1Afar let her depart: away we drive her whom, made with hands, all-beautiful,
Skilled men prepare and fashion like a bride amid her nuptial train.

2Complete, with head and nose and ears, all-beauteous, wrought with magic skill
Afar let her depart: away we drive her.

3Made by a Sidra or a Prince, by priests or women let her go.
Back to her maker as her kin, like a dame banished by her lord.

4I with this salutary herb have ruined all their magic arts,
The spell which they have cast upon thy field, thy cattle, or thy men.

5Ill fall on him who doeth ill, on him who curseth fall the curse!
We drive her back that she may slay the man who wrought the witchery.

6Against her comes the Angirasa, the Priest whose eye is over us.
Turn back all witcheries and slay those practisers of magic arts.

7Whoever said to thee, Go forth against the foeman up the stream,
To him, O Krityá, go thou back. Pursue not us, the sinless ones.

8He who composed thy limbs with thought as a deft joiner builds a car,
Go to him: thither lies thy way. This man is all unknown to thee.

9The cunning men, the sorcerers who fashioned thee and held thee fast, —
This cures and mars their witchery, this, repellent, drives it back the way it came.
With this we make thee swim.

10When we have found her ducked and drenched, a hapless cow whose calf hath died,
Let all my woe depart and let abundant riches come to me.

11If, as they gave thy parents aught, they named thee, or at sacrifice,
From all their purposed evil let these healing herbs deliver thee.

12From mention of thy name, from sin against the Fathers or the Gods,
These herbs of healing shall by prayer release thee, by power, by holy texts, the milk of Rishis.

13As the wind stirs the dust from earth and drives the rain cloud from the sky,
So, chased and banished by the spell, all misery departs from me.

14Go with a resonant cry, depart, like a she-ass whose cords are loosed.
Go to thy makers: hence! away! Go driven by the potent spell.

15This, Krityá, is thy path, we say, and guide thee. We drive thee back who hast been sent against us.
Go by this pathway, breaking loose for onslaught even as a host complete with cars and horses.

16No path leads hitherward for thee to travel. Turn thee from us: far off, thy light is yonder.
Fly hence across the ninety floods, the rivers most hard to pass.
Begone, and be not wounded.

17As wind the trees, so smite and overthrow them: leave not cow, horse, or man of them surviving,
Return, O Krityá, unto those who made thee. Wake them from sleep to find that they are childless.

18The charm or secret power which they have buried for thee in sacred grass, field, cemetery,
Or spell in household fire which men more cunning have wrought against thee innocent and simple, —

19That tool of hatred, understood, made ready, stealthy and buried deep, have we discovered,
Let that go back to whence it came, turn thither like a horse and kill the children of the sorcerer.

20Within our house are swords of goodly iron. Krityá, we know thy joints and all their places.
Arise this instant and begone! What, stranger! art thou seeking here?

21O Krityá, I will cut thy throat and hew thy feet off. Run, begone!
Indra and Agni, Guardian Lords of living creatures, shield us well!

22May Soma, gracious friend, imperial Sovran, and the world's Masters look on us with favour.

23Bhava and Sarva cast the flash of lightning, the weapon of the Gods, against the sinner who made the evil thing, who deals in witchcraft!

24If thou hast come two-footed or four-footed, made by the sorcerer, wrought in perfect beauty,
Become eight-footed and go hence. Speed back again, thou evil one.

25Anointed, balmed, and well adorned, bearing all trouble with thee, go.
Even as a daughter knows her sire, so know thy marker, Krityá, thou.

26Krityá, begone, stay not. Pursue as 'twere the wounded creature's track.
He is the chase, the hunter thou he may not slight or humble thee.

27He waits, and aiming with his shaft smites him who first would shoot at him,
And, when the foeman deals a blow before him, following strikes him down.

28Hearken to this my word; then go thither away whence thou hast come; to him who made thee go thou back.

29The slaughter of an innocent, O Krityá, is an awful deed. Slay not cow, horse, or man of ours.
In whatsoever place thou art concealed we rouse thee up therefrom: become thou lighter than a leaf.

30If ye be girt about with clouds of darkness, bound as with a net.
We rend and tear all witcheries hence and to their maker send them back.

31The brood of wizard, sorcerer, the purposer of evil deed.
Crush thou, O Krityá spare not, kill those practisers of magic arts.

