HYMN LV. Vastospati.

1. VASTOSPATI, who killest all disease and wearest every form,

Be an auspicious Friend to us.

2 When, O bright Son of Sarama, thou showest, tawny-hued! thy teeth,

They gleam like lances' points within thy mouth when thou wouldst bite; go thou to steep.

3 Sarama's Son, retrace thy way: bark at the robber and the thief.

At Indra's singers barkest thou? Why dust thou seek to terrify us? Go to sleep.

4 Be on thy guard against the boar, and let the boar beware of thee.

At Indra's singers barkest thou? Why dost thou seek to terrify us? Go to sleep.

5 Sleep mother, let the father sleep, sleep dog and master of the house.

Let all the kinsmen sleep, sleep all the people who are round about.

6 The man who sits, the man who walks, and whosoever looks on us,

Of these we closely shut the eyes, even as we closely shut this house.

7 The Bull who hath a thousand horns, who rises up from out the sea, -

By him the Strong and Mighty One we lull and make the people sleep.

8 The women sleeping in the court, lying without, or stretched on beds,

The matrons with their odorous sweetsthese, one and all, we lull to sleep.