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36 Works of Pandit Guru Datta Vidyarthi
origin of all errors lies in not recognising the
yaugika
sense of Vedic
terms. But we deem the above three
mantras
as sufficient. We
however, subjoin herewith Max Muller's translation of the
remaining,
mantras
of the hymn, with our occasional remarks in the
foot-notes.
Max Milller's translation:
"4. When thrice at the proper seasons men lead around the
sacrificial horse which goes to the gods, Pushan's share comes first,
the goat, which announces the sacrifice* to the gods.
5. Hotri, Adhvaryu, Avaya (Pratiprasthatri), Agnimindha
(agnidhra), Gravagrabha (Gravastut), and the wise Sanstri (Prasastri),
may you fill the streams (round the altar) with a sacrifice which is well
prepared and well accomplished.**
6. They who cut the sacrificial post, and they who carry it,
they who make the ring for the post of the horse, and even they
who bring together what is cooked for the horse, may their work
be with us.
7. He came on—(my prayer has been well performed), —the
bright backed horse goes to the region of the gods. Wise poets
celebrate him, and we have won a good friend for the love of the
gods.
8. The halter of the swift one, the heel-ropes of the horse, the
head-ropes, the girths, the bridle, and even the grass that has been
put into his mouth, may all these which belong to thee be with the
gods.
9. What the fly eats of the flesh, what adheres to the stick, or
to the axe, or to the hands of the immolator and his nails, may all
these which belong to thee be with the gods.***
The word
yajna
which originally indicates any action requiring
association of men or objects, and productive of beneficial results, is
always translated by European scholars as 'sacrifice.' The notion of
sacrifice is a purely Christian notion, and has no place in Vedic
philosophy. It is foreign to the genuine religion of India. Hence all
translations in which the word 'sacrifice' occurs are to be rejected as
fallacious.
** Max Muller herein puts five words as proper nouns, and thus does not
accept their
yaugika
sense. The words 'round the altar' are supplied by
Muller's imagination on the ground that sacrifices are conducted at the
altar. Both ideas are foreign to Vedic philosophy.
*** Here Max Muller does not understand the structure of the sentence.
The original words are
ashvasya kravisho
which he takes to mean 'the