V, 24

MANDALA V, HYMN 24.

ASHTAKA IV, ADHYÂYA 1, VARGA 16.

1. Agni, be thou our nearest (friend) and our kind, protecting guardian.

2. Agni is Vasu, renowned as Vasu (or, renowned by goods). Obtain, (and) bestow (on us), most brilliant wealth 1.

3. Listen to us then; hear our call; deliver us from every harmful man.

4. We entreat thee now, O brightest, shining (Agni), for thy grace, for our friends.

NOTES.

The Rishis are the Gaupâyanas or Laupâyanas, Bandhu (verse 1), Subandhu (verse 2), Srutabandhu (verse 3), Viprabandhu (verse 4). The metre is Dvipadâ Virâg.—Verses 1, 2, 4, 3 = VS. III, 25–26. Verses 1, 4, 2, 3 = MS. I, 5, 3. Verses 1, 2, 4 = SV. II, 457–459; VS. XV, 48; XXV, 47. Verses 1, 4, 2 = TS. I, 5, 6, 2–3; IV, 4, 4, 8. Verse 1 = SV. I, 448.

Verse 2.

Note 1. The accusative dyumáttamam rayím seems to depend both on ákkhâ nakshi and on dâh. I cannot find any reason for preferring the reading of SV. and TS. dyumáttamah (Ludwig).