Yajur Veda on Dharma

Prajapati sacrificed; where the oblation found support, thence sprung the Vikankata; there he created offspring; the oblation of him whose Dhruva, is made of Vikankata, wood finds rest; verily he is propagated. That is the form of the offering-spoons; on him whose spoons are so formed all forms of cattle attend, nothing unshapely is born in him. a Thou art taken with a support; for Prajapati thee, for him full of light, thee full of light I take; for Daksa who increases cleverness, (thee) that are acceptable to the gods, thee for those whose tongue is Agni, who are righteous, whose highest is Indra, whose king is Varuna, whose friend is Vata, whose breath is Parjanya, for sky thee, for atmosphere thee, for earth thee! b Smite away, O Indra, the mind of him who hateth us, Who desireth to oppress us, Smite him away who practiseth evil against us. c For expiration thee, for inspiration thee, for cross-breathing thee for being thee, for not being thee; for the waters thee, for the plants for all beings thee; whence offspring arose unhurt, for that thee, for Prajapati, of bounteous gifts, full of light, (thee) full of light I offer. To that deity whom the Adhvaryu and the sacrificer overlook do they fall victims; he should draw the cup of curd for Prajapati, all the gods are Prajapati; verily they make reparation to the gods. This is the foremost of cups; verily he for whom it is drawn attains a foremost place. This cup is the form of all the deities; on him for whom it is drawn all forms of cattle attend. 'Thou are taken with a support [1]; for Prajapati thee, for him full of light, (thee) full of light I take', he says; verily he makes him a light of his equals. 'For those whose tongue is Agni, who are righteous', he says; so many are the deities; verily for all of them he draws it. 'Smite away, O Indra, the mind of him who hateth us', he says, for the smiting away of foes.

By thee, O Soma Pavamana, our ancient fathers Wisely ordained the offerings; Conquering, untroubled, do thou open the barriers; Be generous to us in heroes and horses [1]. d Thou, O Soma, in accord with the fathers, Hast stretched over sky and earth; To thee, O drop, let us make sacrifice with offering; Let us be lords of wealth. e O fathers, made ready by Agni, come hither; With good leadership sit ye on each seat; Eat ye the offerings set out on the strew; And give us wealth with many heroes. f O fathers that sit on the sacrificial strew, come hither with your aid; We have made these offerings for you; accept them, And then come to us with your most healing aid, Give us [2] health, wealth, and safety! g I have found the kindly fathers, The scion and the step of Visnu; They that sit on the sacrificial strew and enjoy the drink That is pressed for them with the Svadha call are most eager to come h Invoked are the fathers who love the Soma To their dear homes on the sacrificial strew; May they come hither; may they hear us here May they speak for us; and may they aid us. i Let them arise, the lower and the higher And the middle fathers who love the Soma; They who lived their lives [3] in goodness and without sin; May these fathers help us when we call. k Be this homage to-day to the fathers, Who went before and who went after; Who are seated in the earthly region Or who are now in abodes with fair dwellings. l As our fathers before, Of old, O Agni, furthering right, Sought the pure, the devotion, singing hymns Cleaving the earth they disclosed the red ones. m When, O Agni [4], bearer of oblations, Thou sacrificest to the righteous fathers, Thou shalt bear the oblations To the gods and to the fathers. n Thou, O Agni, praised, all-knower, Didst carry the offerings making them fragrant; Thou didst give them to the fathers who ate them at the Svadha call; Eat thou, O god, the offerings set before thee.

'Sky and earth are invoked', he says; verily he invokes sky and earth. 'Born of yore, the righteous', he says, for they were born of yore and are righteous. 'Divine, with gods for children', he says, for they are divine and have gods for children. 'Invoked is this sacrificer', he says; verily he invokes the sacrificer. 'Invoked in the highest sacrifice, invoked in the greater offering, invoked in the divine abode' [5], he says. The highest sacrifice is offspring, the greater offering is cattle, the divine abode is the world of heaven. (With the words), 'Thou art this; thou art this', he invokes the dear abode of the sacrifice. 'All that is dear to it is invoked', he says; verily not vainly does he invoke. Food is cattle, he takes it himself; verily by himself he fills his desires of cattle, for no one else can grant him his desire of cattle. 'Thee offered to the lord of speech I eat', he says; verily he delights speech with a share. 'Thee offered to the lord of the Sadas I eat', he says, for completion.' (The food) is divided. in four; what is divided in four is the offering, what is divided in four is cattle; if the Hotr were to eat it, the Hotr would [1] experience misfortune; if he were to offer it in the fire, he would give the cattle to Rudra, and the sacrificer would be without cattle. 'Thee offered to the lord of speech I eat', he says; verily secretly does he offer it. 'Thee offered to the lord of the Sadas', he says, for completion. They eat; they eat at a suitable moment; he gives a sacrificial gift; at a suitable moment be gives a gift. They cleave the sacrifice [2], if they eat in the middle. They purify it with water; all the gods are the waters; verily they connect the sacrifice with the gods. The gods excluded Rudra from the sacrifice; he pierced the sacrifice, the gods gathered round it (saying), 'May it be right for us.' They said, 'Well offered will this be for us, if we propitiate him.' That is why Agni is called the 'well offerer' (svistakrt).

