The Placing of the Fire in the Fire-pan
v. 1. 1.
He offers the Savitr offerings, for instigation. He offers with (an oblation)
ladled up four times, cattle have four feet; verily he wins cattle; the quarters
are four; verily he finds support in the quarters. The metres departed from the
gods (saying), 'We will not carry your oblation without sharing (in it)'; for
them they kept this (oblation) ladled up four times, for the Puronuvakya the
Yajya, the deity, the Vasat call; in that he offers what has been ladled up four
times, he delights the metres, and they delighted carry to the gods his
oblation. If he desire of a man , 'May he become worse', he should offer each
separately for him; verily he makes him severed from the libations; he becomes
worse. If he desire of a man, 'May he become better', he should offer all for
him continuously; verily he makes him master of the libation; he becomes better.
This is the mastering of the sacrifice. He abandons prosperity in the beginning
of the sacrifice who departs from Agni as the deity; these offerings to Savitr
number eight, the Gayatri has eight syllables, Agni is connected with the
Gayatri ; verily he does not abandon prosperity at the beginning of the
sacrifice, nor Agni as the deity. The offerings to Savitr number eight, the
libation (as a whole) is the ninth; verily he extends the threefold (Stoma) at
the beginning of the sacrifice. If he desire, 'May I confer on the metres the
glory of the sacrifice', he should make a Re verse last; verily he confers on
the metres the glory of the sacrifice. If he desire, 'May I confer on the
sacrificer the glory of the sacrifice', he should make a Yajus formula last;
verily he confers on the sacrificer the glory of the sacrifice. 'By the Rc make
the Stoma to flourish', he says , for prosperity. With four (verses) he takes
up the spade; the metres are four; verily (he takes it up) with the metres. 'On
the instigation of god Savitr', he says, for instigation. Agni went away from
the gods, he entered the reed; he resorted to the hole which is formed by the
perforation of the reed; the spade is perforated to make it his birthplace;
wherever he lived, that became black; (the spade) is stained, for perfection of
form; it is pointed at both ends, for the winning of light both hence and from
yonder world; it is a fathom long; so much is the strength in man; (verily it
is) commensurate with his strength; it is unlimited in girth, to win what is
unlimited; that tree which has fruit is strong among trees, the reed bears
fruit, (the spade) is of reed, to win strength.
v. 1. 2.
That part of the sacrifice is unsuccessful which is performed with no Yajus.
'This bond of order they grasped', (with these words) he takes up the horse's
halter, to make a Yajus and to make successful the sacrifice. 'Swiftly run
hither, O steed', (with these words) he halters the horse; verily he proclaims
its greatness in this form. 'Yoke ye the ass', (with these words) (he halters)
the ass; verily he establishes the ass on the non-existent; therefore the ass is
less real than the horse. 'In each need more strong', he says ; verily in
each need he yokes him; 'in each contest we invoke', he says; the contest is
food; verily he wins food. 'As friends, Indra to aid us', he says; verily he
wins power. Agni went away from the gods, him Prajapati found; the horse is
connected with Prajapati, with the horse he collects (it), for the finding (of
Agni). Now confusion occurs in that they perform the same thing with a better
and worse (instrument), for the ass is worse than the horse ; they lead the
horse in front to avoid confusion; therefore the worse follows after the better.
