THOU art a black-buck dwelling in the covert. I sprinkle thee agreeable to Agni.

Thou art the altar. Thee welcome to the sacred grass I

sprinkle.

Thou art the sacred covering-grass. I sprinkle thee grateful to the sacrificial ladles.

2Thou art what giveth Aditi her moisture. Thou art the hair-tuft on the head of Vishnu. I spread thee, wool-soft, good for Gods to sit on. Hail to the Earth’s Lord! To the World’s Lord Hail! Hail to the Lord of Beings!

3For safety of this all let the Gandharva Visvâvasu lay thee round as a protection. Thou art the Sacrificer’s guard, thou, Agni, lauded and worthy to receive laudation. Indra’s right arm art thou. For safety.... laudation. For safety of This Ail, with firm law, northward let Mitra. Varuna lay thee round as keeper. Thou art the Sacrificer’s guard.... laudation.

4Thee, Sage, who offerest to Gods their banquet, we will enkindle till thou shinest brightly, thee mighty in the sacrifice, O Agni.

5Thou art a kindler. From the east let Sûrya keep thee secure from every imprecation. You are the arms of Savitar. I spread thee as soft as wool, good for the Gods to sit on. On thee sit Vasus, Rudras, and Âdityas!

6Thou who art called Juhû art rich in fatness. On this dear seat, with the dear home, be seated. Thou, Upabhrit by name, art rich in fatness. On this..... be seated. Thou who art called Dhruvâ, art rich in fatness. On this, etc. In the Law’s lap they have sat down in safety Guard these. Guard thou the Sacrifice, O Vishnu. Keep thou the Sacrifice’s Lord in safety.

7O Agni, Winner of the Spoil, I cleanse thee, thee who wilt hasten to the spoil, Spoil-winner. Obeisance to the Gods! Svadhâ to Fathers! Be both of you easy for me to handle.

8May I to-day offer Gods unspilt butter. Let me not with my foot offend thee, Vishnu. Agni, may I approach thy shade abounding in store of riches. Thou art Vishnu’s mansion, Hence Indra wrought his deed of manly vigour. The sacrifice stood firmly elevated.

9O Agni, undertake the Hotar’s office, take on thyself the duty of an envoy. Heaven and Earth guard thee! Guard thou Earth and Heaven. May Indra be, by this presented butter, maker to Gods of fair oblation. Svâhâ! Let light combine with light.

10Indra bestow on me that Indra-power! May wealth in full abundance gather round us. Let blessings wait on us, yea, real blessings. Our Mother, Earth, hath been invited hither. May Earth, our Mother, in return invite us. I, through my Kindlership, am Agni. Svâhâ!

11The Father Heaven hath been invited hither. May Heaven the Father in return invite us. By impulse of God Savitar I receive thee with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan. I feed upon thee with the mouth of Agni.

12God Savitar, this sacrifice of thine have they proclaimed unto Brihaspati the