________________
MANDALA IV, HYMN 4.
331
MANDALA IV, HYMN 4. ASHTAKA III, ADHYÅYA 4, VARGA 23-25.
1. Produce thy stream of flames like a broad onslaught. Go forth impetuous like a king with his elephant ?; ...? after thy greedy onslaught, thou art an archer ; shoot the sorcerers with thy hottest (arrows).
2. Thy whirls fly quickly. Fiercely flaming touch (them). O Agni, (send forth) with the ladle 1 thy heat, thy winged (flames); send forth unfettered thy firebrands all around.
3. Being the quickest, send forth thy spies against (all evildoers). Be an undeceivable guardian of this clan. He who attacks us with evil spells, far or near, may no such (foe) defy thy track.
4. Rise up, O Agni ! Spread out against (all foes)! Burn down the foes, O (god) with the sharp weapon! When kindled, O Agni, burn down like dry brushwood, the man who exercises malice against us.
5. Stand upright, strike (the foes) away from us ! Make manifest thy divine (powers), O Agni ! Unbend the strong (bows) of those who incite demons (against us)'. Crush all enemies, be they relations or strangers. .
6. He knows thy favour, O youngest one, who makes a way for a sacred speech like this. Mayst thou beam forth to his doors all auspicious days and the wealth and the splendour of the niggard.
7. Let him, O Agni, be fortunate and blessed with good rain, who longs to gladden thee with
Digitized by Google
