22. For generation’s sake I join thee. This is Agni’s. This Agni-Soma’s. Thee for food. Thou art the caldron, life of all that liveth. Spread thyself widely forth, thou, widely spreading. So may thy Lord of sacrifice spread widely. Thy skin let Agni harm not. In highest heaven let the God Savitar hake thee.
23. Fear not. Shrink not. Let not the sacrifice be languid, not languid he the Sacrificer’s offspring. For Trita thee. For Dvita thee. For Ekata thee.
24. By impulse of God Savitar I take thee, with arms of Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan, thee who for Gods performest sacred service. Indra’s right arm art thou: sharp with a thousand spikes, a hundred edges. The keen-edged Wind art thou, the foeman’s slayer.
25. O Earth, whereon men serve the Gods with worship, let me not do thy plant’s root any damage. Go to the pen, the cowstall. Heaven rain for thee. On this earth’s farthest end, God Savitar, bind him, with hundred fetters bind the man who hates us and whom we hate. Thence do not thou release him.
26. May I drive Araru away from Earth, the seat of men’s oblations to the Gods. Go to the pen . . . . . . . release him (as in verse 25). O Araru, thou shalt not soar to heaven. Let not thy drop mount upward to the sky. Go to the pen . . . . . . . release him (as in verse 25).
27. I with the metre Gâyatrî enclose thee. I lay the Trishtup metre round about thee. With Jagatî metre I confine and gird thee.Sprung from good soil art thou, and bliss-bestowing. Pleasant art thou, and a fair seat to rest on. Thou hast both strengthening food and drink in plenty.
28. Before the cruel foe’s secret departure, Mighty One, raising high earth, life-bestower, which to the Moon they lifted by oblations, that earth the sages still point out and worship. Deposit in its place the sprinkling-water, Thou art the slayer of the man who hates us.
29. Scorched are the demons, scorched the evil beings. Burnt out are fiends, burnt out malignant creatures. Unsharpened, thou art slayer of the foemen. Thee, rich in food, I cleanse for the food’s kindling. Scorched . . . . . creatures (as above). Thee rich in food, I cleanse for the food’s kindling.
30. A zone for Aditi art thou. Pervader of Vishnu art thou. For great strength I take thee. I look upon thee with an eye uninjured. Thou art the tongue of Agni. Good invoker of Gods be thou at every holy station, at every sacrificial text I utter.
31. By Savitar’s impulsion do I cleanse thee, with flawless strainer, with the rays of Sûrya. By Savitar’s impulsion do I cleanse you, with flawless strainer, with the rays of Sûrya. Light art thou; thou art splendid; thou art Amrit. Thou, truly, art the Gods’ beloved station, inviolable means of holy worship.
End of Book First
