Bibliotheca Polyglotta

1 OF this benignant Priest, with eld grey-coloured, the brother midmost of the three is lightning. The third is he whose back with oil is sprinkled. Here I behold the Chief with seven male children.

saptá yuñjanti rátham ékacakram éko áśvo vahati saptánāmā |
trinā́bhi cakrám ajáram anarváṃ yátremā́ víśvā bhúvanā́dhi tasthúḥ ||

2 Seven to the one-wheeled chariot yoke the Courser; bearing seven names the single Courser draws it. Three-naved the wheel is, sound and undecaying, whereon are resting all these worlds of being.

imáṃ rátham ádhi yé saptá tasthúḥ saptácakraṃ saptá vahanti áśvāḥ |
saptá svásāro abhí sáṃ navante yátra gávāṃ níhitā saptá nā́ma ||

3 The seven who on the seven-wheeled car are mounted have horses, seven in tale, who draw them onward. Seven Sisters utter songs of praise together, in whom the names of the seven Cows are treasured.

kó dadarśa prathamáṃ jā́yamānam asthanvántaṃ yád anasthā́ bíbharti |
bhū́myā ásur ásr̥g ātmā́ kúva svit kó vidvā́ṃsam úpa gāt práṣṭum etát ||

4 Who hath beheld him as he sprang to being, seen how the boneless One supports the bony? Where is the blood of earth, the life, the spirit? Who may approach the man who knows, to ask it?

pā́kaḥ pr̥chāmi mánasā́vijānan devā́nām enā́ níhitā padā́ni |
vatsé baṣkáye ádhi saptá tántūn ví tatnire kaváya ótavā́ u ||

5 Unripe in mind, in spirit undiscerning, I ask of these the Gods’ established places; For up above the yearling Calf the sages, to form a web, their own seven threads have woven.

ácikitvāñ cikitúṣaś cid átra kavī́n pr̥chāmi vidmáne ná vidvā́n |
ví yás tastámbha ṣáḷ imā́ rájāṃsi ajásya rūpé kím ápi svid ékam ||

6 I ask, unknowing, those who know, the sages, as one all ignorant for sake of knowledge, What was that ONE who in the Unborn's image hath stablished and fixed firm these worlds' six regions.

ihá bravītu yá īm aṅgá véda asyá vāmásya níhitam padáṃ véḥ |
śīrṣṇáḥ kṣīráṃ duhrate gā́vo asya vavríṃ vásānā udakám padā́puḥ ||

7 Let him who knoweth presently declare it, this lovely Bird's securely founded station. Forth from his head the Cows draw milk, and, wearing his vesture, with their foot have drunk the water.

mātā́ pitáram r̥tá ā́ babhāja dhīti ágre mánasā sáṃ hí jagmé |
sā́ bībhatsúr gárbharasā níviddhā námasvanta íd upavākám īyuḥ ||

8 The Mother gave the Sire his share of Order: with thought, at first, she wedded him in spirit. She, the coy Dame, was filled with dew prolific: with adoration men approached to praise her.

yuktā́ mātā́sīd dhurí dákṣiṇāyā átiṣṭhad gárbho vr̥janī́ṣu antáḥ |
ámīmed vatsó ánu gā́m apaśyad viśvarūpíyaṃ triṣú yójaneṣu ||

9 Yoked was the Mother to the boon Cow's car-pole: in the dank rows of cloud the Infant rested. Then the Calf lowed, and looked upon the Mother, the Cow who wears all shapes in three directions.

tisró mātr̥̄́s trī́n pitr̥̄́n bíbhrad éka ūrdhvás tasthau ném áva glāpayanti |
mantráyante divó amúṣya pr̥ṣṭhé viśvavídaṃ vā́cam áviśvaminvām ||

10 Bearing three Mothers and three Fathers, single he stood erect: they never make him weary. There on the pitch of heaven they speak together in speech all-knowing but not all-impelling.

duvā́daśāraṃ nahí táj járāya várvarti cakrám pári dyā́m r̥tásya |
ā́ putrā́ agne mithunā́so átra saptá śatā́ni viṃśatíś ca tasthuḥ ||

11 Formed with twelve spokes, by length of time, unweakened, rolls round the heaven this wheel of during Order. Herein established, joined in pairs together, seven hundred Sons and twenty stand, O Agni.