Many are the foes of the man who waxes great, he waxes great as it were who
piles the fire, the steed has a thunderbolt; 'hastening come hither, trampling
the enemy', he says; verily he tramples with the thunderbolt on the evil foe;
'from the lordship of Rudra', he says; cattle are connected with Rudra; verily
having begged from Rudra cattle he acts for his own interest. 'With Pusan as
fellow', he says; Pusan is the leader together of roads; (verily it serves) for
attainment. The fire has dust for its abode; the Angirases brought it together
before the deities; 'from the abode of earth do thou approach Agni of the dust
in the mode of Angiras', he says; verily he brings it together in one abode with
the deities. 'We approach Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras', he says;
verily he appropriates the strength of him whom he meets . 'The fire should
be brought together after announcing it to Prajapati', they say; Prajapati is
this earth, the ant-heap is its ear; 'we will bear Agni of the dust in the
manner of Angiras', (with these words) he pays reverence to the mound of an
ant-heap; verily after announcing it to Prajapati face to face, he brings
together the fire. 'We bear Agni of the dust in the manner of Angiras', he says;
verily he appropriates the strength of him whom he meets. 'Agni hath gazed along
the forefront of the dawns' , he says, to light up (the heaven). 'The steed
coming, from the way', 'Coming to earth, O steed', he says; verily he wishes for
it with the first and obtains it with the second; with two (verses) he makes it
come, for support; (with two) of the same form, therefore cattle are born of the
same form. 'Thy back is the sky, thy abode earth', he says; Prajapati quickened
him from these worlds; verily he proclaims its greatness in this form. The steed
is possessed of the thunderbolt, by its incisors it is more puissant than those
with one row of incisors, by its hair than those with two rows; him whom he
hates he should conceive as beneath its feet; verily with the thunderbolt he
lays him low.
v. 1. 3.
'The strong steed hath stepped forth', with these two (verses) he makes it
step forth; (with two) of the same form, therefore cattle are born of the same
form. He pours water down; where there are waters, there Plants take root, and
where plants take root cattle find support through them, the sacrifice (finds
support) in cattle, the sacrificer in the sacrifice, offspring in the
sacrificer; therefore he pours water down, for support. If the Adhvaryu were to
pour the libation on that which is without fire, the Adhvaryu would be
blind, the Raksases would destroy the sacrifice; he puts gold down and offers;
verily he pours on what has fire, the Adhvaryu does not become blind, the
Raksases do not destroy the sacrifice. 'I touch Agni with mind, with ghee', he
says, for with mind man approaches the sacrifice; 'who lordeth it over all the
worlds', he says, for he lords it over all; 'broad, vast, with pervading vital
power', he says, for he born small becomes great ; 'most extensive,
impetuous, winning food', he says; verily he makes pleasant food for him; all is
pleasant for him who knows thus. 'I touch thee with speech, with ghee', he says;
therefore what a man conceives with mind he utters with speech; 'with friendly
(mind) he says, to smite away the Raksases; 'with mortal glory, with engaging
colour, Agni', he says; verily he bestows beauty upon him; he is possessed of
beauty who knows thus . By mind must he obtain that libation which the
Adhvaryu offers in that which is without fire; he offers with two verses
containing the word 'mind', to obtain the two libations; with two (he offers),
for support. As the beginning of the sacrifice is performed the Raksases are
fain to destroy the sacrifice; now then is this (place) the beginning of the
sacrifice when the libation comes upon it; he draws a line around, to smite away
the Raksases; with three (verses) he draws a line around, Agni is threefold;
verily from the whole extent of Agni he smites away the Raksases ; with a
Gayatri verse he draws a line around, the Gayatri is brilliance; verily with
brilliance, he encircles him; with a Tristubh verse he draws a line around, the
Tristubh is power; verily he encircles him with power; with an Anustubh verse he
draws a line around, the Anustubh, envelops all the metres, (verily it serves)
for complete attainment; with the Anustubh in the middle (he draws), the
Anustubh is speech, therefore from the middle we speak with speech; with the
Gayatri first he draws, then with the Anustubh, then with the Tristubh; the
Gayatri is brilliance, the Anustubh the sacrifice, the Tristubh power; verily he
encircles the sacrifice, with brilliance and power, on both sides.
v. 1. 4.
