MANDALA I, HYMN 70.

ASHTAKA I, ADHYAYA 5, VARGA 14.

1. May we, the poor , succeed in many (pious) thoughts . May Agni with his pure splendour attain everything--

2. He who understands the divine laws and the birth of the human race.

3. He who is the child of the waters, the child of the trees, the child of that which stands, and the child of that which moves.

4. Even in the rock (they have done homage [?]) to him, in his dwelling . (He is) like a protector [?] of the clans, the immortal one, he who is of a good mind.

5. For he, Agni, (shows himself as) an earth-protecting (lord) of riches to the man who satisfies him with well-spoken (prayers).

6. Protect, O knowing one, these beings, thou who knowest the birth of gods and men .

7. He whom many nights (and dawns), in their different forms , may increase, whom that which moves and that which stands (increases), the god penetrated by Rita--

8. That Hotri who has sat down in the sun , has been successfully worshipped (by the human sacrificers), he who truly accomplishes all his works.

9. On the cows, on the trees thou hast conferred excellence. May all men bring us tribute in the sun .

10. In many places men have worshipped thee. They have brought (thee) to different places as sons (divide) the property of an aged father .

11 . (He is) like a greedy man who goes straight (to his aim), like a mighty archer, like a fearful avenger [?] , impetuous in contests .

NOTES.

The same Rishi and metre.

Verse 1.

Note [1:70:1:1]1. I adopt Bergaigne's opinion on the word ari (see Religion Vedique, II, 218 seq.).

Note [1:70:1:2]2. The Padapatha has manisha' instead of manisha'h. See my Prolegomena, 385; Lanman, 363. Prof. Max Muller proposes to translate: 'May we by wisdom overcome many enemies!' He writes: 'Is not vanema almost a standing formula as applied to enemies? Let us conquer the enemies. The enemies are masculine in VII, 48, 3. visvan aryah ... vanvan, feminine in VI, 16, 27. vanvantah aryah aratih. VIII, 39, 2. visvah aryah aratih. X, 133, 3. visvah aratayah aryah. IV, 50, 11. gagastam aryah vanusham aratih (repeated VII, 97, 9; cf. I, 29, 4).' For my translation I refer to II, 5, 7. stomam ... vanema; II, 11, 12. dhiyam vanema; I, 122, 14. aryah girah; X, 148, 3. aryah va girah abhi arka vidva'n.

Verse 4.

Note [1:70:4:1]1. Or: even in the rock (they have done homage) to him, and in the (human) dwelling? I believe we must supply a verb on which the dative asmai depends. Ludwig proposes to read duronam: 'within the stone is his dwelling.' Comp. II, 1, 1; VI, 48, 5.

Note [1:70:4:2]2. I do not understand visa'm na visvah. Ludwig translates 'er ist der menschen allgemeiner, unsterblicher