Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/360

iv. 23-

1. I reverence (man-u) first the forethoughtful (prácetas) Agni, him of the five peoples, whom men kindle in many places; we pray to him who hath entered (pra-viç) into clans after clans (víç): let him free us from distress.

2. As thou carriest the oblation, O Jātavedas; as, foreknowing, thou adaptest the sacrifice—so do thou convey to us favor from the gods: let him free us from distress.

3. Put to service at every course (yā́man), best carrier, sharer (ā́bhaga) at every rite, Agni I praise, demon-slayer, sacrifice-increaser, offered to with ghee: let him free us from distress.

All the mss. (and SPP. with them) make the division of the verse, with obvious impropriety, before instead of after agním īḍe, being apparently led into the blunder by