Kāṇḍa 18 — Funeral hymns

Fain woald T win my friend to kindly friendship. So may the Sage, oome through the air's wide ooean»

Thy friend loves not the friendship which considers her who is near in kindred as a stranger. Sons of the mighty Asura, the heroes, supporters of the heaven, see far around them. > 8 Tea, this the Immortals seek of thee with longing, a scion of the only man existing.

Yaml speaks.

Shall we do now what we ne'er did aforetime ? we

Even in the womb G^ Tvash^ar, vivifier, shaping

Who yokes to-day unto the pole of Order the strong

Of Taiima and Mitrat as the moral Governors of the world. To tempi them: the meaning of tCAyi is uncertain. The St P. Lexicon expUins it by «deoeitfuUy.' 'What sayest thon, who pmiishest men with heU ! '—Wilson. Prof. Ludlrig takes It to be an irregular indefinite participle of tyvic^ to embrace: when thou hast embrmced the (other) men.

I Yaml am possessed by love of Yama, that I may

They stand not still, they never close their eyelids^

May SArya's eye with days and nights endow him,

Sure there will come succeeding times when brothers

Tama replies. This and the following stama are the expansion «f one verse of the {Ugvoda bjrmn.

I will not fold mine arms about thy body : they call

Alas I thou art indeed a weakling, Yams. We find

Embrace another, Yaml. Let some other, even as

Three hymns the Sages have disposed in order, the

Stanxas 18 — 26 constitute, with occasional Tariations, the ele- Tenth hymn of Book X. of the Kigveda, the subject being the origin and institution of sacrifice which was first established by Agni under ilie authority of VaruQa. The BhU: or, the strong; the mighty Soma. Fwr the Bull: for mighty Vampa. Tke miik </ kmutmj the divine Soma juice, to be UMd at sacrifice* The Son of Aditi: the.

Ghmdharvi spake. May she, the Lisdy of the Flood

Tea, even this blessM Morning, rioh in store of food,

And the fleet Falcon brought for sacri6ce from afar

Still art thou kind to him who feeds thee as With grasSf and skilled in sacrifice offers thee holy gifts^ When thou having received the sage's streDgtbeding food with lauds» after long toil comest with many

Hear us, O Agni, in the great assembly : harness thy rapid car, the car of Amrit Bring Heaven and Earthy the Deities' Parents, hither : stay with us here, nor from the Gk>ds be absent.

Agni hath looked upon the van of Mornings^ and on the days the earliest J&tavedas* After the Dawns, after their rays of brightnessi SArya hath entered into earth and heaven*

Agni hath looked against the van of MorningSp

Heaven and Earth, first by everlasting Order, speak^^

As Qod oomprising Gods by Law eternal, bear, as

Thejleet Falcon : Agni hi the form of Ughtniqg. TJk J f tw i m g dfdp: Soma. See A. Y. VL 48. 1, note.

When the Cow's nectar wins the God completely,

Far famed is he, the mortal man, Agni thou Son of Strength, who hath obtained thy favour. He, gathering power, borne onward by bis horses^, makes his days lovely in his might and splendour/

ffvMsla'fifiMttlN^.'heaTen, the abode of the Sun.

SUga : said to be a certain bi'ting or stingbg insect. According to Styaoa, ' the aggre^ion of rsys, the Sun.' Pro! Lndwig snggesta that the plough»hare maj be meant, whidi tonis np tl^ soil and exposes it to tlie influonoe of the son. Vtgrutfa : here, apparenUj, re- presenting the Sun whooe lays penetrate even the thick wood. C& R. y. y. 48. 5, where &^3ra9a explains vdrumf^ a8ana4jectave»faiiiosdr

Sing praise to him the chariot^borne, the famous.

