We have verses 5, 6, 7, 8 in VS. XXXII, 6 and 7, and verses 7 and 8 in VS. XXVII, 25 and 26, while verse 9 is found in XII, 102 only a, and the last verse in X, 20 b, and XXIII, 65.

In the Taitt. Samhitâ the verses follow more regularly, still never quite in the same order as in the Rig-veda. In TS. IV, 1, 8, 3 c we have verses 1 to 8, but verse 3 before verse 2, and verse 6 before verse 5, while verse 9 follows in IV, 2, 7, 1.

In TS. v. 3 stands before v. 2, in VII, 5, 16, 1, and VII, 5, 17, 1.

In TS. II, 2, 12, the pratîkas of verses 1, 7, 10 are quoted in succession.

Verse 7 occurs with important various readings in TA. I, 23, 8, â´po ha yád brihatî´r gárbham â´yan dáksham dádhânâ ganáyantîh svayambhúm, táta iméऽdhyásrigyanta sárgâh.

Lastly in the AV. we find verses 1 to 7 from IV, 2, 1, to IV, 2, 7, but arranged in a different order, viz. as 2, 3, 6, 5, 4, 7, 1, and with important various readings.

Verse 2, yô´ 3 syése dvipádo yás kátushpadah, as third pâda; also in XIII, 3, 24.

Verse 3, ekó râ´gâ; yásya khâyâ´mrítam yásya mrityúh, as third pâda.

Verse 4, yásya vísve; samudré yásya rasâ´m íd âhúh; imâ´ska.

Verse 5, yásya dyaúr urvî´ prithivî´ ka mahî´ yásyâdá urvámtáriksham, yásyâsaú sû´ro vítato mahitvâ´.

Verse 6, ávatas kaskabhâné bhiyásâne ródasî áhvayethâm (sic), yásyâsaú panthâ´ rágaso vimânah.

Verse 7, â´po ágre vísvam âván gárbham dádhânâ amrítâ ritagñâ´h, yâ´su devî´shv ádhi devá âsît.

Verse 10, vî´svâ rûpâ´ni paribhur gagâna, see VII, 79, 4, and 80, 3.

We are justified, therefore, in looking upon the verses, composing this hymn, as existing before the

final arrangement of the four Samhitâs, and if we persist in calling a hymn, dating from that period, a modern hymn, we must make it quite clear that, according to the present state of our knowledge, such a hymn cannot well be more modern than 1000 b.c. Besides the variations in the arrangement of the verses of our hymn, the very considerable various readings which we find in the VS., TS., and AV. are highly instructive, as showing the frequent employment of our hymn for sacrificial purposes. In several cases these various readings are of great importance, as we shall see.

Verse 1.

Muir: Hiranyagarbha arose in the beginning; born, he was the one lord of things existing. He established the earth and this sky: to what god shall we offer our oblation?

Ludwig: Hiranyagarbha hat zuerst sich gebildet, er ward geboren als einziger herr alles gewordenen, dise erde and disen himel hält er; Ka, dem gotte, möchten wir mit havis aufwarten.