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IX KÂNDA, I ADHYÂYA, I BRÂHMANA, 39. 165
indeed their arrows, and by the rain they injure whom they wish to injure.
36. [Vâg. S. XVI, 65), 'Reverence be to the Rudras dwelling in the air,'-he thereby does reverence to those Rudras who are in the air:
whose arrows the wind is,' for the wind is indeed their arrows, and by the wind they injure whom they wish to injure.
37. [Vâg. S. XVI, 66], Reverence be to the Rudras dwelling upon earth'- he thereby does reverence to those Rudras who are in this (terrestrial) world ;-'whose arrows food is,' for food is indeed their arrows, and by means of food they injure whom they wish to injure.
38. 'To them (I stretch) ten (fingers) forwards, ten to the right, ten backwards, ten to the left, ten upwards?,'-of ten syllables consists the Virag, and Agni is Virâg; there are ten seasons, and Agni is the seasons; there are ten vital airs, and Agni is the vital airs : as great as Agni is, as great as is his measure, with so much food he thus gratifies them.
39. And as to why he says 'ten-ten,'--there are ten fingers in the joined hands 2: he thus makes reverence to them in each direction; and hence he who is frightened places his hands together ;-—'To them be reverence!'—he thus does reverence to them ;-May they be gracious unto us!'-they thus are gracious unto him ;—'whomsoever we hate, and whosoever hateth us, him we cast into their jaws!'—thus he casts into their jaws
1 These words, as well as the spaced words in the next paragraph, are added to each of the three formulas in paragraphs 35-37.
2 The joining of the hollow of the hands, by placing the tips of the fingers together, is a sign of reverence.
