MANDALA V, HYMN 2.

ASHTAKA III, ADHYAYA 8, VARGA 14-15.

1. The young mother carries in secret the boy confined ; she does not yield him to the father. People do not see before them his fading face laid down with the Arati .

2. Who is that boy, O young woman, whom thou, the Peshi , carriest? It is the queen who has borne him. Through many autumns the fruit of the womb has increased. I saw him born when his mother gave birth to him.

3. I saw him the gold-toothed, brilliant-coloured preparing his weapons far from his dwelling-place . After I have offered to him the ambrosia cleared (from all impure mixture) --what may the Indra-less, the hymnless do to me?

4. I saw him, the highly shining (Agni), walking far from his dwelling-place, like (a bull) together with the herd . Those (women) have not held him, for he has been born. The young women become grey .

5. Who have separated my young bull from the cows that had no cow-herd, not even a stranger? May those who have held him, let him loose. May he, the knowing one, lead the cattle towards us.

6. Him, the king of dwellings (?) , the dwelling-place of people, the Aratis have laid down among men. May the spells of Atri loose him. May the reproachers become reproachable (themselves).

7. Thou hast loosed the bound Sunahsepa from

the thousand sacrificial posts; for he toiled (worshipping thee). Thus, O Agni, loose from us the fetters, O knowing Hotri, sitting down here.

8 . For thou hast gone away from me, because thou wert angry; (this) the protector of the laws of the gods has told me. (But) Indra, the knowing one, has looked after thee. Instructed by him, O Agni, I have come hither.

9. Agni shines with mighty light; he makes all things visible by his greatness. He conquers godless, wicked wiles. He sharpens his two horns in order to pierce the Rakshas.

10. And may the roarings of Agni mount up to the sky, with sharp weapons in order to kill the Rakshas. In his rapture his flames break down (everything); the godless hindrances do not hold him back.

11. This song of praise, O strong-born (Agni), I, the priest, have fashioned for thee, as a skilful workman (builds) a chariot . If thou acceptest that (praise), O god Agni, may we conquer thereby waters together with the sun.

12. May the bull with mighty neck, grown strong, with no foe to resist him, get together the niggard's wealth. Thus the immortal (gods) have spoken to this Agni: may he grant protection to the man who has spread the Barhis; may he grant protection to the man who brings offerings.

NOTES.

The Rishi of verses I, 3-8, 10-12, is Kumara Atreya, or Vrisa Gana; or both are the Rishis of these verses. Of the verses 2 and 9 Vrisa alone is the Rishi. The metre is

[paragraph continues] Trishtubh (verse 12, Sakvari).--Verse 9 = AV. VIII, 3, 24. Verses 9, 10 = TS. I, 2, 14, 7. Verse 11 = TB. II, 4, 7, 4.