The 4 Vedas

Vishva Dharma ki Jay! (Victory to Universal Dharma!)
w Even as ye did set free, O bright ones,
O ye that are worthy of offering, the buffalo cow bound by the foot,
So do thou remove from us tribulation;
Be our life prolonged further, O Agni.
2.5 Kandha 5
This Mandala contains 120 Mantras (Hymns):
2.5.1 Prapathaka 1: The Placing of the Fire in the Fire-Pan
Enter text here
2.5.1.1 Mantra 1: The Libation to Savitr and the taking of the Spade
He offers the Savitr offerings, for instigation. He offers with (an oblation) ladled up four times, cattle
have four feet; verily he wins cattle; the quarters are four; verily he finds support in the quarters. The
metres departed from the gods (saying), 'We will not carry your oblation without sharing (in it)'; for
them they kept this (oblation) ladled up four times, for the Puronuvakya the Yajya, the deity, the Vasat
call; in that he offers what has been ladled up four times, he delights the metres, and they delighted carry
to the gods his oblation. If he desire of a man [1], 'May he become worse', he should offer each
separately for him; verily he makes him severed from the libations; he becomes worse. If he desire of a
man, 'May he become better', he should offer all for him continuously; verily he makes him master of
the libation; he becomes better. This is the mastering of the sacrifice. He abandons prosperity in the
beginning of the sacrifice who departs from Agni as the deity; these offerings to Savitr number eight, the
Gayatri has eight syllables, Agni is connected with the Gayatri [2]; verily he does not abandon
prosperity at the beginning of the sacrifice, nor Agni as the deity. The offerings to Savitr number eight,
the libation (as a whole) is the ninth; verily he extends the threefold (Stoma) at the beginning of the
sacrifice. If he desire, 'May I confer on the metres the glory of the sacrifice', he should make a Re verse
last; verily he confers on the metres the glory of the sacrifice. If he desire, 'May I confer on the sacrificer
the glory of the sacrifice', he should make a Yajus formula last; verily he confers on the sacrificer the
glory of the sacrifice. 'By the Rc make the Stoma to flourish', he says [3], for prosperity. With four
(verses) he takes up the spade; the metres are four; verily (he takes it up) with the metres. 'On the
instigation of god Savitr', he says, for instigation. Agni went away from the gods, he entered the reed; he
resorted to the hole which is formed by the perforation of the reed; the spade is perforated to make it his
birthplace; wherever he lived, that became black; (the spade) is stained, for perfection of form; it is
pointed at both ends, for the winning of light both hence and from yonder world; it is a fathom long; so
much is the strength in man; (verily it is) commensurate with his strength; it is unlimited in girth, to win
what is unlimited; that tree which has fruit is strong among trees, the reed bears fruit, (the spade) is of
reed, to win strength.
2.5.1.2 Mantra 2: The going for the Clay
That part of the sacrifice is unsuccessful which is performed with no Yajus. 'This bond of order they
grasped', (with these words) he takes up the horse's halter, to make a Yajus and to make successful the
sacrifice. 'Swiftly run hither, O steed', (with these words) he halters the horse; verily he proclaims its
greatness in this form. 'Yoke ye the ass', (with these words) (he halters) the ass; verily he establishes the
ass on the non-existent; therefore the ass is less real than the horse. 'In each need more strong', he says
[1]; verily in each need he yokes him; 'in each contest we invoke', he says; the contest is food; verily he
wins food. 'As friends, Indra to aid us', he says; verily he wins power. Agni went away from the gods,
him Prajapati found; the horse is connected with Prajapati, with the horse he collects (it), for the finding
Ano Bhadraha Kritavayo Yantu Vishwataha (Let noble thoughts come from every side) – Rg Veda 727