The verse is found also in TS. (ii. 4. 141), MS. (iv. 9. 27; 12. 2), ÇÇS. (v. 8. 4): in a, all read ādityā́s, thus rectifying the meter, and MS. has yáthā before it, and also at beginning of b, with a correlative evá at beginning of c; in b, all end with ákṣitayaḥ píbanti, and MS.ÇÇS. have ákṣitim before it; in c, TS.ÇÇS. give no rā́jā for asmā́n índraḥ. The late idea of the subsistence of the gods upon the moon is to be seen in the verse. The Anukr. seems to balance deficient a with redundant c.
With this hymn ends the seventh anuvāka, of 8 (or 9) hymns and 31 verses; the quoted Anukr. says of the verses triṅçad ekā ca saptamaḥ; and, of the hymns, saptamāv ⌊is this to be joined with the colophon of the fifth anuvāka, p. 428? thus, pañcamasaptamāv⌋ aṣṭāu.
82 (87). Praise and prayer to Agni.
[Çāunaka (sampatkāmaḥ).—ṣaḍṛcam. āgneyam. trāiṣṭubham: 2. kakummatī bṛhatī; 3. jagatī.]
Of this hymn, verses 2 and 6 are found in Pāipp. xx., and verse 3 in iii. It is used in Kāuç. (59. 15), with ii. 6, in a rite for success; and also (59. 19), with hymn 17 etc.: see under 17; further, vss. 2-6, in the upanayana ceremony (57. 21), accompany the laying of five pieces of fuel in renewing a lost fire*; and the comm. quotes it from the Nakṣatra Kalpa (17-19) in various mahāçānti ceremonies. Vāit. (29. 19) employs it (or vs. 1?) in the agnicayana, after laying on fuel with vii. 15; further (5. 16) vs. 2, in the agnyādheya ceremony, while blowing the fire with one's breath; and yet again (2. 7) vs. 6, in the parvan sacrifice, while ladling out the sacrificial butter. *⌊Keç., p. 35925; comm., p. 484 end.⌋
Translated: Ludwig, p. 428; Henry, 34, 102; Griffith, i. 369.
1. Sing (arc) ye good praise unto the contest for kine; put ye in us excellent possessions; lead ye this sacrifice of ours unto the gods; let streams of ghee purify themselves sweetly.
The verse is found also as RV. iv. 58. 10 and VS. xvii. 98. Both read in a arṣata (which is better), and at the the pavante. The comm. understands devatās in c. He regards the waters or the kine as addressed, and explains a in several different ways.
2. I seize in me Agni at first, together with dominion, splendor, strength; in me I put progeny, in me lifetime,—hail!—in me Agni.
The first and third pādas are read in TS. v. 7. 91, and the first three in MS. i. 6. 1, with sundry variants: both put gṛhṇāmi in a before ágre, and MS. rectifies the meter by inserting ahám between the two; for b, MS. has sahá prajáyā várcasā dhánena (TS. entirely different, rāyás póṣāya etc.); in c, MS. puts kṣatrám in place of prajā́m, and, for ā́yus, MS. gives rā́yas and TS. várcas (d is different in each text). Ppp. reads at the end agniḥ. The meter (8 + 11: 11 + 6 = 36) is imperfectly described by the Anukr.
3. Just here, O Agni, do thou maintain wealth; let not the downputters, with previous intents, put thee down; by dominion, O Agni, be it of easy control for thee; let thine attendant increase, not laid low.
