Yajur Veda on Humility

e May the five regions divine aid the sacrifice, The goddesses driving away poverty and hostility, And giving to the lord of the sacrifice increase of wealth. In increase of wealth the sacrifice hath been established, Waxing great on the kindled fire, Grasped with hymns as wings, to be adored; They sacrificed embracing the heated cauldron. g When with strength the gods laboured at the sacrifice For the divine supporter, the enjoyer, Serving the gods, benign, with a hundred drinks (was it); The gods kept embracing the sacrifice [2]. h With the rays of the sun, with tawny hair, Savitr hath raised before (us) his unending light; On his instigation fareth Pusan the god, The guardian, gazing on all things. i The gods stand serving as priests for the gods; Ready (is it) for the immolator, let the immolator sacrifice; Where the fourth offering goeth to the oblation, Thence let our pure invocations be accepted. k As measurer he standeth in the midst of the sky, Filling the two worlds and the atmosphere; The all-reaching [3], the butter-reaching, he discerneth, Between the eastern and the western mark. l Bull, ocean, ruddy bird, He hath entered the birthplace of his ancient sire; In the middle of the sky is the dappled stone set down He hath stepped apart, he guardeth the two ends of space. m All songs have caused Indra to wax To encompass the ocean, Best charioteer of charioteers, True lord and lord of strength. n Let the sacrifice invite favour, and bring (to us) the gods; let the god, Agni, offer and bring (to us) the gods. o With the impulse of strength, With elevation he hath seized me; Then Indra hath made my enemies Humble by depression. p The gods have increased my prayer, Which is elevation and depression; Then do ye, O Indra and Agni, Scatter my foes on every side. a Swift, like a bull sharpening his horns, the warrior Fond of slaughter, disturber of the people, Bellowing, unwinking, sole hero, Indra at once conquered a hundred hosts.

g O thou in whom joy is taken, may I attain joy from thee; O thou who art invoked, may I obtain invocation [1] from thee. h May the prayer of the sacrificer be fulfilled for me. i With untroubled mind may I have strength for this. k May the sacrifice mount the sky, may the sacrifice reach the sky. l The path that leadeth to the gods, along it may the sacrifice go to the gods. m On us may Indra bestow power; Us may wealth and sacrifices attend Ours be blessings; To us be she dear, victorious, bountiful. n Thou art joy, give joy to us; thou art enjoyed by us [2], may I attain joy from o Mind, light, rejoice in the sacrifice May he unite this scattered sacrifice; May Brhaspati extend this for us. May the All-gods rejoice here. p Swell, O ruddy one. q May (my act) as I give be not destroyed; may (my act) as I work not perish. r Thou art the portion of Prajapati, full of strength and milk. s Protect my expiration and inspiration; protect my breathing together and cross-breathing; protect my out-breathing and cross-breathing. t Thou art imperishable, for imperishableness thee; mayst thou not perish for me, yonder, in yonder world. a By sacrifice to the divine straw, may I be possessed of children. b By sacrifice to the god Naraçansa, may I be possessed of cattle. c By sacrifice to the god Agni Svistakrt, may I attain security through the sacrifice, having long life. d May I be victorious through the victory of Agni. e May I be victorious through the victory of Soma. f May I be victorious through the victory of Agni. g May I be victorious through the victory of Agni and Soma. h May I be victorious through the victory of Indra and Agni. i May I be victorious through the victory of Indra [1]. k May I be victorious through the victory of Mahendra. I May I be victorious through the victory of Agni Svistakrt. m With the impulse of strength, With elevation he hath seized me; then Indra hath made my enemies Humble with depression.