The Piling of the Fire Altar (Continued) a O Agni and Visnu, may these songs gladden you in unison; come ye with radiance and strength. b May for me strength, instigation, influence, inclination, thought, inspiration, speech, fame, renown, reputation, light, heaven, expiration, inspiration [1], cross- breathing, breath, mind, learning, voice, mind, eye, ear, skill, might, force, strength, life, old age, breath, body, protection, guard, limbs, bones, joints, bodies (prosper through the sacrifice). May for me pre-eminence, overlordship, spirit, anger, violence, impetuosity, victorious power, greatness, breadth, extent, greatness, length, growth, growing, truth, faith, world [1], wealth, power, radiance, play, delight, what is born, what is to be born, good words, good deeds, finding, what there is to find, what has been, what will be, easy road, good way, prosperity, prospering, agreement, agreeing, thought, good thought (prosper through the sacrifice). May for me prosperity, comfort, desire, wish, longing, kindliness, good, better, superior, fame, good luck, riches, restrainer, supporter, peace, firmness, all [1], greatness, discovery, knowledge, begetting, procreation, plough, harrow, holy order, immortality, freeness from disease, freedom from illness, life, longevity, freedom from foes, fearlessness, ease of going, lying, fair dawning, and fair day (prosper through the sacrifice). May for me strength, righteousness, milk, sap, ghee, honey, eating and drinking in company, ploughing, rain, conquest, victory, wealth, riches, prosperity, prospering, plenteousness [1], lordship, much, more, fun, fuller, imperishableness, bad crops, food, freedom from hunger, rice, barley, beans, sesame, kidney beans, vetches, wheat, lentils, Millet, Panicum miliaceum, Panicum frumentaceum, and wild rice (prosper through the sacrifice).

i Thine anger, O Varuna, would we avert with reverence, With sacrifices, with oblations Ruling, O wise Asura, O king, Do thou unloose the sins we have committed. k Unloose from us, O Varuna, the highest, The lowest, the midmost knot; Then may we, O Aditya [3], in thy rule, Be guiltless before Aditi. I Of Dadhikravan have I sung, The swift strong horse; May he make our mouths fragrant; May he lengthen our days. m Dadhikra with his glory hath overspread the five peoples, As the sun with his light the waters; May the strong steed, winning a hundred, a thousand, Fill with boney these words of ours. n Agni, the head. o Thou art. p O Maruts, what time seeking your favour We call on you from the sky, Do ye come unto us [4]. q The protections which ye have for the earnest worshipper, Threefold do ye grant them to the generous giver, To us, O Maruts, do ye accord them; O strong ones, give us wealth rich in heroes: r Let Aditi save us, Let Aditi give us protection, Let Aditi guard us from tribulation. s The mighty mother of the righteous, The spouse of holy order, let us invoke to aid us, The powerful, the unageing, the wide Aditi, who giveth good protection and good guidance. t Earth strong to save, sky unrivalled, Aditi who giveth good protection and good guidance, The divine ship with good oars, the blameless, Which leaketh not, let us mount for prosperity. u Happily have I mounted this ship With a hundred oars and a hundred spars, Without leak, able to convey across.

m He in whose presence wheresoever Men rejoice in the dwellings of men, Whom in honour they kindle, Whom together they produce. n When we offer food, The oblations of men, He by the might of his glory [3], Graspeth the reins of sacred law. o The sacrifice seeketh the goodwill of the gods; Be kindly, O ye Adityas; Make your loving kindness turn (to us), Which shall more plenteously deliver us from distress. p Pure he dwelleth, undeceived, Among waters rich in grass, waxing old with noble sons; None slayeth him from near or from afar, Who is in the guidance of the Adityas. q Ye Adityas support the world, Gods, guardians of all the universe, Far-seeing, guarding [4] the holy, Righteous, enacting debts. r Three earths they support, and three skies; Three rules are in their ordinance; Through sacred law great is your mightiness, O Adityas; Sweet is that, O Aryaman, O Mitra, O Varuna. s Let us make supplication To those heroes, the Adityas, The tender, for help. t Nor right is visible, nor left; Nor the east, O Adityas, nor the west; Despite my feeble mind, O Vasus [5], Led by you, may I attain the light without fear. u With the most recent help of the Adityas, With their most present succour, may we be united; May the mighty ones, hearkening, establish this sacrifice For release from sin, for freedom. v Hear my cry, O Varuna, And be merciful this day; Seeking for help I call on thee. w I implore this of thee, praising thee with my hymn; The sacrificer seeketh this with his offerings; Be here, not angry, O Varuna; O wide ruler, strike not away our life.

b Turn towards (us), O earth, With the sacrifice, with milk; Over thy caul let Agni, aroused, creep. c O Agni, that of thee which is pure, which is bright, Which is cleansed, which is fit for offering, That we bear to the gods. d Food and strength do I take hence [1], From the abode of holy order, from the birthplace of immortality. May it enter us, in cattle and in plants; I abandon decline, lack of food, and ill-health. e O Agni, strength and fame are thine, Thy rays shine mightily, O rich in light; O thou of broad radiance, with thy might, strength worthy of laud, Thou bestowest on the worshipper, O sage. f Do thou extend over men, O Agni, Ruling over wealth for us, O immortal one; Thou art the master of a glorious form, Thou fillest glorious wealth. g O son of strength, O all-knower, Rejoice in our fair praises [2], being adored in our prayers; In thee have they placed food, rich in seed, Of wondrous aid, of prosperous birth. h With pure radiance, with bright radiance, With undiminished radiance, thou comest forth with thy light; Visiting thy parents thou aidest them; Thou fillest both worlds. i The righteous, the bull, common to all men, Agni, men place before them for favour, Thee with their speech, that art ready to hear and most extending, The divine, the generations of men. k Preparer of the sacrifice, the wise, Who ruleth for great gain, The giver of the Bhrgus, the eager, skilled in the sacrifice Thou fillest glorious wealth. l Ye are pilers, ye are pilers around, do ye pile upwards as a support, with that deity, sit ye firm in the manner of Angiras. m Swell up, let thy strength be gathered From all sides, O Soma. Be strong in the gathering of might.

