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I, 144

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"Vedic Hymns, Part Ii (sbe46)\", by Hermann Oldenberg [1897],

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Ma
\"N"D"Ala I, Hymn 144.

Ash
\"T"Aka Ii, Adhyya 2, Varga 13.

1.
The Hot"ri" 1 goes forward 2 (in order to fulfil) his duty by his wonderful power, directing upwards the brightly adorned prayer. He steps towards the (sacrificial) ladles which are turned to the right 3 and which first kiss his foundation 4.

2.
They have greeted with shouts the streams of "Ri"ta 1 which were hidden at the birthplace of the god, at his seat. When He dwelt dispersed in the lap of the waters, he drank the draughts by (the power of) which he moves 2.

3.
Two (beings) of the same age 1 try to draw that wonderful shape (Agni) towards themselves, progressing in turns towards a common aim 2. Then he is to be proclaimed by us like a winner 3 (in a contest). The charioteer 4 (governs all things) as if pulling in the reins of a draught-horse.

4.
He whom two (beings) of the same age 1 serve, two twins dwelling together in one common abode, the gray one has been born as a youth by night as by day 2, the ageless one who wanders through many generations of men.

5.
The prayers, the ten fingers 1 stir him up. We, the mortals, call him, the god, for his protection. From the dry land he hastens to the declivities 2. With those who approached him he has established new rules 3.

6.
Thou indeed, O Agni, reignest by thy own nature over the heavenly and over the terrestrial

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world as a shepherd (takes care of his cattle). These two variegated, great (goddesses) striving for gloriousness, the golden ones who move crookedly 1, have approached thy sacrificial grass.

7.
Agni! Be gratified and accept graciously this prayer, O joy-giver, independent one, who art born in the "Ri"ta, good-willed one, whose face is turned towards us from all sides, conspicuous one, gay in thy aspect, like a dwelling-place rich in food 1.

Notes.

The same "Ri"shi. Metre, "G"agat.--No verse occurs in the other Sa"m"hits.

Verse 1.

Note 1. The Hot"ri" is Agni.

Note 2. Comp. Iii, 27, 7, where it is said of Agni: purstt eti myy.--The poet says ti pr, and not pr eti, in order to avoid the hiatus.

Note 3. Comp. below, Iii, 6, 1. dakshi"n"-v"t".

Note 4. 'Which first, i. e. at the time when the sacrificial vessels are put down, kiss his dhman (foundation), i. e. the place of Agni.' Sya"n"a.

Verse 2.

Note 1. Comp. Ix, 75, 3. abh m "ri"tsya dohn"h" anshata, and Viii, 12, 32. nbh ya"g"sya dohn pr adhvar. I take dohn"h" as acc. plur. of an abstract noun dohn formed like "g"ar"n", bhandn, &c. But possibly it might be the nom. plur. either of the same noun or of a nomen agentis dohna: 'the streams of "Ri"ta (the libations?) or the milkers of "Ri"ta, hidden at the birthplace of the god, have greeted him with shouts.' It would

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be difficult, however, to say why the milkers of "Ri"ta (i. e. the priests?) are called 'hidden at the birthplace of the god.' Prof. Max Mller thinks of a reading parv"r"ta"h", 'surrounding Agni.' He refers the 'streams of "Ri"ta' (nom.) to the water, cf. I, 105, 12. \"ri"tm arshanti sndhava"h".

Note 2. Svadh"h" adhayat ybhi"h" yate. In my opinion svadh means 'the inherent power, the power of moving according to one's own will,' and then the drink which confers this power on a being, especially on the dead ancestors.--Comp. M. M., vol. xxxii, p. 32 seq.; H. O., Religion des Veda, 531, note 2.

Verse 3.

Note 1. According to Sya"n"a the two beings spoken of here and in the next verse are the Hot"ri" and the Adhvaryu.

Note 2. See I, 130, 5. ayu"g"ata samnm rtham kshitam; III, 6i, 3. samnm rtham "k"ara"n"ymn.

Note 3. On bhga"h" ni hvya"h", see Geldner, Vedische Studien, I, 121.

Note 4. The charioteer is Agni.

Verse 4.

Note 1. See verse 3, note 1.

Note 2. Comp. Gaedicke, Der Accusativ, p. 175. He translates: 'bei Tage noch bei Nacht ergrauend.'

Verse 5.

Note 1. Vr"s" ( ) is ranged in the Nigha"n"t"us among the agulinmni and explained by Sya"n"a accordingly. The word seems indeed to mean 'finger.' Compare with our passage Ix, 8, 4; 15, 8; 93, 1; 97, 57.

Note 2. Comp. I, 33, 4. dhno"h" dhi vishu"n"k t vi yan, and especially X, 4, 3. dhno"h" dhi pravt ysi hryan. I cannot follow Pischel (Vedische Studien, II, 69 seq.) in explaining these passages. 'Over the heavenly expanse he hastens down towards us.' M. M.

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Note 3. See Pischel, Vedische Studien, I, 300. Like Pischel I do not know who 'they who approached Agni' are. Possibly the worshippers or priests are alluded to. 'He received new praises with (or from) those who approached him.' M. M.


Verse 6.

Note 1. Sya"n"a explains the two female beings here in question as Heaven and Earth. Does the 'crooked movement' refer to the daily revolution of the sky?

Verse 7.

Note 1. The last Pda recurs X, 64, 11.

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