Note 1. Sâyana explains arká by water. Hence Wilson: 'Who are fierce and send down rain.' But arká has only received this meaning of water in the artificial system of interpretation first started by the authors of the Brâhmanas, who had lost all knowledge of the natural sense of the ancient hymns. The passages in which arká is explained as water in the Brâhmanas are quoted by Sâyana, but they require no refutation. On the singing of the Maruts, see note to I, 38, 15; also Bergaigne, Journ. As. 1884, p. 194. The perfect in the Veda, like the perfect in Homer, has frequently to be rendered in English by the present.

Verse 5.

Wilson: Who are brilliant, of terrific forms, who are possessors of great wealth, and are devourers of the malevolent: come, Agni, with the Maruts.

Benfey: Die glänzend-grau’ngestaltigen, hochherrschend feindvernichtenden—Mit diesen Marut’s, Agni! komm!

Ludwig: Die glanzvollen, von schrecklicher gestalt, von grosser herschaft, feindverzerer, mit den Marut, Agni, kom.

Verse 6.

Wilson: Who are divinities abiding in the radiant heaven above the sun: come, Agni, with the Maruts.

Benfey: Die Götter die im Himmel sind ob dem Lichtkreis des Göttersitz’s—Mit diesen Marut’s, Agni! komm!

Ludwig: Die ob der himmeiswölbung glanz, am himel die götter sitzen, mit den Marut, Agni, kom.

Note 1. Nâ´ka must be translated by firmament, as there

is no other word in English besides heaven, and that is wanted to render dyú. Like the Jewish firmament, the Indian nâ´ka, too, is adorned with stars; cf. I, 68, 10. pipésa nâ´kam stríbhih. Dyú, heaven, is supposed to be above the rágas, sky or welkin. Kuhn's Zeitschrift, vol. xii, p. z8.

Sâyana: 'In the radiant heaven above the sun.' See note 1 to I, 6, 9; p. 49.

Verse 7.

Wilson: Who scatter the clouds, and agitate the sea (with waves): come, Agni, with the Maruts.

Benfey: Welche über das wogende Meer hinjagen die Wolkenschaar—Mit diesen Marut’s, Agni! komm!

Ludwig: Die die berge wiegend hindurch durchs wogenmeer bewegen, mit den Marut, Agni, kom.

Note 1. That párvata (mountain) is used in the sense of cloud, without any further explanation, is clear from many passages:

I, 57, 6. tvám tám indra párvatam mahâ´m urúm vágrena vagrin parva-sáh kakartitha.

Thou, Indra, hast cut this great broad cloud to pieces with thy lightning. Cf. I, 85, 10.