1a Thou I art a black deer, living in the lair, to Agni thee, hail!     b Thou art the altar, to the strew thee, hail!     c Thou art the strew,' to the ladles thee, hail     d To the sky thee, to the atmosphere thee, to the earth thee!     e Be thou refreshment to the fathers, strength to those that sit on     the strew.     f With strength go ye to the earth.     g Thou art the hair-knot of Visnu.     h Soft as wool I strew thee, offering a good seat to the gods.     i Thou art the Gandharva, Viçvavasu (possessing all wealth), the fence of the sacrificer from every attacker, praised and to be praised.     k Thou art the right arm of Indra, the fence of the sacrificer, praised and to be praised.     l May Mitra and Varuna lay thee around in the north with firm law, thou art the fence of the sacrificer, praised and to be praised.     m May the sun in the east protect thee from all evil.     n May we kindle thee, O wise one,     That dost invite to the sacrifice, the radiant one,     O Agni, thee that art mighty at the sacrifice.     o Ye two are the props of the people.     p Sit on the seat of the Vasus, Rudras, Adityas.     q Thou art named juhu, upabhrt, dhruva, loving the ghee, sit on thy dear seat with thy dear name.     r These have sat down in the world of good action.     s Protect them, O Visnu.     t Protect the sacrifice, protect the lord of the sacrifice, protect me that conduct the sacrifice.