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408
VEDIC HYMNS.
Sakta I must content myself with translating the words without being able to elucidate the poet's meaning.
Verse 1.
Note 1. I translate the noun avastha in accordance with the Vedic meaning of the verb ava-stha. Possibly it means the secret parts, cf. avastha, AV. VII, 90,3 (B.-R.). Ludwig translates: 'Ein zustand erzeugt einen andern,' and paraphrases, 'Nur zustände und formen, gestalten lernen wir kennen, das wesen des gottes bleibt uns verborgen.' This seems too modern. Prof. Max Müller proposes: "The remnants (afterbirth) have been brought forth. Skin has shone forth from skin.'-On the question who are the beings' born for retirement,' I do not venture any conjecture.
Note 2. Is Agni meant ?
Note 3. Cf. X, 5, 1. (Agnih) asmát hriddh bhứriganmå vi kashte.
Verse 2. Note 1. The meaning seems to be that the worshippers (possibly the first worshippers, the Angiras), by discovering Agni and by worshipping him, have conquered the hostile strongholds.
Verse 3. Note 1. Svaitreya is mentioned as a victorious hero also in 1, 33, 14.
Note 2. Does this phrase allude to the rite of offering, at the Vågapeya sacrifice, to the horses that were going to run the sacred race, a naivâra karu? In the Mantras connected with this rite the words occur: 'Drink of this honeydrink' (asya madhvah pibata). See Rig-veda VII, 38, 8; Taittirîya Samhità I, 7, 8, 2; Weber, Ueber den Vågapeya, P. 30.
Verse 4. Note 1. The retas?
Note 2. Does this refer to an offering or the like, composed of two substances related among each other (such as
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