MANDALA IV, HYMN 15.

ASHTAKA III, ADHYAYA 5, VARGA 15-16.

1. Agni, the Hotri, he who is a strong horse, is led around at our sacrifice, the god worshipful among the gods.

2. Agni goes thrice around the sacrifice, like a charioteer, conveying the enjoyment to the gods.

3. Agni, the lord of booty, the sage, has circumambulated the oblations, bestowing treasures on the worshipper.

4. This (is the Agni) who is kindled in the front for Devavata's son, the Sringaya , the brilliant (god), the deceiver of foes.

5. May the strong mortal be the master of this (god), of an Agni like this, with sharp teeth and bountiful.

6 . Him they clean day by day like a racer that wins (booty), like (Soma), the red young child of Heaven .

7. When Sahadeva's son, the prince, thought of me with two bay horses , I rose up like one who is called.

8. And immediately I accepted from Sahadeva's son, the prince, those adorable two bay horses which he offered me.

9. May this prince Somaka, Sahadeva's son, live long, for your sake, O divine Asvins!

10. Give long life, O divine Asvins, to this son of Sahadeva, the prince!

NOTES.

The same Rishi. Metre, Gayatri.--Verses 1-3 = TB. III, 6, 4, 1; MS. IV, 13, 4. Verse 3 = SV. I, 30; VS. XI, 25; TS. IV, 1, 2, 5; MS. I, 1, 9.

The first three verses are characterised by the constant allusions to Agni's being carried around, and, in connection therewith, by the frequent repetition of the preposition pari. Probably these verses formed an independent Trika-hymn, the position of which would be according to the laws of arrangement of the Samhita; this Trika seems, consequently, to belong to the original collection of hymns. The verses 4-10, on the other hand, or at least the verses 7-10, would seem to be a later addition; the verses 4-6 can be considered as a Trika belonging to the original Samhita, though in this case it is difficult to explain why the verses 7-10, which do not contain any reference to Agni, have been inserted here at the end of the series of Agni hymns. Another argument against the separation of the verses 4-6 from the rest of the Sukta is the mention of the prince Sringaya in verse 4: verses 7-10 refer to a prince Somaka Sahadevya, and we know from the Aitareya Brahmana (VII, 34, cf. Satapatha Brahmana II, 4, 4, 4) that this prince also belonged to the Sringaya tribe.

Verse 2.

Note [4:15:2:1]1. Cf. above, IV, 6, 4.

Note [4:15:2:2]2. I. e. the offering which the gods enjoy.

Verse 4.

Note [4:15:4:1]1. This Sringaya Daivavata is mentioned also in VI, 27, 7.

Verse 6.

Note [4:15:6:1]1. The first Pada of this verse is identical with the first Pada of VIII, 102, 12.