The pious call Saras va 1, they* worship Sarasvatl

Sarasvatl is called on by the Fathers who come right

Sarasvatl, who comest with the Fathers, joying ia

May they ascend, the lowest, highest, midmost, the

I have attained the graoioas-minded Fathers, I have gained son and progeny from VisbQa. Tbej who enjoy pressed juices with oblation, seated on saored grass, oome oftenest hither.

Mltall prospers there with Kavyas, Yama with

Tea. this is good to taste and full of sweetness, verily

Now be this homage offered to the Fathers, to those who passed of old and those who followed. Those who have rested in the earthly region, and those who dwell among the happy races.

PaitMTt: or dwelling.

Fathers who sit on sacred grass, oome* help os :

Bowing their bended knees and seated southward let

This stania, which appears to have been inserted mereljon ao^

Oo forth, go forth upon the homeward pathways

Gk> hence, depart ye, fly in all directions. This world

We, splendid men, deposit thee, we, splendid men,

Tvasb^r prepares the bridal for his daughter : there- fore the whole of this our world assembles.

Come, Tama, with Ans^rases, the holy ; rejoice thee here with children of VirApa, Seated on sacred grass at this oblation : I call-¥iva8- v4n too, thy father, hither. '40 Gome, seat thee on this bed of grass, O Tama, accord- ant with Angirases and Fathers.

Am^truei and Faihen : or, perhaps, Angirases our Fathers.

Taken from 9. V. X. 15. 4.

Thu: Agni ; the fin. The stansa » taken from R V. X. 16. 18.

CkUdrmi of Vir4pa : the Vaurilpas, a eub^iTieioo of the Angiraees.

Hath the Kiaj seized as? How have we offended agaiast his holy Ordinanoe? Who knoweth? For even Mitra mid the Gh>ds is angry. There are both song and wealth for those who come not

The second half of thtf fint line is repeated from line 1 of stansa

They in the synod where the Qods rejoice them^

When, holpr Agni, the divine assembly, the holy synod mid the Gods, is gathered, And when thou, godlike One, dealest forth treasures, vouchsafe us too our portion of the riches.

Companions, let us learn a prayer to Itidra whom

For thou by slaying Vritra art the Vritra-slayer,'

'Tb hard to understand the ImmortaFs nature, where she who is akin becomes a stranger. Guard ceaselessly, great Agoi, him who ponders Yama's name easy to be comprehended. .

Foe Tama Soma juice flows clear, to Tama ia obia*

Offer to Yama sacrifice most sweet ia savour and

Burn him not up, nor quite consume him, AgnL

When thou hast made him ready, JAtavedas, then

With the three jars Bfihat alone makes pure the six

The Sun reo(»ive thine eye, the wind thy spirit ; go, ./ as thy merit is^ to earth or heaven.

Away, O Agni, to the Fathers send him who, offered in thee, goes with our oblations. Wearing new life let him approach his ofispring, and splendid, be invested with a body.

Run and outspeed the two dogs, SaramiL*8 offspnog,

And those two dogs of thine, Tama, the watchers^

Dark-hued, insatiate, with distended nostmls^YamaV

For some the Soma iuice runs clear, some sit bjr

Let him, <> Yama, go to those l^ishis austere, of

The heroes who contend in war and boldly cast their

Let him, O Yanm, go to those Rishis austere, of

Be pleasant unto him, O Earth, thornless and lulling

In the free amplitude, of earth take roomy space to

Floating in water, bringing streams, let Maruts carry tbee aloft, And causing coolness by their rush sprinkle thee with their falling raiii.

Let not thy soul be left behind r here let not aught of thee ren^ain. Of spirit, body, men^bers. sap.

