SÚKTA XV. (LXX.)

The deity and metre as before.

1. All-adored AṢWINS, come to our (sacrifice), to Varga XVII. that place on earth which has been designated yours, which, like a swift, broad-backed horse,' awaits you, and on which you are seated as firmly as in a dwelling.2

2. This excellent praise, redolent of food, propitiates you the ewer has been heated in the dwelling of the worshipper,3 which, reaching you, fills the ocean and the rivers (through the rain it obtains), associating you (in the rite), like two well-matched horses in a chariot.

3. To whatever places you may descend, AṣWINS, from heaven, whether amidst the spreading plants, or amongst men, or sitting on the summit of the clouds, be the bearers of food to the man, the donor (of the oblation).

4. Inasmuch, divine AşWINS, as you accept that which is most acceptable in the plants and in the waters, and those (things) which are most suitable to

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1 Suna-prishthah is, the scholiast says, sukhakara, pleasant, delightful, vipulatwát, from its breadth.

2 Á yat sedathur dhruvase na yonim is not very clear. The comparison is explained, dhruváya nivásáya sthánam iva, like a place for a durable soil.

3 Gharma: see vol. iii. p. 281. The scholiast connects it with pravarga,— gharmah pravargaṣcha.

* Meaning, according to the scholiast, the cakes of meal and the Soma juice offered in sacrifices.

you, (the offerings) of the Rishis, therefore, bestowing upon us ample riches, (favour us) as you have favoured former couples.1

5. AşWINS, hearing the many prayers of the Rishis, you look (favourably) upon (us): come to the sacrifice of this man, and may your desired favour be (shewn) him.

6. Come, NÁSATYAS, to the excellent VASISHTHA, the worshipper who, accompanied by the priests, is present, offering oblations and repeating praises: these prayers are recited to (bring) you (hither).

7. This adoration, AşWINS, this praise (is for you): be gratified, showerers (of benefits), by this laudation may these eulogies, addressed to you, reach you and do you ever cherish us with blessings.

:

1 Sacrificers, or institutors of sacrifices, yajamánas, and their wives.

ANUVÁKA V.

ADHYAYA V. CONTINUED.

SUKTA I. (LXXI.)

The deities and metre as before.

1. Night retires before the dawn, the sister (of the Varga XVIII. AşWINS): the dark night leaves the path clear for the radiant (sun): upon you, who are affluent in horses, affluent in cattle, we call day and night: keep away from us the malevolent.

2. Come to the mortal, the donor (of oblations), bringing desired wealth in your chariot: keep afar from us famine and sickness: day and night, MÁDHWÍS, protect us.

3. May your docile and vigorous (horses) bring hither your chariot at the approaching dawn: conduct hither, AṣWINS, your radiating, wealth-laden chariot, with your rain-bestowing steeds.

4. With that chariot, lords of men, which is your vehicle, which has three benches,' is laden with wealth, and is the precursor of day, come, NÁSATYAS, to us; with that chariot which traverses (the sky) as your all-pervading form.2

5. You exempted CHYAVANA from decay:3 you

1 See p. 150. n. 1.

2 Abhi yad vám viṣwapsnyo jigáti is explained, yo ratho vám vyáptarúpo abhigachchhati; or it may mean, since Vasishtha praises you,-viṣwapsnyah being a name of Vasishtha. 3 See vol. i. p. 308.

Varga XIX.

mounted PEDU upon a swift charger: you extricated ATRI from torture and darkness: you replaced JÁHUSHA in his rebellious kingdom.2

6. This adoration, AşWINS, this praise (is for you): be gratified, showerer (of benefits), by this laudation: may these eulogies, addressed to you, reach you: and do you ever cherish us with blessings.

SÚKTA II. (LXXII.)

The deities and metre as before.

1. Come, NÁSATYAS, with your cattle-giving, horse-bestowing, wealth-yielding chariot: all praises 3 gather round you, who are resplendent with admirable beauty of person.

2. Sharing in satisfaction with the gods, come to our presence, NÁSATYAS, with your chariot, for the friendship (that prevails) between you and us is from our forefathers: a common ancestor (is ours): acknowledge his affinity.

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3. Praises waken up the AswINS, kindred adorations (arouse them) and the celestial dawns: the sage, addressing these laudations to the adorable

1 Niranhasas tamasah spartam Atrim; Sáyana: anhasah, ribísát tushágneh sakását, tamasaṣcha guhántahsthitáchcha : see vol. i. p. 307.

3 Viswá niyutah: niyut is here said to mean stuti, praise. 4 Vivaswat and Varuna were both sons of Kasyapa and Aditi: the Adityas are the sons of the former, Vasishtha of the latter, consequently they are first cousins.

heaven and earth, glorifies the NASATYAS in their presence.

4. When the dawns arise, your worshippers, ASWINS, proffer you praises: the divine SAVITRI casts his splendours on high: the fires, with their (kindled) fuel, greatly glorify you.

5. Come NÁSATYAS, from the west, from the east: (come), AşWINS, from the south, from the north, come from every quarter with riches beneficial for the five classes of men: and do you ever cherish us with blessings.

SÚKTA III. (LXXIII.)

The deities and metre as before.

1. Devoted to the gods, and hymning their praise, Varga XX. we have crossed to the opposite shore of this (state of) darkness: the worshipper invokes the AṣWINS, the doers of many deeds, the most mighty, the first-born, the immortal.

2. The man who is dear to you, NÁSATYAS, the invoker of the gods, has taken his seat, he who offers worship and repeats praise: be nigh, AşWINS, and partake of the libation supplied with food, I address you at sacrifices.

3. Praising (the gods), we prepare the sacrifice for their coming: showerers (of benefits), be propitiated by this pious laudation: despatched like a swift messenger, VASISHTHA arouses you, glorifying you with hymns.

4. May those two, the bearers (of oblations), approach our people, destroyers of Rakshasas, well