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VEDIC HYMNS.
MANDALA I, HYMN 77. ASHTAKA I, ADHYÅYA 5, VARGA 25. 1. How shall we sacrifice to Agni? What words, agreeable to the god, shall be addressed to him, the luminous one, who, being immortal and righteous, the Hotri, the best sacrificer, conveys the gods to the mortals? ?
2. Bring hither by adoration the Hotri who is most beneficial in sacrifices and righteous. When Agni repairs to the gods on behalf of the mortal', may he be attentive in his mind, and may he perform the sacrifice?.
3. For he is wisdom ?, he is manly, he is straightforward ; like Mitra he has become the charioteer of the mysterious. Therefore the Aryan clans?, longing for the gods, address him, the wonderful one, as the first at the sacrifices.
4. May that Agni, the manliest of men, triumphant with riches [?]', come with help to our words, to our devotion, and to the devotion) of those most powerful liberal givers who bent on the prize ? have constantly stirred up our prayers .
5. Thus Agni, the righteous Gâtavedas, has been praised by the priestly Gotamas'. May he augment their splendour and their strength. He the knowing one gains increase according to his desire.
NOTES. The same Rishi and metre.
Verse 1. Note 1. The construction is yák krinoti deván mártyeshu. Comp., for instance, X, 40, 2. káh vâm ... krinute sadhásthe
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