Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.320

c7.320

Physician is that sage's name who slays the devil, and chases disease away.¹
4. Take hold of thine own dominion [*kṣatra*], Agni; with [thy] friend Agni, strive in friendly wise; [as one] of midmost station among [his] fellows [*sajātā*], [as one] to be severally invoked of nobles [*rājñām*], Agni shine thou here.²
5. When the nobles [*rājāno*] share among themselves the remainder of wealth the sixteenth part of which has been offered and bestowed on Yama [as sacrifice]—ye, assessors of Yama: after the offering of the white-footed sheep, given [as] ancestral offering, Yama releases [us from the tax].³
6. Make thou me dear to the gods, make me dear amongst the nobles [*rājasu*], dear to everything that sees, both to the Śūdra and to the Ārya.⁴
7. Bestow splendour on our Brāhmaṇas, bestow splendour on our nobles [*rājasu*]; bestow splendour on the Vaiśya, . . .Śūdras and on me.⁵
8. Just as I speak in endearing terms to people, to Brāhmaṇas, nobles [*rājanya*], Śūdras, Āryans, and even to my deadly foe, so may I become dear to the gods, to the bestower of gifts; may my desire be fulfilled, and may I realize this.⁶