Let not a tree oppresa thee, nor Earth the grea^

Him have the living banished ftx)ra their housea!:

Those Dasyus who, not eating our oblations, come

Addnned to the spirit that has juttpaMed awajr tohsatm, Ceif : that siippliea the mail reqoiisd for th^ oblalioa«

Hither I call thy spirit with my spirit Come thou, . delighted, to these dwelling-places. ' Unite thee with the Fathers and with Yama : strong and delicious be the winds that fan tbee.

t7«M Miajr : pinpUk; abandoned at death to be deroured bj 'eimironHis beasts and birda. JBxpomd: tiddkitd^; cast out bj thdr Idndred In eztrame old age to die of hunger, as appean to have been the case with Pkaska^Ta (R. Y. VAkkhilja^ 3. 8). Thia custom was sanctktoedbjtheOld Oennan law, and accordiiig to Strabo was loUow- sd bj baniani^ Baotriana* and Maangetae. See Zimmer, Altindisches

nt as» .* wHh which sacrificial rlctims were slaughtered.

iytiiu£i^aif<ifmfi«;iegaideda8thenataialdiiiatioQorhamanl^

This date we order, etc.

This date we limit, etc.

This date we measure, etc.

This date we mete out, etc.

This date we stablish, etc.

The period I have measured— come to heaven. I

Inbreath and outbreath, breath diffused, life, sight

Unmarried men who toiled and have departed, the

The lowest is the Watery heaven, Pilumatl the mid-

The Fathers of our Father, his Grandfathers, those

Coftr kirn : eorer Ihe inanied remains of ihs eorpsa. .

This onoe, and at no other time hereafter in a length- ened life: Cover him, as a wife, Earth, covers her husband with her robe I

rA#/oa<4<t<4<tW(/€»: a/Biy(fWI^;s6oalMK¥aaUnis8 8, 9. The 8t PMsrthiiig l4ezlooD tuggests a^jnf^ikai^ leading straight to the goal Most Mss. haye 9j[»pd!kaiht which ts meaningless.

Ouard of the world, whose cattle ne'er are injured, may

Lord of all life, let Ayu guard thea, Pik^han convey

For thee I yoke these carriers twain to bear thee to

This is the robe that first was wrapped about thee :

Ye have prepared, pathmakers, Agni-Soma, a fair world for the Gods to be their treasure. €K> to that world and'send us P&<ihan hither to bear us on the paths the goat hath trodden. .^.

From his dead hand I take the staff he carried, to-

From his dead hand I take the how he carried, to-

M#fiesrrMr*«' PAshanaqd SaYftar. ' ^^ '

Bring thou the Fathers one and all, Agni, to eat

Those, whether flames have burnt or not consumed

Bum gently, Agni, burn not up the body with too

I give this place to him who hath come hither and

MrUvu: Death, tha ounister and m^aaeDgjBC of the King of ihs Departed. CTalaaeJ^atA^rt^ brought thenvfroiaths Fathen, aoooi4r ipg to HiUebnndt (YediBGhe Mythologie, L 610). > 2S D<uyu9> barbariaaaMkd ftBoda who aitfaU/ mii^ with the 'bofy eompaoy^ «

Choosing her hnsband's world, O man, this woman lays herself down beside thy Hfeless body, . Preserving faithfully the ancient custom. Bestow upon her here both wealth and offspring.

Rise, come unto the world of life, O woman : come,

To iksiUad: mritebk^kf m gi^en in Whitners Index Yerborum, Instead of fie^jrajk of the MSa and the text If the latter leading

Knowing the world of living beings, Aghnyft I tread^

Craving heaven and eane : eagorij oooaumiiig the diy bamboos and flaming up to the sky.

Taken, with a variation, from R. Y. X. 56. 1. The spirit of the dead is addressed. Oh€ light : the fire of the funeiml pile. Another: in the firmament. The third: the li.;ht in the highest heaven above the firmament A hodg : a renewei bodj after erematioo. Jimneiom : eadhdithe. The R. Y. haAjanilre^ birth-plaoe.

I looked and saw the youthful dame escorted, thd

Prepare thy body : speed thou on thpr journey : let not thy limbs, thy frame be left behind thee. Follow to its repoiie thy resting spirit : go to what- ever spot of earth thou lovest.

