Coutrihutious from the Jiuniiniya Brahmana. 167 



why the Dark-sharing i [-metres] are called so. He, indeed, gains 

 a share in the Dark who knows thus. 2. In the beginning this 

 [universe] was with the Asuras. The gods, having conquered it, 

 said : • By what means may we join together da}" and night at the 

 end ■ ? They saw this rathariitara-saman as joint, b}' means of it 

 the}' joined together day and night at the end. Because they joined 

 them together that is the reason why the saihdhi[-stotra]- is called 

 so. 3. Addressed to the Acvins, indeed, is the ^astra^ of the saihdhi 

 [-stotra]. \\\ the dead of night they chant the saihdhi[-stotra], till 

 the sun has risen they recite thereafter the (yastra] addressed to 

 the Acvins, in order to connect da}- and night, in order completel}' 

 to encompass da}' and night. 4. The gods having won day and 

 night made the thunderbolt the enclosure* for the protection of the 

 cattle, so that the Asuras should not rush down upon [them|. Now 

 as to the fact that these [verses in the] usnih-metre are used at the 

 end, — the [verses in the] usnih-metre are the thunderliolt ; b}" 

 means of the thunderbolt they thus enclose the cattle, in order that 

 they may not be torn awa}'. His property is not torn away, who 

 knows thus. 



210. 1. In the beginning this [universe] was with the Asuras. 

 The gods, having conquered it, said : ' Let us divide it among our- 

 selves.' 2. They could not agree as to its division. They said : 

 ' Let us run a race for it.' 3. They ran a race for it. Agni's 

 chariot was first, then [came that] of the Dawn, then [that] of the 

 Acvins. These two Agvins . . .^ 4. As these two were driving along, 

 Agni blocked [their way|. The two said: ' Let us pass.' 'No,' said 

 he, ' unless you two give me a share.' ' One third [be] thine,' they 

 said, 'but let it be named from us two only." [Saying:] 'Yes,' he 

 let the two pass. 5. As these two were driving along, the Dawn 



1 A mechanical translation to bring ont the pun. 



- • ludependamnient de quelques parties de chant semees ca et la dans 

 la ceremonie, on a vu que Tagnistoma comporte en tout douze grandes 

 executions en trio. Cliacune d'elles se nomme un stotram.' Caland- 

 Henry, L'Agnistoma, p. xii. 



* • A cliaque stotra des chantres doit repondre une recitation solennelle 

 (castrani), sequence plias ou inoins longue de stances du Rig- Veda, de- 

 clamee par un seul officiant, soit le hotar, soit un autre pretre du rite de 

 ce Veda," Caland-Henr}^, L'Agnisioma^ p. xiii. 



* I. e. • les trois biiches d'enceinte, de la longueur du bras du sacriti- 

 ant, qu'on pose respectivement a I'ouest, au sud et au nord de Tahavanij^a 

 avant d'y faire oblation ' (Caland-Henry, L'AgnMoma^ p. xxxv). 



* I have not been able to make good sense out of the next words. 



