Adhyāya 2: Darśapūrṇamāsa, continued

Thott art a black-buck dwelling in the covert I sprinkle

Thou art what giveth Aditi her moisture. Thou art the

For safety of this all let the Gandharva Vifv&vasu lay thee

Thee, Sage, who offerest to Gods their banquet, we will

Thou art a kindler. From the east let Sarya keep thee

Thou who art called Juhd art rich in fatness. On this dear

Agni, Winner of the Spoil, I cleanse thee, thee who wilt

Here begins tbe ceremony of laying the ^riiiAi or enclosing-sticks, made of PalAfa or other sacred wood, round the sacrificial fire. Vi^vdvasu :

Agnl, nod^rtake the Hotar^s office, take on thyself the

Indra bestow on me that ludra-power ! May wealth in full

The Father Heaven hath been invited hither. May Heaven

Ood Savitar, this sacrifice of thine have they proclaimed

The batter's rapid flow delight his spirit ! Bphaspati extend

The kindUng-etick is consecrated by the Hotar. Food : or spoil, wealth. the prise.

After the victor j of Agni Soma may I obtain the victory.

For Vasus thee. For Rudras thee. Thee for Adityas.

The stick which thou, God Agni, laidest round thee, what

The residue ye have to be your portion, mighty by food, ye

Rieh in oil are ye. Guard tb^ two yoke-fellows. Ye two are full grace, to grace conduct me. Glory to thee, Sacrifice, and increase ! Stand firm in my auspicious, righteous worship.

Agni: he grasps the two spoons, the sruk or Juhd and the sruva. In the home good totUin: Mahtdhara alternatively supplies, ' establish me.' Lord of close embracements: oblation is oftered to Agni as a God who presides oTer the production of children, and to Sarasvat! or Vftk, Gk>ddeBs of Speech and Eloquence, who will make them famous.

Veda art thou, whereby, O godlike Veda, thou hast become

Blest be the Grass with sacred food and butter. Let Indra

Who liberates thee from the jroke? He^reeethee. For whom I

We have combined with lustre, vigour, bodies ; we have

By Jagati metre in the sky strode Vishnu. Therefrom ex-

Thou, noblest ray of light, art Self-existent. Giver art thou

Agni, may^I become a good householder, thiougli thee,

I have performed the vow. Lord of Vows, Agni ! Full power

To Agni Hail I who \mxk gifto due to Sagee. To Soma Hail! accompanied by Fathers.

Agni of unweakened strength, far*reaching, protect me from the lightniug-flash, protect me from bondage, from defect in sacrificing, from food injurious to health protect me.

Obeisance to your genial sap, Fathers! Fathers, obeisance unto you for Ardour I Fathers, obeisance unto you for Svadh& ! Obeisance unto you for Life, Fathers ! Fathers, to you obeisance for the Awful ! Fathers, obeisance unto you for Passion ! Fathers, unto you be adoration. Bestow upon us houses, ye Fathers. Of what is ours, O

Bearen of vigour aod immortal fatness, milk and sweet be- verage and foaming liquor, ye are a freshening draught. Delight my Fathers.

Fathers, bestow on me a babe, a boy enwreathed with lotuses, so that there may be here a man.

The Grass : the Barhis or altar grass. Mahtdhara explains the verse diffsrently : Together with Adityas, Vasus, Maruts, and Visvedevas, thoroughly may Indn anoint the Grass with butter like to havis (sacred food). Sidhd'O^Mnfft : duly consecrated oblations. JBeavenly ether : the Swi in baaven.