truth! Do so by thy present power, O fearless one!

15. May we worship thee, O Agni, with this log of wood. Accept the hymn of praise which we recite. Burn down those who curse us, the sorcerers. Protect us, O (god) who art great like Mitra, from guile, from revilement, and from disgrace.

NOTES.

The hymn is addressed to Agni Rakshohan. The same Rishi and metre.--Verses 1-15 = TS. I, 2, 14, 1-6; MS. IV, 11, 5. Verses 1-5 = VS. XIII, 9-13; MS. II, 7, 15.

Verse 1.

Note [4:4:1:1]1. On ibhena, cf. Pischel-Geldner, Vedische Studien, I, p. xv.

Note [4:4:1:2]2. The meaning of drunanah, which evidently should be pronounced drunanah (H. O., Prolegomena, p. 478), is uncertain. This verb is stated to occur still in one other passage, Maitr. Samh. II, 4, 2. tad ya evam vidvant suram pibati na hainam drunati (drunati, two MSS.). But should we not read there hrunati? [And possibly in our passage, as Prof. Max Muller observes, hrunanah?]

Verse 2.

Note [4:4:2:1]1. On guhva, see Pischel, Vedische Studien, II, 113. Wherever butter is poured out with the ladle, the flames arise.

Verse 5.

Note [4:4:5:1]1. The third Pada is identical with X, 116, 5 b.

Verse 8.

Note [4:4:8:1]1. Or 'resound to thee' (sam gareta). Cf. above, 3, 15. Shall we read, in consideration of this parallel

passage, sam devavata garatam iyam gi'h ('may this song beloved by the gods resound' or 'awaken')?

Verse 9.

Note [4:4:9:1]1. On doshavastah, see above, I, 1, 7, note 1.

Verse 11.

Note [4:4:11:1]1. I have taken manah as acc. plural. If it is gen. singular, the translation will be: 'Through my kinship with the great (Agni) I break down (my foes) by my words.'

Verse 13.

Note [4:4:13:1]1. This verse is identical with I, 147, 3. See the notes there. The original place of this verse seems to be in the first Mandala, because it mentions Mamateya.

Verse 14.

Note [4:4:14:1]1. Probably the praise or song of the gods and of men. See vol. xxxii, p. 439.