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MANDALA II, HYMN 2.
193
MANDALA II, HYMN 2.
ASHTAKA II, ADHYAYA 5, VARGA 20-21.
1. Increase Gâtavedas by your sacrifice1, worship Agni for ever with your offering and your prayer 2 -him who has been kindled, the receiver of good offerings, the solar hero, the heavenly Hotri, the charioteer in our settlements *.
2. For thee Nights and Dawns have been lowing, O Agni, as milch-cows in the folds for their calf1. A steward, as it were, of Heaven, thou shinest on the human tribes, O bountiful one, on continuous nights".
3. The gods have set him to work, as a steward1 of Heaven and Earth, endowed with wonderful power, at the bottom of the air: Agni who is well known like a chariot, brightly shining, deserving of praise like Mitra (or, like a friend) in (human) dwellings.
4. They have established him who grows in the air, in his house, the serpent' with beautiful splendour like gold, the winged (son?) of Prisni who lights up with his eyes both tribes (of gods and of men), like a guardian of the way (?) 4.
5. May he, the Hotri, encompass the whole sacrifice. Men strive towards him with offerings and prayer. (Agni) with golden jaws1, hurrying around in the growing (plants) 2, lighted up the two worlds like the Sky with the stars.
6. Thus mayst thou, being brightly kindled for our welfare or being exhausted (?), shine upon us with thy wealth. Carry hither to us the two
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