The pragrihya i of the dual is known in the Veda to be liable in certain cases to Sandhi. If we extend this licence beyond the limits recognized by the Prâtisâkhya, we might scan

vi. 52, 14. ubhe rodasy apam năpâk ka manma, or we might shorten the i before the a, and admitting synizesis, scan:

ubhe rodasì ăpâm năpâk ka manmā.

In iii. 6, 10, we must either admit Sandhi between praki and adhvaréva, or contract the first two syllables of adhvaréva.

The o and e of vocatives before vowels, when changed into av or a(y), are liable to synizesis:

iv. 48, 1. vâyăv â kandrena rathena (Anushtubh, c.) iv. 1, 2. să bhrâtăram varunam agna a văvritsva. The termination avah also, before vowels, seems to count as one syllable in v. 52, 14, divo va dhrishnava ogasa, which would render Professor Bollensen's correction (Orient und Occident, vol. ii. p. 480), dhrishnúogasâ, unnecessary.

Like ava and iva, we find aya and iya, too, in several words liable to be contracted in pronunciation; e. g. vayam, vi. 23, 5; ayam, i. 177, 4; iyam, vii. 66, 82; i. 186, 11 (unless we read vo 'sme); X. 129, 6. Professor Bollensen's proposal to change iyam to im, and ayam to âm (Orient und Occident, vol. ii. p. 461), would only cause obscurity, without any adequate gain, while other words would by a similar suppression of vowels or consonants become simply

irrecognizable. In i. 169, 6, for instance, ádha has to be pronounced with one ictus; in vi. 26, 7, sadhavīra 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 sísumatîh; 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 dhrishnű (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 nama 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