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I 20
VEDIC HYMNS.
tality the gods have held him, Agni, as the giver of wealth.
7. Him who is now and who was formerly the abode of wealth, the earth1 (i.e. the dwelling-place or support) of what is born and of what will be born, the shepherd and guardian of what is and of much that comes into being. The gods have
held Agni as the giver of wealth.
8. May (Agni,) the giver of wealth, present us with quick wealth. May the giver of wealth (present us with wealth) united with strong men'. The giver of wealth (should grant us) food together with valiant heroes. The giver of wealth should
grant us long life.
9=95, II.
NOTES.
The same Rishi and metre.-Verses 1, 2 MS. IV, 10, 6. Verse 5= VS. XII, 2; XVII, 70; TS. IV, 1, 10, 4; 6, 5, 2; 7, 12, 3; MS. II, 7, 8.
Verse 1.
Note 1. I.e. by the attrition of the woods, as sáhasal putrák.
Note 2. Two new discussions on dhishánâ have been given by Hillebrandt (Ved. Mythologie, I, 175 seq.; comp. the criticisms of Ludwig, Ueber die neuesten arbeiten auf dem gebiete der Ṛgveda-forschung, 85 seq.) and Pischel (Ved. Studien, II, 82 seq.). Hillebrandt arrives at the conclusion that dhishánâ is the Earth (in the dual, Heaven and Earth; in the plural, Heaven, Air, and Earth), and besides the Vedi, i. e. the excavated spot of ground which serves as a kind of altar for the sacrifice. Similar is
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