________________
352
SATAPATHA-BRAHMANA.
injures either his own body, or his life, or his vigour, or his offspring: 'make that up for me!' he thereby says; and accordingly that (defect) is again made up for him.
21. [He continues, Vâg. S. III, 18], Kindled, we enkindle thee, the brilliant one, a hundred winters-;' he thereby says, 'may we live a hundred years;' and 'so long we enkindle thee, the great one,' he says, when he says 'we enkindle thee, the brilliant one.' '-We, the vigorous-thee, the invigorating; we, the strong-thee, the giver of strength-;' whereby he says, 'may we be vigorous, mayest thou be invigorating! may we be strong, mayest thou be a giver of strength!' -We, the uninjured-thee, the uninjurable injurer of enemies!' whereby he says, 'by thine aid may we render our enemies utterly miserable!'
"
22. O thou, rich in lights, may I safely reach thine end!' this he mutters thrice. She that is rich in lights (kitrâvasu) doubtless is the night, since the latter, as it were, rests (vas) after gathering together the lights (kitra): hence (at night) one does not see clearly (kitram) from afar.
23. Now it was by means of this same (text) that the Rishis reached safely the end of the night; and because of it the evil spirits, the Rakshas, did not find them by it, therefore, he also now reaches safely the end of the night; and because of it the evil spirits, the Rakshas, find him not.-This much he mutters while standing.
24. Thereupon, while seated, (he mutters, Vâg. S. III, 19 seq.), 'Thou, O Agni, hast attained to Surya's lustre ;' this he says, because, in setting, the sun enters the Âhavaniya; '—to the praise
Digitized by
Google