32As Súrya frees himself from depth of darkness, and casts away the night and rays of morning,
So I repel each baleful charm which an enchanter hath prepared;

1Who framed the heels of Púrusha? Who fashioned the flesh of him? Who formed and fixed his ankles?
Who made the openings and well-moulded fingers? Who gave him foot-soles and a central station?

2Whence did they make the ankles that are under, and the knee-bones of Púrusha above them?
What led them onward to the legs' construction? Who planned and formed the knees' articulations?

3A fourfold frame is fixt with ends connected, and up above the knees a yielding belly.
The hips and thighs, who was their generator, those props whereby the trunk grew firmly stablished?

4Who and how many were those Gods who fastened the chest of Púrusha and neck together?
How many fixed his breasts? Who formed his elbows? How many joined together ribs and shoulders?

5Who put together both his arms and said, Let him show manly strength?
Who and what God was he who set the shoulder-blades upon the trunk?

6Who pierced the seven openings in the head? Who made these ears, these nostrils, eyes, and mouth,
Through whose surpassing might in all directions bipeds and quadrupeds have power of motion?

7He set within the jaws the tongue that reaches far, and thereon placed Speech the mighty Goddess.
He wanders to and fro mid living creatures, robed in the waters.
Who hath understood it?

8Who was he, first, of all the Gods who fashioned his skull and brain and occiput and forehead,
The pile that Púrusha's two jaws supported? Who was that God who mounted up to heaven?

9Whence bringeth mighty Púrusha both pleasant and unpleasant things,
Of varied sort, sleep, and alarm, fatigue, enjoyments and delights?

10Whence is there found in Púrusha want, evil, suffering, distress?
Whence come success, prosperity opulence, thought, and utterance?

11Who stored in him floods turned in all directions, moving diverse and formed to flow in rivers,
Hasty, red, copper-hued, and purple, running all ways in Púrusha, upward and downward?

12Who gave him visible form and shape? Who gave him magnitude and name?
Who gave him motion, consciousness? Who furnished Púrusha with feet?

13Who wove the vital air in him, who filled him with the downward breath?
What God bestowed on Púrusha the general pervading air?

14What God, what only Deity placed sacrifice in Púrusha?
Who gave him truth and falsehood? Whence came Death and immortality?

15Who wrapped a garment round him? Who arranged the life he hath to live?
Who granted him the boon of speech? Who gave this fleetness to his feet?

16Through whom did he spread waters out, through whom did he make Day to shine?
Through whom did he enkindle Dawn and give the gift of eventide?

17Who set the seed in him and said, Still be the thread of life spun out?
Who gave him intellect besides? Who gave him voice and gestic power?

18Through whom did he bedeck the earth, through whom did he encompass heaven?
Whose might made Púrusha surpass the mountains and created things?

19Through whom seeks he Parjanya out, and Soma of the piercing sight?
Through whom belief and sacrifice? Through whom was spirit laid in him?

20What leads him to the learned priest? What leads him to this Lord Supreme?
How doth he gain this Agni? By whom hath he measured out the year?

21He, Brahma gains the learned priest, he Brahma, gains this Lord Supreme.
As Brahma, Man wins Agni here Brahma hath measured out the year.

22Through whom doth he abide with Gods? Through whom with the Celestial Tribes?
Why is this other called a star? Why is this called the Real Power?

23Brahma inhabits with the Gods, Brahma among the Heavenly Tribes.
Brahma this other star is called. Brahma is called the Real Power.

24By whom was this our earth disposed? By whom was heaven placed over it?
By whom was this expanse of air raised up on high and stretched across?

25By Brahma was this earth disposed: Brahma is sky arranged above.
Brahma is this expanse of air lifted on high and stretched across.

26Together, with his needle hath Atharvan sewn his head and heart.
And Pavamána hovered from his head on high above his brain.

27That is indeed Atharvan's head, the well-closed casket of the Gods.
Spirit and Food and Vital Air protect that head from injury.

28Stationed on high, Púrusha hath pervaded all regions spread aloft and stretched transversely.
He who knows Brahma's cattle, yea, the fort whence Púrusha is named,

29Yea, knows that fort of Brahma girt about with immortality,
Brahma and Bráhmas have bestowed sight, progeny, and life on him.

30Sight leaves him not, breath quits not him before life's natural decay,
Who knows the fort of Brahma, yea, the fort whence Púrusha is named.

