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Headed by Visnu the gods won finally these worlds by the metres; in that he strides the strides of
Visnu, the sacrificer becoming Visnu wins finally these worlds. 'Thou art the step of Visnu,
overcoming hostility', he says; the earth is connected with the Gayatri, the atmosphere with the
Tristubh, the sky with the Jagati, the quarters with the Anustubh; verily he wins in order these
worlds with the metres. Prajapati created Agni; he being created went away from him [1]; he
followed him with this (verse), 'He hath cried'; with it he won the home dear to Agni; in that he
repeats this (verse), he wins thereby the home dear to Agni. Now he who steps the strides of Visnu
is apt as he goes away to be burnt up; he turns with four (verses); the. metres are four, Agni's dear
body is the metres; verily he turns round on his dear body [2]; he turns round from left to right;
verily he turns round on his own strength; therefore the right side of the body is the stronger; verily
also does he turn with the turning of the sun. Varuna seized Çunahçepa Ajigarti, he saw this verse
addressed to Varuna, by it he freed himself from the noose of Varuna; Varuna seizes him who takes
the fire-pan; 'From us the highest knot, O Varuna', he says; verily thereby he frees himself from
Varuna's noose [3]. 'I have drawn thee', he says, for he draws him. 'Be thou firm and motionless', he
says, for support. 'Let all the folk desire thee', he says; verily with the folk he unites him. 'In him
establish the kingdom', he says; verily in him he makes the kingdom to abide. If he desire of a man,
'May he be a ruler', he should think of him with his mind; verily he becomes a ruler [4]. 'In
greatness he hath risen erect in the van of the dawns', he says; verily he makes him the first of his
peers. 'Emerging from the darkness', he says; verily he smites away darkness from him. 'He hath
come with the light', he says; verily he bestows light upon him. He places him with four (verses);
the metres are four; verily with the metres (he places him); with an Atichandas as the last; the
Atichandas is the highest of metres; verily he makes him the highest of his peers; it contains [5] the
word 'sit' (sad); verily he makes him attain reality (sat-tvám). With (the hymn) of Vatsapri he
reverences (him); by that did Vatsapri Bhalandana win the home dear to Agni; verily by it he wins
the home dear to Agni. It has eleven (verses); verily in eleven places he bestows strength on the
sacrificer. By the Stoma the gods prospered in this world, by the metres in yonder world; the hymn
of Vatsapri is the type of the Stoma; in that he pays reverence with (the hymn) of Vatsapri [6], he
wins with it this world; in that he strides the steps of Visnu, he wins by them yonder world. On the
first day he strides forth, on the next day he pays reverence; therefore the minds of some creatures
are set on energy, those of others on rest; therefore the active lords it over him who takes his ease
therefore the active fixes upon a man who takes his ease. He clenches his fist, he restrains his
speech, for support.
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'O lord of food, accord us food', he says; the lord of food is Agni; verily he grants him food.
'Uninjurious, impetuous', he says; he means in fact 'free from disease'. 'Do thou further the donor,
bestow strength on our bipeds, our quadrupeds', he says; verily he invokes this blessing. 'May the
All-gods bear thee up', he says; the All-gods are the breaths [1]; verily with the breaths he raises
him. 'O Agni, with their thoughts', he says; with the purpose for which he raises him, he verily
unites him. He places (him) with four (verses); the metres are four; verily with the metres (he places
him); with an Atichandas as the last; the Atichandas is the highest of the metres; verily he makes
him the highest of his peers; it contains the word 'sit' (sad); verily he makes him attain reality (sattvám).
'Come forward, O Agni, rich in light' [2], he says; verily he bestows light upon him. With his
body he injures him whom he injures; 'Harm not our offspring with thy body', he says; verily for his
offspring he makes him gentle. The Raksases infest that sacrifice where the axle creaks; 'He hath
cried', he repeats, to smite away the Raksases. They bear (him) with a cart; verily he confers honour
upon him; therefore he that has a cart and he that has a chariot are of guests [3] the most honoured:
honour is his who knows thus. 'With kindling-wood serve Agni', (with these words) he puts a
kindling-stick, made wet with ghee, upon him when put in place; that is as when hospitality with
melted butter is offered to a guest on arrival; (he puts it on) with a Gayatri for a Brahman, for the
Brahman is connected with the Gayatri, with a Tristubh for a Rajanya, for the Rajanya is connected
with the Tristubh. He casts the ash into the waters; Agni's place of birth is in the waters; verily he
Keith: Taittiriya-Samhita, Translation - Page 224 of 341