OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. lOt 



9. May He not destroy us — He, the Creator of the earth ; or 

 ?Ie, the righteous, who created the Heaven ; He also created the 

 bright and mighty waters ; — ^Who is the God to whom we shall offer 

 our sacrifice ?" 



HYMN TO VARUNA — (p. 39). 



1. " Let me not yet, O Varuna, enter into the house of clay ! 

 have mercy, Almighty, have mercy ! 



2. If I go along trembling, like a cloud driven by the wind ; 

 have mercy, Almighty, have mercy ! 



3. Through want of strength, thou strong and bright God, have 

 I gone wrong ; have mercy, Almighty, have mercy ! 



4. Thirst came upon the worshipper, though he stood in the 

 midst of the waters ; have mercy, Almighty, have mercy ! 



5. Whenever we men, O Varuna, commit an offence before 

 the heavenly host ; whenever we break the law through thoughtless- 

 ness ; punish us not, O God, for that offence." 



ANOTHER HYMN TO VARUNA. 



1. "Wise and mighty are the works of Him who stemmed asun- 

 der the wide firmaments ; He lifted on high the bright and glorious 

 heaven ; He stretched out apart the starry sky and the earth. 



2. Do I say this to my own self? How can I get unto Var- 

 una? Will he accept my offering without displeasure? When 

 shall I with a quiet mind see him propitiated ? 



3. I ask, O Varuna, wishing to know this my sin. I go to the 

 wise. The sages all tell me the same. Varuna it is who is angry 

 with thee. 



4. Was it an old sin, O Varuna, that thou wishest to destroy 

 my friend, who always praises thee ? Tell me, thou unconquerable 

 Lord, and I will quickly turn to thee, freed from sin. 



5. Absolve us from the sins of our fathers, and from those we 

 committed with our own bodies. Release Vashishtha, O King, like 

 a thief who has feasted on stolen oxen, release him like a calf from 



'•the yoke. 



6. It was not our doing, O Varuna, it was necessity {or temp- 

 tation), an intoxicating draught, passion, dice, thoughtlessness. The 

 old is there to mislead the young ; even sleep brings unrighteousness. 



