'Go to the sky, fly to the heaven', he says; verily he makes him to go to the world of heaven. The Apri Hymn for the Horse Sacrifice a Enkindled, decking the store-room of prayers, Swelling with sweet butter, O Agni, Steed bearing the strong drink, O all-knower, Carry it to the dear place of the gods. b With ghee adorning the paths leading to the gods, Let the strong one, wise, go to the gods; May thee, O courser, the regions attend, Bestow strength on this sacrificer. c To be praised thou art, and to be celebrated, O steed; Swift and pure art thou, O courser; May Agni in unison with the gods, the Vasus, Bear thee [1], a glad messenger, he the all-knower. d Rejoicing in the strewn grass, well strewed, That doth extend wide and broad on the earth, Joined with the gods, may Aditi in unison, Bestowing pleasantness, cause it to prosper. c These happy (doors), all formed, Opening with their sides, with the centre, Lofty and sounding, adorning themselves, The doors divine, may they be of pleasant entrance. f Moving between Mitra and Varuna, Well knowing the beginning of sacrifices, The two dawns for you [2], rich in gold, rich in adornment, I settle here in the birthplace of holy order. g First for you have I made glad the two, who share one car, fair of hue, The gods that gaze on all the worlds, Those that ordain your ordinances, The two Hotrs, that indicate the light in its place. h May Bharati with the Adityas love our sacrifice; Sarasvati with the Rudras hath holpen us, And Ida invoked with the Vasus in unison; Our sacrifice, O goddesses, place ye with the immortals. i Tvastr begot the hero with love for the gods; From Tvastr is born the courser, the swift steed [3]; Tvastr produced all this world; The maker of much do thou offer to, as Hotr. k May the steed, anointed with glee, of his own impulse Go to the gods in due season to their abode; May the forest lord knowing the world of the gods, Bear the oblations made ready by Agni.YV 1.5p · Yajur Veda
YV 1.5p
Yajur Veda · translated by Arthur Berriedale Keith
Themes in this passage
WorshipThe DivineJoyNatureStrengthWealthCreationLove
Worship in other traditions
The same theme, as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hellenism address it.
And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.Numbers 29:31 · Bible · Numbers
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.Quran 109:5 · Quran · The Unbelievers
Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation for a whole year in order to gain merit, the whole of it is not worth a quarter (a farthing); reverence shown to the righteous is better.Dhp 8.108 · Dhammapada · The Thousands
Full fifty more from Athens stem the main, Led by Menestheus through the liquid plain. (Athens the fair, where great Erectheus sway’d, That owed his nurture to the blue-eyed maid, But from the teeming furrow took his birth, The mighty offspring of the foodful earth. Him Pallas placed amidst her wealthy fane, Adored with sacrifice and oxen slain; Where, as the years revolve, her altars blaze, And all the tribes resound the goddess’ praise.) No chief like thee, Menestheus! Greece could yield, To marshal armies in the dusty field, The extended wings of battle to display, Or close the embodied host in firm array. Nestor alone, improved by length of days, For martial conduct bore an equal praise.Iliad 2.41 · Iliad · 2
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