1.5.5

a As we approach the offering,

Let us utter a hymn to the Radiant One,

Who heareth us, even from afar.

b After his ancient splendour,

The bold ones have drawn the white milk

From the seer who winneth a thousand.

c The Radiant One is the head of the sky, the height,

Lord of the earth here,

He quickeneth the seed of the waters.

d Here hath he first been established by the establishers,

Youngest offerer to be invoked at the offerings,

Whom Apnavana and the elders caused to shine,

Bright in the woods, spreading from house to house.

e Ye twain shall be summoned, O Mighty and Radiant,

Ye twain shall rejoice together in the offering

You both, givers of food and riches,

You both I summon for the winning of strength.

f This is thy due place of birth,

Whence born thou didst shine;

Mount it, O Radiant One, knowing it,

And make our wealth increase.

g O Radiant One, thou purifiest life;

Do thou give food and strength to us;

Far away drive ill-fortune.

h O Radiant One, good worker, purify for us

Glory in good heroes,

Giving increase of wealth to me.

i O Radiant One, the purifying, with thy light,

O Lord, with thy pleasant tongue,

Bring hither the righteous and make the offering.

k Do thou, O shining and purifying one,

O Radiant One, bring hither the righteous

To our offering and our oblation.

l The Radiant One, of purest vows,

Pure sage, pure poet,

Shineth in purity when offering is made.

m O Radiant One, thy pure,

Bright, flaming (rays) arise,

Thy lights, thy flames.

n Thou art giver of life, O Radiant One; give me life. Thou art giver of radiance, O Radiant One; give me radiance. Thou art guardian of the body, O Radiant One; guard my body.

o O Radiant One, whatever is deficient in my body, do thou make that good for me.

p O thou of various splendour, in safety may I reach the end of thee.

q Kindling thee may we kindle thee for a hundred winters, in radiance, strong the giver of strength, famous the giver of fame, with good heroes, the undeceived, O Radiant One, the deceiver of foes in the highest firmament.

r Thou, O Radiant One, hast attained the radiance of the sun, the praises of the sages, thy beloved abode.

s Thou, O Radiant One, hast the radiance of the sun; grant me life, radiance, and offspring.

1.5.6

a I gaze on offspring,

Offspring of the earth, connected with man;

May they all be in our house.

b Ye are water; may I share your water. Ye are greatness, may I share your greatness; ye are might, may I share your might; ye are strength, may I share your strength.

c Ye wealthy ones, stay in this place, this fold, this dwelling, this birthplace; be ye here; go not hence; be many for me.

d Thou art composed of every form; enter me with strength, with lordship of kine, with increase of wealth.

e May I prosper with your thousandfold prosperity; may your wealth rest in me.

f To thee, O Radiant One, day by day,

That shinest in the darkness, with our devotion,

We come bearing honour.

g Lord of the offerings,

Guardian of holy order, shining,

Waxing in his own home.

h O Radiant One, be of easy access to us,

As a father to his son;

Befriend us for prosperity.

i O Radiant One be thou our nearest,

Our protector, kindly, a shield;

Thee, O shining and most radiant one,

We implore for favour, for our friends;

Radiant One, bright, of bright fame,

Come hither in thy greatest splendour and give us wealth.

k With strength I gaze on you; gaze on me with strength. With increase of wealth I gaze on you; gaze on me with increase of wealth.

l Ye are food, making sweetness; kindly enter me, nourishment and drink; may I prosper with your thousandfold prosperity, may your wealth rest on me.

m That excellent glory of the Light-giver

The Lord we meditate,

That he may stimulate our prayers.

n Make famous the presser of the provision,

O Lord of prayer,

Even as (thou didst make famous) Kakshivant, son of Ucij.

o Never art thou barren, O Mighty One,

Never dost thou fail thy worshipper;

Now more and more is thy divine gift increased,

O bountiful one.

p May we set thee around us, O Radiant One,

The sage, the strong, as a fort,

Of daring hue, day by day

Destroyer of that which may be broken.

q O Radiant One, lord of the house, through thee as lord of the house, may I be a good lord of the house; through me as lord of the house, mayst thou be a good lord of the house; for a hundred winters, this blessing I invoke, bringing light for the race; this blessing I invoke, bringing light for N. N.

