the chapter of portents, alone, in one against bad years (samās). Vāit. has it in the agnicayana ceremony (28. 4), at the beginning, and a little later (28. 10) vs. 3 alone, on depositing the lump of earth on a lotus-leaf. The comm. quotes it from the Nakṣ. K. (17 and 18), in a mahāçānti called āgneyī; and, from Pariçiṣṭa 7. 2, vs. 5 (with vii. 35), in a nightly rite. ⌊Observe (note to vs. 3) that Ppp. agrees with the Yajus-texts and Kāuç. in associating our vii. 82 with this hymn.⌋
Translated: Weber, xiii. 146; Griffith, i. 48.
1. Let the summers (sámā), O Agni, the seasons, increase thee, the years, the seers, what things are true; shine thou with the heavenly bright space (rocaná); illuminate (ā-bhā) all the four directions.
TS. reads at the end pṛthivyā́s (for cátasras). Ppp. has for b saṁvatsara ṛṣayo yā nu sakhyā, and in c gives dyumnena for divyéna. The comm. glosses samās by saṁvatsarās. ⌊If the translation implies that rocanéna is an instr. of accompaniment, it is less apposite than Mr. Whitney's earlier version, 'shine together with heavenly brightness'—which I take to be Agni's own (cf. RV. x. 4. 2). His brightness is nil by day-time. The "together" were better left out.⌋
2. Both do thou become kindled, Agni, and do thou increase this man, and arise unto great good fortune; let not thine attendants (upasattár) be harmed, O Agni; be thy worshipers (brahmán) glorious, not others.
The other texts are in accordance in reading bodhaya (for vardhaya) in a, and Ppp. nearly agrees with them, having prati bodhaye ’nam; for c the others give mā́ ca riṣad upasattā́ te agne.
3. Thee, O Agni, do these Brahmans choose; be propitious to us, O Agni, in the [sacrificial] enclosure (? saṁváraṇa); rival-slayer, Agni, conqueror of hostile plotters, be thou; watch unremitting over thine own household.
MS. has the same text; the two others give a slightly different c: sapatnahā́ no abhimātijíc ca. Ppp. has for b çivo ‘gne prabhṛṇo nedihi, and for d sve kṣa dīdihy aprayuchan; it then inserts, before vs. 4, our vii. 82. 3; and it is very noteworthy that the three Yajus-texts do the same. The comm. renders saṁvaraṇe bhava by vidyamānasyā ’pi pramādasya saṁchādane vartasva 'hide any oversight of ours.' The Anukr. passes without notice the two jagatī-pādas in the verse.
4. Take hold of thine own dominion (kṣatrá), Agni; with [thy] friend, Agni, strive (yat) in friendly wise; [as one] of midmost station among [his] fellows (sajātá), [as one] to be severally invoked of kings, Agni, shine thou here.
