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The deified object of this omitted hymn is said to be Rati
or Love, and its Rsis or authors are Lopamudrd, Agastya, and a disciple.
Lopamudra is represented as inviting the caresses of her aged husband Agastya,
and complaining of his coldness and neglect. Agastya responds in stanza 3, and
in the second half of stanza 4 the disciple or the poet briefly tells the
result of the dialogue. Stanza 5 is supposed to be spoken by the disciple who
has overheard the conversation, but its connexion with the rest of the hymn is
not very apparent. In stanza 6 'toiling with strong endeavour' is a paraphrase
and not a translation of the original khanamanah khanitraib (ligonibus fodiens)
which Sayana explains by 'obtaining the desired result by means of lauds and
sacrifices.'
M. Bergaigne is of opinion that the hymn has a mystical
meaning, Agastya being identifiable with the celestial Soma whom Lopamudra,
representing fervent Prayer, succeeds after long labour in drawing down from
his secret dwelling place. See La Religion Vedique, ii. 394 f.
1 'Through many autumns have I toiled and
laboured, at night and morn, through age-inducing dawnings.
Old age impairs the beauty of our bodies. Let husbands still
come near unto their spouses.
2 For even the men aforetime,
law-fulfillers, who with the Gods declared eternal statutes,- -
They have decided, but have not accomplished: so now let
Wives come near unto their husbands.
3 Non inutilis est labor cui Dii favent:
nos omnes aemulos et aemulas vincamus.
Superemus in hac centum artium pugna in qua duas partes
convenientes utrinque commovemus.
4 Cupido me cepit illius tauri [viri] qui
me despicit, utrum hinc utrum illinc ab aliqua parte nata sit.
Lopamudra taururn [mariturn suum] ad se detrahit: insipiens
illa sapientem anhelantern absorbet.
5 This Soma I address that is most near us,
that which hath been imbibed within the spirit,
To pardon any sins we have committed. Verily mortal man is
full of longings.
6 Agastya thus, toiling with strong
endeavour, wishing for children, progeny and. power,
Cherished - a sage of mighty strength - both classes, and
with the Gods obtained his prayer's fulfilment.
By 'both classes' probably priests and princes, or
institutors of sacrifices, are meant. M. Bergaigne understands the expression
to mean the two forms or essences of Soma, the celestial and the terrestrial.
5 Membrum suum virile, quod vrotentum
fuerat, mas ille retraxit. Rursus illud quod in juvenem filiam sublatum fuerat,
non aggressurus, ad se rerahit.
6 Quum jam in medio connessu, semiperfecto
opere, amorem in puellam pater impleverat, ambo discedentes seminis paulum in
terrae superficiem sacrorum sede effusum emiserunt.
7 Quum pater suam nilam adiverat, cum ed
congressus suum semen supra wrrarn effudit. Tum Dii benigni precem (brahma)
prgeduerunt, et Vastoshpatim, legum sacrarum custodem, formaverunt.
8 Ille tauro similis spumam in certamine
jactavit, tunc discedens pusillaximis huc profectus est. Quasi dextro pede
claudus processit, "inutiles fuerunt illi mei complexus," ita
locutus.
9 'The fire, burning the people, does not
approach quickly (by day): the naked (Rakasas approach) not Agni by night; the
giver of fuel, and the giver of food, he, the upholder (of the rite), is born,
overcoming enemies by his might.'
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