IV, 15

Vedic Hymns, Part II (SBE46), by Hermann Oldenberg [1897], at sacred-texts.com

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MANDALA IV, HYMN 15.

ASHTAKA III, ADHYÂYA 5, VARGA 15–16.

1. Agni, the Hotri, he who is a strong horse, is led around at our sacrifice, the god worshipful among the gods.

2. Agni goes thrice 1 around the sacrifice, like a charioteer, conveying the enjoyment 2 to the gods.

3. Agni, the lord of booty, the sage, has circumambulated the oblations, bestowing treasures on the worshipper.

4. This (is the Agni) who is kindled in the front for Devavâta's son, the Sriñgaya 1, the brilliant (god), the deceiver of foes.

5. May the strong mortal be the master of this (god), of an Agni like this, with sharp teeth and bountiful.

6 1. Him they clean day by day like a racer that wins (booty), like (Soma), the red young child of Heaven 2.

7. When Sahadeva's son, the prince, thought of me with two bay horses 1, I rose up like one who is called.

8. And immediately I accepted from Sahadeva's son, the prince, those adorable two bay horses which he offered me.

9. May this prince Somaka, Sahadeva's son, live long, for your sake, O divine Asvins!

10. Give long life, O divine Asvins, to this son of Sahadeva, the prince!

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NOTES.

The same Rishi. Metre, Gâyatrî.—Verses 1–3 = TB. III, 6, 4, 1; MS. IV, 13, 4. Verse 3 = SV. I, 30; VS. XI, 25; TS. IV, 1, 2, 5; MS. I, 1, 9.

The first three verses are characterised by the constant allusions to Agni's being carried around, and, in connection therewith, by the frequent repetition of the preposition pari. Probably these verses formed an independent Trika-hymn, the position of which would be according to the laws of arrangement of the Samhitâ; this Trika seems, consequently, to belong to the original collection of hymns. The verses 4–10, on the other hand, or at least the verses 7–10, would seem to be a later addition; the verses 4–6 can be considered as a Trika belonging to the original Samhitâ, though in this case it is difficult to explain why the verses 7–10, which do not contain any reference to Agni, have been inserted here at the end of the series of Agni hymns. Another argument against the separation of the verses 4–6 from the rest of the Sûkta is the mention of the prince Sriñgaya in verse 4: verses 7–10 refer to a prince Somaka Sâhadevya, and we know from the Aitareya Brâhmana (VII, 34, cf. Satapatha Brâhmana II, 4, 4, 4) that this prince also belonged to the Sriñgaya tribe.

Verse 2.

Note 1. Cf. above, IV, 6, 4.

Note 2. I. e. the offering which the gods enjoy.

Verse 4.

Note 1. This Sriñgaya Daivavâta is mentioned also in VI, 27, 7.

Verse 6.

Note 1. The first Pâda of this verse is identical with the first Pâda of VIII, 102, 12.

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Note 2. The red young child of Heaven seems to be the Soma. The Soma frequently is called arushá ('red'), and is said to be cleansed by men; in IX, 33, 5; 38, 5, the expression diváh sísuh ('the young child of Heaven') is used with regard to him.

Verse 7.

Note 1. I. e. when he thought of presenting me with the two horses.