a With the impulse of strength, With elevation he hath lifted me up; Then Indra hath made my enemies Humble by depression. b The gods have increased my prayer. What is elevation and depression; Then do ye, O Indra and Agni, Scatter my foes on every side. c To the Vasus thee, to the Rudras thee, to the Adityas thee! d Licking the anointed lot the birds go asunder. e May I not brush offispring and the organ. f Swell, ye waters and plants. g Ye are the spotted steeds of the Maruts. h Fare to the sky [1], thence bring us rain. i Guardian of life art thou, O Agni, guard my life. k Guardian of the eye art thou, O Agni, guard my eye. I Thou art the secure one. m The fence which thou didst put round thee When thou wast beset by the Panis, O god Agni, That do I bring here to thee that thou mayst rejoice in it, That it be not removed from thee. n Go ye two to the place of the gods. o Ye are sharers in the remains (of the oblation), well nourished, mighty Ye gods that are on the prastara and sit on the strew [2]. Accepting this supplication, do ye all, Seated on this strew enjoy yourselves. p I set thee in the seat of Agni whose abode is secure. q For goodwill, O ye two with goodwill, place me in goodwill. r Guard ye the yoke-horses at the yoke. s O Agni, with life unhurt, with not-cool body, guard me this day from the sky, guard from bondage, guard from error in sacrifice, guard from evil food, guard from ill deed. t Make our food free from poison, the lap pleasant to sit in; hail! u O ye gods that know the way, knowing the way, go ye the way. v O lord of mind, this sacrifice for us place among the gods, O god, hail! in speech, hail! in the wind, hail! a Ye twain shall be summoned, O Indra and Agni. Ye twain shall rejoice together in the offering. You both givers of food and riches, You both I summon for the winning of strength. b For I have heard that ye both are more generous Than a worthless son-in-law or a wife's brother.

I Be ye united, that follow holy orders, Ye that wave and are fullest of sweetness, Delightful for the gaining of wealth. m With Soma I curdle thee, curds for Indra. n O Visnu, guard the offering. a For the rite you two, for the gods may I be strong. b Thee for accomplishment! c The Raksas is burnt up, the evil spirits are burnt up. d Thou art the yoke. e Injure him who injures us, injure him whom we injure. f Thou art of gods the most firmly jointed, the most richly filled, the most agreeable, the best of carriers, the best caller of the gods. g Thou art the oblation-holder that wavers not. h Be firm, waver not. i I gaze on thee with the eye of Mitra. k Be not afraid, be not troubled, let me harm thee [1] not. l (Be thou) wide open to the wind. m On the impulse of the god Savitr, with the arms of the Açvins, with the hands of Pusan, I offer thee dear to Agni, to Agni and Soma. n This of the gods, this of us too. o For prosperity thee, not for misfortune. p May I behold the light, the radiance for all men. q May they that have doors stand firm in heaven and earth. r Fare along the wide atmosphere. s I place thee in the lap of Aditi. t O Agni, guard the offering. a Let the god Savitr purify you, with a filter that has no flaw, with the rays of the bright sun. b Ye divine waters, that go in front and first purify, forward lead this sacrifice, place in front the lord of the sacrifice. c You Indra chose for the contest with Vrtra, ye chose Indra for the contest with Vrtra. d Ye are sprinkled. e I sprinkle you agreeable to Agni, to Agni and Soma. f Be ye pure for the divine rite, for the sacrifice to the gods. g The Raksas is shaken off, the evil spirits are shaken off. h Thou art the skin of Aditi, may the earth' recognize thee [1]. i Thou art the plank' of wood, may the skin of Aditi recognize thee. k Thou art the body of Agni, loostener of speech. l I grasp thee for the joy of the gods. m Thou art the stone of wood.