1.5.7

There is no offering without a chant. 'As we approach the offering', he says; verily he yokes a chant with it. 'Approach', he says; offspring and cattle approach the world; verily he approaches cattle and offspring and this world. 'After his ancient splendour', he says; the ancient is the world of heaven; verily he mounts upon the world of heaven.

'The Radiant One is the head of the sky, the height', he says; verily he makes him the head of his equals, and verily from the world of the righteous he rests in the world of men. 'Here hath he first been established by the establishers', he says; verily he makes him the principal. 'Ye twain shall be summoned, O Mighty and Radiant', he says; verily he wins might and force. 'This is thy due place of birth', he says; wealth is cattle; verily he wins cattle. With six (verses) he pays reverence; the seasons are six; verily he rests on the seasons. With six subsequent (verses) he pays reverence; they make up twelve; the year has twelve months; verily he rests on the year. Just as a man, a horse, a cow, are worn out, so the fire when established wears out; at the end of the year he pays reverence with (verses) containing the words 'Radiant One' and 'purify'; verily he renews it and makes it unageing, and also purifies it. He pays reverence; that is his union. He pays reverence; that is his bond. He pays reverence; that is his appeal. He pays reverence; that is as if an inferior brings (something) to a superior and pays him honour. 'Thou art giver of life, O Radiant One; give me life', he says, for he is a giver of life. 'Thou art giver of radiance, O Radiant One; give me radiance', he says, for he is a giver of radiance. 'Thou art guardian of the body, O Radiant One; guard my body', he says, for he is a guardian of the body. 'O Radiant One, whatever is deficient in my body, do thou make that good for me', he says; 'whatever is deficient in my offspring and cattle, do thou make that good for me', he says in effect. 'O thou of various splendour, in safety may I reach the end of thee', he says; that of various splendour is the night. The scholars aforetime feared its not dawning; verily he wins the dawn. 'Kindling thee for a hundred winters', he says; man lives a hundred years and has a hundred powers; verily he rests on life and power. This is a pipe with projections; by it the righteous made piercings of hundreds of the rebellious; in that he takes up the kindling-stick with this verse, the giver hurls the hundred-slaying (verse) as a bolt against his enemy to lay (him) low without fail. 'Thou, O Radiant One, hast attained the radiance of the sun', he says; 'that thou art, thus may I be', he says in effect. 'Thou, O Radiant One, hast the radiance of the sun', he says; verily he invokes this blessing.

1.5.8

'I gaze on offspring', he says; verily he wins all the domesticated animals. 'Ye are water; may I share your water', he says, for they are water. 'Ye are greatness; may I share your greatness', he says, for they are greatness. 'Ye are might; may I share your might', he says, for they are might. 'Ye are strength; may I share your strength', he says, for they are strength. 'Ye wealthy ones, stay', he says; the wealthy ones are cattle; verily he makes cattle stay with himself. 'Be ye here; go not hence', he says; verily he makes them constant, departing not. Now one fire is piled with bricks, one with cattle. 'Thou art composed of every form', (with these words) he strokes the calf; verily he piles it up and makes it piled with cattle. He falls away from this world who pays reverence to the fire of the offering; he pays reverence to the household fire; verily he rests on this world, and also he makes amends to the household fire. He pays reverence with Gayatri verses; the Gayatri is brilliance; verily he confers brilliance upon himself; moreover in that he repeats the triad (of verses), (it serves) for continuity. Because of the household fire men are born with two feet; to him who knowing thus pays reverence to the household fire with (verses) of two feet, a hero son is born. 'With strength I gaze upon you; gaze on me with strength', he says; verily he invokes this blessing. 'That excellent glory of the Light-giver', he says, for instigation. 'Famous the presser of the provision', he says; verily he wins the provision's draught. 'Make, O lord of prayer', he says; verily he wins splendour. 'Never art thou barren', he says; no barren night does he pass, who knowing thus pays reverence to the fire. 'May we set thee around, O Radiant One, as a fort', he says; verily he sets around a barrier, that nothing be spilt. 'O Radiant One, lord of the house', he says; that is according to the text. 'For a hundred winters', he says; 'for a hundred winters may I kindle thee', he says in effect. He utters the name of his son; verily he makes him an eater of food. 'This blessing I invoke bringing light for the race', he should say, who has no son born; verily is born to him a son brilliant and resplendent. 'This blessing I invoke bringing light for N. N.', he should say who has a son born; verily he confers upon him brilliance and splendour.

