A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s2.113

v1.c8.s2.113

With the extensive part which the fire-cult played among the ancient Indians, it is not to be wondered at, that the majority of the numerous songs in the Ṛgveda which are dedicated to Agni—there are about two hundred of them—have been used as songs of sacrifice, many of them having only been composed for sacrificial purposes. Yet we find among these songs many plain, simple prayers, which, perhaps are the work of priests, but certainly are the work of poets. As an example I give the first hymn of our Ṛgveda-Saṃhitā in the translation of A. A. Macdonell:¹