páñcapādam pitáraṃ dvā́daśākr̥tiṃ divá āhuḥ páre árdhe purīṣíṇam |
áthemé anyá úpare vicakṣaṇáṃ saptácakre ṣáḷara āhur árpitam ||

12 They call him in the farther half of heaven the Sire five-footed, of twelve forms, wealthy in watery store. These others say that he, God with far-seeing eyes, is mounted on the lower seven-wheeled, six-spoked car.

páñcāre cakré parivártamāne tásminn ā́ tasthur bhúvanāni víśvā |
tásya nā́kṣas tapyate bhū́ribhāraḥ sanā́d evá ná śīryate sánābhiḥ ||

13 Upon this five-spoked wheel revolving ever all living creatures rest and are dependent. Its axle, heavy-laden, is not heated: the nave from ancient time remains unbroken.

sánemi cakrám ajáraṃ ví vāvr̥ta uttānā́yāṃ dáśa yuktā́ vahanti |
sū́ryasya cákṣū rájasaiti ā́vr̥taṃ tásminn ā́rpitā bhúvanāni víśvā ||

14 The wheel revolves, unwasting, with its felly: ten draw it, yoked to the far-stretching car-pole. The Sun's eye moves encompassed by the region: on him dependent rest all living creatures.

sākaṃjā́nāṃ saptátham āhur ekajáṃ ṣáḷ íd yamā́ ŕ̥ṣayo devajā́ íti |
téṣām iṣṭā́ni víhitāni dhāmaśá sthātré rejante víkr̥tāni rūpaśáḥ ||

15 Of the co-born they call the seventh single-born; the six twin pairs are called Ṛṣis, Children of Gods. Their good gifts sought of men are ranged in order due, and various in their form move for the Lord who guides.

stríyaḥ satī́s tā́m̐ u me puṃsá āhuḥ páśyad akṣaṇvā́n ná ví cetad andháḥ |
kavír yáḥ putráḥ sá īm ā́ ciketa yás tā́ vijānā́t sá pitúṣ pitā́sat ||

16 They told me these were males, though truly females: he who hath eyes sees this, the blind discerns not. The son who is a sage hath comprehended: who knows this rightly is his father's father.

aváḥ páreṇa pará enā́vareṇa padā́ vatsám bíbhratī gaúr úd asthāt |
sā́ kadrī́cī káṃ svid árdham párāgāt kúva svit sūte nahí yūthé antáḥ ||

17 Beneath the upper realm, above this lower, bearing her calf at foot the Cow hath risen. Witherward, to what place hath she departed? Where calves she? Not amid this herd of cattle.

aváḥ páreṇa pitáraṃ yó asya anuvéda pará enā́vareṇa |
kavīyámānaḥ ká ihá prá vocad devám mánaḥ kúto ádhi prájātam ||

18 Who, that the father of this Calf discerneth beneath the upper realm, above the lower, Showing himself a sage, may here declare it? Whence hath the Godlike spirit had its rising?

yé arvā́ñcas tā́m̐ u párāca āhur yé párāñcas tā́m̐ u arvā́ca āhuḥ |
índraś ca yā́ cakráthuḥ soma tā́ni dhurā́ ná yuktā́ rájaso vahanti ||

19 Those that come hitherward they call departing, those that depart they call directed hither. And what so ye have made, Indra and Soma, steeds bear as ’twere yoked to the region's car-pole.

duvā́ suparṇā́ sayújā sákhāyā samānáṃ vr̥kṣám pári ṣasvajāte |
táyor anyáḥ píppalaṃ svādú átti ánaśnann anyó abhí cākaśīti ||

20 Two Birds with fair wings, knit with bonds of friendship, in the same sheltering tree have found a refuge. One of the twain eats the sweet Fig-tree's fruitage; the other eating not regardeth only.

yátrā suparṇā́ amŕ̥tasya bhāgám ánimeṣaṃ vidáthābhisváranti |
inó víśvasya bhúvanasya gopā́ḥ sá mā dhī́raḥ pā́kam átrā́ viveśa ||

21 Where those fine Birds hymn ceaselessly their portion of life eternal, and the sacred synods, There is the Universe's mighty Keeper, who, wise, hath entered into me the simple.

