Note [1:127:3:2]2. The comparison parasuh na, 'like an axe,' raises doubts as to the correctness of druham-tarah. Parasuh seems to point to a compound containing the element dru, 'wood;' comp. below, 130, 4; VII, 104, 21. The second member of the compound would be han, which is frequently used with the meaning of cutting wood (II, 14, 2; X, 89, 7). Thus the reading would be dru-hantarah (comp. vritra-hantamah), 'a mighty wood-cutter.' As to this use of the comparative, see Delbruck. Altindische Syntax, p. 196.

Note [1:127:3:3]3. Comp. V, 7, 2. yasya samritau.

Note [1:127:3:4]4. Prof. Max Muller (Science of Thought, p. 325) . believes that the root sru occurs here in the sense of shaking. To me it seems that this sruvat is a misspelling

for sruvat. The opinion of Pischel and Geldner (Vedische Studien, I, p. vi) is different.

Note [1:127:3:5]5. The meaning of the comparison which I have indicated by the words in parentheses, becomes clear from VIII, 40, 1. vana-iva va'te it.

Note [1:127:3:6]6. The two last Padas are very obscure. In the last Pada but one na would seem to be comparative, not negative, because it has the same meaning in the last Pada, and because its vowel does not coalesce with the following initial vowel (comp. Benfey's dissertation, 'Behandlung des auslautenden a in na "wie" and na "nicht."' But then instead of yamate a substantive meaning something like 'hero' would be required. And also instead of the instrumental dhanva-saha one should expect to find a nominative; comp. Benfey, Vedica and Linguistica, p. 180, note 1.--Prof. Max Muller translates: 'Holding out (or resisting) he stands firm, he does not budge; holding his bow he does not budge.'

Verse 4.

Note [1:127:4:1]1. The words tegishthabhih aranibhih are repeated, probably by the same poet, below, 129, 5.

Note [1:127:4:2]2. It may be observed that several times in the Parukkhepa hymns the parallelism between two subsequent Padas has corrupted the text, the reading of the one Pada being wrongly introduced into the other. For instances I refer to I, 129, 11, where the last vaso has been added from the preceding Pada, and to the last Pada but one of I, 135, 4. Possibly our Pada, which in its traditional form is metrically abnormal (comp., however, M. M.'s Hymns to the Maruts, 1st ed., p. cxii), has suffered damage in the same way. The comparison of I, 129, 5 would lead us to conjecture: tegishthabhih aranibhih na avase. 'One worships him in order that he may grant his favour as if (he were to help us) with hottest kindling-sticks. One worships Agni in order that he may grant his favour.'

Note [1:127:4:3]3. Comp. IV, 7, 10. sthira' kit anna dayate vi gambhaih. The food is the wood which Agni consumes.

Verse 5.