Yajur Sama Atharvan Vedas

THE YAJUR VEDA
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abode, and with brilliance also [5]. He puts on (a stick) of Vikankata wood; verily he wins radiance;
he puts on one of Çami, for atonement. 'Do thou sit down in the lap of this mother', with three
(verses) he adores (the fire) when born; three are these worlds; verily he attains reputation in these
worlds; verily also he bestows breaths on himself.
v. 1. 10.
Formerly Agni would not burn what was not cut by the axe, but Prayoga, the seer, made that
acceptable to him. 'Whatever logs we place on thee', (with these words) he puts on a kindling-stick;
verily he makes what is not cut by the axe acceptable to him; all is acceptable to him who knows
thus. He puts on one of Udumbara wood; the Udumbara is strength; verily he confers strength upon
him. Prajapati created Agni; him on creation the Raksases [1] were fain to destroy; he saw that
(hymn) of the Raksas-slaying (one); therewith he smote away the Raksases; in that it is (the hymn) of
the Raksas-slaying one, thereby he drives away the Raksases from Agni when born. He puts on one
of Açvattha wood; of trees the Açvattha is the overcomer of foes; (verily it serves) for victory. He
puts on one of Vikankata; verily he wins light. He puts on one of Çami wood, for atonement.
'Sharpened is my holy power', 'Their arms have I uplifted', (with these words) he makes him speak
over the last two Udumbara (sticks) [2]; verily by means of the holy power he quickens the kingly
power, and by the kingly power the holy power; therefore a Brahman who has a princely person is
superior to another Brahman; therefore a prince who has a Brahman is superior to another prince.
Now Agni is death, gold is immortality; he puts a gold plate within; verily he severs immortality from
death; it has twenty-one projections, the worlds of the gods are twenty-one, the twelve months, the
four seasons, these three worlds, and as twenty-first yonder sun [3]; so many are the worlds of the
gods; verily from them he severs his foe. By means of the projections the gods reduced the Asuras to
straits (nirbadé); that is the reason why projections (nirbadháh) have their names; it is covered with
projections; verily he reduces his foes to straits. He puts (it) on with a verse addressed to Savitr, for
instigation. 'Night and the dawn', with (this as) second; verily he raises him with day and night. 'The
gods, granters of wealth, support Agni', be says; the gods, granters of wealth, are the breaths; verily
having raised him with day and night [4] he supports him with the breaths. Sitting he puts (it) on;
therefore offspring are born sitting; the black antelope skin is above; gold is brilliance, the black
antelope skin is holy power; verily on both sides he encircles him, with brilliance and with holy
power. The sling is of six fathoms in extent; the seasons are six; verily he raises him with the seasons;
if it is of twelve fathoms, (he raises him) with the year. It is of Muñja grass; the Muñja is strength;
verily he unites him with strength. 'Thou art the bird of fair feathers', (with these words) he gazes;
verily he declares his greatness in that form. 'Go to the sky, fly to the heaven', he says; verily he
makes him to go to the world of heaven.
v. 1. 11.
The Apri Hymn for the Horse Sacrifice
a Enkindled, decking the store-room of prayers,
Swelling with sweet butter, O Agni,
Steed bearing the strong drink, O all-knower,
Carry it to the dear place of the gods.
b With ghee adorning the paths leading to the gods,
Let the strong one, wise, go to the gods;
May thee, O courser, the regions attend,
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