2When speeding ye came nigh us like twin sisters, religious−hearted votaries brought you forward. Take your place, ye who know your proper station: be near, be very near unto our Soma.

3Five paces have I risen from Earth. I follow her who hath four feet with devout observance. This by the Sacred Syllable have I measured: I purify in the central place of Order,

4He, for God's sake, chose death to be his portion. He chose not, for men's good, a life eternal They sacrificed Brhaspati the Rsi. Yama delivered up his own dear body.

5The Seven flow to the Youth on whom the Maruts wait: the Sons unto the Father brought the sacrifice. Both these are his, as his they are the Lords of both: both toil; belonging unto both they prosper well.

6'Tis hard to understand the Immortal's nature, where she who is akin becomes astranger. Guard ceaselessly, great Agni, him who ponders Yama's name, easy to be comprehended.

7They in the synod where the Gods rejoice them, where they are seated in Vivasvan's dwelling, Have given the Moon his beams, the Sun his splendour−the Two unweariedly maintain their brightness.

8The counsel which the Gods meet to consider, their secret plan,−of that we have no knowledge. There let God Savitar, Aditi, and Mitra proclaim to Varuna that we are sinless.

9Hear us, O Agni, in your comninn dwell ing: harness thy rapid car, the car of Amrta. Bring Heaven and Earth, the Deities' Parents, hither: stay with us here, nor from the Gods be distant. HYMN XIII Havirdhanas. 1. I YOKE with prayer your ancient inspiration: may the laud rise as on the prince's pathway. All Sons of Immortality shall hear it, all the possessors of celestial natures.

10Sure there will come succeeding times when brothers and sisters will do acts unmeet for kinsfolk. Not me, O fair one,−seek another husband, and make thine arm a pillow for thy consort.

11Is he a brother when no lord is left her? Is she a sister when Destruction cometh? Forced by my love these many words I utter. Come near, and hold me in thy close embraces.

12I will not fold mine arms about thy body: they call it sin when one comes near his sister. Not me,−prepare thy pleasures with another: thy brother seeks not this from thee, O fair one. 13 Alas! thou art indeed a weakling, Yama we find in thee no trace of heart or spirit . As round the tree the woodbine clings, another will cling albout thee girt as with a girdl e. 14 Embrace another, Yami; let another, even as the woodbine rings the tree, enfold the e. Win thou his heart and let him win thy fancy, and he shall form with thee a blest allian ce. HYMN XI. Agni 1. THE Bull hath yielded for the Bull the milk of heaven: the Son of Aditi can never be deceived. According to his wisdom Varuna knoweth all: may he, the Holy, hallow times for sacrifice.