yásmin vr̥kṣé madhuádaḥ suparṇā́ niviśánte súvate cā́dhi víśve |
tásyéd āhuḥ píppalaṃ svādú ágre tán nón naśad yáḥ pitáraṃ ná véda ||

22 The, tree whereon the fine Birds eat the sweetness, where they all rest and procreate their offspring, —Upon its top they say the fig is luscious: none gaineth it who knoweth not the Father.

yád gāyatré ádhi gāyatrám ā́hitaṃ traíṣṭubhād vā traíṣṭubhaṃ nirátakṣata |
yád vā jágaj jágati ā́hitam padáṃ yá ít tád vidús té amr̥tatvám ānaśuḥ ||

23 How on the Gāyatrī the Gāyatrī was based, how from the Triṣṭup they fashioned the Triṣṭup forth, How on the Jagatī was based the Jagatī, —they who know this have won themselves immortal life.

gāyatréṇa práti mimīte arkám arkéṇa sā́ma traíṣṭubhena vākám |
vākéna vākáṃ dvipádā cátuṣpadā akṣáreṇa mimate saptá vā́ṇīḥ ||

24 With Gāyatrī he measures out the praise-song, Sāma with praise-song, triplet with the Triṣṭup. The triplet with the two or four-foot measure, and with the syllable they form seven metres.

jágatā síndhuṃ diví astabhāyad rathaṃtaré sū́riyam páry apaśyat |
gāyatrásya samídhas tisrá āhus táto mahnā́ prá ririce mahitvā́ ||

25 With Jagatī the flood in heaven he stablished, and saw the Sun in the Rathantara Sāman. Gāyatrī hath, they say, three brands for kindling: hence it excels in majesty and vigour.

úpa hvaye sudúghāṃ dhenúm etā́ṃ suhásto godhúg utá dohad enām |
śréṣṭhaṃ saváṃ savitā́ sāviṣan no abhī́ddho gharmás tád u ṣú prá vocam ||

26 I invocate the milch-cow good for milking so that the milker, deft of hand, may drain her. May Savitar give goodliest stimulation. The caldron is made hot; I will proclaim it.

hiṅkr̥ṇvatī́ vasupátnī vásūnāṃ vatsám ichántī mánasābhi ā́gāt |
duhā́m aśvíbhyām páyo aghniyéyáṃ sā́ vardhatām mahaté saúbhagāya ||

27 She, lady of all treasure, is come hither yearning in spirit for her calf and lowing. May this cow yield her milk for both the Aśvins, and may she prosper to our high advantage.

gaúr amīmed ánu vatsám miṣántam mūrdhā́naṃ híṅṅ akr̥ṇon mā́tavā́ u |
sŕ̥kvāṇaṃ gharmám abhí vāvaśānā́ mímāti māyúm páyate páyobhiḥ ||

28 The cow hath lowed after her blinking youngling; she licks his forehead, as she lows, to form it. His mouth she fondly calls to her warm udder, and suckles him with milk while gently lowing.

ayáṃ sá śiṅkte yéna gaúr abhī́vr̥tā mímāti māyúṃ dhvasánāv ádhi śritā́ |
sā́ cittíbhir ní hí cakā́ra mártiyaṃ vidyúd bhávantī práti vavrím auhata ||

29 He also snorts, by whom encompassed round the Cow laws as she clings unto the shedder of the rain. She with her shrilling cries hath humbled mortal man, and, turned to lightning, hath stripped off her covering robe.

anác chaye · turágātu jīvám éjad dhruvám mádhya ā́ pastíyānām |
jīvó mr̥tásya carati svadhā́bhir ámartiyo mártiyenā sáyoniḥ ||

30 That which hath breath and speed and life and motion lies firmly stablished in the midst of houses. Living, by offerings to the Dead he moveth Immortal One, the brother of the mortal.

