________________
170
VEDIC HYMNS.
MANDALA I, HYMN 147. ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 2, VARGA 16. 1. How, O Agni, have the resplendent ones worshipped thee, aspiring through the powers of the Ayu?, when the gods, obtaining kith and kin of both races (human and divine ?), rejoiced in the song of Rita (or Right)* ?
2. Give heed to this my proffered hymn, O youngest one, which is most rich in liberal gifts', O self-dependent one! The one abuses thee, the other praises thee: I thy reverer revere thy body, O Agni?!
3. Thy guardians, O Agni, who saw and saved the blind son of Mamatâ from distress!—he the possessor of all wealth has saved them who have done good deeds? The impostors, trying to deceive, have not deceived.
4. The niggard, O Agni, the harmful and malicious who injures us by falsehood: may the heavy spell recoil on him; may he injure his own body by his evil words?.
5. And, O strong one, whatever mortal knowingly injures another mortal by falsehood : from such a one, O praised Agni, protect him who praises thee. Agni! Do not deliver us to distress.
NOTES.
The same Rishi and metre.-Verse 2 = VS. XII, 42; TS. IV, 2, 3, 4; MS. II, 7, 10. Verse 3 = RV. IV, 4, 13; TS. I, 2, 14, 5; MS. IV, 11, 5.
Digitized by Google
