Adhyāya 8: Soma Sacrifice, continued

Takiv upon a baae art thou. Thee for the Aditjaft. Here, Far-stridiug Yisbii^u, is thy Soma. Guard it from injury. Let them not harm thee.

Ne'er art thou fruitless, Indra; ne'er dost thou desert thy

Never art thou neglectful : thou guardest both races with

The sacrifice obtains the Gods' acceptance. Be graciously

This is thy Soma draught, bright Aditya : take delight

Fair wealtk, Savitar, to-day, to-morrow, fair wealth pro-

He addresses the Soma io the cup.

Taken upon a base art thou.

He drawn tJie Pfttnlvata C4ip or liibation to Him with Consorts, here meaning Soma. £fiha»p<Ui*$ ton : poured forth by priests whose representa- tive iB Bphaspati. Jnd» : drop, juice ; a common name of Soma. Contorts :

Agni, associate with tbe Dames, accordant with the God

Of sin against the Gods thou art atonement. Of sin against

We with our bodies have again united, with lustre, vital sap,

Lead us with thought to wealth in kine, Indra, to princes.

Verse 14 repeated.

May this please Savitar and liberal Dh&tar, Praj&pati the

Gods, we have ntade your seats eatty of access, who, pleased

The fifth, with the text from A. V. VII. 97. 3. EaUt^ : the aacrifictal rice cakes. JDrunktn: libations of Soma.

Here, Agni, as this sacrifice proceedetk, have we elected thee

Do ye, Gods, discoverers of the Pathway, go forward on

Go, Sacrifice, to the saoiifice : seek thou the sacrifice's lord,

Become no serpent thou, become no viper.

The Sacrificer throws a kindling-stick into the water and makes an ofPering thereon with four ladlefuls of butter.

Thy heart is in the flood, withiu the waters, With thee let

This, celestial Waters, is your offspriug. Support him

restless Purifyti^ Bath, thou glidest onward restlesrij. May I with aid of . Gods remove the stain of sin against the . Gods, and wash away with mortals' help the wrong that hath been done to men. Preserve me, God, from injury, from the loud-ioaring demon foe. Thou art the fuel of the Gods.

thou : the YasA or Sacrificial Cow is addressed, ffim : the embryo calf.

Multiform, rick in wondrous operation, the strong juice hath enrobed itself with greatness. I^t the worlds praise her uuiped and biped, three-footed and four-footed and eight-footed. AlUbaii I <Zl Verily, best of guardians hath he in whose dwelling-place ye drink,

When the Samishtayajus oblations are finished, he takes the embryo wrapped in a bandage and offers it on the sacrificial hearth to the Marutg, with the text from B. Y. I. 86. h

May Heaven and Earth, the Mighty Pair, besprinkle this our sacrifice. And feed us lull with nourishments.

Harness thy pair of strong Bay Steeds, long-maned, whose

His pair of tawny Coursers bring Indra of unresisted might Hither to Bishis' songs of praise and sacrifice performed by

Than whom there is none other born more mighty, who

Indra chief Lord and Varuna the Sovran have made this

Let, still unborn, the ten-month calf move with the follow- ing after-birth.

Ariaiiig ia thy mi^t thy jawa thoa Aooke9t» Incfara^ hxna^

Bis herald rays are seen afar refulgent o'er the world of

His herali rays hear him aloft, the. God who knowetb all

Smell thou the yat. Let Soma drops pass into thee^ O

IdH, delightful, worshipful, Aoveable, splendid, shining (fee. Inviolable, full of sap, the M^hty One, most glorious, These are thy names,^0 Cow : ^ell thou the Gods that l act

Oltidraibe^ oar foi^away, bumble the men who eballeDg^.ut: Send dovii to nether darkuesg him who eeeks to do us injury. Taken upon a base art thou. For Iadra« £oei4i8fteIler» . t^ee. This ia diy hon^e. For Iadra> fo^ispejliBr, thee.

Let us invoke to-day, to aid our labour, the I^oid Speech,

With strengih^ing. Ube^fciiOD, Vifvakai^aii, thoi^ modest

Takentupoo abase artthou.

I stir thee for the fall of doud^borne watew.^ I^stir thee for

The BuWi majettvG form : the Sux^ identified with Sonuk

Here is delight : enjoy yourselves ; here surety, surety of

Thou art the Session's happy termination.

Indra and Parvata, our champions in the fight, drive ye away

Parameshfhin when contemplated. Pn^dpati in uttered

As ladra ainl the Maruts be is staUooed ready for the sale : Asura, being bought aud sold. Mitra when purchased ; Vishx^u Sipiyish^ wbeu oq the Saorifioer's thigh he resteth ; Vishi^u Narandhisha brought on the barrow ;

Atharvan: an ancient priest, the first who obtained fire and instituted

Fragments .* the severed stallir 0r Agents of the plant. Filled and swelling: see V. 7, note. In collection : when he is being procured and pre* pared for sacrifice. The Bright: Sukra. See VII. 18. Manikin : said to mean the Moon. See VII. 16.

All-Gods when he is drawn away in beakers ;« Life when up- lifted for the fire-oblation; Rudra when offered; V4ta when reverted; Man-viewer when beheld; drink when they drink him; deposited, the Nfir&samsa Fathers;

Sindhu: the Indus, or, River. Water is now to be poured on aoy Soma that has been ipilt during the performance, with recitation of the text taken, with tariation, from A. V. VIL 25. 1. Hath it gone : the spU^ portion of Soma.

To €fod«, to sky tiie ^aorifice hath gone : eome ridies thence

The threads that have been spun, the fonr-and-thirtj, vrhidi

Spread far and wide is samfioe's milking : eightfold along

fioma, send wealth in gold and steeds and heroes. All-hiul !