Thou art the southern quarter, the mighty by name; of thee as such Indra is the overlord, the scorpion, &c. Thou art the western quarter, the forward by name; of thee as such [1] Soma is the overlord, the viper, &c. Thou art the northern quarter, the stable by name; of thee as such Varuna is overlord, the striped snake, &c. Thou art the great quarter, the lady paramount by name; of thee as such Brhaspati is overlord, the white, &c. Thou art this quarter, the powerful by name; of thee as such Yama is the overlord, the spotted necked (snake) the guardian; the overlord and the guardian, to them homage; may they be gentle to us; him whom we hate and [2] who hateth us I place within the jaws of you two. b These deities guard the fire when kindled; if he were not to offer libations to them, they would suck the Adhvaryu and the sacrificer; in that he offers these libations he soothes them with their proper portion; neither Adhvaryu nor sacrificer goes to ruin. c Ye are missiles by name; your houses are in the east; your arrows are Agni; the water, &c. Ye are smearers by name [3]; your houses are in the south, your arrows are the fathers; the ocean, &c. Ye are the bearers of the bolt by name; your houses are in the west, your arrows are sleep; the cleft, &c. Ye are the stable by name; your houses are in the north; your arrows are the waters; the sea, &c. Ye are overlords by name; your houses are above; your arrows are the rain; the helper, &c. Ye are the raw−flesh eaters by name, of the earth; your houses are bore [4]; your arrows are food; winking is the name of the wind; to you homage; be ye gentle to us; him whom we hate and who hateth us I put in your jaws. d Some gods eat the offerings, others do not; verily the piler of the fire delights both sets. He offers these libations with curds mixed with honey; verily he delights them with their proper portion. Or rather they say, 'The gods who eat not the oblations are the bricks' [5]. He offers going round in order; verily he delights them completely. e Suck this mighty breast of the waters, Filled in the midst of the flood, O Agni; Rejoice in the spring of sweetness, O ocean, Enter thy seat of the sea. f If one having yoked the fire does not set it free, then just as a horse yoked and not set free in hunger is overcome, so his fire is overcome, and with it being overcome the sacrificer is overcome; he having piled the fire becomes aheat [6]; 'Suck this mighty breast of the waters', (with these words) he offers a ladle full of butter; this is the freeing of the fire; verily setting it free he gives it food. Therefore they say, both he who knows and he who knows not. 'A horse well loaded carries well'; the horse is Agni; verily he delights him, he delighted delights him; he becomes richer. The Horse Sacrifce (continued)