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MANDALA III, HYMN 18.
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MANDALA III, HYMN 18. ASHTAKA III, ADHYÅYA 1, VARGA 18.
1. Be kind, O Agni, when we approach thee, as a friend a friend, as parents?, a straight leader. For full of deceit are the tribes of men : burn thou against (all) malign powers so that they turn back.
2. Burn, O Agni, the nearer enemies, burn the curse of the distant evil-doer. Burn, O Vasu, seeing the unseen ones. May thy never-ageing, never-tiring flames: spread out.
3. Wishing for (thy blessings), O Agni, by fuel and ghee I offer this sacrificial food for the attainment of) advancing power and of strength; worshipping thee with my spell as far as I have power (I offer) this divine prayer for the attainment of hundred(fold blessings).
4. (Shining) forth with thy flame, O son of strength, praised (by us), bestow mighty vigour on those who toil for thee, bright luck and welfare, O Agni, on the Visvâmitras! We have cleaned thy body many
times.
5. Give us treasures, O best gainer of riches : such indeed art thou, Agni, when thou hast been kindled. In the blessed praiser's house thou hast placed, together with wealth, thy mighty(?) arms', thy marvellous shapes.
NOTES. The same Rishi and metre.—Verse 2 = TÅ. IV, 5, 5. Verse 3 = AV. III, 15, 3.
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