'On the instigation of the god Savitr thee', (with these words) he digs, for
instigation. Then with it he produces smoke; 'Full of light, thee, O Agni, of
fair aspect', he says, and thereby he produces light. Agni on birth afflicted
creatures with pain, him the gods appeased by the half-verse; 'auspicious and
harmless to offspring', he says; verily he makes him appeased for offspring. He
digs with two (verses), for support. 'Thou art the back of the waters', (with
these words) he takes the lotus leaf ; the lotus leaf is the back of the
waters; verily with its own form he takes it. He gathers with a lotus leaf; the
lotus leaf is the birthplace of Agni; verily he gathers Agni with his own
birthplace. He gathers with a black antelope skin; the black antelope skin is
the sacrifice; verily he gathers the sacrifice with the sacrifice. If he were to
gather with the skin of tame animals he would afflict with pain tame animals; he
gathers with a black antelope skin; verily he afflicts with pain wild animals
; therefore of animals of even birth the wild animals are the smaller, for
they are afflicted with pain. He gathers on the hairy side, for on that side is
it pure. He strews the lotus leaf and the black antelope skin together; the
black antelope skin is this (earth), the lotus leaf yonder (sky); verily on both
sides he encircles him with these two. Agni departed from the gods, Atharvan
perceived him; 'Atharvan first pressed thee out, O Agni' , he says; verily he
gathers him with him who perceived him. 'Thee, O Agni, from the lotus', he says,
for in the lotus leaf he found him reposing. 'Thee the sage, Dadhyañc', he says;
Dadhyañc, son of Atharvan, was full of brilliance; verily he bestows brilliance
upon him. 'Thee Pathya Vrsan', he says; verily with the latter (verse) he hails
him whom he has previously addressed . He gathers with four (verses), the
metres are four; verily (he gathers) with the metres. (He gathers) with Gayatri
verses for a Brahman, for the Brahman is connected with the Gayatri; with
Tristubh verses for a Rajanya, for the Rajanya is connected with the Tristubh;
if he desire of a man, 'May he be richer', he should gather for him with both
sets; verily upon him he bestows brilliance and power together. With eight
(verses) he gathers; the Gayatri has eight syllables, Agni is connected with the
Gayatri; verily he gathers all the extent of Agni. 'Sit thou, O Hotr', he says;
verily he makes the deities sit down for him; 'The Hotr down', (with these words
he makes) men (sit down); 'Sit thou down', (with these words he makes) birds
(sit down); 'Be born noble in the forefront of the days', he says; verily he
produces for him the common session of gods and men.
v. 1. 5.
In that he digs he acts as it were harshly to this (earth); he pours water
down, the waters are appeased; verily with the waters appeased he calms her
pain. 'May for thee Vayu, Matariçvan unite', he says; Vayu is breath; verily
with breath he unites her breath; 'may for thee Vayu', he says; therefore the
rain speeds from the sky, made to fall by Vayu. 'To him, O goddess, be Vasat
with thee' , he says; the seasons are six; verily upon the seasons he bestows
rain; therefore in all the seasons it rains. If he were to utter the Vasat cry,
his Vasat cry would be exhausted; if he were not to utter the Vasat cry, the
Raksases would destroy the sacrifice; 'Vat', he says; verily, mysteriously he
utters the Vasat cry; his Vasat cry is not exhausted, the Raksases do not
destroy the sacrifice. 'Well born with light', (with these words) he ties up
with an Anustubh verse; all the metres are the Anustubh , Agni's dear body is
the metres; verily he encircles him with his dear body; likely to win a garment
is he who knows thus. Agni when tied up is connected with Varuna; 'Arise, thou
of fair sacrifice', 'Arise, erect, to aid us', with two (verses) addressed to
Savitr he rises up; verily, instigated by Savitr, he sends aloft the wrath of
Varuna that is in him; with two (verses) (he arises), for support. 'Born, thou
art the child of the two worlds, he says; the two worlds are these two (sky
and earth), Agni is the child of the two; therefore he says thus. 'O Agni,
brilliant, distributed among the plants', he says, for when they distribute him,
then he becomes more brilliant. 'Thou didst come thundering from thy mothers',
he says; his mothers are the plants; verily from them he makes him to fall. 'Be
firm, of strong limbs', (with these words) he places (Agni) on the ass ;
verily thereby he yokes it for strength. He gathers with the ass; therefore the
ass is the best burden-gatherer of animals. He gathers with the ass; therefore
the ass, even when grazing is bad, becomes fat beyond other animals, for by it
they gather food and light. He gathers with the ass; therefore the ass, being of
double seed, is born as the least of animals, for Agni burns his place of birth.
