Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/216

ii. 6- the chapter of portents, alone, in one against bad years (samās). Vāit. has it in the agnicayana ceremony (28. 4), at the beginning, and a little later (28. 10) vs. 3 alone, on depositing the lump of earth on a lotus-leaf. The comm. quotes it from the Nakṣ. K. (17 and 18), in a mahāçānti called āgneyī; and, from Pariçiṣṭa 7. 2, vs. 5 (with vii. 35), in a nightly rite. ⌊Observe (note to vs. 3) that Ppp. agrees with the Yajus-texts and Kāuç. in associating our vii. 82 with this hymn.⌋

Translated: Weber, xiii. 146; Griffith, i. 48.

1. Let the summers (sámā), O Agni, the seasons, increase thee, the years, the seers, what things are true; shine thou with the heavenly bright space (rocaná); illuminate (ā-bhā) all the four directions.

2. Both do thou become kindled, Agni, and do thou increase this man, and arise unto great good fortune; let not thine attendants (upasattár) be harmed, O Agni; be thy worshipers (brahmán) glorious, not others.

3. Thee, O Agni, do these Brahmans choose; be propitious to us, O Agni, in the [sacrificial] enclosure (? saṁváraṇa); rival-slayer, Agni, conqueror of hostile plotters, be thou; watch unremitting over thine own household.

4. Take hold of thine own dominion (kṣatrá), Agni; with [thy] friend, Agni, strive (yat) in friendly wise; [as one] of midmost station among [his] fellows (sajātá), [as one] to be severally invoked of kings, Agni, shine thou here.

VS. TS. read svā́yus for svéna in a, and all the three parallel texts have mitradhéye (for -dhā́) in b, while Ppp. gives mitradheyam, and the comm. -dhās. In c, VS. TS. fill out the meter by adding edhi after -ṣṭhā; MS. has instead -ṣṭhéyāya, Ppp. -ṣṭheha masyā. Ppp. also has vacasva at end of b. The three other texts accent vihavyàs in d. The comm. joins rājñām to what precedes, and sagely points out that Brāhmans are