YV 5.1k

' they say; 'he who day by day makes a present to a man and then begs of him assuredly molests him; and who then will day by day beg of the gods?' Then they say, 'The sacrificer sacrifices for the sake of the benediction.' The reverence of the fire is [6] the benediction of him who has established a fire; therefore reverence should be paid to the fire. Prajapati created cattle; being created they entered day and night; he recovered them by means of the metres. In that he pays reverence with the metres, he seeks to recover his own. 'There is not monotony then', they say, 'if one pays reverence day by day.' If a man pays reverence to the fire facing it, it burns him; if with averted (face), he is deprived of offspring and cattle; he should pay reverence with (face) somewhat to the side, then (the fire) does not burn him, he is not deprived of offspring or cattle. a The name that first, O alI-knower, My father and my mother bestowed upon me aforetime, Do thou bear it until I return; O Agni, may I bear thy name. b My name and thine, O all-knower, Which like men changing garments we bear, Let us exchange again, Thou for life, and we to live. c Homage to Agni, the unpierced, Homage to the unapproachable, homage to the king! Irresistible is Agni [1], the very vigorous, all-conquering, Powerful, the best, the Gandharva. d O Agni, the gods have thee for father, Offer to thee oblations, and have thee as an umpire With life, with lordship of cattle (endow) me And bestow on me good fortune. e Agni here is of all the best, He is most adorable, Must ready to win (us) a thousand; To him be all good strength. f Mind, light, rejoice in the oblation May he unite the scattered sacrifice; The offerings at dawn and evening I unite with oblation and ghee. g Rich in milk are the plants [2], The milk of the shoot is rich in milk, With the milk of the milk of the waters, O Indra, do thou unite me.