Now he is mounted upon offspring , and is strong to burn with pain offspring.
'Be auspicious, for offspring', he says; verily he makes him calm for offspring.
'(For offspring) of man, O Angiras', he says, for offspring are of men. 'Scorch
not sky and earth, nor the atmosphere, nor the trees', he says; verily he makes
him calm for these worlds. 'Let the steed advance, thundering', he says, for he
is a steed. 'The sounding, the donkey, the flier' , he says, for the seers
called him the 'donkey'. 'Bearing Agni of the dust', he says, for he bears Agni.
'May he fall not before his day', he says; verily he bestows life upon him;
therefore an ass lives all its days; therefore are men afraid when an ass
perishes before its day. 'The strong, bearing the strong Agni', he says, for he
is strong, and Agni is strong. 'Germ of the waters , him of the ocean', he
says, for Agni is the germ of the waters. 'O Agni, come hither for enjoyment',
(at these words) the two worlds burst apart; in that he says, 'O Agni, come
hither for enjoyment', it is for the separation (vityai) of these worlds.
He, having left his place and not having reached a support, then thinks of the
Adhvaryu and the sacrificer; 'holy order and truth', he says; holy order is this
(earth), truth is yonder (sky); verily in these two he establishes him, and
neither the Adhvaryu nor the sacrificer is ruined. Agni when tied up, as Varuna,
attacks the sacrificer; 'O plants, do ye accept Agni here', he says, for
atonement. 'Casting aside all hostilities, all evil imaginings', he says, to
smite away the Raksases. 'Sitting down, may he smite away from us misfortune',
he says, for support. 'O plants, do ye rejoice in him', he says; Agni's
portion is the plants; verily he unites him with them. 'Rich in flowers and
having fair leaves', he says; therefore plants produce fruit. 'This germ of
yours, of due season, hath sat him in his ancient seat', he says; verily in
those he establishes them from whom he makes him to fall. With two verses he
deposits (it), for support.
Continued...
|
v. 1. 6.
Agni when tied up is connected with Varuna; 'With extending blaze', (with
these words) he unloosens (him); verily, instigated by Savitr, he lets loose on
all sides the wrath of Varuna that is in him. He pours water down; the waters
are appeased; verily by the waters appeased he calms his pain; with three
(verses) he pours (it) down, Agni is three fold; verily he calms Agni's pain
throughout his whole extent. 'Mitra having united the earth', he says; Mitra is
the auspicious one of the gods; verily with him he unites him, for
atonement. If he were to unite him with sherds of domestic pots, he would
afflict domestic pots with pain; he unites (him) with fragments of broken pots;
these are not used for life; verily he afflicts them with pain. He unites (him)
with sand, for support, and for healing. He unites (him) with goat-hair; the
female goat is Agni's dear form; verily he unites him with his dear form, and
thus with brilliance. He unites him with the hairs of a black antelope skin ;
the black antelope skin is the sacrifice; verily he unites the sacrifice with
the sacrifice. 'The Rudras, having gathered together the earth', he says; these
deities first gathered him together; verily with them he gathers him together.
'Thou art the head of Makha', he says; Makha is the sacrifice, the firepan is
his head; therefore he says thus. 'Ye are the two feet of the sacrifice', he
says, for these are the two feet of the sacrifice ; and also (it serves) for
support. He hands (the pan) over with one set (of verses), and addresses it with
another, to make a pairing. He makes it with a triple stand; these worlds are
three; (verily it serves) to obtain these worlds. He makes (it) with the metres;
the metres are strength; verily he makes it with strength. He makes a hole with
a Yajus, for discrimination. He makes it so great, of equal girth with
Prajapati, the beginning of the sacrifice. He makes it with two breasts, for the
milking of sky and earth; he makes it of four breasts, for the milking of
cattle; he makes it of eight breasts, for the milking of the metres. For him who
practises witchcraft he should make it nine cornered; verily gathering together
the threefold thunderbolt he hurls it at his foe, to lay him low. 'Having made
the great pan', (with these words) he deposits (it); verily he establishes it
among the deities.
v. 1. 7.
