OR. SACRED WRITINGS OF THE HINDUS. 401 



coming at night to the house of Varun'a, (with 

 the intention of sleeping there, say some; but, as 

 others affirm, with the design of steahng grain to 

 appease his hanger, after a fast of three days,) v\^as 

 assailed by the house dog. He uttered this prayer, 

 or incantation, to lay asleep the dog who was 

 barking at, and attempting to bite, him. A literal 

 version of the first of those hymns is here subr 

 joined, 



* Guardian of this abode! be acquainted with 

 us ; be to us a wholesome dwelling ; afford us what 

 we ask of thee ; and grant liappiness to our bipeds 

 and quadrupeds. Guardian of this house ! increase 

 both us and our wealth. ]\Ioon i while thou art 

 friendly, may we, with our kine and our horses, 

 be exempted from decrepitude : guard us as a father 

 protects his offspring. Guardian of this dwelling ! 

 may we be united with a happy, delightful, and 

 melodious abode afforded by thee: guard our wealth 

 now under thy protection, or yet in expectancy ; 

 and do thou defend us.' 



The fourth hymn, in the fourth chapter, con^ 

 eludes with a prayer to Rudr.a, which, being 

 used with oblations after a fast of three days, is 

 supposed to ensure a happy life of a hundred years. 

 In the sixth book, three hymns occur, which, be* 

 ing recited with Avorship to the sun, are believed 

 to occasion a fall of rain after the lapse of live 

 days : the two first are aptly addressed to a cloud; 

 and the third is so, to frogs, because these had 

 croaked while VasishVua recited the preceding- 

 prayers, which circumstance he accepted as a good 

 omen. 



The sixth chapter of the tenth book closes with 

 two hymns, the prayer of which is the destruc-. 

 Vol. VIIL D d 