a May one for me, three, five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, fifteen, seventeen, nineteen, twenty-one, twenty-three, twenty-five, twenty-seven, twenty-nine, thirty- one, thirty-three [1]; b four, eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty, twenty-four, twenty-eight, thirty-two, thirty- six, forty, forty-four, forty-eight; c strength, instigation, the later born, inspiration, heaven, the head, the Vyaçniya, the offspring of the last, the last, the offspring of being, being, the overlord (prosper with the sacrifice). a May strength aid us through the seven quarters, The four distances, Strength aid us here with the All-gods For the gaining of wealth. b May all the Maruts to-day be present, all, to aid us, Be the fires all enkindled present; May the All-gods come to us with aid; All wealth, and strength, be ours. c O gods, come in your cars of gold For the instigation of strength, Agni, Indra, Brhaspati And the Maruts to drink the Soma. d For each prize, aid us, O ye steeds, For the rewards [1], O ye wise, immortal, righteous ones; Drink of this mead, rejoice in it; Delighted go by paths on which the gods go. e Strength is in front, in the midst of us; Strength shall assort the gods in due season The instigation of strength is propitious; In all the quarters may I become a lord of strength. f Milk may I place on earth, milk on the plants, Milk in the sky, in the atmosphere milk, Be the quarters rich in milk for me. g I unite myself with milk, with ghee, I united myself. with waters [2] and plants; Strength may I win, O Agni. h Night and the dawn, one-minded, but of various form United suckle one child; The radiant one shineth between sky and earth; The gods, granters of wealth, support Agni. i Thou art the ocean, full of mist, granting moisture, blow over me with healing, wonder-working; hail! Thou art of the Maruts, the horde of the Maruts, blow over with healing, with wonder-working; hail!

l That mortal, O Agni, whom thou hast helped in the battles, Whom thou hast strengthened in the contest for booty, He winneth I abiding strength. a Thou, O Agni, art Rudra, the Asura of the mighty sky, Thou art the host of the Maruts, thou art lord of food; Thou farest with ruddy winds, blessing the household; Thou, as Pasan dost, protectest thy worshippers with thyself. b Rudra, king of the sacrifice, True offerer, priest of both worlds, Agni before the dreadful thunder,' Of golden colour, win ye for help. c Agni hath set him down as priest, good sacrificer, On the lap of his mother, in the fragrant place, The youthful, the wise, pre-eminent among men [1], righteous, Supporter of the folk in whose midst he is kindled. d Good hath he made our sacrifice this day; The hidden tongue of the sacrifice have we found He hath come, fragrant, clothed in life; He hath made our sacrifice this day to prosper. e Agni hath cried like Dyaus thundering, Licking the earth, devouring the plants; Straightway on birth he shone aflame; He blazeth with his light within the firmaments. In thee, O many-faced sacrificer [2], Morning and evening, the sacrificers place their treasures, In whom, purifying, good things are placed, even as the heaven and earth (support) all beings. q To thee, best of Angirases, All folk with fair dwellings severally, O Agni, have turned to gain their wish. h May we win by thy help, O Agni, our wish, Wealth with fair offspring, O wealthy one: May we win booty, seeking for booty; May we win, O deathless, undying glory. i O Agni, of the Bharatas, youngest, Bear to us excellent, glorious wealth, [3] O bright one, wealth which many desire. k White robed is he, thundering, standing in the firmament. Youngest, with loud-sounding immortal ones, Who, purifying, most manifold, Agni, marcheth devouring many broad (forests). l May he give thee life on every side, Agni here, the desirable. Let thy breath come back to thee; I drive away the disease from thee.

e Or Vayu thee, or Manu thee, The seven and twenty Gandharvas; They first yoked the steed; They placed swiftness in it. f Child of the waters, swift one, the towering onrushing wave most fain to win the prize, with it may he win the prize. g Thou art the stepping of Visnu, thou art the step of Visnu, thou art the stride of h May the two Ankas, the two Nyankas, which are on either side of the chariot, Speeding on with the rushing wind, The far-darting, powerful one, the winged one, The fires which are furtherers, further us. a On the instigation of the god Savitr, through Brhaspati, winner of the prize, may I win the prize. b On the instigation of the god Savitr, through Brhaspati, winner of the prize, may I mount the highest vault. c To Indra utter your voices, make Indra win the prize, Indra hath won the prize. d O whip, strong, having strength for the prizes, Do thou in the contests strengthen the steeds. e The swift art thou, the runner, the strong. f O steeds, hasten for the prize; conquer on the instigation of the Maruts: measure ye the leagues; establish the ways [1]; attain the goal. g For each prize aid us, O ye steeds, For the rewards, O ye wise, immortal, righteous ones; Drink of this mead, rejoice in it; Delighted go by paths on which the gods go. h May the swift coursers, who hear the call, All hearken to our cry. i Strong limbed, winning a thousand, Eager to gain in the gaining of praise, The steeds, which have won in the contests great prizes, May they be propitious to us when we call. k Among the gods, strong limbed, good praisers, Destroying the serpent, the wolf, the Raksases, For ever may they remove from us evil [2]. 1 This steed speedeth his swift course, Bound at the neck, the shoulder, and the mouth; Displaying his strength Dadhikra Springeth along the bends of the ways.

He should grasp the cup or fill up the beaker, and then begin the litany; a support to the Soma he verily (eva) gives, to the Stoma, to the hymns; the sacrificer finds support, the Adhvaryu finds support. They gather together the sacrifice when (they gather the dust of) the foot-print of the Soma cow; the oblation-holders are the mouth of the sacrifice; when they move forward the oblation-holders, then he should oil the axle with it; verily he extends the sacrifice in the mouth of the sacrifice. They lead Agni forward, they take the wife forward, and they make the carts follow after. Now the altar of him (Agni) is deserted; he broods on it, and is liable to become terrible (rudrá) [1], and lay to rest the offspring and cattle of the sacrificer. When they are leading northward the sacrificial animal over which the Apris have been said, he should take (from the altar the fire) for cooking it; verily he makes him share in it. The Ahavaniya is the sacrificer; if they take (the fire) for cooking the victim from the Ahavaniya, they tear the sacrificer asunder; the fire should therefore be thus, or he should make it by friction, so that the sacrificer's body may remain together. If a portion of the victim be lost, he should cut off an equivalent portion of the butter; that is then the atonement. If men disturb his victim and he wish of them, 'May they come to ruin', he should make an offering in the Agnidh's altar with the Rc containing the word 'paying of homage' (and beginning), 'What then?' Verily he appropriates their paying of homage and speedily do they go to ruin. a The offspring, being born of Prajapati And those that have been born, To him declare them; Lot the wise one reflect thereon. b This victim, O lord of cattle, for thee to-day, I bind, O Agni, in the midst of righteous action; Approve it, and let us sacrifice with a good offering May this offering be welcome to the gods.