With seven (verses) he fumigates; the breaths in the head are seven, the pan
is the head of the sacrifice; verily he places the breaths in the head of the
sacrifice; therefore seven are the breaths in the head. He fumigates with
horse-dung; the horse is connected with Prajapati; (verily it serves) to connect
it with its place of birth. 'May Aditi thee', he says; Aditi is this (earth);
verily with Aditi in Aditi he digs, to avoid injury to it, for one hurts not
oneself. 'May the wives of the gods thee', he says; the wives of the gods made
it first ; verily with them he places it. 'May the Dhisanas thee', he says;
the Dhisanas are the sciences; verily he enkindles it with the sciences. 'May
the wives thee', he says; the wives are the metres; verily with the wives he
makes it cooked. 'May the protectors, he says; the protectors are the Hotr's
offices; verily with the Hotr's offices he cooks it. 'May the women thee', he
says; the women are the wives of the gods ; verily with them he cooks it.
With six (verses) he cooks; the seasons are six; verily with the seasons he
cooks it. 'May they cook', he says twice; therefore twice in the year does the
corn ripen. The pan when enkindled is connected with Varuna; he approaches it
with (a verse) addressed to Mitra, for atonement. 'May the god Savitr dig thee
out', he says; verily, instigated by Savitr, he digs it out with holy power and
with the deities. 'Breaking not, O earth, fill the regions, the quarters' ,
he says; therefore Agni shines along all the quarters. 'Arise, become great,
stand upright, be thou firm', he says, for support. A bowl that is not poured
upon is connected with the Asuras; he pours upon it; verily he makes it to be
with the gods; with goats' milk he pours upon it; the milk of the goat is the
highest form of draught; verily he pours upon it with the highest draught; (he
pours) with a Yajus, for discrimination. He pours with the metres; with the
metres it is made; verily with the metres he pours upon the metres.
v. 1. 8.
With twenty-one beans he approaches the head of the man; beans are impure,
the man's head is impure; verily by the impure he redeems its impurity and
making it pure takes it. There are twenty-one; man is composed of twenty-one
parts; (verily they serve) to obtain man. The man's head is impure as bereft of
the breaths; he deposits (it near) an ant-heap pierced in seven places; the
breaths in the head are seven; verily he unites it with the breaths, to make it
pure. Of all those that were comrades of death Yama holds the overlordship;
he sings the verses of Yama; verily from Yama he redeems it; with three he
sings; three are these worlds; verily from these worlds he redeems it; therefore
one should not give to one who sings, for the Gatha appropriates it. To the
fires he offers animals; the fires are desires; verily he wins his desires. If
he were not to offer the animals, then he would not obtain animals ; if he
were to let them go after circumambulation with fire, he would disturb the
sacrifice; if he were to keep them until the conclusion, the heads would be
exhausted; in that he offers the animals, he wins thereby animals; in that he
lets them go after circumambulation with fire, (it serves) to prevent the
exhaustion of the heads; he concludes (the rite) with (an animal) for Prajapati;
Prajapati is the sacrifice; verily he concludes the sacrifice in the sacrifice.