31The fort of Gods, impregnable, with circles eight and portals nine,
Contains a golden treasure-chest, celestial, begirt with light.

32Men deep in lore of Brahma know that Animated Being which
Dwells in the golden treasure-chest that hath three spokes and three supports.

33Brahma hath passed within the fort, the golden castle; ne'er subdued,
Bright with excessive brilliancy, compassed with glory round about.

1Here is my charm the Varana, slayer of rivals, strong in act.
With this grasp thou thine enemies, crush those who fain would injure thee.

2Break them in pieces; grasp them and destroy them. This Amulet shall go before and lead thee.
With Varana the Gods, from morn to morning, have warded off the Asuras' enchantment.

3This charm, this Varana healeth all diseases, bright with a thousand eyes and golden glister.
This charm shall conquer and cast down thy foemen. Be thou the first to slay the men who hate thee.

4This will stay witchcraft wrought for thee, will guard thee from the fear of man:
From all distress and misery this Varana will shield thee well.

5Guard against ill of varied kind is Varana this heavenly Plant.
The Gods have stayed and driven off Consumption which had seized this man.

6If in thy sleep thou see an evil vision, oft as the beast repeats his loathed approaches,
This Amulet, this Varana will guard thee from sneeze, and from the bird's ill-omened message.

7From Mischief, from Malignity, from incantation, from alarm,
From death, from stronger foeman's stroke the Varana will guard thee well.

8Each sinful act that we have done, — my mother, father, and my friends, —
From all the guilt this heavenly Plant will be our guard and sure defence.

9Affrighted by the Varana let my rivals near akin to me
Pass to the region void of light: to deepest darkness let them go.

10Safe are my cattle, safe am I, long-lived with all my men around.
This Varana, mine Amulet, shall guard me well on every side.

11This Varana is on my breast, the sovran, the celestial Plant.
Let it afflict my foemen as Indra quelled fiends and Asuras.

12Through hundred autumn seasons, long to live, I wear this Varana.
May it bestow on me great strength, cattle, and royalty and power.

13As with its might the wind breaks down the trees, the sovrans of the wood,
So break and rend my rivals, born before me and born after.
Let the Varana protect thee well.

14As Agni and the wind devour the trees, the sovrans of the wood,
Even so devour my rivals, born before me and born after. Let the Varana protect thee well.

15As, shattered by the tempest, trees lie withering ruined on the ground.
Thus over-throw my rivals thou, so crush them down and ruin them, those born before and after. Let this Varana protect thee well.

16Cut them in pieces, Varana! before their destined term of life,
Those who would hurt his cattle, those who fain would harm the realm he rules.

17As Súrya shines with brightest sheen, as splendour hath been stored in him,
So may the Charm, the Varana, give me prosperity and fame.
With lustre let it sprinkle me, and balm me with magnificence.

18As glory dwelleth in the Moon and in the Sun who vieweth men,
So may the Charm, etc.

19As glory dwelleth in the Earth, and in this Játavedas here,
So may the Charm etc.

20As glory dwelleth in a maid, and in this well-constructed car,
So may the Charm, etc.

21As glory dwelleth in the draught of Soma and the honeyed drink,
So may the Charm, etc.

22As glory dwells in sacrifice to Agni, and the hallowing word,
So may the Charm, etc.

23As glory is bestowed upon the patron and this sacrifice,
So may the Charm, etc.

24As glory dwelleth in the Lord of Life and in this God Supreme,
So may the Charm, etc.

25As immortality and truth have been established in the Gods,
So may the Charm, the Varana, give me prosperity and fame.
With lustre let it sprinkle me, and balm me with magnificence.

1The first of all is Indra's car, next is the chariot of the Gods, the third is Váruna's alone.
The last, the Serpents' chariot, struck the pillar and then sped away.

2Their lustre is the Darbha-grass, its young shoots are their horse's tail: the reed's plume is their chariot seat.

3Strike out, white courser! with thy foot, strike both with fore and hinder foot,
Stay the dire poison of the Snakes, and make it weak as soaking wood.

4Loud neighing he hath dived below, and rising up again replied,
Stayed the dire poison of the Snakes, and made it weak as soaking wood.

5Paidva kills Kasarnila, kills both the white Serpent and the black,
Paidva hath struck and cleft in twain Ratharvi's and the Viper's head.

