[0705003] I pray to Agni, him who guards his treasure: here, won by homage, may he pile our winnings.
As it were with racing cars I bring my presents: duly with reverence, let me laud the Maruts.

[0705004] With thee to aid us may we win the treasure: do thou assist our side in every battle.
Give us wide room and easy way, O Indra; break down, O Maghavan, the foemen s valour.

[0705005] I have completely cleaned thee out, won from thee what thou keptest back.
As a wolf tears and rends a sheep, so do I tear thy stake away.

[0705006] Yea, by superior play one gains advantage: in time he piles his spoil as doth a gambler.
He overwhelms with wealth s inherent powers the devotee who keeps not back his riches.

[0705007] May we all, much invoked! repel with cattle want that brings sin, hunger with store of barley.
May we uninjured, first among the princes, obtain possessions by our own exertions.

[0705008] My right hand holds my winnings fast, and in my left is victory.
I would that I were winner of cattle and horses, wealth and gold.

[0705009] Dice, give me play that bringeth fruit as it were a cow with flowing milk! And, as the bowstring binds, the bow, unite me with a stream of gains.

[p. a291]

HYMN LI (51)

A prayer for Brihaspati s and Indra s protection

[0705101] Brihaspati protect us from the sinner, from rearward, from above, and from below us! May Indra from the front and from the centre, as friend to friends, vouchsafe us room and freedom.

HYMN LII (52)

A prayer for peace and concord

[0705201] Give us agreement with our own, with strangers give us unity: Do ye, O Asvins, in this place join us in sympathy and love.

[0705202] May we agree in mind, agree in purpose: let us not fight against the heavenly spirit.
Around us rise no din of frequent slaughter, nor Indra s arrow fly, for day is present!

HYMN LIII (53)

A charm to recover a sick man at the point of death

[0705301] As thou, Brihaspati, from the curse hast saved us, from dwel ling yonder in the realm of Yama, The Asvins, leeches of the Gods, O Agni, have chased Death far from us with mighty powers.

[0705302] Move both together; do not leave the body.
Let both the breathings stay for thee united.
Waxing in strength live thou a hundred autumns.
Thy noblest guardian and thy lord is Agni. [p. a292]

[0705303] Return, thy life now vanished into distance! Return, the breath thou drawest and exhalest! Agni hath snatched it from Destruction s bosom: into thyself again I introduce it.

[0705304] Let not the vital breath he draws forsake him, let not his expiration part and leave him.
I give him over to the Seven Rishis: let them conduct him to old age in safety.

[0705305] Enter him, both ye breaths, like two draught oxen entering their stall.
Let him, the treasure of old age, still wax in strength, uninjured,.
here.

[0705306] I send thee back thy vital breath; I drive Consumption far from thee, May Agni here, most excellent, sustain our life on every side.

[0705307] From out the depth of darkness, we, ascending to the highest heaven, Have come to the sublimest light, to Surya, God among the.
Gods.

HYMN LIV (54)

A charm to obtain knowledge of the Veda

[0705401] We worship holy Verse and Song, by which they carry out their acts, Shining in order s seat these twain present the sacrifice to Gods.

[0705402] As I have asked about Verse, Song, Sacrifice, strength, force,.
Yajus text, So never let this lore that I have sought forsake me, Lord of Might!

[p. a293]

HYMN LV (55)

A charm to ensure a prosperous journey

[0705501] Thy downward paths from heaven, whereby thou hast raised all the world to life, Give us in gracious love, good Lord!

HYMN LVI (56)

A charm against poisonous bites and stings

[0705601] Whether it came from viper, from black snake or snake with transverse stripes, Or Kankaparvan s bite, this herb hath made the poison power less.

[0705602] Honey born, honey dropping, rich in honey, honeysweet, this herb, Is medicine that heals the wound and kills the gnat that bites and stings.

[0705603] Whatever bit, or sucked thy blood, we summon thence away from thee The ineffectual poison of the little sharply stinging gnat.

[0705604] Thou here who crookest wicked jaws, thou tortuous, jointless, limbless thing, These jaws thou, Brahmanaspati! shalt bend together like a reed.

[0705605] This scorpion here that creeps along, low on the ground and powerless [p. a294] I have removed his poison and then utterly demolished him.

[0705606] No strength in thy two arms hast thou, nor in thy head, nor in thy waist: Then what is that small thing thou so viciously bearest in thy tail?

[0705607] The emmets make a meal of thee and peahens tear and mangle thee: All ye are crying out, In sooth the scorpion s poison hath no strength.

[0705608] Thou creature who inflictest wounds both with thy mouth and with thy tail, No poison in thy mouth hast thou: what at thy tail s root will there be?

HYMN LVII (57)

A charm for some physical disorder

[0705701] Whatever trouble hath disturbed and shaken me I speak with hope, I move, imploring, amid the folk What harm my body in myself hath suffered, now let Sarasvati relieve with fatness.

[0705702] Seven flow for him, the youth on whom the Maruts wait: the sons have taught the Father everlasting laws.
Both worlds are his: both shine belonging unto him.
Both move together: both, as his possession thrive.

[p. a295]

HYMN LVIII (58)

An invitation to Indra and Varuna

[0705801] True to laws, Indra Varuna, drinkers of the juice, quaff this pressed Soma which shall give you rapturous joy! Let sacrifice, your car, to entertain the Gods, approach its rest ing place that they may drink thereof.

[0705802] O Indra Varuna, drink your fill, ye heroes, of this effectual and sweetest Soma.
This juice was shed by us that ye might quaff it.
On this trimmed grass be seated and rejoice you.