With splendour may the Fathers, meet for Soma,

May Agni balm me thoroughly with splendour;

Yowul: see XVIIL 1, fint note. 0/ wwrtah: the CkxU were originsllj tabject to desth.

Depart, O Fathers, and again come hither : this

Kai]iva, Kakshlvftn, Piiruiul(j[ha, Agastya, Sy&vAsva,

Vasish^ha, Jamadagni, Vifv&mitra, Gotama, Vftma*

They, making for themselves a new existence, wash

Worship with sacrificial gift King Yama, VivasvAn's son who gathers men together, Tama who was the first to die of mortals, the first who travelled to the world before us.

Fathers, be glorious in yourselves, and follow all

As in the days of old our ancient Fathers, speeding

Gk>ds, doing holy acts, devout, resplendent, smelting

We have worked for thee, we have toiled and labour-

From eastward Indra, Lord of Maruts, guard me, as

DhAtar with Nirpti save me from southward, etc,

From westward Aditi with Adityas save me I etc.

Strong One! he marked them, and the Gods before^ theu), like herds of cattle in a foodfiil pasture. There men moaned forth their strong desires, to strengthen even the tme, the nearest One, the living.

Toward the western region, ^tc. • -

Strong OtuI: O migfatr AgnL Ht jmarked them: Indra mw the kine or impritoned dayi. Tk4 Gotli hrfbrt them : the diTine Augiimiae standing in front of the eave. Tk* Itm, tk§ newrtU mm, tk$ Uwing: ' Agni i^»pean to be meant

Thau: AgnL

Thia and the three following ataniaa are taken, with irariations and transpositione, from JgL V. X. 13. 1 — i. Fi Aova caau.* the Tone ia addreaaeci to the two deified carta or barrowa, called Ha?irdliinaa or ob- lation-holders, on which the Soma planta are brooght to be p r e ai e d.

Three paces hath the stake ffone up, and followed

Chose he then, death for Gods to be their portion ?

Thou, Agni J&tayedas, when entreated, didst bear

Fathers whom Agni's flames have tasted, come ye nigh : in perfect order take ye each your proper place. Eat sacrificial food presented on the grass : grant riches with a multitude of hero sons.

May they, the Fathers who deserve the Soma, invito ed to their favourite oblations Laid on the sacred grass, come nigh and listen. May they be gracious unto us and bless us.

Come to us, Agni, with the gracious Fathers who

Lamped in the bosom of the purple Mornings, give riches to the man who brings oblation. Ghant to your sons a portion of that treasure, and, present, give them enei^, O Fathers.

This and the four following stanias are taken, with slight Tari- ations, from j^ V. X. 16. 7, 11, 5, S, 9. Lapptd in ik$ homm of lAs |nif:p<eireriitiipt;' Seated in the proximity of the radiant flames (of the altMr).'— Wilscn. The feminine a^jectiTe arwfUMlm (purpurearum oi' hibnnim) stands without a BubataatiT. The Fatbert are add r e ssed ^ •

Now let the heaving earth be free from motion : yea,

Pilhr: a mound or pile of olods raised on the place off intec^ ment

The chaTice brimming o'er which era* Athanran offered to Indra, Lord of wealth and treasure, Indu therein sets draught of virtuous action, and ever puri€es himself within it 5$ What wound soe'er the dark bird hatli inflicted, the . emmet, or the serpent, oT the jackal,

Tkken from 9. v. X. IS. «. I%* da»t bird: Hunxm or crow. B« Taken from ¥• V. X. 17, 14. Jtiek m mOi : tnU ot u.^, figam,

The plants of earth are rich in milk, and rich in milk

Let these unwidowed dames with ffoodly husbands

Meet Yama, meet the Fathers, meet the merit of

Our Father's Fathers and their sires before them,

Let the hoar-frost be sweet >ta thee, sweetly on thee

Vivasvftn make us free from fear and peril, good res;

In immortality Vivasv&n set us t ' Gh> from us Death,

TkiSaget/Fathin: Xanuk

Mount and ascend to highest heaven, O ]^his i be ye not afraid.