1.5.9

He offers the morning and evening offering; whatever there is of the giver's own, that is (still) his. Then he burns at the end the plants; they then grow more numerous. In that he offers in the evening, and makes it productive by the morning (offering). He pays reverence with many (verses). He is fruitful and day by day becomes greater, who knowing thus pays reverence to the fire. The day was the righteous's, the night the rebellious's. The rebellious entered night with all the precious wealth of the righteous; the righteous thought that they were abandoned; they perceived, 'The night is the Radiant One's, cattle are the Radiant One's; verily let us praise the Radiant One here; he being praised by us will restore our cattle.' They praised the Radiant One; being praised by them he delivered their cattle from night to day; the righteous having gained their cattle performed their desires. He who knowing thus pays reverence to the fire becomes possessed of cattle. The sun went from this world to yonder world; he having gone to yonder world bethought him again of this world; having returned to this world he had fear of death, for this world is, as it were, yoked with death. He reflected, 'Let me praise the Radiant One here; he, praised, will make me go to the world of heaven.' He praised the Radiant One; he, praised, made him go to the world of heaven. He who knowing thus pays reverence to the fire, goes to the world of heaven and lives all his days. He mounts these two fires who pays reverence to them; he acts according to the desires of one who has attained a higher place. He pays reverence at night, not in the morning, for vows are mingled at night, the bad and the good are on the same level, the fire is the light, the evening is the darkness; in that he pays reverence by night, he overcomes the darkness by light. 'Should reverence be paid to the fire or not?' they say; 'he who day by day makes a present to a man and then begs of him assuredly molests him; and who then will day by day beg of the righteous?' Then they say, 'The giver gives for the sake of the benediction.' The reverence of the fire is the benediction of him who has established a fire; therefore reverence should be paid to the fire. The Creator created cattle; being created they entered day and night; he recovered them by means of the metres. In that he pays reverence with the metres, he seeks to recover his own. 'There is not monotony then', they say, 'if one pays reverence day by day.' If a man pays reverence to the fire facing it, it burns him; if with averted (face), he is deprived of offspring and cattle; he should pay reverence with (face) somewhat to the side, then (the fire) does not burn him, he is not deprived of offspring or cattle.

1.5.10

a The name that first, O all-knower,

My father and my mother bestowed upon me aforetime,

Do thou bear it until I return;

O Radiant One, may I bear thy name.

b My name and thine, O all-knower,

Which like men changing garments we bear,

Let us exchange again,

Thou for life, and we to live.

c Homage to the Radiant One, the unpierced,

Homage to the unapproachable, homage to the king!

