Atharva Veda · 435 of 724
HYMN IX
An enunciation of cosmogonical, ritual, and metrical doctrine 1. Whence were these two produced? which was that region?’ From what world, from which earth had they their being? Calves of Virāj, these two arose from water. I ask thee of these twain, who was their milker. 2. He who prepared a threefold home, and lying there made the water bellow through his greatness, Calf of Virāj, giving each wish fulfilment, made bodies for him- self far off, in secret. 3. Which are the three, the mighty three, whereof the fourth divides the voice, This may the Brāhman know by prayer and fervour, whereto belongs the one, whereto the other. 4. Out of the Brihat as the sixth five Salmons have been fashioned forth: From Brihatī was Brihat formed: whence was the Brihatī com- posed? 5. On measure Brihatī is based, and measure on the measurer: From magic might came magic might, from magic might came Mātali. 6. Vaisvānara’s image is the sky above us, so far as Agni forced both spheres asunder. Thence from that region as the sixth come praise-songs, and every sixth day hence again go upward. 7. We, Kagyapa! six present Rishis, ask thee—for thou hast prov- ed things tried and meet for trial They call Virāj the Father of Devotion: tell her to us thy friends in all her figures. 8. She whom, advancing, sacrifices follow, and when she takes her station stand beside her, By whose control and hest the spirit moveth, she is Virāj, in highest heaven, O Rishis. 9. Breathless, she moves by breath of living creatures, Svarāj pre- cedes, Virāj comes closely after. Some men behold her not, and some behold her, Virāj meet- shaped, who thinks of all existence. 10. Who hath perceived Virāj’s duplication, perceived her seasons and her rule and practice? Who knows her steps, how oft, how far extended, who knows her home and number of her dawnings? 11. She here who first of all sent forth her lustre moves onward resting on these lower creatures. Exalted power and might are stored within her: the woman hath prevailed, the new-come mother. 12. Both Dawns on wings of song, with rich adornment, move on together to their common dwelling. Sūrya’s two wives, unwasting, most prolific, knowing their way, move, rich in light, together. 13. The three have passed along the path of Order—three warm libations have regarded offspring One quickens progeny, one strengthens vigour, and one protects the kingdom of the pious. 14. She who was fourth was made by Agni, Soma, and Rishis as. they formed both halves of worship, Gāyatrī, Trishtup, Jagatī, Anushtup, Brihadarki lightening the sacrificer. 15. Five milkings answer to the fivefold dawning, five seasons to the cow who bears five titles. The five sky-regions made fifteen in number, one head have these to one sole world directed. 16. Six Elements arose, first-born of Order: the six-day time is carried by six Sāmans. Six-yoked the plough is, as each trace is numbered: they call both broad ones six; six, Earth and Heaven. 17. They call the cold months six, and six the hot ones. Which, tell us, of the seasons is redundant? Seven sages, eagles, have sat down together: seven metres match the seven Consecrations. 18. Seven are the Homas, seven the logs for burning, seven are the streams of mead, and seven the seasons. Into the world have come seven streams of butter; those we have heard of as the Seven Vultures. 19. Seven metres, by four syllables increasing, each of the seven founded upon another How are the hymns of praise on these supported, and how are these imposed upon the praise-songs? 20. How hath the Gāyatri filled out three triads? On the fifteen how is the Trishtup moulded, Jagatī fashioned on the three-and-thirty? How is Anushtup formed? how Ekavinsa? 21. Eight Elements sprang up, first born of Order: the Priests divine are eight in number, Indra! Eight are the wombs of Aditi, eight her children; for the eighth night is the libation destined. 22. So planning bliss for you have I come hither to win your friendship: kind am I, and gracious. Born from one source, propitious is your wisdom: knowing full well to all of you it cometh. 23. To Indra eight, to Yama six, seven to the Rishis, seven to each: The number five accompanies waters and men and healing herbs. 24. The Heifer, all his own, poured forth for Indra control and milk at her first time of milking; And he then satisfied the four divisions, the Gods and men and Asuras and Rishis. 25. Who is the Cow? Who is the Single Rishi? What is the law, what are the benedictions? What on the earth is the one only Spirit? Which of the number is the Single Season? 26. One is the Cow, one is the Single Spirit, one is the law, single are benedictions. The Spirit dwelling on the earth is single: the Single Season never is transcended.