﻿OF THE HINDUS, ScC. 301 



Those holy strains (Rich and Sanian) who are tlic 

 nyniplis of mind, and are named the means of attain- 

 ing- wishes." 



Thirteen oblations are next presented, during 

 the recital of as many portions of a single text. 

 *' JMay the supreme ruler of creatures, who is glo- 

 rious in his victories over [hostile] armies, grant vic- 

 tory to Indra, the regent of rain: all creatures 

 humbly bow to him ; for he is terrible: to him are 

 oblations due; may he grant me victory, knowledge, 

 reflection, regard, self-rule, skill, understanding, 

 power, [returns of] the conjunction and opposition 

 of the sun and moon, and holy texts (Vriiiat and 

 Rat'hantara^)." 



Eighteen oblations are then oitercd, vliile as 

 many texts are meditated; they dhter only in the 

 name of the deity that is invoked. 1. " May fire, 

 lord of [living] beings, protect me in respect of ho- 

 liness, valour and prayer, and in regard to ancient 

 privileges, to tins solemn rite, and to this invocation 

 of deities. 2. May Ixdka, lord or regent of the 

 eldest (that is, of the best of beings) protect me, 

 he. 3. Yama, lord of the earth. 4. Air, lord of 

 the sky. 5. The sun, lord of heaven. 6. The 

 moon, lord of stars. 7- Vrihaspati, jord [that is, 

 'preceptor] of Brahma' [and other deities.] 8. Mi- 

 tra (the sun) lord of true beings. 9. Varum a, 

 lord of M^aters. 10. The ocean, lord of rivers. II. 

 Food, lord of tributary powers. 12. Soma (the 

 moon,) lord of plants. 1^. Savitri (the genera- 

 tive sun,) lord of pregnant females. 14. Rudra 

 (S'iva) lord of [deities, that bear the shape of] 

 cattle." 15. " The fabricator of the universe, lord 

 of forms." 15. " Vishnu, lord of mountains." 

 17- " Winds (ATariits), lords of (g.anas) sets of 

 divinities." 18. " Fathers, grandfathers, remoter 



ancestors, 



* Texts of the Shna^ida so named. 