k Their arms have I uplifted, Their radiance, their might; With holy power I waste the foes, I support [3] my own. I Shining like gold, he hath become widely resplendent, For glory shining with immortal life; Agni became immortal in his strength What time prolific Dyaus begat him. m The sage showeth all forms; He hath produced bliss for biped and quadruped; Savitr, the desirable, hath discerned the vault; After the moving forward of the dawn he shineth. n Night and the dawn, one-minded but of various form, United suckle one child; The radiant one shineth between sky and earth [4] The gods, granters of wealth, support Agni. o Thou art the bird of fair feathers; thy head the Trivrt (Stoma), thy eye the Gayatra, thy breath the Stoma, thy body the Vamadevya Saman, thy wings the Brhat and the Rathantara, thy tail the Yajñayajñiya, thy limbs the metres, thy hoofs the altars, thy name the Yajus formulae. p Thou art the bird of fair feathers; go to the sky, fly to the heaven. a O Agni, that sacrifice, that offering, Which on all sides thou dost encircle, It of a truth goeth to the gods. b O Soma, the wondrous aids That there are of thine for the generous man, With these be thou our helper. c Agni the, head. e Thou, O Soma. f These abodes of thine. g That excellent glory of Savitr, The god, we meditate, That he may stimulate our prayers. h What we have done in thoughtlessness against the host divine, With feeble insight, with violence as is man's way [1], Among gods and men, do thou, O Savitr, There instigate us to sinlessness. i Impeller of righteousness, Instigator of devotions, Sarasvati hath established the sacrifice. k May the maiden of the lightning, the one of varied life, Sarasvati, wife of a hero, inspire our devotion; In accord with the ladies, may she accord to the singer Protection uninjured, and guardianship unsurpassable. I May Pusan follow the cows for us, May he guard our horses; May Pusan win booty for us.

h O Agni, lord of vows, I shall perform this vow; may I accomplish it; may it be successful for me. i Agni, the priest, I summon hither; The gods worthy of sacrifice whom we invoke, Let these gods come in kindly mind; Let the gods enjoy this oblation of me. k Who yoketh thee? Let him yoke thee. l The potsherds for the cauldron [3], Which wise men collect, These are in Pusan's guardianship; Indra and Vayu set them free. m Unbroken is the cauldron, sprinkling abundantly, It hath returned to that whence it came; The kindling-wood, the Vedi, and all the enclosing-sticks Attend the life of the sacrifice. n The three and thirty threads that stretch, That maintain in security the sacrifice, Of these the broken one I restore; hail! Let the cauldron go to the gods. a Let Vaiçvanara with succour for us Come from afar, Agni through the hymn which brings (him). b The righteous Vaiçvanara, Lord of right and of light, The immortal cauldron we seek.' c A greater than the marvels of Vaiçvanara By his craftsmanship the sage hath performed alone; Magnifying both parents, sky and earth, Rich in seed, was Agni born. d Desired in the sky, Agni, desired on earth, Desired he entereth all the plants; Agni Vaiçvanara eagerly desired, May he by day [1] and night protect us from the foe. e In that, when born, O Agni, thou didst survey the worlds, Like a busy herd that goeth around his flock, Do thou, O Vaiçvanara, find a way for the Brahman; Do ye protect us ever with your blessings. f Thou, O Agni, blazing with light, Didst fill the firmament at thy birth; Thou, O Vaiçvanara, wise one, by thy might Didst free the gods from misfortune.' g O Agni, among our bountiful lords, preserve The lordship, uninjured, unageing, rich in heroes; May we win booty a hundred, a thousandfold, O Vaiçvanara [2], O Agni, through thy help. h May we enjoy the loving kindness of Vaiçvanara, For he is the king, the orderer of the worlds Hence born be discerneth all the (earth), Vaiçvanara vieth with the sun.

To swimming creatures hail! To creeping creatures hail! a Thou art the glittering of Soma; as thine may my glittering be. b Thou art ambrosia; from death protect me. c From the thunderbolt protect me. d Propitiated are biting flies. e Cast away is Namuci's head. f Soma, king Varuna, and the gods which instigate righteousness, may they thy speech, may they instigate thy breath, may they instigate thy sight, may they instigate thine ear. g With the glory of Soma I besprinkle thee, with the brilliance of Agni [1], with the radiance of the sun, with the power of Indra, with the strength of Mitra and Varuna, with the force of the Maruts. h Thou art the lord of kingly powers. i Protect from the sky. k Out from below have they come, Following the serpent of the deep; On the back of the mountain, the hill, The ships that pour spontaneously go ever. l O Rudra, that highest active name of thee, to that thou art offered, thou art offered m O Prajapati, none other than thou Hath encompassed all these beings; Be that ours for which we sacrifice to thee May we be lords of wealth. a Thou art the bolt of Indra, slaying foes; with thee may he slay his foe. b By the precept of Mitra and Varuna, the directors, I yoke thee with the yoking of the sacrifice. c Thou art the stepping of Visnu, thou art the step of Visnu, thou art the stride of d On the instigation of the Maruts may I conquer. e Be mind ready. f May I be united with power and strength. g Thou art the spirit of cattle; like them may my spirit be. h Homage to mother earth; may I not harm mother earth [1]; may mother earth harm me not. i So great art thou, thou art life, bestow life upon me; thou art strength, bestow strength upon me; thou art the yoker; thou art radiance, bestow radiance upon me. k To Agni, lord of the house, hail! To Soma, lord of the forest, hail! To Indra's strength hail! To the Maruts' force hail!

