Atharva Veda · 440 of 724

HYMN IV

A glorification of the typical sacrificial bull 1. The Bull, fierce, thousandfold, filled full of vigour, bearing    within his flanks all forms and natures,   Brihaspati’s Steer, hath stretched the thread, bestowing bliss on    the worshipper, the liberal giver. 2. He who at first became the Waters’ model, a match for everyone,    like Earth the Goddess;   The husband of the cows, the young calves’ father, may be    secure us thousandfold abundance. 3. Masculine, prégnant, stedfast. full of vigour, the Bull sustains a    trunk of goodly treasure.   May Agni Jātavedas bear him offered, on pathways traversed by    the Gods, to Indra. 4. The husband of the cows, the young calves’ father, father is he    of mighty water-eddies.   Calf, after-birth, new milk drawn hot, and biestings, curds, butter,    that is his best genial humour. 5. He is the Gods’ allotted share and bundle, essence of waters,    and of plants, and butter.   Sakra elected him, the draught of Soma. What was his body    was a lofty mountain. 06. A beaker filled with Soma juice thou bearest. framer of forms,    begetter of the cattle.   Kindly to us be these thy wombs here present, and stay for us,   O Axe, those that are yonder. 7. He bears oblation, and his seed is butter. Thousand-fold plenty;    sacrifice they call him.   May he, the Bull, wearing the shape of Indra, come unto us, O   Gods, bestowed, with blessing. 8. Both arms of Varuna, and Indra’s vigour, the Maruts’ hump is    he, the Asvins’ shoulders.   They who are sages, bards endowed with wisdom, call him   Brihaspati compact and heightened. 9. Thou, vigorous, reachest to the tribes of heaven. Thee they call   Indra, thee they call Sarasvān.   Turned to one aim, that Brāhman gives a thousand who offers    up the Bull as his oblation. 10. Brihaspati, Savitar gave thee vital vigour: thy breath was    brought from Tvashtar and from Vāyu.   In thought I offer thee in air’s mid-region. Thy sacrificial grass    be Earth and Heaven! 11. Let the priest joyfully extol the limbs and members of the Bull   Who moved and roared among the kine as Indra moves among    the Gods. 12. The sides must be Anumati’s, and both rib-pieces Bhaga’s share,   Of the knee-bones hath Mitra said, Both these are mine, and    only mine. 13. The Ādityas claim the hinder parts, the loins must be Brihas-    pati’s.   Vāta, the God, receives the tail: he stirs the plants and herbs    therewith, 14. To Sūryā they assigned the skin, to Sinivāli inward parts.   The Slaughterer hath the feet, they said, when they distributed    the Bull. 15. They made a jest of kindred’s curse: a jar of Soma juice was set,   What time the deities, convened, assigned the Bull’s divided    parts. 16. They gave the hooves to tortoises, to Saramā scraps of the feet:   His undigested food they gave to worms and things that creep    and crawl. 17. That Bull, the husband of the kine, pierces the demons with his    horns,   Banishes famine with his eye, and hears good tidings with his    ears. 18. With hundred sacrifices he worships: the fires consume him not:   All Gods promote the Braman who offers the Bull in sacrifice. 19. He who hath given away the Bull to Brāhmans frees and cheers    his soul.   In his own cattle-pen he sees the growth and increase of his    cows. 20. Let there be cattle, let there be bodily strength and progeny:   All this may the Gods kindly grant to him who gives away the   Bull. 21. Indra here verily hath rejoiced: let him bestow conspicuous    wealth.   May he draw forth at will from yonder side of heaven a deft    cow, good to milk, whose calf is never wanting. 22. With close connexion mingle with the cows in this our cattle-    pen:   Mingle, the Bull’s prolific flow, and, Indra! thine heroic    strength! 23. Here we restore this Bull, your youthful leader: sporting with    him, go, wander at your pleasure.   Ne’er, wealthy ones! may he be reft of offspring; and do ye    favour us with growth of riches.