Adhyāya 9: Vājapeya and Rājasūya

y Our sacrifice, God Savitar, speed onward : speed to his share the sacrifice's patron. May the celestial Gandharva, cleanser of thought and will, make clean our thought and purpose : the Lord of Speech sweeten the food we offer.

Thee: the first of the five V&japeya Cups which he draws for Indra. Thee »d in vxUeri : he draws the second cup. The rest of the formula is repeated from lines 2 and 8. In the $ky, eU, : he draws the third cup. The rest as in lines 2 and 3. Soma is considered as pervading the three worlds, Earth, Air, and Skf.

fie draws the fourth cup. Gathered in the Sun : meaning the puriMng Tftyu or Wind. That moit excellent: meaning Praj&patL For i/Qst^ Gods. The rest of the formula is repeated as above.

He draws the filth oup. ffandleleiB : or noseless, or jawless; Without spouts or side-^handles. le twain : a cup of Soma and another of Stir&, a •und of wme or beer made from rice or barley with a Und of leaver to ma^Le it ferment. See ZImmer, Altindisches Leben, p. 280.

Here begia the formulas for the chariot-racing which is a characteristic and important part of the V&japeya. The Sacrificer addresses the Ohariot which he takes down from its stand, draws to the south of the Ch&tvftia or pit, and places by the alttfr. On 'whom : as Earth.

He takes water and sprinkles the chariot horses, reciting the text from

He harnesses the •S horse with the text. Wind . . . thought : as em- blems of rapidity. Gandharvat : see II. 8. note ; here representing the Nakshatras, Lunar Mansions or stages through which the Moon passes^ and signifying the flight of time.

Steed, being yoked grow wind-swift : be beauteous a» Indra'» right-hand steed. Omniscient iSlaruts harness thee ! Tvashtar put swiftness in thy feet !

He yokes a third horse as off side-horse. In secret : in the region at thy heart. In battle : or, at the gathering (of the Qods at sacrifice)^ ac^rd- ing to the Satapatha-Brifthmana. BrihaspatVt portion : a mess of boil^ wild-rice, dedicated to Brihaspati the representative of the priesthood. The horsea are made to smell'it in order to assure their victory.

The Brahman mounts a chariot- wheel placed on a post, with the fbl* lowing line of text if the Sacrificer is a Br&hznaa. Indra: aft the repMeea^

The Brahman beats one of the seventeen drums ranged along the edge of the altar ground, And recites the teztj the rest of the drums being considered to be simultaneously beaten. Brihaxpati: this, if the Sacrificer is a Brahman. Lift up: Drums. Indra: this, if the Sacrificer is a B&janya.

True hath been this your league whereby ye made ^ihas-

This refers to an earlier stage of the proceedings when the Sacrificer mounts the chariot.

Bound by the neck and at the flanks and in the mouth, that vigorous Courser lends new swiftness to his speed.

May all those vigprous Coursers listen to our cry, hearers of invocation, speeders on their way ; Winners of thousands, fain to win where meed is won, who / gather of themselyes great wealth in every race. ^18 Deep-skilled in Law Eternal, wise, immortal, Coursers, help us in each fn^ for booty.

The fiacrifioer having dismounted from the^iariottoucheB the meaa of wild-rice and recites the text. FeUher: Heaven. Mother: Barth; or per- haps the Saorifieer-s parents ate intended.

To the Fdeo4> HmI ! To the Good firieod. Bail ! To the ^ Later-bom, Hail ! To Resolution, Hail 1 To the Vasu, Hail ! To the Lord of Days, Hail ! To the Failing Day, Hail ! To the Failing sprung from the Transitory, Hail ! To the Transftory sprung from the Final, Hail ! To the Final Mundane, Hail ! To the Lord of the World, Hail ! To the

life saeoeed through sacrifice. May lile4>nea^ ibri^ by aMrifice. May 1^ eye tfariYe by sacriBce. May the ear ishnve by aaierifice. May the i>ack thrive 1^ sacrifice. Mesj sacrifice thrive by sacrifice. We have become the children of Praj&pati. Qod% me have gone to heaveik We ba^ become izumortaL

He offers oblatigos of milk, race other rain colleoted in a vetrntl of Udiimbaia w<io4 and recites s«ven tests; Iniese offerings ^are called V&japnmaitfya, SUretigth-Furthfriiig. the fatt three teits b^mng with V4i<u0m. * pramv(^ the furtheranoe of atvengt^ Of 0ld: in the be- ginning of creation. ,Th0 ^Hl literally, 'him ^o is unwilling to give.'

Of old the furtherance of strength urged onward this Sovrai^ ^ Soma in the plants and waters.

As suppliants, for aid we grasp Soma the King, mi Agni, the Adityas, Viabnu, Sdrya, and the Brabman*>priest Brihaspati.

Urge Aryaman to send us gifts, aod Indra, and B^ha^ti, Vik, Vishnu, and Sarasrati, and the strong Courser Savitar. ^ 28 Agni, speajL kindly to lis here, be graciotisly inclined to us. Winner of thousands, grant us boons, for thou art he who giveth wealth.

Taken with a slight variation from R Y. X. 141. 1.

Let Aryaman vouchsafe us wealth, and P4shan, and Brihas-

Thee by the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with arms of

Smh dometUe animals: ox, horse, sheep, goat, mule, ass, man. See The Hf mns of the Athar?a-veds, II. 94. 1, note ; UL 10. 6 and note.

Tfivrit Stoma : Triple Praise«Song ; a recitation in whioh first the first

The Vasus by thirteen-ayllable metre won the Thirteenfold

This is thy portion, Nirpiti ! Accept it graciously. All-hail ! To Gods whose guide is Agni, to the eastward-seated Gods,

Gods who have Agni as their guide, whose seat is eastward,

Agni, subdue opposing bands and drive our enemies away. Invincible, slay godless foes : give splendour to the worshipper.

Thee at die cadiant Savit^ inqxdsioii, with hsmwi arms

Savitar quicken thee forsway of rolerSy Agm of honsehplders,

QodSy quicken him that none may be his rival, for mighty

The strength-arousing essence of the waters, gathered in the Sun, Essence of waters' essence, that, most excellent, I take fofr you. Taken, etc., as above.

He offers oblations, or makes the Saerificer redte the Ujjitis or Victory. Formulas. MonatyllabU: metre of one ^lable. Six ScaBom: Spring Sumnter, Rains, Autumn, Winter, Dews. See II. S2.