6Go onward, horse of Pedu! go thou first: we follow after thee.
Cast thou aside the Serpents from the pathway whereupon we tread.

7Here was the horse of Pedu born: this is the way that takes him hence.
These are the tracks the courser left, the mighty slayer of the Snakes.

8Let him not close the opened mouth, nor open that which now is closed.
Two snakes are in this field, and both, female and male, are powerless.

9Powerless are the serpents here, those that are near and those afar.
I kill the scorpion with a club, and with a staff the new-come snake.

10This is the remedy against Aghásva and the adder, both:
Indra and Paidva have subdued and tamed the vicious snake for me.

11We fix our thoughts on Pedu's horse, strong, off-spring of a stedfast line.
Behind our backs the vipers here crouch down and lie in wait for us.

12Bereft of life and poison they lie slain by bolt-armed Indra's hand. Indra and we have slaughtered them.

13Tiraschirájis have been slain, and vipers crushed and brayed to bits.
Slay Darvi in the Darbha-grass, Karikrata, and White and Black.

14The young maid of Kiráta race, a little damsel, digs the drug,
Digs it with shovels wrought of gold on the high ridges of the hills.

15Hither the young unconquered leech who slays the speckled snake hath come.
He verily demolishes adder and scorpion; both of them.

16Indra, Mitra and Váruna, and Váta and Parjanya both have given the serpent up to me.

17Indra hath given him up to me, the female viper and the male,
The adder, him with stripes athwart, Kasarnila, Dasonasi.

18O Serpent, Indra hath destroyed the sire who first engendered thee:
And when these snakes are pierced and bored what sap and vigour will be theirs?

19Their heads have I seized firmly as a fisher grasps the spotted prey,
Waded half through the stream and washed the poison of the serpents off.

20Let the floods hurry on and bear the poison of all snakes afar.
Tiraschirájis have been slain and vipers crushed and brayed to Tiraschirájis bits.

21As from the salutary plants I deftly pick the fibres out,
And guide them skilfully like mares, so let thy venom, Snake! depart!

22All poison that the sun and fire, all that the earth and plants contain,
Poison of most effectual power — let all thy venom pass away.

23Serpents which fire or plants have generated, those which have sprung from waters or the lightning,
Whose mighty broods are found in many places, these serpents we will reverently worship.

24Thou art a maid called Taudi, or Ghritáchi is thy name. Thy place
Is underneath my foot. I take the poison-killing remedy.

25From every member drive away the venom, and avoid the heart.
Then let the poison's burning heat pass downward and away from thee.

26The bane hath fled afar. It wept, and asked the poison how it fared.

27Agni hath found the venom of the serpent, Soma drawn it out.
Back to the biter hath returned the poison, and the snake hath died.

1Ye are the power of Indra, ye the force and strength of Indra, ye his hero might and manliness.
I join you with the bonds of Prayer to the victorious enterprise.

2For the victorious enterprise let all creation stand by me. For me ye, Waters, are prepared.

3Ye are the share of Agni. Grant, O heavenly Waters unto us the Waters' brilliant energy.
By statute of Prajápati I set you down for this our world.

4Waters, your ceremonial share of Waters which the waters hold, which aids our sacrifice to Gods,
This as a remnant here I leave. Do not thou wash it clean away.
With this we let the man go by who hates us and whom we abhor.
Him would I fain o'erthrow and slay with this our ceremonial act, with this our prayer, our thunder-bolt.

5Whatever evil I have done within this last triennium,
From all that woe and misery let the waters shield and guard me well.

6Onward I urge your gathered floods: enter your own abiding place,
Uninjured and with all your strength. Let nothing bend or bow us down.

7May the pure Waters cleanse us from defilement,
Fair to behold remove our sin and trouble, and bear away ill dream and all pollution.

8Thou art the step of Vishnu, rival-slayer, sharpened by earth, aglow with fire of Agni,
Earth have I ranged: from earth we bar him who hates us and whom we hate.

9Ours is superior place and ours is conquest: may I in all fights tread down spite and malice.
Let him not live, let vital breath desert him.

10With this I here invest the power and splendour, the life of that man and his vital breathing, the son of such a sire and such a woman, here do I overthrow and cast him downward.

11I follow Súrya's course in heaven, the course that takes him to the South.
May that bestow upon me wealth and glory of a Bráhman's rank.

