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188
VEDIC HYMNS.
12. Thou, O Agni, well kept, art the highest vital power. In thy lovely colour and in thy appearance (dwell all) beauties. Thou art great strength that carries us forward. Thou art abundant wealth, extending on all sides.
13. The Adityas have made thee, O Agni, their mouth; the bright ones have made thee their tongue, O Sage. The Râti-sâk gods (i.e. the 'bounteous' gods) accompany thee at the sacrifices. In thee the gods eat the offering which is offered to them.
14. In thee, O Agni, with (thy) mouth all the guileless 2 immortal gods eat the offering which is offered to them. Through thee the mortals taste their drink. Thou hast been born, the bright one, as the child of the plants.
15? Thou art united with them and equal to them in strength, O well-born Agni, nay, thou surpassest them, O god, when thy power ? has expanded here in its greatness over Heaven and Earth, over both worlds.
16. The liberal lords who pour out, О Agni, over thy praisers gifts at the head of which there are cows', the ornament of which are horses : lead both ourselves and them to welfare. May we speak loud in the assembly?, rich in valiant men.
NOTES. The Rishi is Gritsamada, the metre Gagati.– Verse 1 = VS. XI, 27; TS. IV, 1, 2, 5; TÅ. X, 76,1; MS. II, 7, 2. Verse 2=RV. X, 91, 10. Verse 6=TS. 1, 3, 14, 1; TB. III, 11, 2, 1. Verse 13=TB. II, 7, 12, 6.
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