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1 WHY hath the Best, why hath the Youngest come to us? Upon what embassy comes he? What have we 2 The chalice that is single make ye into four: thus have the Gods commanded; therefore am I come. 3 What to the envoy Agni in reply ye spake, A courser must be made, a chariot fashioned here, 4 When thus, O Rbhus, ye had done ye questioned thus, Whither went he who came to us a messenger? 5 As Tvastar thus had spoken, Let us slay these men who have reviled the chalice, drinking−cup of Gods, 6 Indra hath yoked his Bays, the Asvins' car is horsed, Brhaspati hath brought the Cow of every hue. 7 Ye by your wisdom brought a cow from out a hide; unto that ancient Pair ye gave again their youth. 8 Drink ye this water, were the words ye spake to them; or drink ye this, the rinsing of the Munja−grass. 9 Most excellent are waters, thus said one of you; most excellent is Agni, thus another said. 10 One downward to the water drives the crippled cow, another trims the flesh brought on the carving−bo 11 On the high places ye have made the grass for man, and water in the valleys, by your skill, O Men. 12 As, compassing them round, ye glided through the worlds, where had the venerable Parents their abod 13 When ye had slept your fill, ye Rbhus, thus ye asked, O thou whom naught may hide, who now hath 14 The Maruts move in heaven, on earth this Agni; through the mid−firmament the Wind approaches. 2 What time they bear before the Courser, covered with trappings and with wealth, the grasped oblation, 3 Dear. to all Gods, this goat, the share of Pusan, is first led forward with the vigorous Courser, 4 When thrice the men lead round the Steed, in order, who goeth to the Gods as meet oblation, 5 Invoker, ministering priest, atoner, fire−kindler Soma−presser, sage, reciter, 6 The hewers of the post and those who carry it, and those who carve the knob to deck the Horse's stake; 7 Forth, for the regions of the Gods, the Charger with his smooth back is come my prayer attends him.

8 May the fleet Courser's halter and his heel−ropes, the head−stall and the girths and cords about him. 9 What part of the Steed's flesh the fly hath eaten, or is left sticking to the post or hatchet, 10 Food undigested steaming from his belly, and any odour of raw flesh remaining, 11 What from thy body which with fire is roasted, when thou art set upon the spit, distilleth, 12 They who observing that the Horse is ready call out and say, the smell is good; remove it; 13 The trial−fork of the flesh−cooking caldron, the vessels out of which the broth is sprinkled, 14 The starting−place, his place of rest and rolling, the ropes wherewith the Charger's feet were fastened, 15 Let not the fire, smoke−scented, make thee crackle, nor glowing caldron smell and break to pieces. 16 The robe they spread upon the Horse to clothe him, the upper covering and the golden trappings, 17 If one, when seated, with excessive urging hath with his heel or with his whip distressed thee, 18 The four−and−thirty ribs of the. Swift Charger, kin to the Gods, the slayer's hatchet pierces. 19 Of Tvastar's Charger there is one dissector,−this is the custom−two there are who guide him. 20 Let not thy dear soul burn thee as thou comest, let not the hatchet linger in thy body. 21 No, here thou diest not, thou art not injured: by easy paths unto the Gods thou goest. 22 May this Steed bring us all−sustaining riches, wealth in good kine,good horses, manly offspring.

2 Be his days ended, be he now departed, be he brought very near to death already, 3 With hundred−eyed oblation, hundred−autumned, bringing a hundred lives, have I restored him, 4 Live, waxing in thy strength, a hundred autumns, live through a hundred springs, a hundred winters. 5 So have I found and rescued thee thou hast returned with youth renewed.