Vedic Hymns, Part II (SBE46), by Hermann Oldenberg [1897], at sacred-texts.com

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MANDALA III, HYMN 15.

ASHTAKA III, ADHYÂYA 1, VARGA 15.

1. Flaming with thy broad stream of light beat away fiends, sorcerers, plagues. May I dwell in the protection of the great, well-protecting (god), under the guidance of Agni who readily listens to our call.

2. Be thou our protector when this dawn shines forth, he thou (our protector) when the sun has risen. Cherish, O Agni, well-born in body, this praise of mine as (a man rejoices) in the birth (of a son), in his own offspring 1.

3. Beholding men, shine thou after many (dawns) 1, O bull, Agni, red in the dark (nights). O Vasu! Lead us and bring us across anguish. Help us, the Usigs 2, to wealth 3, thou youngest (of the gods)!

4. Shine, O Agni, thou the invincible bull, who hast conquered all strongholds and all delights, the leader of the first, the protecting 1, mighty sacrifice, O Gâtavedas, best guide.

5. O singer, thou who art wise, brightly shining towards the gods 1, bring to us thy many perfect shelters, and gain like a victorious car 2; Agni, (carry) thou (hither) towards us the two well-established 3 worlds (Heaven and Earth).

6. O bull, increase and rouse our gains. Agni! (Increase) for us the two worlds (Heaven and Earth) rich in milk, O god together with the gods, shining with beautiful shine! May a mortal's hatred never enclose us.

7 = III, 1, 23.

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NOTES.

The Rishi is Utkîla Kâtya, the metre Trishtubh.—Verse 1 = VS. XI, 49; TS. IV, 1, 5, 1; MS. II, 7, 5; III, 1, 6.

Verse 2

Note 1. Comp. VII, 1, 21. tánaye nítye; X, 39, 14. nítyam ná sûnúm tánayam dádhânâh, and besides II, 26, 3. gánena … visâ´ … gánmanâ … putraíh; Hirzel, Gleichnisse und Metaphern im Rig-veda, 77.

Verse 3.

Note 1. For this expression, compare IV, 19, 8; IX, 71, 7; X, 31, 7, and especially III, 6, 7; VI, 39, 4.

Note 2. The poet compares himself and his friends with the mythical priestly tribe of the Usigs (Bergaigne, Religion Védique, I, 57 seq.), using, as it seems, at the same time the word usígah in its adjective sense 'the willing ones.'

Note 3. The Padapâ´tha is right in giving râyé; comp. VIII, 26, 13. subhé kakrâte.

Verse 4.

Note 1. Is the text correct? I think that pâyóh should be corrected into pâyo or pâyúh: 'the leader and protector of the first mighty sacrifice.' The mistake may have been caused by the genitives which surround the word.

Verse 5.

Note 1. Geldner (Vedische Studien, I, 160) translates this hemistich: 'Die vielen sicheren Zufluchtsorte (= Opferplätze) bis zu den Göttern erleuchtend als Weiser, o Sänger.' I do not believe that sárma is the object of dî´dyânah; and 'Zufluchtsorte = Opferplätze' is too much in the style of Sâyana. I take ákkhidrâ sárma as depending on abhí vakshi; comp. I, 34, 6. tridhâ´tu sárma vahatam.

Note 2. For abhí vakshi vâ´gam, comp. III, 30, 11; VI, 21, 12.

Note 3. On suméka, comp. Windisch, Festgruss an Boehtlingk, 114.