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छन्दोदर्शनम्
447
There are many mantras in the Rgveda and the Yajurveda, bearing out this meaning. Cf. “ You are Agni, the lord of Vrata ( vow) or the protector of Vrata" (Rg. VIII-11-1) "Agni is the best of those pure-minded vowtakers" (Rg. VIII-44-21). "Oh, Agni, lord of Vrata, I undertake the vow, let me get through it by your grace and may it fructify for me" (Tait. Sam.). This mantra is used when Samidha is offered by the husband and wife when they take the sacrificial vows. “Agni, lord of Vrata, you are the lord of all the Vratas. Both you and I have to take vows equally" ( Tait. Sam.).
Salutations to you, who sit, at the sacrificial altar with a sacred vow to see that the sacrifice is properly concluded. The whole earth is the sacrificial altar, in which you glow with subtle light. Salutations to you who are kindled by yourself. Cf. “In the innermost part of the earth, there is the altar" (Rg. I-164-35). They say that there is the super-altar in the innermost part of the earth.
There is a mantra as follows: Cf. "Agni, the lord of vows, I undertake a vow. Let me achieve it by your grace. Let it fructify for me. By this vow, I will reach the truth from the untruth" (Sukla Yaj. Sam. ). "I attain truth from untruth; I attain divinity from mortality; I utter divine speech" (Tait. Brah.). All the vows, the lord of vows, the Yajus, the sacrifice, the lord of sacrifice, the truth, and the Supreme Brahma also is attainable by faith. Therefore, supreme faith is the major factor in sacrifice and vows like fast etc.Cf. "Oh Sraddha, make us have faith and devotion" (Rg. X-151-5). ( The whole sukta is called Sraddha Sukta). "I begin the sacrifice which is itself Sraddha" (Tait.). "By keeping the vow, one gets initiated. Through initiation one gets consecrated. Consecration leads to piety (dakshiņā); from piety one gets faith; by faith Satya is attained. And Satya is the ultimate (Sukla Yaj. Sam. ).
पश्चमी ऋक ।
नमस्ते देव सोमामृतापां पते मां वत्सं स्वं रसैराप्यायस्वामृतैः ॥ विश्वस्यैव जनितारं मनसाऽन्तः
सोम तं तपसोपवसन् प्रपद्ये ॥५॥ पदपाठः – नमः। ते । देव । सोम । अमृत । अपाम् । पते ।
माम् । वत्सम् । स्वम् । रसैः । आ । प्यायस्व । अमृतैः ।। विश्वस्य । एव । जनितारम् । मनसा । अन्तः। सोम॑म् । तम् । तप॑सा । उपऽवर्सन् । प्र । पद्ये ।।
