With those immeasurable powers, O Agni, protect us, with a hundred iron strongholds.

I, 90, 2. té—máhah-bhih, vratâ´ rakshante visvâ´hâ.

They always protect the laws by their powers.

VII, 71, 1. tvám nah agne máhah-bhih pâhí.

Protect us, Agni, with thy power.

In other passages, however, we see máhah-bhih used of the light or of the flames of Agni and of the dawn:

IV, 14, 1. deváh rókamânah máhah-bhih.

Agni, the god, brilliant with his powers.

VI, 64, 2. devi rókamânâ máhah-bhih.

O goddess, brilliant with thy powers.

The powers of the Maruts are referred to by the same name in the following passages:

V, 58, 5. prá-pra gâyante—máhah-bhih.

The Maruts are born with their powers.

VII, 58, 2. prá yé máhah-bhih ógasâ utá sánti.

The Maruts who excel in power and strength. Cf. III, 4, 6.

Verse 6.

Note 1. Indra in this dialogue is evidently represented as claiming everything for himself alone. He affects contempt for the help proffered by the Maruts, and seems to deny that he was at any time beholden to their assistance. By asking, Where was that custom that I should be with you and you with me in battle? he implies that it was not always their custom, and that he can dispense with their succour now. He wants to be alone, as in his former battle with Ahi, and does not wish that they should join him (cf. I, 33, 4). Professor Roth takes sam-ádhatta in the sense of implicating, but it can hardly be said that the Maruts ever implicated Indra in his fight against Ahi. Certainly this is not in keeping with the general tenor of this dialogue where, on the contrary, Indra shuns the

company of the Maruts. But while on this point I differ from Professor Roth, I think he has rightly interpreted the meaning of ánamam. Out of the four passages in which badhasnaíh occurs, it is three times joined with nam, and every time has the sense of to bend away from, to escape from. See also Sonne, in Kuhn's Zeitschrift, vol. xii, p. 348.

Verse 7.

Note 1. See VII, 39, 6. sakshîmáhi yúgyebhih nú devaíh.

Note 2. The last words leave no doubt as to their meaning, for the phrase is one of frequent occurrence. The only difficulty is the vocative marutah, where we should expect the nominative. It is quite possible, however, that the Maruts should here address themselves, though, no doubt, it would be easy to alter the accent. As to the phrase itself, see

VIII, 61, 4. táthâ ít asat índra krátvâ yáthâ vásah.

May it be so, O Indra, as thou mayest desire by thy mind.

VIII, 66, 4. vagrî´—ít karat índrah krátvâ yáthâ vásat.

May Indra with the thunderbolt act as he may desire in his mind. Cf. VIII, 20, 17; 28, 4, &c.

Verse 8.