w Thou art broad, and wealthy art thou. x Before the cruel foe slips away, O glorious one, Taking up the earth, with plenteous drops, The earth which they place in the moon by their offerings, Which wise men use to guide them in the sacrifice. a The Raksas is burnt up, the evil spirits are burnt up. b With Agni's keenest flame I burn you. c May I not brush the place of the cattle, I brush thee that art strong and overcomest foes. d Speech, breath, eye, ear, offspring, the organ of generation may I not brush, I brush thee that art strong and overcomest foes. e Beseeching favour, offspring, prosperity, in devotion to Agni, I gird my body for good action. f With fair offspring, with noble husbands, We are come to thee, O Agni, to thee that deceivest the foe, The undeceivable, we that are not deceived. g I loosen this bond of Varuna, Which Savitr the kindly hath bound, And in the birthplace of the creator, in the place of good action, I make it pleasant for me with my husband. h With life, with offspring, O Agni, with splendour again, As wife with my husband I am united. United be my spirit with my body. i Of the great ones thou art the milk, of plants the sap. Of thee that art the imperishable I make the offering. k Thou art the milk of the great ones, of plants the sap; with undeceived eye I gaze on thee for fair offspring. l Thou art brilliance; follow thou brilliance; may Agni not take away the brilliance. m Thou art the tongue of Agni, the good one of the gods. n Be thou (good) for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every prayer. o Thou art the shining, the radiance, the brilliance. p May the god Savitr purify you With a flawless strainer, With the rays of the bright sun. q I grasp thee shining in the shining, for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every r I grasp thee radiance in the radiance, thee resplendent in the resplendence for every sacrifice, for the gods, for every prayer. a Thou I art a black deer, living in the lair, to Agni thee, hail!

b Thou art the altar, to the strew thee, hail! c Thou art the strew,' to the ladles thee, hail d To the sky thee, to the atmosphere thee, to the earth thee! e Be thou refreshment to the fathers, strength to those that sit on f With strength go ye to the earth. g Thou art the hair-knot of Visnu. h Soft as wool I strew thee, offering a good seat to the gods. i Thou art the Gandharva, Viçvavasu (possessing all wealth), the fence of the from every attacker, praised and to be praised. k Thou art the right arm of Indra, the fence of the sacrificer, praised and to be l May Mitra and Varuna lay thee around in the north with firm law, thou art the of the sacrificer, praised and to be praised. m May the sun in the east protect thee from all evil. n May we kindle thee, O wise one, That dost invite to the sacrifice, the radiant one, O Agni, thee that art mighty at the sacrifice. o Ye two are the props of the people. p Sit on the seat of the Vasus, Rudras, Adityas. q Thou art named juhu, upabhrt, dhruva, loving the ghee, sit on thy dear seat with thy dear name. r These have sat down in the world of good action. s Protect them, O Visnu. t Protect the sacrifice, protect the lord of the sacrifice, protect me that conduct the a Thou art the world, be extended. b O Agni, sacrificer, this reverence. c O juhu, come hither, Agni summons thee for the sacrifice to the gods. d O upabhrt, come hither, the god Savitr summons thee for the sacrifice to the gods. e O Agni and Visnu, let me not step down upon you. f Be ye parted, consume me not. g Make ye a place for me, ye place-makers. h Thou art the abode of Visnu. i Hence Indra wrought mighty deeds.' k Great, grasping the sky, imperishable. 1 The sacrifice of the lord of the sacrifice is undisturbed. m Offered to Indra, hail! n Great light. o Guard me, O Agni, from misfortune, place me in good fortune. p Thou art the head of Makha, be light united with light.

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!

c Send forth thy spies, swiftest in thy motion; Be an unfailing guardian to this folk, From him who afar plans evil [1], from him who near; O Agni let no trouble from thee overwhelm us. d Arise, O Agni; spread thyself out; Burn up our foes, O thou of keen dart; Him who hath wrought evil for us, O blazing one, Do thou consume utterly like dry stubble. e Arise; drive from us (our foes); Reveal thy heavenly strength, O Agni, Slacken the strung (weapon) of the demon-driven; Crush our foes, kin or not kin. f He knows thy [2] loving kindliness, O most youthful one, Who hath given furtherance to this devotion; All happy days for him, glory, and wealth --Opening the doors of the miser--he hath revealed.' g Let him, O Agni, be fortunate and munificent, Who with constant oblation, who with praise, Seeks to delight thee in his life in his house; May all days be happy for him; be that the will. h I praise thy loving kindness; loud sounding (thou singest) a reply; Let this song of mine, beloved of thee, sing with thee [3] With good steeds and fair chariots may we adorn thee; Maintain for us the lordly power as the days go by. i Here let each serve thee readily, That shinest in the darkness, as the days go by; Happy and joyous may we attend thee That dost surpass the glories of men.' k He who with good steeds and rich in gold Approacheth thee, O Agni, with a rich chariot, His protector thou art, the comrade of him Who duly offereth thee glad reception. l The great I overcome [4] through kinship and my songs; That hath descended to me from Gotama, my sire; Pay heed to this song of ours, O Hotr, most youthful, skilful, friend of the house. m Sleepless, speedy, propitious, Unwearied, never hostile, unexhausted, May thy guardians, O Agni, taking their places here united, Protect us, O wise one. n In Thy guardians, O Agni, who seeing, Guarded from ill the blind Mamateya, He of all wisdom guarded these kindly ones; The foes that were fain to deceive could not [5] deceive.

