The Hymns of the Sama Veda

i. i. 3.] THE SĀMAVEDA.

9 By song, O Fire original: "Agni", O Angiras A name for the Fire God, identifying him as the chief of the Angirasas, a family of semi-divine priest-sages.! Gopavana A Vedic seer and poet. hath brought thee forth:
Hear thou my call, refulgent one!

10 Fire original: "Agni", the Sage, the Lord of Strength, hath moved around the sacred gifts,
Giving the offerer precious things.

11 His heralds bear him up aloft, the God who knoweth all that lives,
The Sun, that all may look on him.

12 Praise Fire original: "Agni" in the sacrifice, the Sage whose holy laws are true,
The God who driveth grief away.

13 Kind be the Goddesses to lend us help, and kind that we may drink:
May their streams bring us health and wealth!

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9 Rigveda VIII. 63. 11. Ascribed to Gopavana. Angiras: a name of Fire original: "Agni", regarded as the best or eldest of the primeval priestly family of the Angirasas. The reading of the Rigveda is slightly different: original: "yam tvā.....chanishṭhad" meaning "whom you made glad" vs "tam tvā.....janishṭhad" meaning "thou whom... he brought forth": 'Thou whom Gopavana made glad.'

10 Rigveda IV. 15. 3. Ascribed to Vāmadeva. Hath moved around: carried as sacrificial fire from one altar or receptacle to another.

11 Rigveda I. 50. 1. Ascribed to Praskaṇva, or to Kaṇva. Heralds: rays of light that announce his approach. The Sun: Sūrya the Sun-god, with whom Fire original: "Agni" is identified, is the deity of the hymn from which the stanza is taken.

12 Rigveda I. 12. 7. Ascribed to Medhātithi.

13 Rigveda X. 9. 4. Ascribed by the Rigveda Index to Trishiras, son of Tvashtar, or to Sindhudvīpa, son of Ambarīsha, but by the Sāmaveda Commentary to Sindhudvīpa, or to Trita Āptya. Goddesses: the deified Waters, the deities to whom the original hymn is addressed. The reading of the Rigveda differs slightly: 'The Waters be to us for drink, Goddesses for our aid and bliss.'