Note 3. Rathiyántî-iva does not occur again. Sâyana explains it, like a woman who wishes for a chariot, or who rides in a chariot. I join it with óshadhi, and take it in the sense of upamânâd âkâre (Pân. III, 1, 10), i. e. to behave like or to be like a chariot, whether the comparison is meant to express simply the quickness of chariots or the whirling of their wheels. The Pada has rathiyántî, whereas the more regular form is that of the Samhitâ, rathîyántî. Cf. Prâtisâkhya, 587.

Verse 6.

Note 1. Su-ketúnâ, the instrumental of su-ketú, kindness, good-mindedness, favour. This word occurs in the instrumental only, and always refers to the kindness of the gods; not, like sumatí, to the kindness of the worshipper also:

I, 79, 9. â´ nah agne su-ketúnâ rayím visvâ´yu-poshasam, mârdîkám dhehi gîváse.

Give us, O Agni, through thy favour wealth which supports our whole life, give us grace to live.

I, 127, 11. sáh nah nédishtham dádrisânah â´ bhara ágne devébhih sá-kanâh su-ketúnâ maháh râyáh su-ketûnâ.

Thou, O Agni, seen close to us, bring to us, in union with the gods, by thy favour, great riches, by thy favour!

I, 159, 5. asmábhyam dyâvâprithivî (íti) su-ketúnâ rayím dhattam vásu-mantam sata-gvínam.

Give to us, O Dyâvâprithivî, by your favour, wealth, consisting of treasures and many flocks.

V, 51, 11. svastí dyâvâprithivî (íti) su-ketúnâ.

Give us, O Dyâvâprithivî, happiness through your favour!

V, 64, 2. tâ´ bâhávâ su-ketúnâ prá yantam asmai árkate.

Stretch out your arms with kindness to this worshipper! In one passage of the ninth Mandala (IX, 65, 30) we meet with su-ketúnam, as an accusative, referring to Soma, the gracious, and this would pre-suppose a substantive ketúna, which, however, does not exist.

Note 2. Sumatí has, no doubt, in most passages in the Rig-veda, the meaning of favour, the favour of the gods. 'Let us obtain your favour, let us be in your favour,' are familiar expressions of the Vedic poets. But there are also numerous passages where that meaning is inapplicable, and

where, as in our passage, we must translate sumatí by prayer or desire.

In the following passages sumatí is clearly used in its original sense of favour, blessing, or even gift:

I, 73, 6 (7). su-matím bhíkshamânâh.

Begging for thy favour.

I, 171, 1. su-ukténa bhikshe su-matím turâ´nâm.

With a hymn I beg for the favour of the quick Maruts.

I, 114, 3. asyâ´ma te su-matím.

May we obtain thy favour! Cf. I, 114, 9:

I, 114, 4. su-matím ít vayám asya â´ vrinîmahe.

We choose his favour. Cf. III, 33, 1.

I, 117, 23. sádâ kavî (íti) su-matím â´ kake vâm.

I always desire your favour, O ye wise Asvins.

I, 156, 3. maháh te vishno (íti) su-matím bhagâmahe.

May we, O Vishnu, enjoy the favour of thee, the mighty!