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.

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.

He pays reverence [3]; that is his bond. He pays reverence; that is his appeal. He pays reverence; that is as if an inferior brings (something) to a superior and pays him honour. 'Thou art giver of life, O Agni; give me life', he says, for he is a giver of life. 'Thou art giver of radiance, O Agni; give me radiance', he says, for he is a giver of radiance. I Thou art guardian of the body, O Agni; guard my body', he says [4], for he is a guardian of the body. 'O Agni, whatever is deficient in my body, do thou make that good for me', he says; 'whatever is deficient in my offspring and cattle, do thou make that good for me', be says in effect. 'O thou of various splendour, in safety may I reach the end of thee', he says; that of various splendour is the night. The Brahmans aforetime feared its not dawning; verily he wins the dawn. 'Kindling thee for a hundred winters' [5], he says; man lives a hundred years and has a hundred powers; verily he rests on life and power. This is a pipe with projections; by it the gods made piercings of hundreds of the Asuras; in that he takes up the kindling-stick with this verse, the sacrificer hurls the hundred-slaying (verse) as a bolt against his enemy to lay (him) low without fail. 'Thou, O Agni, hast attained the radiance of the sun', he says; 'that thou art, thus may I be', he says in effect. 'Thou, O Agni, hast the radiance of the sun', he says; verily he invokes this blessing. 'I gaze on offspring', he says; verily he wins all the domesticated animals. 'Ye are water; may I share your water', he says, for they are water. 'Ye are greatness; may I share your greatness', he says, for they are greatness. 'Ye are might; may I share your might', he says, for they are might. 'Ye are strength; may I share your strength', he says [1], for they are strength. 'Ye wealthy ones, stay', he says; the wealthy ones are cattle; verily he makes cattle stay with himself.

Conceal not from us that form of thine What time thou dost change thy shape in battle [5]. u O Agni, give to the giver Wealth of heroes in abundance; Quicken us to richness in sons. v Give to us, O Agni, a hundred, give a thousandfold; Like doors disclose for us booty for renown; Make with the prayer sky and earth propitious; Like bright heaven the dawns have shone forth. w Agni give wealth that decketh the hero; Agni the Rsi who winneth thousands; Agni hath placed the oblation in the sky; In many a place are the abodes of Agni. x Destroy [6] us not. y Bring to us. z Thy body is faultless, Like ghee purified, like pure gold That of thine shineth like an ornament, O thou powerful one. aa O bright one, in thy mouth thou cookest Both ladles (full) of butter; Do thou make us full For our hymns, O lord of strength; Do thou bear food to the praisers. bb O Vayu, a hundred of bay (steeds) Worthy of nourishment do thou yoke; Or let the chariot of thee that hast a thousand (steeds) Come with might. cc The teams [7] wherewith thou comest to the giver, O Vayu, for seeking in the house, Grant us wealth rich in enjoyment, And a treasure of heroes, of horses, of cows. dd Rich banquets be ours with Indra, With mighty strength, Wherewith fed we may rejoice. ee Rich should he be, the praiser Of a generous and wealthy one like thee; (Famed) be (the praiser) of thee that art famed, O thou with the bays.

