Page:Atharva-Veda samhita volume 2.djvu/218

xii. 2- 7. If the flesh-eating Agni hath entered our house, seeing this other Jātavedas, him I take afar for the Fathers' sacrifice; let him kindle the hot drink (gharmá) in the highest station.

8. I send far forth the flesh-eating Agni; let him go, carrying evil (riprá-), to Yama's subjects; here let this other Jātavedas carry the oblation, a god to the gods, foreknowing.

9. I, being sent, take the flesh-eating Agni, a death, making people fixed with the thunderbolt; I, knowing, separate (? ni-çās) him from the householder's fire; also in the world of the Fathers be he [their] portion.

10. The flesh-eating Agni, active, praiseworthy, I send forth by the roads that the Fathers go; come thou not back by those that the gods go; be thou just there (átra); watch thou over the Fathers.

11. They kindle the devouring one (sáṁkasuka) in order to well-being, becoming cleansed, bright, purifying; he abandons evil (riprá), passes over sin; Agni, kindled, purifies with a good purifier.

12. God Agni the devouring hath ascended the backs of the sky; being released out of sin, he hath released us from imprecation.

13. On this devouring Agni do we wipe off evils; we have become fit for sacrifice, cleansed; may he prolong our life-times.

The verse is found also in Āp. ix. 3. 22 (following a verse resembling our vs. 14), which reads saṁkusuke ‘gnāu in a-b. Our mss., as often in such cases, vary between