When a son is born he should offer on twelve potsherds to Vaiçvanara; in that there is (an offering) on eight potsherds, he purifies him with the Gayatri, with splendour; in that there is (an offering) on nine potsherds, he bestows brilliance upon him with the Trivrt (Stoma); in that there is (an offering) on ten potsherds, he bestows proper food upon him with the Viraj; in that there is (an offering) on eleven potsherds, he bestows power upon him with the Tristubh; in that there is (an offering) on twelve potsherds, he bestows cattle upon him with the Jagati; he upon whose birth he offers this sacrifice becomes pure [3], brilliant, an eater of food, powerful, possessed of cattle. He is cut off from the world of heaven who, being a sacrificer at new and full moon, the sacrifice either at the new or the full moon omits, for the new and full moon offerings are made for the world of heaven; if he has omitted the sacrifice either at the new or the full moon, he should offer to Vaiçvanara on twelve potsherds; Agni Vaiçvanara is the year; verily he delights the year; verily also he brings up the year for him for the winning of the world of heaven [4]; verily also grasping the deities he goes to the world of heaven. He who removes the fire is the slayer of the hero among the gods; formerly righteous Brahmans did not eat his food; he should offer to Agni on eight potsherds, to Vaiçvanara on twelve potsherds, when he is about to remove the fire; in that there is (an offering) on eight potsherds, the Gayatri has eight syllables, Agni is connected with the Gayatri; to Agni in his full extent he shows hospitality; verily also that is as when one makes preparation for a man about to go to (another) people [5]. (The offering) to Vaiçvanara is on twelve potsherds; the year has twelve months; the birthplace of Agni is the year; verily he makes him go to his own birth place; his food becomes fit to eat.

h He doth put down the wise contrivings of every worshipper; Bearing in his arm [1] many a manly deed; Agni hath become the lord of riches, Making ever all immortal things. i To help us I summon The golden-handed Savitr; He as a god knoweth the place. k Prosperity to-day, O Savitr prosperity to-morrow, Day by day prosperity mayst thou procure for us; Through this prayer may we win the prosperity Of many a prosperous dwelling, O god. l O earth, thou bearest The weight of the mountains, Thou that dost, O great earth, With thy hills, quicken with thy might [2]. m The songs salute thee, Thee that extendest far, each day, Thee that, O bright one, dost shoot forward The seed like great riches. n May I be in companionship with the friend pleasant within, Who being drunk shall not harm me, O thou of the tawny steeds; This Soma that hath been deposited within us, For that I go to Indra to prolong (my life). o Giving spirit when drunken, with swift onset, Impetuous, strong, bearing arrows, with the residue is Soma; All plants and trees deceived not aforetime As substitutes Indra. p Soma [3] the righteous as pressed becometh visible, Jamadagni singing the hymn to Indra; Thou art the mighty restrainer of impetuous might; Ward it off and strengthen the support for the singer. q In unison men that make prayers offer to thee this prayer That giveth delight and invigoration; When the hymn with the radiance of Soma shall speed forth, Then shall Indra show his might in the contests. r From the mouth to thee, O Visnu, do I utter the Vasat call; Do thou accept my oblation, O Çipivista [4]; Let my fair hymns of praise cause thee to wax great; Do ye protect us ever with blessings. s That name of thee, the noble, to-day I celebrate, O Çipivista, knowing the ways; I, the weaker, sing thee the strong, That rulest beyond this region.' t What was there to be disclosed in thee, O Visnu, What time thou didst declare, 'I am Çipivista'?

'That is mine', he said, 'What is to belong to my offspring? [1].' 'Him, who reviles him, he shall fine with a hundred; him, who strikes him, he shall fine with a thousand; he, who draws blood from him, shall not behold the world of the Pitrs for as many years as are the grains of dust which the blood in its fall seizes upon', (they replied). Therefore one should not revile a Brahman, nor strike him, nor draw blood from him; for so great is his sin. 'That health and wealth we choose', he says; verily he utters the call Svaga, over the sacrifice. 'That [2] health and wealth we choose', he says; verily he gives Çamyu Barhaspatya his portion. 'Success to the sacrifice, success to the sacrificer', he says; verily he invokes this blessing. He sacrifices to Soma; verily he places seed; he sacrifices to Tvastr; seed is placed and Tvastr moulds forms; he sacrifices to the wives of the gods, to make a pair; he sacrifices to Agni, lord of the house, for support. There is sameness in the sacrifice [3] in that the fore-sacrifices are offered with butter, and the sacrifices to the wives (are offered) with butter. Having repeated the Rc, of the sacrifices to the wives he offers with a Rc, to prevent sameness, and to make a pairing. The sacrifice has a fivefold prelude and a fivefold end; there are offered five fore-sacrifices; there are four sacrifices to the wives, the fifth is the Samistayajus by they make up five as a prelude, and five as an end. a. Yoke like a charioteer, Agni,The steeds that best invite the gods Set down as ancient Hotr. b And, O god, for us do thou the gods, Most wise one, call hither; Make all our wishes true; c Since thou, O most young, O son of strength, who art sacrificed to, Art righteous and worthy of sacrifice. d This Agni is lord of a thousandfold,. A hundredfold, strength; The sage, the head of wealth. e Bring him hither with common call Lower to our sacrifice, O Angiras.

e Fare along the broad atmosphere. f Hail! Thee, of kindly nature, to the sun! g To the gods that drink the rays thee! h This is thy birthplace; to inspiration thee! a O Vayu, drinker of the pure, come to us; A thousand are thy teams, O thou that hast all choice boons. For thee this sweet drink hath been drawn, Whereof, O god, thou hast the first drink. b Thou art taken with a support; to Vayu thee! c O Indra and Vayu, these draughts are ready; Come ye for the libations, For the drops desire you. d Thou art taken with a support; to Indra and Vayu thee! This is thy birthplace; to the comrades thee! a This Soma is pressed for you, O Mitra and Varuna, Who prosper holy order; Hearken ye now to my supplication. b Thou art taken with a support; to Mitra and Varuna thee! This is thy birthplace; to the righteous thee! a That I whip of yours which is rich in sweetness And full of mercy, O Açvins, With that touch the sacrifice. b Thou art taken with a support; to the Açvins thee! This is thy birthplace; to the sweet thee! a Ye that yoke early be unloosed O Açvins, come ye hither, To drink this Soma. b Thou art taken with a support; to the Açvins thee! This is thy birthplace; to the Açvins thee! a Vena hath stirred those born of Prçni, He enveloped in light, in the expanse of the Him in the meeting-place of the waters, of the sun, Like a child, the priests tend with their songs. b Thou art taken with a support; to Çanda thee! This is thy birthplace; guard the a Him, as aforetime, as of old, as always, as now, The prince, who hath his seat on the strew and knoweth the heaven, The favouring, the strong, thou milkest with thy speech, The swift who is victor in those among whom thou dost wax. b Thou art taken with a support; to Marka thee! This is thy birth. place; guard offspring. a Ye gods that are eleven in the sky, Eleven on the earth, Who sit mightily in the waters, eleven in number, Do ye accept this saerifice.

