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1. SLIGHT us not Varuna, Aryaman, or Mitra,
Rbhuksan, Indra, Ayu, or the Maruts,
When we declare amid the congregation the virtues of the
strong Steed, God-descended.
2 What time they bear before the Courser,
covered with trappings and with wealth, the grasped oblation,
The dappled goat goeth straightforward, bleating, to the
place dear to Indra and to Pusan.
3 Dear. to all Gods, this goat, the share
of Pusan, is first led forward with the vigorous Courser,
While Tvastar sends him forward with the Charger, acceptable
for sacrifice, to glory.
4 When thrice the men lead round the Steed,
in order, who goeth to the Gods as meet oblation,
The goat precedeth him, the share of Pusan, and to the Gods
the sacrifice announceth.
5 Invoker, ministering priest, atoner, fire-kindler
Soma-presser, sage, reciter,
With this well ordered sacrifice, well finished, do ye fill
full the channels of the rivers.
6 The hewers of the post and those who
carry it, and those who carve the knob to deck the Horse's stake;
Those who prepare the cooking-vessels for the Steed,-may the
approving help of these promote our work.
7 Forth, for the regions of the Gods, the
Charger with his smooth back is come my prayer attends him.
In him rejoice the singers and the sages. A good friend have
we won for the Gods' banquet.
8 May the fleet Courser's halter and his
heel-ropes, the head-stall and the girths and cords about him.
And the grass put within his mouth to bait him,-among the
Gods, too, let all these be with thee.
9 What part of the Steed's flesh the fly
hath eaten, or is left sticking to the post or hatchet,
Or to the slayer's hands and nails adhereth,-among the Gods,
too, may all this be with thee.
10 Food undigested steaming from his belly,
and any odour of raw flesh remaining,
This let the immolators set in order and dress the sacrifice
with perfect cooking.
11 What from thy body which with fire is
roasted, when thou art set upon the spit, distilleth,
Let not that lie on earth or grass neglected, but to the
longing Gods let all be offered.
12 They who observing that the Horse is
ready call out and say, the smell is good; remove it;
And, craving meat, await the distribution, -may their
approving help promote labour.
13 The trial-fork of the flesh-cooking
caldron, the vessels out of which the broth is sprinkled,
The warming-pots, the covers of the dishes, hooks,
carving-boards,-all these attend the Charger.
14 The starting-place, his place of rest
and rolling, the ropes wherewith the Charger's feet were fastened,
The water that he drank, the food he tasted, -among the
Gods, too, may all these attend thee.
15 Let not the fire, smoke-scented, make
thee crackle, nor glowing caldron smell and break to pieces.
Offered, beloved, approved, and consecrated,-such Charger do
the Gods accept with favour.
16 The robe they spread upon the Horse to
clothe him, the upper covering and the golden trappings,
The halters which restrain the Steed, the heel-ropes,-all
these, as grateful to the Gods, they offer.
17 If one, when seated, with excessive
urging hath with his heel or with his whip distressed thee,
All these thy woes, as with the oblations' ladle at
sacrifices, with my prayer I banish.
18 The four-and-thirty ribs of the. Swift
Charger, kin to the Gods, the slayer's hatchet pierces.
Cut ye with skill, so that the parts be flawless, and piece by
piece declaring them dissect them.
19 Of Tvastar's Charger there is one
dissector,-this is the custom-two there are who guide him.
Such of his limbs as I divide in order, these, amid the
balls, in fire I offer.
20 Let not thy dear soul burn thee as thou
comest, let not the hatchet linger in thy body.
Let not a greedy clumsy immolator, missing the joints,
mangle thy limbs unduly.
21 No, here thou diest not, thou art not
injured: by easy paths unto the Gods thou goest.
Both Bays, both spotted mares are now thy fellows, and to
the ass's pole is yoked the Charger.
22 May this Steed bring us all-sustaining
riches, wealth in good kine,good horses, manly offspring.
Freedom from sin may Aditi vouchsafe us: the Steed with our
oblations gain us lordship!
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