Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 15.djvu/335

as he went out, all the others went out, and as he returned, all the others returned. As bees go out when their queen^[1] goes out, and return when she returns, thus (did) speech, mind, eye, and ear; and, being satisfied, they praise Prâna, saying:

5. He is Agni (fire), he shines as Sûrya (sun), he is Parganya (rain), the powerful (Indra), he is Vâyu (wind), he is the earth, he is matter, he is God — he is what is and what is not, and what is immortal.

6. As spokes in the nave of a wheel, everything is fixed in Prâna, the verses of the Rig-veda, Yagur-veda, Sâma-veda, the sacrifice, the Kshatriyas, and the Brâhmans.

7. As Pragâpati (lord of creatures) thou movest about in the womb, thou indeed art born again. To thee, the Prâna, these creatures bring offerings, to thee who dwellest with the other prânas (the organs of sense).

8. Thou art the best carrier for the Gods, thou art the first offering^[2] to the Fathers. Thou art the true work of the Rishis^[3], of the Atharvângiras.

9. O Prâna, thou art Indra by thy light, thou art Rudra, as a protector; thou movest in the sky, thou art the sun, the lord of lights.

10. When thou showerest down rain, then, O Prâna, these creatures of thine are delighted^[4], hoping that there will be food, as much as they desire.

1. In Sanskrit it is madhukararâga, king of the bees.
2. When a srâddha is offered to the Pitris.
3. Explained as the eye and the other organs of sense which the chief Prâna supports; but it is probably an old verse, here applied to a special purpose.
4. Another reading is prânate, they breathe.