[[1-1-1]] [[Book-Chapter-Paragraph]] - Sanskrit Web

makes it productive by the morning (offering). Seed when poured does not prove fruitful unless
modified by Tvastr; as many modifications of seed when poured [1] as Tvastr makes, in so many
shapes does it become fruitful; the sacrificer is the divine Tvastr. He pays reverence with many
(verses); verily he makes many modifications of the seed when poured. He is fruitful and day by
day becomes greater, who knowing thus pays reverence to the fire. The day was the gods', the night
the Asuras'. The Asuras entered night with all the precious wealth of the gods [2]; the gods thought
that they were abandoned; they perceived, 'The night is Agni's, cattle are Agni's; verily let us praise
Agni here; he being praised by us will restore our cattle.' They praised Agni; be praised by them
delivered their cattle from night to day; the gods having gained their cattle per formed their desires.
He who knowing thus pays reverence to the fire becomes possessed of cattle [3]. The sun went from
this world to yonder world; he having gone to yonder world bethought him again of this world;
having returned to this world he had fear of death, for this world is, as it were, yoked with death. He
reflected, 'Let me praise Agni here; he, praised, will make me go to the world of heaven.' He praised
Agni; he, praised, made him go to the world of heaven. He who [4] knowing thus pays reverence to
the fire, goes to the world of heaven and lives all his days. He mounts these two fires who pays
reverence to them; he acts according to the desires of one who has attained a higher place. He pays
reverence at night, not in the morning, for vows are mingled at night, the bad and the good are on
the same level, the fire is the light, the evening is the darkness; in that [5] he pays reverence by
night, he overcomes the darkness by light. 'Should reverence be paid to the fire or not?' they say; 'he
who day by day makes a present to a man and then begs of him assuredly molests him; and who
then will day by day beg of the gods?' Then they say, 'The sacrificer sacrifices for the sake of the
benediction.' The reverence of the fire is [6] the benediction of him who has established a fire;
therefore reverence should be paid to the fire. Prajapati created cattle; being created they entered
day and night; he recovered them by means of the metres. In that he pays reverence with the metres,
he seeks to recover his own. 'There is not monotony then', they say, 'if one pays reverence day by
day.' If a man pays reverence to the fire facing it, it burns him; if with averted (face), he is deprived
of offspring and cattle; he should pay reverence with (face) somewhat to the side, then (the fire)
does not burn him, he is not deprived of offspring or cattle.
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a The name that first, O alI-knower,
My father and my mother bestowed upon me aforetime,
Do thou bear it until I return;
O Agni, may I bear thy name.
b My name and thine, O all-knower,
Which like men changing garments we bear,
Let us exchange again,
Thou for life, and we to live.
c Homage to Agni, the unpierced,
Homage to the unapproachable, homage to the king!
Irresistible is Agni [1], the very vigorous, all-conquering,
Powerful, the best, the Gandharva.
d O Agni, the gods have thee for father,
Offer to thee oblations, and have thee as an umpire
With life, with lordship of cattle (endow) me
And bestow on me good fortune.
e Agni here is of all the best,
He is most adorable,
Must ready to win (us) a thousand;
To him be all good strength.
f Mind, light, rejoice in the oblation
May he unite the scattered sacrifice;
The offerings at dawn and evening
I unite with oblation and ghee.
Keith: Taittiriya-Samhita, Translation - Page 53 of 341