Takii^ with TarialioD^ from 9. V. X. & 1. 2<^ tonMT: tba Ughtning. ITolff^ 6moi»: the depth of the flrmameDt

Tftken from 9^ V. X. 128. 6. Tk^ei Agni id^tifiedwith th^ Son. The original hjnm is addrewe d ; to Veni, appftrentlj the Son s% ho riMi fai the miet and okmd of the momfaig. To <V Aeaie ^ FsMa ^ to the plsoe where he eete end dieeppeen^

lUen fimn 9. ▼. yn. 82. 16.

Let these which €K>ds have hield for thee, the beakem covered o'er with cake, Be foil of sacred food for thee, ^stilling &tness, rich in mead.

Ci 9. y. X. 16. 14. AiunUi: appareotljr a diuty prendiDg orer*

O Tree, give back again this man who is deposited on thee. That he may dwell in Tama's home luldressbg tho; assemblies there.

3eize hold, O Jfttayedas ; let thy flame be full of fer-

To those, thy Fathers who have passed away at first

Mount to this life, removing all defilement : hcore thine own kindred shine with lofty splendour. . Depart thou ; be not left behind : go forwardi first of those here, unto the world of lathers.

Toward the eastward region I supply thee, before

Toward the southern region, eta

Toward the. northern region, etc*

Toward the stedfast region, etc.

Toward the upmost region I suj^ply thee, before thou

Thou art the Bull, Supporter, and Upholder,

Who purifiest wind and mead and water.

From this side and from that let both assist me. As,

Sit near, sit very n^r beside our Soma : for you I

BiSB to your mother, flames of Jfttavedas I I seiid you up by paths which Fathers traverse.

The Seasons, Deities, form and order Worship, but- ter, cake, ladles, sacrificial weapons.

iSwireliieM/.'or,. honey, in the liftm of Ubatieae.

{Three eagles in the re^^on's roar are standing high on heaveirs ridge in their appointed station. The Tfrorlds of Svarga shall, filled full of Amrit, yield food and power to him who saorifioeth.

XTpabhtit stablished air, Jnhii the heaven, DhmvA

Ihegr ford the mighty rivers by the pathway which

Carefully look on Sacrifice's pathway whereon the Angirases, the righteous, travel

Eastward let east fire happily consume thee, and westward happily the Gftrhapatya. Burn southern fire, thine armour and protection : from air's mid-re^on from the north and centre^ on all sides, Agni, guard thou him firom horror, f

Do ye, with your most kindly forms,. O Agni, waft,

Happily from the rear burn this, man, Agni, happily

Happily lit^ let fires, each Jfttavedas, seiie on Prajft*

Fain to fly up from the sky*s^ ridge to heaven, the worshipper hath mounted visible AgnL Lucid from out the mist to him, the pious, gleams the Gk>d-travelled path that leads to Svarga^

On thy right hand let Indra be thy Brahman, Byi-

Enriched with cake and mUk here let the Charu resi World-makers, makw9 of the path, we worship you

Enriched with cake and curds, etc. (as in stansa I6)*

Sacrifice, duly offered, comes preparing the saorifioer

Enriched with cake and butter, eta

Enriched with cake and flesh, etc^

Enriched with cake and food, eta

Enriched with cake and mead, eta

Here, mixt with cake and water rest the Charo t World-makers, makers of the path, we worship those" G^ods of you who here partake oblations. 2a Let these which Gods have held for thee, theso ' beakers covered o'er with cake, Be full of sacred food for thee, cUstilling fiitness, rich

Gnuns which for thee I scatter, mixt with Sesamum^ as holy food,— May they for thee be excellent and potent. Emg Yama look on them as thine with &vour I ^7 More immortality t

Enriched with cake and juide, eta

Those who observe men look on wealth as VAyu with countless streams, and as light-finding Arka; Those drain out Guerdon sprung from seven mothers^ who satisfy and evermore give presents.

