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206
VEDIC HYMNS.
toiled, but toiled in a wrong direction, will receive scant thanks for the trouble they have taken. See Bollensen, Z. D.M.G. XVIII, p. 606. · Note 2. In the second line, the words ó sú varta remind us of similar phrases in the Veda, but we want an accusative, governed by varta; whereas marutah, to judge from its accent, can only be a vocative. Thus we read :
I, 138, 4. ó (fti) sú två vavritîmahi stómebhih. May we turn thee quickly hither by our praises ! VIII, 7, 33. ó (íti) sú vrtshnah-vavrityãm. May I turn the heroes quickly hither! Compare also passages like III, 33, 8: ó (iti) sú svasarah kâráve srinota. Listen quickly, O sisters, to the poet. I, 139, 7. ó (íti) sú nah agne srinuhi. Hear us quickly, O Agni. Cf. I, 182, 1; II, 34, 15; VII, 59,5; VIII, 2, 19; X, 179, 2.
Unless we change the accent, we must translate, ‘Bring hither quickly!' and we must take these words as addressed to the kârú, the poet, whose hymn is supposed to attract the gods to the sacrifice. By a quick transition, the next words, marutah vípram ákkha, would then have to be taken as addressed to the gods, Maruts, on to the sage!' and the last words would become intelligible by laying stress on the vah, 'for you, and not for Indra or any other god, has the singer recited these hymns.' See, however, Preface, p. xxi.
Verse 16. Note 1. I translate Manya, the son of Mâna, because the poet, so called in I, 189, 8, is in all probability the same as our Mandarya Mânya. But it may also be Mânya, the descendant of Mandari. The Manas are mentioned I, 172, 5; 182, 8.
Note 2. Våg. S. XXXIV, 48. The second line is difficult, owing to the uncertain meaning of vayām.
A ishã vâsishta has been rendered. Come hither with
& There was a misprint in the Samhitâ text, eshả instead of ésha, which was afterwards repeated whenever the same verse occurred again.
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