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1. THESE first, the boundless
Sea, and Matarisvan, fierce-glowing Fire, the Strong, the Bliss-bestower.
And heavenly Floods, first-born by holy Order,
exclaimed against the outrage on a Brahman.
2 King Soma first of all,
without reluctance, made restitution of the Brahman's consort.
Mitra and Varuna were the inviters: Agni as
Hota; took her hand and led her.
3 The man, her pledge, must by
her hand be taken when they have cried, She is a Brahman's consort.
She stayed not for a herald to conduct her:
thus is the kingdom of a ruler guarded.
4 Thus spake of her those Gods
of old, Seven Rsis who sate them down to their austere devotion:
Dire is a Brahman's wife led home by others: in
the supremest heaven she plants confusion.
5 The Brahmacari goes engaged
in duty: he is a member of the Gods' own body.
Through him Brhaspati obtained his consort, as
the Gods gained the ladle brought by Soma.
6 So then the Gods restored
her, so men gave the woman back again.
The Kings who kept their promises restored the
Brahman's wedded wife,
7 Having restored the
Brahman's wife, and freed them, with Gods' aid, from sin,
They shared the fulness of the earth, and won themselves
extended sway.
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