a Surya, the god, for those that sit in the sky, Dhatr for lordly power, Vayu for offspring, Brhaspati for Prajapati offer thee radiant. b Thee have I united with the gods, Who hast a tawny embryo And a womb of gold, Whose limbs are uninjured. c Bring near, O bringer, Remove away, O remover, O Indra Nardabuda, With the four quarters of the earth Do thou bring near. d I split apart thy urinator, Thy womb, the two groins, [1] The mother and the child, The embryo and the after-birth. e Apart from thee let it be. So! f The drop, far extending, of all forms, Purified, wise, hath anointed the embryo. g With one foot, two feet, three feet, four feet, five feet, six feet, seven feet, eight feet may she extend over the worlds; hail! h Nay the two great ones, sky and earth, Mingle for us this sacrifice, May they sustain us with support. iii. 3. 11. a This oblation is dear in your mouth, O Indra and Brhaspati, The hymn and acclamation is recited. b This Soma is poured for you, O Indra and Brhaspati, Dear for delight, for drinking. c To us, O Indra and Brhaspati, Grant wealth of a hundred kine, Of horses a thousandfold. d From behind may Brhaspati guard us, From above, from below, from the plotter of evil; May Indra from the front, from the middle, Friend to friend, grant us wide room. e Sped by the winds on all sides, O Agni, Thy flames [1], O pure one, pure are diffused Mightily destroying, the divine ones, the Navagvas Assail the forests, rudely crushing (them). f Thee, O Agni, the tribes of men praise, Who knowest the Hotr's duty, discerning, best bestower of jewels, Who art in secret yet, O happy one, seen by all, Of impetuous spirit, a good sacrificer, brilliant with ghee. g May Dhatr give us wealth, The lord the ruler of the world, May he favour us with a full (gift). h Dhatr is lord of offspring and of wealth, Dhatr created all this world. Dhatr giveth a son to the sacrificer [2] To him let us offer the oblation rich in ghee.

Thou art the helper, the worshipper, blow over me with healing, with wonder-working; hail! a Agni I yoke with glory, with ghee, The bird divine mighty in strength; Therewith may we fly to the expanse of the ruddy one, Mounting the heaven above the highest vault. b These are wings unaging of thee, the winged, Wherewith thou dost smite away the Raksases, O Agni; With these may we fly to the world of good men, Where are the seers, the first-born, those of yore. c Thou art piling, born of the ocean, the drop, The skilled one, the eagle, the righteous, The golden-winged busy bird, mighty, That hath sat down firmly in its place [1]. d Homage be to thee; harm me not, Thou dost stand resting on the head of all; Within the ocean is thy heart, thy life; Sky and earth are placed on the worlds. e Give of the water, cleave the holder of the water; from the sky, from Parjanya, from the atmosphere, from the earth, thence do ye help us with rain; thou art the head of the sky, the navel of earth, the strength of waters and plants, protection of all life, extending; homage to the way! f With that devotion wherewith the seers performed the session of sacrifice [2], Kindling Agni, bearing aloft the heaven, I set on this vault that Agni Whom men call him for whom the spread is strewed. g Him with our wives let us pursue, O gods, With our sons, our brothers, or by gold, Seizing the vault in the world of good action, Above the third firmament, in the light of the sky. h To the middle of speech hath the busy one arisen, Agni here, lord of the good, the wise; Established on the back of the earth, the radiant one, He casteth beneath his feet [3] the combatants. i Let Agni here, the most manly, strength-bestowing, Of a thousand shapes, shine unwearying, Radiant in the midst of the ocean; Do ye approach the abodes divine. k Move ye forward, go ye long together; Make ye the paths gods travelled, O Agni; In this highest abode O All-gods, sit ye with the sacrificer.

a Earth, covering all, Hath placed thee in her lap; Be gentle and rest kindly on him Grant him protection, extending wide. b Thou art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! a Great is Indra of the Sodaçin, With the bolt in his arm, may he grant protection; May the bountiful give us prosperity, May he smite him who hateth us. b Thou art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! a In unison and in fellowship with the Maruts, Indra, Drink the Soma, O slayer of Vrtra, O hero, O wise one; Slay our foes, drive away the enemies, And thus make for us on all sides security. b Thou art taken with a support; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! This is thy birthplace; to Indra of the Sodaçin thee! The Daksina Offerings a His rays bear up the god Who knoweth all, The sun for all to see. b The radiant countenance of the gods hath risen, The eye of Mitra, Varuna, Agni; He hath filled the sky and earth and atmosphere; The sun is the self of all that moveth and standeth. c O Agni, lead us by a fair path to wealth, O god, knowing all the ways; Drive from us the sin that maketh us wander; We will accord to thee most abundant honour. d Go to the sky, fly to heaven. c With my form [1] I approach your form; with my age your age. f May Tutha, all knowing, allot to you in the highest firmament. g This gift of thine, Agni, cometh, impelled by the Soma. h Lead it by the path of Mitra. i Go ye on by the path of holy order, of brilliant gifts, Leading prosperity by the path of the sacrifice. k May I win a Brahman to-day, a seer and sprung from seers, of (famous) father and grandfather, fit for the sacrificial gift. l Gaze on the heaven, gaze on the atmosphere. m Join those in the seat. n Given by us, go to the gods, full of sweetness; enter the giver; without leaving us fare by the path leading to the gods; sit in the world of the righteous. o Be this complete for us.