Prajapati created offspring, he thought himself empty, he saw these April
(verses), with them from the head he satisfied himself. In that there are
these April verses, and Prajapati is the sacrifice, he satisfies the sacrifice
from the beginning with them. They are of unlimited metres; Prajapati is
unlimited; (verily they serve) to obtain Prajapati. The pairs are deficient and
redundant, for propagation; hairy by name is that metre of Prajapati, animals
are hairy; verily he wins animals. There are all forms in these; all forms are
made when Agni has to be piled up, therefore these appertain to Agni, to be
piled . Twenty-one kindling-(verses) be repeats; the twenty-onefold (Stoma)
is light; verily he attains light, and a support besides, for the twenty-one
fold (Stoma) is support. Twenty-four (verses) he recites; the year has
twenty-four half-months, Agni Vaiçvanara is the year; verily straightway he wins
Vaiçvanara. He recites them straight on, for the world of heaven is as it were
going straight away. 'Let the half-years, the seasons, increase thee, O Agni ',
he says; verily with the half-years he causes Agni to increase , with the
seasons the year. 'Illuminate all the quarters of the earth', he says; therefore
Agni illuminates all the quarters. 'The Açvins removed death from him', he says;
verily from him he repels death. 'We from the darkness', he says; the darkness
is the evil one; verily from him he smites away the evil one. 'We have come to
the highest light', he says; the highest light is yonder sun; verily he attains
unity with the sun. The year lags not, his future fails not, for whom these are
performed. The last he recites with the word 'light' in it; verily he bestows on
him light above, to reveal the world of heaven.
v. 1. 9.
With six (verses) he consecrates; the seasons are six; verily he consecrates
him with the seasons. With seven he consecrates; the metres are seven; verily he
consecrates him with the metres. 'Let every man of the god that leads', with the
final Anustubh he offers; the Anustubh is speech; therefore speech is the
highest of the breaths. The first quarter foot is deficient by one syllable;
therefore men live upon the incomplete part of speech. He offers with a full
(one), for Prajapati is full as it were; (verily it serves) to obtain Prajapati
; he offers with one that is deficient, for from the deficient Prajapati
created offspring; (verily it serves) for the creation of offspring. If he were
to heat it on the flame, he would win what has been, if on the embers, what is
to be; he heats it on the embers; verily he wins what is to be, for what is to
be is greater than what has been. With two verses he heats (it); the sacrificer
has two feet; (verily it serves) for support. The pan is gathered together with
holy power and the Yajus; if it should break, the sacrificer would be ruined
, and his sacrifice destroyed. 'O Mitra, do thou heat this pan', he says;
Mitra is holy power; verily on holy power he establishes it; the sacrificer is
not ruined, nor is his sacrifice destroyed. If it should break, he should unite
it with the selfsame potsherds; that is the atonement for it. If a man has
attained prosperity, he should for him deposit (the fire) after producing it by
friction; this is one that has succeeded; verily he approaches his own deity
. For him who desires prosperity should be used (the fire) which comes to
life from the pan, for from it is it produced, it is self-produced by name;
verily he becomes prosperous. If he desire of a man, 'May I produce a foe for
him', he should take for him (fire) from elsewhere, and deposit it; verily
straightway he produces a foe for him. From a frying-pan he should (take fire)
and deposit (it) for one who desires food; in a frying-pan food is kept; verily
he wins food with its birth place . He deposits Muñja grass; Muñja is
strength; verily he bestows upon him strength. Agni departed from the gods, he
entered the Krumuka wood; he deposits Krumuka; verily he wins what of Agni is
there imbued. With butter he joins (it); butter is the dear home of Agni; verily
he unites him with his dear abode, and with brilliance also . He puts on (a
stick) of Vikankata wood; verily he wins radiance; he puts on one of Çami, for
atonement. 'Do thou sit down in the lap of this mother', with three (verses) he
adores (the fire) when born; three are these worlds; verily he attains
reputation in these worlds; verily also he bestows breaths on himself.
v. 1. 10.
Formerly Agni would not burn what was not cut by the axe, but Prayoga, the
seer, made that acceptable to him. 'Whatever logs we place on thee', (with these
words) he puts on a kindling-stick; verily he makes what is not cut by the axe
acceptable to him; all is acceptable to him who knows thus. He puts on one of
Udumbara wood; the Udumbara is strength; verily he confers strength upon him.
