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158
VEDIC HYMNS.
that they may be successful? (Thus thinking) I praise Him whose face is bright, with this my prayer.
7. He who has kindled him strives towards Agni as towards Mitra (or, towards a friend)(to Agni) whose face shines with ghee, the charioteer of Rita. May he who when kindled becomes a racer ?, shining at the sacrifices 5, lift up our brightcoloured prayer.
81. Preserve us, O Agni, never failing with thy never-failing, kind and mighty guardians; protect our people all around with those undeceived, undismayed, never slumbering (guardians), O thou our wish !
NOTES.
The same Rishi. Metre, Gagats; the last verse Trishtubh. The hymn has been translated by Kaegi, Siebenzig Lieder des Rigveda, p. 100.-Verse 7 = TB. I, 2, 1, 12.
Verse 1. Note 1. Comp. VIII, 59, 6. våkáh mátim.
Note 2. Agni who is considered as born from the Waters, is identified several times with a god who, like Matarisvan, in my opinion had an independent origin, with Apåm napát (Child of the Waters'). Comp. Bergaigne, Rel. Védique, II, 17 seq.; H. O., Religion des Veda, 118 seq.
Verse 3. Note 1. There is no sufficient reason for transposing verses 3 and 4 (Kaegi).
Note 2. Probably we should read áti aktấn ; comp. VI, 4, 5. áti eti aktůn.-See Bergaigne, Mélanges Renier, p. 96.
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