As the Rbhus bend the felly (of the chariot) [I] f To him, the heavenly, Now with constant voice, O Virupa, To the strong one urge the hymn of praise. g What Pani shall we lay low among the kine With the missile of this Agni Who seeth from afar? h May not the clans of the gods forsake us, Like the dawns entering the waters, As cows a poor man. i Let not the assault Of any ill-minded foe smite us, As a wave a ship. k Homage to thee, O Agni, for might, The people sing, O god; With strength [2] trouble thou the foe. l Wilt thou not, O Agni, Bring us wealth for our quest for cattle? O room maker, make room for us. m Cast us not aside in this great contest, Like a bearer his burden; Gather wealth and conquer it. n May this terror, this misfortune, O Agni, fasten on another than us; Increase our impetuous strength. o The reverent or generous man In whose offering he hath delighted, Agni aideth indeed with furtherance. p From a far [3] region Come hither to these lower ones, Favour those in the region where I am. q Since we have known of old Of thy help, O Agni, as a father's, Now we seek thy favour. r Thou, who art like a mighty man who slayeth with the dart Or a sharp-horned bull, O Agni, hast rent the forts. s O friends, together (offer) fit Food and praise to Agni, Highest over the folk, The son of strength, the mighty. t Thou gatherest, O strong one, All that belongeth, O Agni, to the niggard; Thou art kindled in the place of offering; Do thou bear us good things. u O Prajapati. v He knoweth. w O Soma and Pusan. x These gods. a Eagerly we hail thee, Eagerly would we kindle thee; Eager bring the eager, The fathers, to eat the offering. b Thou, O Soma, art pre-eminent in wisdom; Thou movest along the straightest path; Through thy guidance, O drop, our fathers wisely divided The treasure among the gods.

m Bright is part of thee, worthy of offering another [2], Like day and night of various hue, like the sky art thou; All magic thou dost further, O powerful one; Propitious here, O Pusan, be thy bounty. n They grew in might with their own power; They mounted the vault, they made a broad seat; When Visnu helped the strong one who causeth gladness, Like birds they sat on the dear strew. o Bear ye variegated praise to the strong singer, The host of the Maruts, which hath strength; Who with might endure might [3], For the jocund ones, O Agni, the earth shakes. p The All-gods. q O All-gods. r May sky and earth this day Place among the gods this sacrifice, Successful, touching the sky. s Bring forward the parents born of old with now songs, In the seat of holy order, Come to us, O sky and earth, with the host divine; Great is your protection. t Awaken Agni with the praise, Kindling the immortal; May he place our oblations among the gods. u Bearing the oblation, immortal, The eager messenger, well-inclined, Agni uniteth with our prayer. v Health be they. w For each prize.

v O bright one, in thy mouth thou cookest Both ladles (full) of butter; Do thou make us full [6], For our hymns, O lord of strength; Do thou bear food to thy praisers. w O Agni to-day, let us make to prosper by praises, By devotions, for thee this (sacrifice) like a (good) steed, Like a noble resolve which toucheth the heart. x O Agni, thou hast become master Of noble resolve, of true inspiration, Of mighty holy order. y With these songs singing to thee, O Agni, This day let us pay worship; Thy strengths thunder forth as from the sky. z At these our hymns of praise do thou be propitious [7], Like the light of heaven, O Agni, propitious with all thy faces. aa Agni I deem the Hotr, the generous wealth-giver, The son of strength, the all-knower, Who knoweth all as a sage, bb Who offereth sacrifice well, With beauty soaring aloft towards the gods, the god, Following the flames of the ghee, Of the butter of brilliant radiance when offered up. cc O Agni, be thou our nearest, Our protector, kindly, a shield; dd Thee, O shining and most radiant one, We implore for favour, for our friends. ee Agni, bright, of bright fame, Come hither in thy greatest splendour and give us wealth. a I yoke thee in bonds of fellowship with Indra and Agni, with the ghee sprinklings, with brilliance, with radiance, with the hymns, with the Stomas, with the metres, for the increase of wealth, for pro-eminence among thy fellows; I yoke thee in bonds of fellowship with me. b Amba, Duhi, Nitatni, Abhrayanti, Meghayanti, Varsayanti, Cupunika, art thou by name, with Prajapati, with our every prayer, I deposit thee. c The earth penetrated by food, a reservoir of water (thou art), men are thy guardians, Agni is placed in this (brick), to it I resort, and may it [1] be my protection and my refuge. d The over-sky penetrated by holy power, the atmosphere (thou art); the Maruts are thy guardians, Vayu is placed in this (brick), to it I resort, and may it be my protection and my refuge.

