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IX KANDA, 5 ADHYAYA, 2 BRAHMANA, 9 277
the gods, having, by the six-versed (hymn), warded off evil, made once for all, by the one wish-holding (verse), all (objects of) wishes their own; and in like manner does the Sacrificer now, having, by the sixversed (hymn), warded off evil, make once for all, by the one wish-holding (verse), all wishes his own.
8. It is (a hymn) of seven verses, the fire-altar consists of seven layers, (and there are) seven seasons, seven regions, seven worlds of the gods, seven stomas, seven prishtha (sâmans), seven metres, seven domestic animals, seven wild ones, seven vital airs in the head, and whatever else there is of seven kinds, relating to deities and relating to the self,— all that he thereby secures. They become equal to the Anush/ubh1, for the Anushubh is speech, and it is by speech that he secures for him (Agni) all that which is not yet secured for him.
9. 'Let him approach (the fire-altar) with an eightversed (hymn)!' say some,-'with (Vâg. S. XVIII, 75), "We therěby offer unto thee thy wish, reverently approaching thee with open hands: with holiest mind and peaceful thought offer thou sacrifice unto the gods as priest, O Agni!" thus with a second wish-holding one,-and the seven foregoing ones, that makes eight,-the Gâyatri consists of eight syllables, and Agni is of Gâyatra nature: as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, by so much he thus secures for him
1 The seven verses consist of two Gâyatris (twenty-four syllables each), four Trish/ubhs (forty-four each), and one Anushubh (thirtytwo syllables). Whilst the two Gayatrîs are sixteen syllables short of two Anush/ubhs, the four T11sh/ubhs have forty-eight syllables in excess of four Anush/ubhs. Hence the seven verses consist of 8 x 32 syllables, or eight Anush/ubhs.