12I turn me to the regions bright with splendour.
May they bestow upon me wealth and glory of a Bráhman's rank.

13I turn me to the Rishis Seven. May they, etc.

14I turn me unto Prayer. May that, etc.

15I turn me unto Bráhmans. May they etc.

16We hunt that man, we beat him down and slay him with our murderous blows.
We with the spell have hurried him to Parameshthin's opened jaws.

17Let the shot missile catch him with Vaisvánara's two mighty fangs.
This offering, and the mightiest Goddess, the Fuel, eat him up!

18Thou art the bound of Váruna the King.
Bind, such an one, the son of such a woman, in vital breath and in the food that feeds him.

19All food of thine, O Lord of Life, that lies, upon the face of earth,
Thereof bestow thou upon us. O Lord of Life, Prajápati!

20Celestial Waters have I sought: with juice have I besprinkled them.
With milk, O Agni, have I come; bestow upon me splendid strength.

21Give me the boon of splendid strength; give, Agni! progeny and life.
May the Gods know this prayer of mine, may Indra with the Rishis know.

22What curse soever couples launch against us, whatever bitter speech the chatterers utter,
With Manyu's arrow, offspring of the spirit, transfix thou to the heart the Yátudhánas,

23Destroy the Yátudhánas with thy fervour, consume the demons with thy wrath, O Agni.
Destroy the fool's gods with thy fiery splendour, destroy the blazing ones, the insatiable.

24Well-skilled, against this man I hurl the Water's bolt with four spikes, to cleave his head asunder.
May it destroy all members of his body. Let the whole host of Gods approve my purpose.

1With power I cut away the head of my malignant rival, of mine evil-hearted enemy.

2This Amulet of citron-wood shall make for me a trusty shield
Filled with the mingled beverage, with sap and vigour hath it come.

3What though the strong-armed carpenter have cleft thee with his hand and axe.
Pure animating waters shall cleanse thee and make thee bright again.

4This Amulet, decked with chain of gold, shall give faith, sacrifice, and might, and dwell as guest within our house.

5To this we give apportioned food, clarified butter, wine, and meath.
May it provide each boon for us as doth a father for his sons.
Again, again, from morn to morn, having approached the deities.

6The Charm Brihaspati hath bound, the fatness-dropping citron-wood, the potent Khadira for strength,
This Agni hath put on: it yields clarified butter for this man.
Again, again, from morn to morn. With this subdue thine enemies.

7The Charm Brihaspati hath bound, the fatness-dropping citron-wood, the potent Khadira, for strength,
This Charm hath Indra put on him for power and manly puissance.
It yieldeth strength to strengthen him, again, again, from morn to morn, having approached the deities.

8The Charm Brihaspati, etc.
This Charm hath Soma put on him for might, for hearing, and for sight.
This yields him energy indeed, again, again, etc.

9The Charm Brihaspati, etc.
This Súrya put on him, with this conquered the regions of the sky.
This yieldeth him ability, again, etc.

10The Charm Brihaspati, etc.
This Charm did Chandra wear, with this conquered the forts of Asuras, the golden forts of Dánavas.
This yields him glory and renown, again, etc.

11The Amulet Brihaspati bound on the swiftly-moving Wind.
This yieldeth him a vigorous steed, again, etc.

12The Asvins with this Amulet protect this culture of our fields.
This yields the two Physicians might, again, etc.

13Savitar wore this Amulet: herewith he won this lucid heaven.
This yields him glory and delight, again, etc.

14Wearing this Charm the Waters flow eternally inviolate. This yieldeth them ambrosia, again etc.

15King Váruna assumed and wore this salutary Amulet.
This yieldeth him his truthfulness, again, etc.

16Wearing this Amulet the Gods conquered in battle all the worlds.
This yieldeth victory for them, again, etc.

17The Amulet Brihaspati formed for the swiftly-moving Wind,
This salutary Amulet the Deities assumed and wore.
This yieldeth them the universe, again, again, from morn to morn. With this subdue thine enemies.

18The seasons formed that Amulet, the Groups of Seasons fashioned it.
The Year having constructed it preserveth everything that is.

19The regions of the heaven, the points that lie between them fashioned it.
Created by Prajápati, may the Charm cast my foemen down.

20Atharvan made the Amulet, Atharvan's children fashioned it.
With them the sage Angirases broke through the Dasyus' fortresses. With this subdue thine enemies.

