who hears us, who is not proud, who beholds men, to the merciful, immortal god recite a prayer, O worshipper, a hymn--(to Agni) whom the presser (of Soma), the Madhu-presser, magnifies like the pressing-stone .

4. Thou who art well-intentioned, give heed to this our toiling , to this Rita , O observer of Rita! When will our hymns share in thy rejoicings? When will our friendship dwell in thy house?

5. How wilt thou, O Agni, before Varuna, and how wilt thou, and which sin of ours wilt thou blame before Dyaus? How wilt thou speak to bountiful Mitra, to the Earth? What (wilt thou say) to Aryaman, to Bhaga?

6. What wilt thou say, O Agni, when thou hast grown strong on the Dhishnya altars ? What to strong Vata who goes forward in triumph ? To the Nasatya who goes round the earth , to ... ? What, O Agni, to Rudra, the man-killer?

7. How (wilt thou speak) to great Pushan who brings prosperity? What (wilt thou say) to martial Rudra, the giver of offerings ? What sin wilt thou announce to wide-ruling Vishnu, what, O Agni, to the mighty weapon (of the gods)?

8. How wilt thou answer, when thou art asked, to the righteous host of the Maruts? How to the mighty Sun, to the quick Aditi ? Accomplish thy work, O Gatavedas, thou who knowest the Heaven!

9. I magnify the Rita of the cow ruled by Rita and also by the raw one , the honey-sweet, ripe (milk), O Agni. Though being black this (cow) swells of bright drink, of ... milk.

10. With Rita indeed, with the milk of the back , the bull has been anointed, Agni the man. Without trembling he moved on bestowing his vigour. The speckled bull has poured out his bright udder .

11 . By the Rita the Angiras have broken the rock and cleft it asunder; they have shouted together with the cows. Prosperously the men have surrounded the Dawn. The Sun appeared when Agni (the fire) had been born .

12. By the Rita the immortal, uninjured goddesses, the Waters, O Agni, with their honey-sweet waves have sped forward for ever to flow (along their course), like a racer incited by shouting when (the race-horses) are let loose.