k Enkindled, O Agni, shine before us, O most youthful, with unfailing beam; Ever upon thee strength awaiteth. I Let us pay homage to thee in thy highest birth, O Agni; Let us pay homage with praises in thy lower abode; The place of birth whence thou didst come, to that I offer; In thee when kindled they offered the oblations. m That various lovingkindness given to all men, Of Savitr the adorable, I choose, That mighty fat cow of his which Kanva milked, Streaming with a thousand (draughts) of milk [4]. n Seven are thy kindling-sticks, O Agni, seven thy tongues, Seven seers, seven dear abodes; Seven Hotras sevenfold sacrifice to thee Seven birthplaces with ghee do thou fill. o Such like, other like, thus like, similar, measured, commensurate, harmonious; p Of pure radiance, of varied radiance, of true radiance, the radiant, true, protector of holy order, beyond distress [5]; q Winning holy order, winning truth, host-conquering, having a good host, with within, with foes afar, the troop; r Holy order, true, secure, supporting, supporter, upholder, upholding; s Such like, thus like, do ye come to us, similar and equal. t Measured and commensurate, to aid us, harmonious, at this sacrifice, O Maruts. u On Indra attend the divine folk, the Maruts; even as the divine folk, the Maruts, attend on Indra, so may the folk divine and human, attend on this sacrificer. The Horse Sacrifice a As of a thunder-cloud is the face of the warrior As he advanceth to the lap of the battles; Be victorious with unpierced body; Let the might of thine armour protect thee. b By the bow cows, by the bow the contest may we win, By the bow dread battles may we win; The bow doth work displeasure to the foe; By the bow let us win in all the quarters. c As if about to speak it approacheth the ear, Embracing its dear comrade, Like a woman this bowstring twangeth stretched over the bow [1], Saving in the battle.

As men being freed from bonds cry aloud, so the sacrificers freed from the bonds of the gods cry aloud, placing food and strength in themselves. The lute has a hundred strings. Man is of a hundred (years) of age, and of a hundredfold strength; verily they find support in age and strength. They run a race, to win what has not yet been won. They beat drums; the voice of the drum is the highest (form of) speech; verily they win the highest (form of) speech. They beat the earth-drum; verily they win that speech which has entered this (earth); verily also they conquer the earth. All (forms of) speech they utter, to gain all (forms of speech). Two strive on a dry hide, to gain strength. One reviles, another extols. He who reviles purifies them, he who extols places food in them after they are purified. They win by the first months what is done by the Rsis and by the gods; in that the Bhutechad Samans are used, both are gained. Those who perform the year rite lose their virility. There are a pair united within the sacrificial ground; verily they lose not virility. vii. 5. 10. They pierce the hide; verily they remove the sin of the (sacrificers). 'Do not miss, do not pierce through', he says; verily they now remove their sin. Slave girls dance round the Marjaliya fire with water-pots on their heads, beating the ground with their feet, and singing 'This is honey.' Honey indeed is the chiefest food of the gods; verily they win the chiefest food. They beat the ground with their feet; verily they endow the (sacrificers) with might. The Horse Sacrifice (continued) vii. 5. 11. To earth hail! To the atmosphere hail! To the sky hail! To that which will stream together hail! To that which is streaming together hail! To that which hath streamed together hail! To that which will cloud hail! To that which cloudeth hail! To that which hath been clouded hail! To cloud hail! To mist hail! To storm hail! To freezing hail! To springing hail! To that which will lighten hail!