Vedic Hymns, Part I (SBE32): Vedic Hymns: I, 19. To Agni ... | Internet Sacred Text Archive

MANDALA I, HYMN 19.

ASHTAKA I, ADHYÂYA 1, VARGA 36-37.

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1. Thou art called forth to this fair sacrifice for a draught of milk 1; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni!

2. No god indeed, no mortal, is beyond the might 1 of thee, the mighty one; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni!

3. They who know of the great sky 1, the Visve Devas 2 without guile 3; with those Maruts come hither, O Agni!

4. The strong ones who sing their song 1, unconquerable by force; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni!

5. They who are brilliant, of terrible designs, powerful, and devourers of foes; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni!

6. They who in heaven are enthroned as gods, in the light of the firmament 1; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni!

7. They who toss the clouds 1 across the surging sea 2; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni!

8. They who shoot with their darts (lightnings) across the sea with might; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni!

9. I pour out to thee for the early draught1 the sweet (juice) of Soma; with the Maruts come hither, O Agni!

NOTES.

This hymn is ascribed to Medhâtithi, of the family of Kanva. Verse I = SV I, 16.

Verse 1.

Wilson: Earnestly art thou invoked to this perfect rite, to drink the Soma juice; come, Agni, with the Maruts.

Benfey: Zu diesem schonen Opfer wirst du gerufen, zum Trank der Milch!—Mit diesen Marut’s, Agni! komm!

Ludwig: Her zu diesem schönen opfer, gerufen wirst zum milchtrank du, mit den Marut, Agni, kom.

Note 1. Gopîthá is explained by Yâska and Sâyana as drinking of Soma. I have kept to the literal signification of the word, a draught of milk. In the last verse of our hymn the libation offered to Agni and the Maruts is said to consist of Soma, but Soma was commonly mixed with milk. The other meaning assigned to gopîthá, protection, would give the sense: 'Thou art called for the sake of protection.' But pîtha has clearly the sense of drinking in soma-pîthá, RV. I, 51, 7, and may therefore be taken in the same sense in gopîthá.

Verse 2.

Wilson: No god nor man has power over a rite (dedicated) to thee, who art mighty: come, Agni, with the Maruts.

Benfey: Denn nicht ein Gott, kein Sterblicher ragt über dein, des Grossen, Macht—Mit diesen Marut’s, Agni! komm!

Ludwig: Es überragt kein gott, kein sterblicher die einsicht dein des grossen, mit den Marut, Agni, kom.

Note 1. The Sanskrit krátu expresses power both of body and mind. Parah governs the accusative.

Verse 3.

Wilson: Who all are divine, and devoid of malignity.

and who know (how to cause the descent) of great waters: come, Agni, with the Maruts.

Benfey: Die guten Götter, welche all bestehen in dem weiten Raum—Mit diesen Marut’s, Agni! komm!