{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/sbe46/sbe46054.htm","path":"hin/sbe46/sbe46054.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe46/sbe46054.htm","text":"Vedic Hymns, Part II (SBE46), by Hermann Oldenberg [1897]\n1. I call for you Agni, shining with beautiful shine, praised with beautiful praise 1, the guest of the clans, the receiver of fine offerings, who is desirable like Mitra (or, like an ally), G\u00e2tavedas the god, among godly people.\n2. The Bhrigus worshipping him in the abode of the waters 1 have verily 2 established him among the clans of \u00c2yu. Let him surpass all worlds, Agni, the steward of the gods 3, the possessor of quick horses.\n3. The gods have established beloved Agni among the human clans as (people) going to settle (establish) Mitra 1. May he illuminate the nights that are longing (for him), he who should be treated kindly by the liberal (worshipper) in his house.\n4. His prosperity is delightful as good pasture (?) 1; delightful is his appearance when the burning one is driven forward, he who quickly shaking his tongue among the plants waves 2 his tail mightily like a chariot-horse.\n5. When they praised 1 to me the monstrous might of the eater of the forests 2, he produced his (shining) colour as (he has done) for the Usigs 3. With shining splendour he has shone joyously, he who having grown old has suddenly become young (again).\n6. He who shines on the forests 1 as if he were thirsty, who resounded like water on its path, like (the rattle of the wheels) of a chariot 2\u2014he whose\npath is black, the hot, the joyous one has shone, laughing 3 like the sky with its clouds.\n7. He who has spread himself burning over the wide (earth), moves about like an animal, free, without a keeper. The naming Agni, burning down the brushwood, with a black trail 1, has, as it were, tasted the earth.\n8. Now in the remembrance of thy former blessings this prayer has been recited to thee at the third sacrifice 1. Give to us, Agni, mighty strength with a succession of valiant men, with plenty of food; (give us) wealth with good progeny 2.\n9. Give, O Agni, such vigour to thy praiser together with his liberal (lords), that the Gritsamadas, rich in valiant men, victorious over hostile plots, attaining (their aim) in secret, may overcome through thee (their rivals) who get behind 1.\nThe Rishi is Som\u00e2huti Bh\u00e2rgava, the metre Trishtubh.\u2014No verse occurs in the other Samhit\u00e2s.\nNote 1. To me there seems to be no doubt that the meaning of suvrikt\u00ed is something like 'beautiful prayer,' beautiful song,' and then 'a god who is invoked with beautiful songs.' Thus suvrikt\u00e1yah or other cases of the same word stand by the side of st\u00f3m\u00e2h \u2026 g\u00edrah, VIII, 8, 22; of g\u00edrah, I, 64, 1; VIII, 96, 10, comp. X, 64, 4; of br\u00e1hma, VII, 31, 11; 97, 9; of st\u00f3maih, VII, 96, 1; of dh\u00eet\u00edbhih, VI, 61, 2; of \u00e1kkhoktibhih mat\u00een\u00e2\u00b4m, I, 61, 3, and so on. Comp. also VII, 83, 9. h\u00e1v\u00e2\u00b4mahe v\u00e2m vrishan\u00e2 suvrikt\u00edbhih; X, 41, 1. r\u00e1tham \u2026 suvrikt\u00edbhih vay\u00e1m v\u1ef9usht\u00e2 ush\u00e1sah hav\u00e2mahe; X, 80, 7. avok\u00e2ma suvrikt\u00edm.\nThis being the meaning of the word, I cannot think it probable\u2014and herein I differ from the opinion pronounced by Prof. Max M\u00fcller, vol. xxxii, p. 109\u2014that it stands in connection with the verb vrig in its well-known use referring to the Barhis. In my opinion (comp. also Geldner, Vedische Studien, I, 151) suvrikt\u00ed may be connected with another use of vrig, with the meaning of this verb 'to draw a god towards himself, averting him from other sacrificers' (materials regarding this use of vrig have been collected by Geldner, loc. cit., 144). Or possibly the word may be derived, as Prof. von Roth believes, from rik (comp. suvita derived from i). It is true that the substantive rikti does not occur by itself: but, as Prof. Max M\u00fcller remarks (loc. cit.), this would not be fatal to Prof. von Roth's etymology, because many other words in the Veda occur as uttarapadas only. If we accept this theory, we should of course have to separate suvrikt\u00ed from n\u00e1movrikti and sv\u00e1vrikti.\nNote 1. Comp. X, 46, 2. im\u00e1m vidh\u00e1ntah ap\u00e2\u00b4m sadh\u00e1sthe.\nNote 2. Literally, 'doubly.' 'In two places, in the abode of the waters and among the clans of man.' M. M. Compare, however, X, 46, 2 (see last note).\nNote 3. Dev\u00e2\u00b4n\u00e2m arat\u00edh; comp. I, 58, 7, note 1.\nNote 1. The meaning seems to be that people going to settle anywhere, secure safety by ceremonies addressed to Mitra, i. e. possibly by concluding alliances which stand under the special protection of Mitra. Comp. IV, 33, 10; H. O., Religion des Veda, 186, note 1.\u2014Mitra is kshetras\u00e2\u00b4dhas, VIII, 31, 14.\nNote 1. Sv\u00e1sya-iva seems to be corrupt. Possibly we might read s\u00fby\u00e1vas\u00e2-iva pusht\u00edh. In X, 11, 5 we read, s\u00e1d\u00e2 asi ranv\u00e1h, y\u00e1vas\u00e2-iva p\u00fashyate. IV, 16, 15. \u00f3kah n\u00e1 ranv\u00e2\u00b4 sudr\u00eds\u00ee-iva pusht\u00edh.\u2014The translation of the traditional\nreading would be, 'His prosperity is delightful, like that of a person belonging to us.'\nNote 2. Bh\u00e1ribhrat seems to be a participle: but then dodhav\u00eeti must be accented (d\u00f3dhav\u00eeti).\nNote 1. On the verb pan, comp. Pischel, Vedische Studien, I, 199 seq.\nNote 2. Van\u00e1d seems to be, as Grassmann has seen, a compound of v\u00e1n, 'the forest' (comp. the genitive van\u00e2\u00b4m, the locative v\u00e1msu), and of \u00e1d. Of Agni is said several times 'v\u00e1n\u00e2ni atti.'\nNote 3. On the mythical ancestors designated as the Usigas, see Bergaigne, I, 57 seq.\nNote 1. The forests, of course, are the fuel.\nNote 2. To r\u00e1thy\u00e2-iva probably kakr\u00e2\u00b4 (nom. plur.) is to be supplied.\nNote 3. The 'laughing' of the sky is the lightning (Benfey, Vedica und Verwandtes, 138). The flames of Agni flash through the smoke as the lightning shines in the clouds.\nNote 1. See Geldner, Vedische Studien, II, 29 seq.; Roth, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenl\u00e4nd. Gesellschaft, XLVIII, 107.\nNote 1. The text has trit\u00ee\u00b4ye vid\u00e1the (comp. I, 31, 6, note 2). Does this mean at the trit\u00eeya-savana? Three vidathas are spoken of also in VI, 51, 2; VII, 66, 10.\nNote 2. On the metrical irregularity, comp. H. O., Die Hymnen des Rig-veda, I, 67.\nNote 1. 'May prevail, destroying through thee the neighbours lying in ambush.' M. M. To me g\u00fah\u00e2 seems to be connected with vanv\u00e1ntah.","title":"Vedic Hymns, Part II (SBE46): II, 4","type":"page"}