irrecognizable. In i. 169, 6, for instance, ádha has to be pronounced with one ictus; in vi. 26, 7, sadhavira is trisyllabic. In vi. 10, 1, we must admit synizesis in adhvaré; in i. 161, 8, either in udakám or in abravîtana; i. 110, 9, in ribhumẩn ; viii. 79, 4, in diváh; v. 4, 6, in nritama (unless we read so 'gne); i. 164, 17, in paráh; vi. 15, 14, in pavaka; i. 191, 6; vii. 34, 7; 99, 3, in prithivï ; ii. 20, 8, in púrah; vi. 10, 1, in prayatí; vi. 17, 7, in brihát; ix. 19, 6, in bhiyásam; i. 133, 6, in maháh ; ii. 28, 6; iv. 1, 2; vi. 75, 18, in varuna; iii. 30, 21, in vrishabha; vii. 41, 6, in vâgínah; ii. 43, 2, in sísumatih; vi. 51, 2, in sanutár; vi. 18, 12, in sthávirasya, &c.

These remarks will, I hope, suffice in order to justify the principles by which I have been guided in my treatment of the text and in my translation of the Rig-veda. I know I shall seem to some to have been too timid in retaining whatever can possibly be retained in the traditional text of these ancient hymns, while others will look upon the emendations which I have suggested as unpardonable temerity. Let everything be weighed in the just scales of argument. Those who argue for victory, and not for truth, can have no hearing in our court. There is too much serious work to be done to allow time for wrangling or abuse. Any dictionary will supply strong words to those who condescend to such warfare, but strong argu

ments require honest labour, sound judgment, and, above all, a genuine love of truth.

The second volume, which I am now preparing for Press, will contain the remaining hymns addressed to the Maruts. The notes will necessarily have to be reduced to smaller dimensions, but they must always constitute the more important part in a translation or, more truly, in a deciphering of Vedic hymns.

PARKS END, Oxford:
March, 1869.

F. MAX MÜLLER.

FIRST BOOK.

HYMNS TO THE MARUTS.

VOL. I.

B

MANDALA I, SÛKTA 6.

ASHTAKA I, ADHYAYA 1, VARGA 11-12.

1. Yuñgánti bradhnám arushám kárantam pári tasthúshah, rókante rokana diví.

2. Yuñgánti asya kẩmyâ hárî (íti) ví-pakshasâ ráthe, sónâ dhrishna (íti) nri-vấhasâ.

3. Ketúm krinván aketáve pésah maryâh apesáse, sám ushát-bhih agâyathâh.

4. At áha svadhẩm ánu púnah garbha-tvám â-îriré, dádhânâh nấma yagñíyam.

1. WILSON: The circumstationed (inhabitants of the three worlds) associate with (Indra), the mighty (Sun), the indestructive (fire), the moving (wind), and the lights that shine in the sky.

BENFEY: Die rothe Sonne schirr'n sie an, die wandelt um die stehenden, Strahlen strahlen am Himmel auf.

LANGLOIS: Placés autour du (foyer, les hommes) préparent le char (du dieu) brillant, pur et rapide; (cependant) brillent dans le ciel les feux (du matin).

2. WILSON: They (the charioteers) harness to his car his two desirable coursers, placed on either hand, bay-coloured, high-spirited, chief-bearing.

BENFEY: Die lieben Falben schirren sie zu beiden Seiten des Wagens an, braune, kühne, held-tragende.

LANGLOIS: A ce char sont attelés ses deux coursiers, beaux, brillants, impétueux, rougeâtres, et dignes de porter un héros.

3. WILSON: Mortals, you owe your (daily) birth (to such

HYMN TO INDRA AND THE MARUTS (THE

STORM-GODS).

1. Those who stand around him while he moves on, harness the bright red steed; the lights in heaven shine forth.2

2. They harness to the chariot on each side his (Indra's) two favourite bays, the brown, the bold, who can carry the hero.

3. Thou who createst light where there was no light, and form, O men!1 where there was no form, hast been born together with the dawns."

2

4. Thereafter1 they (the Maruts), according to their wont, assumed again the form of new-born babes,3 taking their sacred name.

an Indra), who with the rays of the morning, gives sense to the senseless, and to the formless, form.

BENFEY: Licht machend-Männer!-das Dunkele und kenntlich das Unkenntliche, entsprangst du mit dem Morgenroth.

LANGLOIS: O mortels, (voyez-le) mettant l'ordre dans la confusion, donnant la forme au chaos. O Indra, avec les rayons du jour tu viens de naître.

4. WILSON: Thereafter, verily, those who bear names invoked in holy rites, (the Maruts,) having seen the rain about to be engendered, instigated him to resume his embryo condition (in the clouds).

BENFEY: Sodann von freien Stücken gleich erregen wieder Schwangerschaft die heilgen Namen tragenden.

LANGLOIS: A peine la formule de l'offrande a-t-elle été prononcée, que les (Marouts), dont le nom mérite d'être invoqué dans les sacrifices, viennent exciter (de leur souffle) le feu à peine sorti du sein (de l'aranî).