ápaśyaṃ gopā́m ánipadyamānam ā́ ca párā ca pathíbhiś cárantam |
sá sadhrī́cīḥ sá víṣūcīr vásāna ā́ varīvarti bhúvaneṣu antáḥ ||

31 I saw the Herdsman, him who never stumbles, approaching by his pathways and departing. He, clothed with gathered and diffusive splendour, within the worlds continually travels.

yá īṃ cakā́ra ná só asyá veda yá īṃ dadárśa hírug ín nú tásmāt |
sá mātúr yónā párivīto antár bahuprajā́ nírr̥tim ā́ viveśa ||

32 He who hath made him cloth not comprehend him: from him who saw him surely is he hidden. He, yet enveloped in his Mother's bosom, source of much life, hath sunk into destruction.

dyaúr me pitā́ janitā́ nā́bhir átra bándhur me mātā́ pr̥thivī́ mahī́yám |
uttānáyoś camúvor yónir antár átrā pitā́ duhitúr gárbham ā́dhāt ||

33 Dyaus is my Father, my begetter: kinship is here. This great earth is my kin and Mother. Between the wide-spread world-halves is the birth-place: the Father laid the Daughter's germ within it.

pr̥chā́mi tvā páram ántam pr̥thivyā́ḥ pr̥chā́mi yátra bhúvanasya nā́bhiḥ |
pr̥chā́mi tvā vŕ̥ṣṇo áśvasya rétaḥ pr̥chā́mi vācáḥ paramáṃ víoma ||

34 I ask thee of the earth's extremest limit, where is the centre of the world, I ask thee. I ask thee of the Stallion's seed prolific, I ask of highest heaven where Speech abideth.

iyáṃ védiḥ páro ántaḥ pr̥thivyā́ ayáṃ yajñó · bhúvanasya nā́bhiḥ |
ayáṃ sómo vŕ̥ṣṇo áśvasya réto brahmā́yáṃ vācáḥ paramáṃ víoma ||

35 This altar is the earth's extremest limit; this sacrifice of ours is the world's centre. The Stallion's seed prolific is the Soma; this Brahman highest heaven where Speech abideth.

saptā́rdhagarbhā́ bhúvanasya réto víṣṇos tiṣṭhanti pradíśā vídharmaṇi |
té dhītíbhir mánasā té vipaścítaḥ paribhúvaḥ pári bhavanti viśvátaḥ ||

36 Seven germs unripened yet are heaven's prolific seed: their functions they maintain by Viṣṇu's ordinance. Endued with wisdom through intelligence and thought, they compass us about present on every side.

ná ví jānāmi yád ivedám ásmi niṇyáḥ sáṃnaddho mánasā carāmi |
yadā́ mā́gan prathamajā́ r̥tásya ā́d íd vācó aśnuve bhāgám asyā́ḥ ||

37 What thing I truly am I know not clearly: mysterious, fettered in my mind I wander. When the first-born of holy Law approached me, then of this speech I first obtain a portion.

ápāṅ prā́ṅ eti svadháyā gr̥bhītó ámartiyo mártiyenā sáyoniḥ |
tā́ śáśvantā viṣūcī́nā viyántā ní anyáṃ cikyúr ná ní cikyur anyám ||

38 Back, forward goes he, grasped by strength inherent, the Immortal born the brother of the mortal Ceaseless they move in opposite directions: men mark the one, and fail to mark the other.

r̥có akṣáre paramé víoman yásmin devā́ ádhi víśve niṣedúḥ |
yás tán ná véda kím r̥cā́ kariṣyati yá ít tád vidús tá imé sám āsate ||

39 Upon what syllable of holy praise-song, as twere their highest heaven, the Gods repose them, —Who knows not this, what will he do with praise-song? But they who know it well sit here assembled.

sūyavasā́d bhágavatī hí bhūyā́ átho vayám bhágavantaḥ siyāma |
addhí tŕ̥ṇam aghniye viśvadā́nīm píba śuddhám udakám ācárantī ||

40 Fortunate mayst thou be with goodly pasture, and may we also be exceeding wealthy. Feed on the grass, O Cow, at every season, and coming hitherward drink limpid water.

gaurī́r mimāya salilā́ni tákṣatī ékapadī dvipádī sā́ cátuṣpadī |
aṣṭā́padī návapadī babhūvúṣī sahásrākṣarā paramé víoman ||

41 Forming the water-floods, the buffalo hath lowed, one-footed or two-footed or four-footed, she, Who hath become eight-footed or hath got nine feet, the thousand-syllabled in the sublimest heaven.

tásyāḥ samudrā́ ádhi ví kṣaranti téna jīvanti pradíśaś cátasraḥ |
tátaḥ kṣarati akṣáraṃ tád víśvam úpa jīvati ||

42 From her descend in streams the seas of water; thereby the world's four regions have their being, Thence flows the imperishable flood and thence the universe hath life.

