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1. THESE men's great bounty
hath been manifested, and the whole world of life set free from darkness.
Great light hath come, vouchsafed us by the
Fathers: apparent is the spacious path of Guerdon.
2 High up in heaven abide the
Guerdon-givers: they who give steeds dwell with the Sun for ever.
They who give gold are blest with life eternal.
they who give robes prolong their lives, O Soma.
3 Not from the niggards-for they
give not fireely-comes Meed at sacrifice, Gods' satisfaction:
Yea, many men with hands stretched out with
Guerdon present their gifts because they dread dishonour.
4 These who observe mankind
regard oblation as streamy Vayu and light-finding Arka.
They satisfy and give their gifts in synod, and
pour in streams the seven-mothered Guerdon.
5 He who brings Guerdon comes
as first invited: chief of the hamlet comes the Guerdon-bearer.
Him I account the ruler of the people who was
the first to introduce the Guerdon.
6 They call him Rsi, Brahman,
Sama-chanter, reciter of the laud, leader of worship.
The brightly-shining God's three forms he
knoweth who first bestowed the sacrificial Guerdon.
7 Guerdon bestows the horse,
bestows the bullock, Guerdon bestows, moreover, gold that Rsisters.
Guerdon gives food which is our life and
spirit. He who is wise takes Guerdon for his armour.
8 The liberal die not, never
are they ruined: the liberal suffer neither harm nor trouble.
The light of heaven, the universe about us,-all
this doth sacrificial Guerdon give them.
9 First have the liberal
gained a fragrant dwelling, and got themselves a bride in fair apparel.
The liberal have obtained their draught of
liquor, and conquered those who, unprovoked, assailed them.
10 They deck the fleet steed
for the bounteous giver: the maid adorns herself and waits to meet him.
His home is like a lake with lotus blossoms, like
the Gods' palaces adorned and splendid.
11 Steeds good at draught
convey the liberal giver, and lightly rolling moves the car of Guerdon.
Assist, ye Gods, the liberal man in battles:
the liberal giver conquers foes in combat.
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