24. Mount, choosing old age for life-time, pressing on, one after another, as many as ye be; you here let Tvashṭar, him of good births, in accord [with you], lead on to living your whole life-time.
The verse is (once more with exception of the last pāda) RV. x. 18. 6, and found also in TA. (vi. 10. 1). RV. reads ṣṭha after yáti in b, and ihá for tā́n vas in c, and its d is dirghám ā́yuḥ karati jīváse vaḥ. TA. differs from RV. by having gṛṇānā́s in a, surátnas (for sajóṣās) in c, and karatu in d. Ppp. puts the verse after our 25, and combines in a-b vṛṇānā ’nu. The verse is used in Kāuç. 72. 13 with vss. 21, 32, 44, 55, and others from elsewhere.
25. As days take place (bhū) one after another, as seasons go along with seasons, as an after one does not desert (hā) a preceding—so, O creator (dhā́tṛ), arrange their life-times.
This verse is RV. x. 18. 5, found also in TA. (vi. 10. 1). For sākám, at end of b, RV. reads sādhú, and TA. kḷptā́ḥ.
26. The stony one flows (rī); take ye hold together; play the hero, pass over, O friends; quit here them that are of evil courses; may we pass up unto powers (? vā́ja) that are free from disease.
The verse is RV. x. 53. 8, and found also in VS. (xxxv. 10) and TA. (vi. 3. 2). RV. has út tiṣṭhata for vīráyadhvam in b, jahāma and (for durévās) áçevās in c, and çivā́n vayám (for anamīvā́m) in d. ⌊VS. agrees with RV. save that it accents sákhāyaḥ in b and reads, for c, átra jahīmó ‘çivā yé ásan.⌋ TA. agrees in general with RV., but has revatīs ⌊unaccented⌋ for rīyate in a, and in d puts út tarema after abhí vā́jān. Vss. 26 and 27 are quoted in Kāuç. 71. 24 and 86. 27 to accompany the symbolical act of crossing over northward; and in Vāit. 12. 11 to accompany (at any time) the crossing of streams.
27. Stand up, pass over, O friends; the stony river here runs (syand); quit ye here them that are unpropitious; may we pass up unto propitious pleasant powers.
This variation of vs. 26 gives part of the RV. variants to that vs. ⌊For a discussion of the RV. verse, see notes to my Skt. Reader, p. 388.⌋ Ppp. makes b identical with 26 a. The use by Kāuç. was stated in the preceding note.
28. Take ye hold on that of all the gods in order to splendor, becoming cleansed, clear, purifying; stepping over difficult tracks, may we revel a hundred winters with all our heroes.
The first half-verse is identical with vi. 62. 3 a, b, save that the latter begins with vāiçvānarī́m. We have doubtless to supply nā́vam 'boat.' But Ppp. has sūnṛtām for varcase in a; and the comm. to Nirukta vi. 12 quotes the pratīka in this form, explaining sūnṛtām by vācam (Roth). According to Kāuç. 72. 6, it is a young heifer (vatsatarī) that is caused to be laid hold on.