śakamáyaṃ dhūmám ārā́d apaśyaṃ viṣūvátā pará enā́vareṇa |
ukṣā́ṇam pŕ̥śnim apacanta vīrā́s tā́ni dhármāṇi prathamā́ni āsan ||

43 I saw from far away the smoke of fuel with spires that rose on high o’er that beneath it. The Mighty Men have dressed the spotted bullock. These were the customs in the days aforetime,

tráyaḥ keśína r̥tuthā́ ví cakṣate saṃvatsaré vapata éka eṣām |
víśvam éko abhí caṣṭe śácībhir dhrā́jir ékasya dadr̥śe ná rūpám ||

44 Three with long tresses show in ordered season. One of them sheareth when the year is ended. One with his powers the universe regardeth: Of one, the sweep is seen, but his figure.

catvā́ri vā́k párimitā padā́ni tā́ni vidur brāhmaṇā́ yé manīṣíṇaḥ |
gúhā trī́ṇi níhitā néṅgayanti turī́yaṃ vācó manuṣyā̀ vadanti ||

45 Speech hath been measured out in four divisions, the Brahmans who have understanding know them. Three kept in close concealment cause no motion; of speech, men speak only the fourth division.

índram mitráṃ váruṇam agním āhur átho divyáḥ sá suparṇó garútmān |
ékaṃ sád víprā bahudhā́ vadanti agníṃ yamám mātaríśvānam āhuḥ ||

46 They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-winged Garutmān. To what is One, sages give many a title they call it Agni, Yama, Mātariśvan.

kr̥ṣṇáṃ niyā́naṃ hárayaḥ suparṇā́ apó vásānā dívam út patanti |
tá ā́vavr̥tran sádanād r̥tásya ā́d íd ghr̥téna pr̥thivī́ ví udyate ||

47 Dark the descent: the birds are golden-coloured; up to the heaven they fly robed in the waters. Again descend they from the seat of Order, and all the earth is moistened with their fatness.

duvā́daśa pradháyaś cakrám ékaṃ trī́ṇi nábhyāni ká u tác ciketa |
tásmin sākáṃ · triśatā́ ná śaṅkávo arpitā́ḥ ṣaṣṭír ná calācalā́saḥ ||

48 Twelve are the fellies, and the wheel is single; three are the naves. What man hath understood it? Therein are set together spokes three hundred and sixty, which in nowise can be loosened.

yás te stánaḥ śaśayó yó mayobhū́r yéna víśvā púṣyasi vā́riyāṇi |
yó ratnadhā́ vasuvíd yáḥ sudátraḥ sárasvati tám ihá dhā́tave kaḥ ||

49 That breast of thine exhaustless, spring of pleasure, wherewith thou feedest all things that are choicest, Wealth-giver, treasure. finder, free bestower, —bring that, Sarasvatī, that we may drain it.

yajñéna yajñám ayajanta devā́s tā́ni dhármāṇi prathamā́ni āsan |
té ha nā́kam mahimā́naḥ sacanta yátra pū́rve sādhiyā́ḥ sánti devā́ḥ ||

50 By means of sacrifice the Gods accomplished their sacrifice: these were the earliest ordinances. These Mighty Ones attained the height of heaven, there where the Sādhyas, Gods of old, are dwelling.

samānám etád udakám úc caíti áva cā́habhiḥ |
bhū́mim parjányā jínvanti dívaṃ jinvanti agnáyaḥ ||

51 Uniform, with the passing days, this water mounts and fails again. The tempest-clouds give life to earth, and fires re-animate the heaven.

divyáṃ suparṇáṃ vāyasám br̥hántam apā́ṃ gárbhaṃ darśatám óṣadhīnām |
abhīpató vr̥ṣṭíbhis tarpáyantaṃ sárasvantam ávase johavīmi ||

52 The Bird Celestial, vast with noble pinion, the lovely germ of plants, the germ of waters, Him who delighteth us with rain in season, Sarasvān I invoke that he may help us.

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