Irresistible is the Radiant One, the very vigorous, all-conquering,

Powerful, the best, the celestial.

d O Radiant One, the righteous have thee for a guide,

Offer to thee oblations, and have thee as an umpire

With life, with lordship of cattle (endow) me

And bestow on me good fortune.

e The Radiant One here is of all the best,

He is most adorable,

Most ready to win (us) a thousand;

To him be all good strength.

f Mind, light, rejoice in the offering

May he unite the scattered offering;

The offerings at dawn and evening

I unite with oblation and ghee.

g Rich in milk are the plants,

The milk of the shoot is rich in milk,

With the milk of the milk of the waters,

O Mighty One, do thou unite me.

h O Radiant One, lord of vows, I shall perform this vow; may I accomplish it; may it be successful for me.

i The Radiant One, the priest, I summon hither;

The righteous worthy of offering whom we invoke,

Let these come in kindly mind;

Let the righteous enjoy this oblation of me.

k Who yoketh thee? Let him yoke thee.

l The potsherds for the vessel,

Which wise men collect,

These are in the guardianship of the Nourisher;

The Mighty and the Wind set them free.

m Unbroken is the vessel, sprinkling abundantly,

It hath returned to that whence it came;

The kindling-wood, the altar, and all the enclosing-sticks

Attend the life of the offering.

n The three and thirty threads that stretch,

That maintain in security the offering,

Of these the broken one I restore; praise!

Let the vessel go for the sake of God.

1.5.11

a Let the Radiant One who is for all men with succour for us

Come from afar,

Through the hymn which brings (him).

b The righteous One who is for all men,

Lord of right and of light,

The immortal vessel we seek.

c A greater than the marvels of the One who is for all men

By his craftsmanship the sage hath performed alone;

Magnifying both parents, sky and earth,

Rich in seed, was the Radiant One born.

d Desired in the sky, desired on earth,

Desired he entereth all the plants;

The Radiant One who is for all men eagerly desired,

May he by day and night protect us from the foe.

e In that, when born, O Radiant One, thou didst survey the worlds,

Like a busy herd that goeth around his flock,

Do thou, O Radiant One who art for all men, find a way for the scholar;

Do ye protect us ever with your blessings.

f Thou, O Radiant One, blazing with light,

Didst fill the firmament at thy birth;

Thou, O Radiant One who art for all men, wise one, by thy might

Didst free the righteous from misfortune.

g O Radiant One, among our bountiful lords, preserve

The lordship, uninjured, unageing, rich in heroes;

May we win booty a hundred, a thousandfold,

O Radiant One who art for all men, through thy help.

h May we enjoy the loving kindness of the Radiant One who is for all men,

For he is the king, the orderer of the worlds

Hence born he discerneth all the (earth),

The Radiant One who is for all men vieth with the sun.

i Thine anger, O All-Seeing, would we avert with reverence,

With offerings, with oblations

Ruling, O wise Lord, O king,

Do thou unloose the sins we have committed.

k Unloose from us, O All-Seeing, the highest,

The lowest, the midmost knot;

Then may we, O Sustainer, in thy rule,

Be guiltless before the earth.

l Of the swift steed have I sung,

The swift strong horse;

May he make our mouths fragrant;

May he lengthen our days.

m The swift steed with his glory hath overspread the five peoples,

As the sun with his light the waters;

May the strong steed, winning a hundred, a thousand,

Fill with honey these words of ours.

n The Radiant One, the head.

o Thou art.

p O storm-winds, what time seeking your favour

We call on you from the sky,

Do ye come unto us.

q The protections which ye have for the earnest worshipper,

Threefold do ye grant them to the generous giver,

To us, O storm-winds, do ye accord them;

O strong ones, give us wealth rich in heroes.

r Let the earth save us,

Let the earth give us protection,

Let the earth guard us from tribulation.

s The mighty mother of the righteous,

The spouse of holy order, let us invoke to aid us,

The powerful, the unageing, the wide

Earth, who giveth good protection and good guidance.

t Earth strong to save, sky unrivalled,

The earth who giveth good protection and good guidance,

The divine ship with good oars, the blameless,

Which leaketh not, let us mount for prosperity.

u Happily have I mounted this ship

With a hundred oars and a hundred spars,

Without leak, able to convey across.