The cask, tke beaker : metaphorio|i exprea^ioiia for the roring and aooxoe of abundance. Fattr-koledi aa rop r eae nting the odder of the cow of plenty. I^d; repreaenting the comfort and bleaaingB whicU apring from aacrifioe. The legend of I4II aa daughter of Wana ia told at length in SaUpatha-Br&hmava, L 8. 1. 1—29. ffei g ktenim^ $§rengik: dieatrotHmd gedeihn yeMht [flieaaen llaat] den Isotan.—

Thia and tbe three following ataasaa are addreaaed to the ^iiit of the dead. STftii Mfliitv : the akin H)f tba animal aaerifioed at the

Thegrmne: 8eeatania26.

Waters, send Agni forward to the Fathers : let them accept the sacrifice I offer. May they who follow Vigour that abideth there send ua down weailtii with full store of heroes.

The minted draught, the mes9 of rice, the flesh

Grains which for thee I scatter, mixt with Sesamum,

This is the ancient, this the recent pathway, by

The pious call Sarasvatt: they worship Sarasvati

Approaching on the south our solemn worship, the

Sarasvati, who earnest with them, joying in hymns

As Pfithivi rests on earth, so do I seat thee. May

Depart ye two : wipe ye away whatever omens of

From a ffood quarter have we ^ined this guerdon,

I bring this clipped grass hither for the Fathers :

Set on this grass thou hast become a victim. Fathers

The royal Parqia is the caldrons* cover : strength have .■* we gained, force, power, and might, and vigour. Bestowing length of life upon the living, for long existence through a hundred autumns.

Let thy bright smoke envelop thee, spread forth, O

Gmrdm : saoriflcial fses in the shape of a miloh-oo«r. Beat ^hui wim PigiUuir: tnnsport them in due time.

Clifptd grmm: saerifieial glass, duly trimmed, as the ritoal

Pturfm : the wood of the Palftfa, as the tree was afterwards the Botes Frondosa. The ladle called Jiih4 and the ooven of

The share of vigour which eave this man being, the stone won lorddiip over roods that nourish. Hymn this with your oblations, V isvftmitras : may he, may Yama, lengthen our existence.

As the Five Races of mankind for Tama set apart a

Take thou and wear this piece of gold, the gold thy

To all, the living and the dead, all that are bom, the

Taken, with TariaUons, from fL T. DC 86. 19. Tk»BM: the migh^Soma.

'i:Uen,withairariation,froin9>T.VI.S.6. Addrsssed to AgnL

Td Agni, bearer of. oblation tothe Manes^.be Haill*

To Soma connected; with, the F&thers Hail I andc

To Yama connected, with, the Fathers HailJ and.

To thee, O Great-grandfather, and those with thee-

To tliee, Father, be this cry of Hail f:

Hail to tlie Fathers who inhabit earth I:

Hiul to^the Fithers whainhabit the firmament r

They for their weal drain out the cask, the beaker

On thee doth Savitar the Gh>d bestow this vesture for

The grains of com have now become a cow, the

Let the green grains become thy white and speckled,

I offer in Vaisv&nara this oblation, thousandfold

Beside the spring with hundred, thousand currents,

This pile of wood, collected, heaped together, regard'^

Tbken, with wriattODS, from JjiY.X. 17.11. Tl&e atanm kk Vaidly int^blo. jRW tfro|i la apparantly tha Soma, and not, aa

Oiving the son and grandson satisfaction, let these

Ijei these become thy milch-kine, loaD 1 sopplyiog all thy heart's desires. There, speckled, white, like-hued and various-eoloared, with calves of Sesamum let them stand beside thee.