MANDALA V, HYMN 19.

ASHTAKA IV, ADHYAYA 1, VARGA 11.

1. They are born for retirement . Out of the cover he has shone forth, being a cover himself. In the lap of the mother he looks about .

2. Causing him to discern (the pious and the impious?), they have sacrificed. With unwinking eyes they protect his manly power. They have penetrated into the firm stronghold .

3. The people of Svaitreya , his clans, have thriven brilliantly. Brihaduktha with a golden ornament at his neck, is eager for the race as if by this honey-drink .

4. Like the dear milk of love --(a thing) unrelated with two (things) related --like the gharma vessel with booty in its belly--undeceived, the deceiver of all .

5. Sporting, O beam of light, appear to us, joined with the ash, with the wind. May those well sharpened ... of his, standing on ..., be sharp like... .

NOTES.

The Rishi is Vavri Atreya (cf. verse 1. pra vavreh vavrih kiketa). The metre is Gayatri in verses 1, 2, Anushtubh in verses 3, 4, Viradrupa in verse 5.--No verse occurs in the other Samhitas.

This Sukta seems to be anything rather than an ordinary Agni hymn. It may be a collection of verses belonging to an Akhyana, or of verses serving another purpose which we can scarcely hope to discover. In several parts of this

[paragraph continues] Sukta I must content myself with translating the words without being able to elucidate the poet's meaning.

Verse 1.

Note [5:19:1:1]1. I translate the noun avastha' in accordance with the Vedic meaning of the verb ava-stha. Possibly it means the secret parts, cf. avastha, AV. VII, 90, 3 (B.-R.). Ludwig translates: 'Ein zustand erzeugt einen andern,' and paraphrases, 'Nur zustande und formen, gestalten lernen wir kennen, das wesen des gottes bleibt uns verborgen.' This seems too modern. Prof. Max Muller proposes: 'The remnants (afterbirth) have been brought forth. Skin has shone forth from skin.'--On the question who are the beings 'born for retirement,' I do not venture any conjecture.

Note [5:19:1:2]2. Is Agni meant?

Note [5:19:1:3]3. Cf. X, 5, 1. (Agnih) asmat hridah bhu'riganma vi kashte.

Verse 2.

Note [5:19:2:1]1. The meaning seems to be that the worshippers (possibly the first worshippers, the Angiras), by discovering Agni and by worshipping him, have conquered the hostile strongholds.

Verse 3.

Note [5:19:3:1]1. Svaitreya is mentioned as a victorious hero also in I, 33, 14.

Note [5:19:3:2]2. Does this phrase allude to the rite of offering, at the Vagapeya sacrifice, to the horses that were going to run the sacred race, a naivara karu? In the Mantras connected with this rite the words occur: 'Drink of this honey-drink' (asya madhvah pibata). See Rig-veda VII, 38, 8; Taittiriya Samhita I, 7, 8, 2; Weber, Ueber den Vagapeya, p. 30.

Verse 4.