21Dhátar bound on this Amulet: he ranged and ordered all that is. With this do thou subdue thy foes.

22The Amulet Brihaspati formed for the Gods, that slew the fiends.
That Amulet here hath come to me combined with sap and energy.

23The Amulet, etc.
That Amulet here hath come to me, hath come with cows, and goats, and sheep, hath come with food and progeny.

24The Amulet, etc.
That Amulet here hath come to me with store of barley and of rice, with greatness and prosperity.

25The Amulet, etc.
That Amulet here hath come to me with streams of butter and of mead, with sweet delicious beverage.

26The Amulet, etc.
That Amulet here hath come to me with power and abundant strength, hath come with glory and with wealth.

27The Amulet, etc.
That Amulet here hath come to me with splendour and a blaze of light, with honour and illustrious fame.

28The Amulet Brihaspati made for the Gods, that slew the fiends,
That Amulet here hath come to me combined with all prosperities.

29That Amulet may the Deities bestow on me to win success,
The conquering, strength-increasing Charm, the damager of enemies.

30I bind on me my happy fate with holy prayer and energy.
Foeless destroyer of the foe, it hath subdued mine enemies.

31May this Charm, offspring of the Gods, make me superior to my foe.
So may this charm whose milk expressed these three worlds longingly await,
Be fastened on me here, that it may crown me with surpassing power.

32The Charm to which men, Fathers, Gods look ever for their maintenance,
May this be fastened on me here, to crown me with surpassing power

33As, when the plough hath tilled the soil, the seed springs up in fertile land,
Let cattle, progeny, and food of every kind spring up with me.

34Charm, forwarder of sacrifice, who hast a hundred priestly fees.
Speed to preeminence him to whom I have attached thy happy fate.

35Love thou, O Agni, pleased with burnt oblations, this sacred fuel that is ranged in order.
In him may we find grace and loving-kindness, happiness, progeny, and sight and cattle, in Játavedas kindled with devotion.

1Which of his members is the seat of Fervour: Which is the base of Ceremonial Order?
Where in him standeth Faith? Where Holy Duty? Where, in what part of him is truth implanted?

2Out of which member glows the light of Agni? Form which proceeds the breath of Mátarisvan?
From which doth Chandra measure out his journey, travelling over Skambha's mighty body?

3Which of his members is the earth's upholder? Which gives the middle air a base to rest on?
Where, in which member is the sky established? Where hath the space above the sky its dwelling?

4Whitherward yearning blazeth Agni upward? Whitherward yearning bloweth Mátarisvan?
Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha to whom with longing go the turning pathways?

5Whitheward go the half-months, and, accordant with the full year, the months in their procession?
Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha to whom go seasons and the groups of seasons?

6Whitherward yearning speed the two young Damsels, accordant,
Day and Night, of different colour?
Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha to whom the Waters take their way with longing?

7Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha,
On whom Prajápati set up and firmly stablished all the worlds?

8That universe which Prajápati created, wearing all forms, the highest, midmost, lowest,
How far did Skambha penetrate within it? What portion did he leave unpenetrated?

9How far within the past hath Skambha entered? How much of him hath reached into the future?
That one part which he set in thousand places, — how far did Skambha penetrate within it?

10Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha in whom men recognize the Waters, Brahma,
In whom they know the worlds and their enclosures, in whom are non-existence and existence?

11Declare that Skambha, who is he of many,
In whom, exerting every power, Fervour maintains her loftiest vow;
In whom are comprehended Law, Waters, Devotion and Belief.

12Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha
On whom as their foundation earth and firmament and sky are set;
In whom as their appointed place rest Fire and Moon and Sun and Wind?

13Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha
He in whose body are contained all three-and-thirty Deities?

14Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha.
In whom the Sages earliest born, the Richas, Sáman, Yajus,
Earth, and the one highest Sage abide?

15Who out of many, tell me, is the Skambha.
Who comprehendeth, for mankind, both immortality and death,
He who containeth for mankind the gathered waters as his veins?

16Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha,
He whose chief arteries stand there, the sky's four regions, he with whom Sacrifice putteth forth its might?

17They who in Púrusha understand Brahma know Him who is Supreme.
He who knows Him who is Supreme, and he who knows the Lord of Life,
These know the loftiest Power Divine, and thence know Skambha thoroughly.

18Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha
Of whom Vaisvánara became the head, the Angirases his eye, and Yátus his corporeal parts?

19Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha
Whose mouth they say is Holy Lore, his tongue the Honey-sweetened Whip, his udder is Viráj, they say?

20Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha
From whom they hewed the lichas off, from whom they chipped the Yajus, he
Whose hairs are Sáma-verses and his mouth the Atharvángirases?

21Men count as 'twere a thing supreme non-entity's conspicuous branch;
And lower man who serve thy branch regard it as an entity.

22Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha
In whom Ádityas dwell, in whom Rudras and Vasus are contained,
In whom the future and the past and all the worlds are firmly set;

23Whose secret treasure evermore the three-and thirty Gods protect?
Who knoweth now the treasure which, O Deities ye watch and guard?

24Where the Gods, versed in Sacred Lore, worship the loftiest Power Divine
The priest who knows them face to face may be a sage who knows the truth.

25Great, verily, are those Gods who sprang from non-existence into life.
Further, men say that that one part of Skambha is non-entity.

26Where Skambha generating gave the Ancient World its shape and form,
They recognized that single part of Skambha as the Ancient World.

27The three-and-thirty Gods within his body were disposed as limbs:
Some, deeply versed in Holy Lore, some know those three-and-thirty Gods.

28Men know Hiranyagarbha as supreme and inexpressible:
In the beginning, in the midst of the world, Skambha poured that gold.

29On Skambha Fervour rests, the worlds and Holy Law repose on him.
Skambha, I clearly know that all of thee on Indra is imposed.

30On Indra Fervour rests, on him the worlds and Holy Law recline.
Indra, I clearly know that all of thee on Skambha findeth rest.

31Ere sun and dawn man calls and calls one Deity by the other's name.
When the Unborn first sprang into existence he reached that independent sovran lordship; than which aught higher never hath arisen.

32Be reverence paid to him, that highest Brahma, whose base is
Earth, his belly Air, who made the sky to be his head.

33Homage to highest Brahma, him whose eye is Súrya and the
Moon who groweth young and new again, him who made Agni for his mouth.

34Homage to highest Brahma, him whose two life-breathings were the Wind,
The Angirases his sight: who made the regions be his means of sense.

35Skambha set fast these two, the earth and heaven, Skambha maintained the ample air between them.
Skambha established the six spacious regions: this whole world
Skambha entered and pervaded.

36Homage to highest Brahma, him who, sprung from Fervour and from toil,
Filled all the worlds completely, who made Soma for himself alone.

37Why doth the Wind move ceaselessly? Why doth the spirit take no rest?
Why do the Waters, seeking truth, never at any time repose?

38Absorbed in Fervour, is the mighty Being, in the world's centre, on the waters' surface.
To him the Deities, one and all betake them. So stand the tree-trunk with the branches round it.

39Who out of many, tell me, is that Skambha.
To whom the Deities with hands, with feet, and voice, and ear, and eye.
Present unmeasured tribute in the measured hall of sacrifice?

40Darkness is chased away from him: he is exempt from all distress.
In him are all the lights, the three abiding in Prajápati.

41He verily who knows the Reed of Gold that stands amid the flood, is the mysterious Lord of Life.

42Singly the two young Maids of different colours approach the six-pegged warp in turns and weave it.
The one draws out the threads, the other lays them: they break them not, they reach no end of labour.

43Of these two, dancing round as 'twere, I cannot distinguish whether ranks before the other.
A Male weaves this web, a Male divides it: a Male hath stretched it to the cope of heaven

44These pegs have buttressed up the sky. The Sámans have turned them into shuttles for the weaving.

1Worship to loftiest Brahma, Lord of what hath been and what shall be,
To him who rules the universe, and heavenly light is all his own!

2Upheld by Skambha's power these two, the heaven and the earth, stand fast.
Skambha is all this world of life, whatever breathes or shuts an eye.

3Three generations have gone by and vanished and others near have entered into sunlight.
There stood on high he who metes out the region into green plants hath passed the Golden-coloured.

4One is the wheel, the tires are twelve in number, the naves are three What man hath understood it?
Three hundred spokes have thereupon been hammered, and sixty pins set firmly in their places.

5Discern thou this, O Savitar. Six are the twins, one singly born.
They claim relationship in that among them which is born alone.

6Though manifest, it lies concealed in the vast place they call the old:
Therein is firmly stationed all the moving, breathing universe.

