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

p. 393

MANDALA V, HYMN 12.

ASHTAKA IV, ADHYÂYA 1, VARGA 4.

1. To the mighty, sacrificial Agni, to the bull of Rita 1, the Asura, I bring this prayer and this song, which is turned towards him, to (him) the bull, as well-clarified ghrita (is poured) into his mouth at the sacrifice.

2. O knower of Rita, know the Rita! Bore for many streams of Rita. I (do) not (serve) a Yâtu 1 by violence nor by falsehood; I serve the Rita of the red bull 2.

3. How, O Agni, performing the Rita through Rita, mayst thou become a witness of our newest 1 hymn? The god, the protector of the seasons, knows of my seasons 2. I (do) not (know another) lord but him who attains (for us) this wealth.

4. Who, O Agni, are thy fetterers to (fetter) the impostor 1? What brilliant guardians were successful? Who, O Agni, drink the drink of falsehood? Who are the protectors of untrue speech?

5. These friends of thine, O Agni, turning themselves from (thee) 1, they who had been kind, have become unkind. They have harmed themselves by their own speeches, uttering wrong words to the righteous.

6. He who magnifies thy sacrifice, O Agni, by adoration, and serves 1 the Rita of the red bull: may a large, good dwelling come to him, to the offspring of the advancing Nahusha.

p. 394

NOTES.

The same Rishi; the metre is Trishtubh.—No verse of this hymn occurs in the other Samhitâs.

Verse 1.

Note 1. The genitive ritásya seems to depend on vríshne, not on mánma. On the connection of Agni with the Rita, see Bergaigne, III, 229 seq.; H. O., Religion des Veda, 201.

Verse 2.

Note 1. A bad demon.

Note 2. Of Agni.

Verse 3.

Note 1. I think that návyah stands for návyasah. Thus Ludwig translates: 'des neuen liedes.' It seems evident that it is not the nominative of návya, 'praiseworthy' (Böhtlingk-Roth, Grassmann).

Note 2. Probably we ought to read ritapâ´ ritâ´nâm. Cf. IV, 23, 4. deváh bhuvat návedâh me ritâ´nâm, and see III, 20, 4, note 1 (above, p. 282). The translation will be: 'The god, the protector of Rita, knows of my (deeds of) Rita.'

Verse 4.

Note 1. Or ripávah? 'Who, O Agni, are the impostors who fetter thee?'

Verse 5.

Note 1. On víshunâh, compare V, 34, 6: ásunvatah víshunah sunvatáh vridháh.

Verse 6.

Note 1. The second verse (ritám sapâmi arushásya vríshnah) shows with evidence that for sá pâti we ought to read sápâti (see Roth, Kuhn's Zeitschrift, XXVI, 49, and compare on the expression ritam sap, Geldner, Vedische Studien, II, 135).