a Move I forward, O lord of the world, To all thy stations. Let no opponent find thee, Let not robbers find thee; Let not the evil-working wolves (find) thee; Nor the Gandharva, Viçvavasu, injure thee. b Become an eagle and fly away to the place in the house of the sacrificer which have prepared with the gods (for thee). Thou art the good luck of the sacrificer. c We have reached the path Which leadeth to bliss, without a foe, Whereby a man defeateth all his foes and winneth wealth. d Honour to the radiance of Mitra and Varuna. This worship, this reverence offer to the god; To the far seeing, god-born, the banner, The son of the sky, the sun, do ye sing. c Thou art the pillar of Varuna. f Thou art the prop of Varuna's pillar. g Varuna's noose is loosened. a Thou art the hospitality of Agni. For Visnu thee! Thou art the hospitality of For Visnu thee! Thou art the hospitality of the stranger. For Visnu thee! For Agni giver of wealth, for Visnu thee; for the eagle, bringer of the Soma, thee, for Visnu b Thy powers which they honour with oblation, May they all envelop the sacrifice! Giver of wealth, impeller, rich in heroes, Slaying not heroes, O Soma, enter the dwellings. c Thou art the seat of Aditi; sit on the seat of Aditi [1]. d Thou art Varuna who guardeth law; thou art of Varuna. e Be prosperity ours from our friendship with the gods. May we be not severed from our service of the gods. f For him who rushes on I seize thee; for him who rushes around I seize thee; for Tanunapat I seize thee; for the mighty I seize thee; for the mightiest in strength I seize thee. g Thou art unapproached, the unapproachable might of the gods, guarding from imprecations, impervious to imprecations. h May the lord of consecration approve my consecration, the lord of penance my penance. Speedily may I attain truth. Place me in good fortune. a May thy every shoot, O god Soma, swell, For Indra who gaineth the chiefest wealth; May Indra swell for thee; Do thou swell for Indra.

b Make thy comrades to swell with wealth and skill; with good fortune may I accomplish thy pressing, O god Soma. c Desired are riches exceedingly for food, for prosperity. Be right to the proclaimers of right. Honour to the sky, honour to the earth! d Agni, lord of vows, thou art the vow-lord of vows; this body of mine be in thee that body of thine be in me. Together, O lord of vows, be the vows of us two that e Thy dread form, O Agni, with that protect us; hail to that form of thine! f That form of thine, O Agni, which rests in iron, which rests in silver, which rests in gold, the highest, that dwells in the cleft, g (By it) I have driven away harsh speech, (by it) I have driven away angry speech. a Thou I art the abode of riches for me; thou art the resort of the afflicted for me; protect me when in want; protect me when afflicted. b May Agni, named Nabhas, know (thee). c Agni Angiras, thou who art in this earth, come with the name of Ayus. Whatsoever unapproached, holy name is thine, [1] therewith I take thee up. d Agni Angiras, thou who art in the second (the third) earth, come with the name of Ayus. Whatever inviolate, holy name is thine, therewith I take thee up. e Thou art a lioness; thou art a buffalo. f Extend wide; let the lord of the sacrifice extend wide for thee. g Thou art firm. h Be pure for the gods; be bright for the gods. i May the cry of Indra guard thee in front with the Vasus; may the swift of mind guard thee on the right with the Pitrs; may the wise one guard thee behind with the Rudras; may Viçvakarman guard thee on the left with the Adityas. k Thou art a lioness, overcoming rivals; hail! Thou art a lioness, bestowing fair offspring; hail! Thou art a lioness, [2] bestowing increase of wealth; hail! Thou art a lioness, winning (the favour of) the Adityas hail! Thou art a lioness; bring the gods to the pious sacrificer; hail! l To beings thee!

h This, god Savitr, is the Soma of you (gods); guard it; let it escape you not. i So, O Soma, god to the gods, hast thou gone, and I here man to man, with offspring, with increase of wealth. k Honour to the gods I Homage to the Pitrs! 1 Here (may) I (be free) from Varuna's noose; may I gaze on the heaven, on the light that is for all men, M Agni, lord of vows, thou art the vow-lord of vows. n May my body that bath been in thee be here in me; may thy body that hath been in me be there in thee. o Be aright the vows, O vow-lord, of both of us votaries. a I have passed by some, I have not approached others. b I have found thee nearer than the farther, farther than the near. c So I welcome thee, that art of Visnu, for the sacrifice to the gods. d Let the god Savitr anoint thee with honey. e O plant, guard it. f O axe, harm it not. g With thy top graze not the sky, with thy middle harm not the atmosphere, with earth be united. h O tree, grow with a hundred shoots; may we grow with a thousand shoots. i Thou, whom this sharp axe hath brought forward for great good fortune, uncut, with wealth of heroes, (give us) riches. a To I earth thee! To atmosphere thee! To sky thee! b Pure be the world where the Pitrs sit. c Thou art barley (yava); bar (yavaya) from us foes, bar evil spirits. d Thou art the seat of the Pitrs. e Thou art easy of approach, first among leaders; the tree will mount thee, be aware f Let the god Savitr anoint thee with honey. g For the plants with good berries thee! h Support the sky, fill the atmosphere, with thy base make firm the earth. i To these dwellings of thine are we fain to go, Where are the many-horned active kine; There is resplendent the highest step Of the wide-stepping Visnu, the mighty! k Behold the deeds of Visnu Wherein he displayed his laws, Indra's true friend. l That highest step of Visnu The singers ever gaze upon Like an eye stretched in the sky.

g Rich art thou, lord of riches, O Agni, rich in radiance; May we enjoy thy loving kindness. h Thou, O Agni, riches-lord of riches, I hail [2], O lord in the sacrifices; Through thee in strife may we be victorious; May we overcome the hostilities of mortal men. i Thee, O Agni, best gainer of booty, The sages nourish, well lauded; Do thou give us wealth of heroes. k May Agni here make room for us; May he go before us cleaving the foe Joyfully may he conquer our foes; May he win booty in the contest for booty. l By Agni is Agni kindled, The wise, the young, the lord of the house, The bearer of the oblation, with ladle in his mouth. m Thou, O Agni, by Agni, The sage by the sage, the good by the good, The comrade by the comrade, art kindled. n O Agni, thy pure. o With radiance.

