THE HYMNS OF THE [PART I.

2 I seek with song your messengeroriginal: "dūtam"; Agni acts as the envoy between humans and the gods., bearer of offeringsoriginal: "havyavāham", lord of wealth,
Immortal, best at sacrifice.

3 Still turning to their aim in thee the sacrificer's sister hymns
Have come to thee before the wind.

4 To thee, illuminer of nightoriginal: "doṣâvastar", O Fireoriginal: "Agni", day by day with prayer,
Bringing thee reverence, we come.

5 Help, thou who knowest songs of praiseoriginal: "jarâbodha", this work, a lovely hymn in Rudra'sThe 'Roaring One' or 'Red One'; here an epithet for the Fire God. praise,
Adorable in every house!

6 To this fair sacrifice to drink the milky draughtA ritual mixture of milk and the sacred Soma juice. art thou called forth:
O Fireoriginal: "Agni", with the Storm-Godsoriginal: "Maruts" come!

7 With homage will I reverence thee, Fireoriginal: "Agni", like a long-tailed steed,
Imperial lord of holy rites.

2 Ascribed to VâmadevaA famous Vedic sage or Rishi.. RigvedaThe 'Veda of Verses,' the oldest of the four Vedas. IV. 8. 1. Your messenger: Fireoriginal: "Agni", who conveys to the Gods the offerings of their worshippers.

3 Rigveda VIII. 91. 13. Ascribed to Prayoga of the family of Bhrigu. Before the wind: or, in front of the wind, which fans the sacrificial fire.

4 Rigveda I. 1. 7. Ascribed to Madhuchchhandas.

5 Rigveda I. 27. 10. Ascribed to Sunahsepa. Thou who knowest lauds: knower of songs of praiseoriginal: "jarâbodha": the seeroriginal: "Rishi" apparently addresses himself. Rudra, the roaring, or more probably the bright red God, is in this place a name of Fireoriginal: "Agni".

6 Rigveda I. 19. 1. Ascribed to Medhâtithi. Milky draught: milk mingled with SomaA sacred ritual plant juice. juice. Storm-Godsoriginal: "Maruts": the Gods of wind and storm, the special friends and allies of IndraThe king of the Vedic gods..

7 Rigveda I. 27. 1. Ascribed to Sunahsepa. Like a long-tailed steed: Fireoriginal: "Agni" is likened to a horse probably on account of his impetuosity; and his long flames, driven by the wind, are compared to the horse's flowing tail. SâyanaA prominent 14th-century commentator on the Vedas. explains: 'scattering our foes with thy flames as a horse brushes away the flies that trouble him.'