Prajapati created Agni; him on creation the Raksases were fain to destroy;
he saw that (hymn) of the Raksas-slaying (one); therewith he smote away the
Raksases; in that it is (the hymn) of the Raksas-slaying one, thereby he drives
away the Raksases from Agni when born. He puts on one of Açvattha wood; of trees
the Açvattha is the overcomer of foes; (verily it serves) for victory. He puts
on one of Vikankata; verily he wins light. He puts on one of Çami wood, for
atonement. 'Sharpened is my holy power', 'Their arms have I uplifted', (with
these words) he makes him speak over the last two Udumbara (sticks) ; verily
by means of the holy power he quickens the kingly power, and by the kingly power
the holy power; therefore a Brahman who has a princely person is superior to
another Brahman; therefore a prince who has a Brahman is superior to another
prince. Now Agni is death, gold is immortality; he puts a gold plate within;
verily he severs immortality from death; it has twenty-one projections, the
worlds of the gods are twenty-one, the twelve months, the four seasons, these
three worlds, and as twenty-first yonder sun ; so many are the worlds of the
gods; verily from them he severs his foe. By means of the projections the gods
reduced the Asuras to straits (nirbadé); that is the reason why
projections (nirbadháh) have their names; it is covered with projections;
verily he reduces his foes to straits. He puts (it) on with a verse addressed to
Savitr, for instigation. 'Night and the dawn', with (this as) second; verily he
raises him with day and night. 'The gods, granters of wealth, support Agni', be
says; the gods, granters of wealth, are the breaths; verily having raised him
with day and night he supports him with the breaths. Sitting he puts (it)
on; therefore offspring are born sitting; the black antelope skin is above; gold
is brilliance, the black antelope skin is holy power; verily on both sides he
encircles him, with brilliance and with holy power. The sling is of six fathoms
in extent; the seasons are six; verily he raises him with the seasons; if it is
of twelve fathoms, (he raises him) with the year. It is of Muñja grass; the
Muñja is strength; verily he unites him with strength. 'Thou art the bird of
fair feathers', (with these words) he gazes; verily he declares his greatness in
that form. 'Go to the sky, fly to the heaven', he says; verily he makes him to
go to the world of heaven.
The Apri Hymn for the Horse Sacrifice
v. 1. 11.
Enkindled, decking the store-room of prayers, Swelling with sweet
butter, O Agni, Steed bearing the strong drink, O all-knower, Carry it to
the dear place of the gods. With ghee adorning the paths leading to the
gods, Let the strong one, wise, go to the gods; May thee, O courser, the
regions attend, Bestow strength on this sacrificer. To be praised thou
art, and to be celebrated, O steed; Swift and pure art thou, O
courser; May Agni in unison with the gods, the Vasus, Bear thee , a
glad messenger, he the all-knower. Rejoicing in the strewn grass, well
strewed, That doth extend wide and broad on the earth, Joined with the
gods, may Aditi in unison, Bestowing pleasantness, cause it to prosper.
These happy (doors), all formed, Opening with their sides, with the
centre, Lofty and sounding, adorning themselves, The doors divine, may
they be of pleasant entrance. Moving between Mitra and Varuna, Well
knowing the beginning of sacrifices, The two dawns for you , rich in gold,
rich in adornment, I settle here in the birthplace of holy order. First
for you have I made glad the two, who share one car, fair of hue, The gods
that gaze on all the worlds, Those that ordain your ordinances, The two
Hotrs, that indicate the light in its place. May Bharati with the Adityas
love our sacrifice; Sarasvati with the Rudras hath holpen us, And Ida
invoked with the Vasus in unison; Our sacrifice, O goddesses, place ye with
the immortals. Tvastr begot the hero with love for the gods; From Tvastr
is born the courser, the swift steed ; Tvastr produced all this
world; The maker of much do thou offer to, as Hotr. May the steed,
anointed with glee, of his own impulse Go to the gods in due season to their
abode; May the forest lord knowing the world of the gods, Bear the
oblations made ready by Agni. Waxing with the fervour of
Prajapati, Immediately on birth, O Agni, thou didst support the
sacrifice As harbinger with the oblation offered with Hail! Do thou go;
let the gods eat the oblation duly.
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