'Thou art the form, colour by name', he says; verily he wins offspring. 'Thou art holy order, truth by name', he says; verily he wins lordly power. 'Thou art the past, the future by name', he says; the foetus of the waters and the plants is cattle; verily he wins cattle [3]. So much as is around a man, that does he thus win. 'Thee for the realm of holy order', he says; the realm of holy order is this (earth); verily he conquers this (earth). 'Thee for the might of holy order', he says; the might of holy order is the atmosphere; verily he conquers the atmosphere. 'Thee for the circumference of holy order', he says; the circumference of holy order is the sky; verily he conquers the sky. 'Thee for the truth of holy order' [4], he says; the truth of holy order is the quarters; verily he conquers the quarters. 'Thee for the light of holy order', he says; the light of holy order is the world of heaven; verily he conquers the world of heaven. So many are the worlds of the gods; verily he conquers them. They make up ten; the Viraj has ten syllables, the Viraj is food; verily he finds support in the Viraj, the eating of What the gods could not win by the sacrifice, that they won by the Para (Grahas), and that is why the Paras have their name. In that the Paras are drawn, (it serves) to win that which one does not win by the sacrifice. The first he draws, by this he conquers the world; the second (he draws), by this he conquers the atmosphere; the third (he draws), by this he conquers yonder world. In that they are drawn, (they serve) to conquer these worlds [1]. In the latter days they are drawn hitherward from yonder, verily having conquered these worlds they descend again towards this world. In that in the former days they are drawn thitherward from hence, therefore these worlds are thitherward from hence; in that in the latter days they are drawn hitherward from thence, therefore these worlds are hitherward from thence; therefore men depend on the worlds in variation.

To m O lord of the world, thou who hast houses above and here, do thou accord wide, great, protection to this holy power, this holy work. They should be offered for one who desires the kingdom; the Rastrabhrts are the kingdom; verily with the kingdom he wins the king dom for him; he becomes the kingdom. They should be offered for oneself; the Rastrabhrts are the kingdom, the people are the kingdom, cattle are the kingdom, in that he becomes the highest he is the kingdom; verily with the kingdom he wins the kingdom, he becomes the richest of his equals. They should be offered for one who desires a village; the Rastrabhrts are the kingdom, his fellows are the kingdom; verily with the kingdom he wins for him his fellows and the kingdom; he becomes possessed of a village [1]. He offers on the dicing-place; verily on the dicing-place he wins his fellows for him, and being won they wait upon him. They should be offered on the mouth of the chariot for him who desires force; the Rastrabhrts are force, the chariot is force; verily by force he wins force for him; he becomes possessed of force. They should be offered for him who is expelled from his kingdom; to all his chariots he should say, 'Be yoked'; verily he yokes the kingdom for him [2]. The oblations of him whose realm is not in order are disordered; he should take off the right wheel of his chariot and offer in the box; so he puts in order his oblation, and the kingdom comes into order in accord with their coming into order. They should be offered when battle is joined; the Rastrabhrts are the kingdom, and for the kingdom do they strive who go to battle together; he for whom first they offer prospers, and wins this battle. The kindling-wood is from the Madhuka tree [3]; the coals shrinking back make the host of his foe to shrink back. They should be offered for one who is mad; for it is the Gandharva and the Apsarases who madden him who is mad; the Rastrabhrts are the Gandharva and the Apsarases. 'To him hail!

p The fame of Mitra, supporter of the people, Of the god is eternal, True, and most varied in fame. q Mitra stirreth men, the wise one, Mitra supporteth earth and sky; Mitra regardeth men with unwinking (eye); To the true one, let us offer an oblation rich in ghee. r Rich in food be that mortal, O Mitra, Who, O Aditya, seeks to follow thy law; Aided by thee he is not slain nor oppressed; Affliction cometh to him neither from near nor from afar. s Whatever [5] law of thine, as men, O god Varuna, Day by day we transgress. t Whatever wrong we mortals here do Against the host divine, Whatever breach of thy laws we make through lack of thought, For that sin, O god, harm us not. u As gamesters cheat in dicing, What we know in truth or what we know not, All that do thou, O god, loosen as it were, And may we be dear to thee, O Varuna.

He offers the supporters of the kingly power; verily he wins the kingdom. He offers with six (verses); the seasons are six; verily he finds support in the seasons. 'O lord of the world', (with these words) he offers five libations at the chariot mouth; the chariot is a thunderbolt; verily with the thunderbolt he conquers the quarters [3]. In yonder world the wind blows over the piler of the fire; he offers the names of the winds; verily over him in yonder world the wind blows; three he offers, these worlds are three; verily from these worlds he wins the wind. 'Thou art the ocean, full of mist', he says; that is the form of the wind; verily by the form he wins the wind. He offers with his clasped hands, for not other wise can the oblation of these be accomplished. The chariot of the gods is yoked for the world of heaven, the chariot of man for wherever his intention is fixed; the fire is the chariot of the gods. 'Agni I yoke with glory, with ghee', he says; verily he yokes him; he, yoked, carries him to the world of heaven. If he were to yoke with all five together, his fire yoked would fall away, the libations would be without support, the Stomas without support, the hymns without support. He strokes (the fire) with three (verses) at the morning pressing; the fire is threefold [1]; verily he yokes the full extent of the fire; that is as when something is placed on a yoked cart; the oblations find support, the Stomas find support, the hymns find support. He strokes with two (verses) in the Stotra of the Yajñayajñiya; the sacrifice is as great as is the Agnistoma; a further extension is performed over and above it; verily he mounts at the end the whole extent of the sacrifice. (He strokes) with two (verses), for support; when it is not completed by one (verse), then [2] does he stroke; the rest of the sacrifice resorts to him; (verily it serves) for continuity.