7Up, eastward downward in the west, it rolleth, with countless elements, one-wheeled, single-fellied.
With half it hath begotten all creation. Where hath the other half become unnoticed?

8In front of these the five-horsed car moves onward: side-horses, harnessed with the others draw it.
No one hath seen its hither course untravelled; the height sees it more near, the depth more distant.

9The bowl with mouth inclined and bottom upward holds stored within it every form of glory.
Thereon together sit the Seven Rishis who have become this mighty One's protectors

10The Verse employed at opening and conclusion, the Verse employed in each and every portion;
That by which sacrifice proceedeth onward. I ask thee which is that of all the Verses.

11That which hath power of motion, that which flies, or stands, which breathes or breathes not, which, existing, shuts the eye
Wearing all forms that entity upholds the earth, and in its close consistence still is only one.

12The infinite to every side extended, the finite and the infinite around us,
These twain Heaven's Lord divides as he advances, knowing the past hereof and all the future

13Within the womb Prajápati is moving: he, though unseen, is born in sundry places.
He with one half engendered all creation. What sign is there to tell us of the other?

14All men behold him with the eye, but with the mind they know not him.
Holding aloft the water as a water-bearer in her jar.

15With the full vase he dwells afar, is left far off what time it fails,
A mighty Being in creation's centre: to him the rulers of the realms bring tribute.

16That, whence the Sun arises, that whither he goes to take his rest,
That verily I hold supreme: naught in the world surpasses it.

17Those who in recent times, midmost, or ancient, on all sides, greet the sage who knows the Veda,
One and all, verily discuss Áditya, the second Agni, and the threefold Hansa.

18This gold-hued Haiisa's wings, flying to heaven, spread o'er a thousand days' continued journey.
Supporting all the Gods upon his bosom, he goes his way beholding every creature.

19By truth he blazes up aloft by Brahma, he looks down below:
He breathes obliquely with his breath, he on whom what is highest rests.

20The sage who knows the kindling-sticks whence by attrition wealth is drawn,
Will comprehend what is most high, will know the mighty Bráhmana.

21Footless at first was he produced, footless he brought celestial light.
Four-footed grown, and meet for use, he seized each thing enjoyable.

22Useful will he become, and then will he consume great store of food.
The man who humbly worshippeth the eternal and victorious God.

23Him too they call eternal; he may become new again to-day.
Day and Night reproduce themselves, each from the form the other wears.

24A hundred, thousand, myriad, yea a hundred million stores of wealth that passes count are laid in him.
This wealth they kill as he looks on, and now this God shines bright therefrom.

25One is yet finer than a hair, one is not even visible. And hence the Deity who grasps with firmer hold is dear to me.

26This fair one is untouched by age, immortal in a mortal's house.
He for whom she was made lies low, and he who formed her hath grown old.

27Thou art a woman, and a man; thou art a damsel and a boy.
Grown old thou totterest with a staff, new-born thou lookest every way.

28Either the sire or son of these, the eldest or the youngest child.
As sole God dwelling in the mind, first born, he still is in the womb.

29Forth from the full he lifts the full, the full he sprinkles with the full.
Now also may we know the source from which the stream is sprinkled round.

30Brought forth in olden time, the everlasting, high over all that is was she, the Ancient.
The mighty Goddess of the Morn, refulgent with one eye, looketh round with one that winketh,

31Known by the name of Guardian Grace the Deity sits girt by Right.
The trees have taken from her hue, green-garlanded, their robe of green.

32When he is near she leaves him not, she sees him not though he is near.
Behold the wisdom of the God; he hath not died, he grows not old.

33Voices that never were before emitted speak as fitteth them.
Whither they go and speak, they say there is the mighty Bráhmana.

34I ask thee where the waters' flower by wondrous magic art was placed,
Thereon the Gods and men are set as spokes are fastened in the nave.

35ho gave command unto the wind that bloweth!
Who ranged the five united heavenly regions?
Who were the Gods who cared not for oblations!
Which of them brought the sacrificial waters?

36One God inhabiteth the earth we live on; another hath encompassed air's mid-region.
One, the Supporter, takes the heaven and bears it: some keeping watch guard all the quarters safely.

37The man who knows the drawn-out string on which these creatures all are strung,
The man who knows the thread's thread, he may know the mighty Bráhmana.

38I know the drawn-out string, the thread whereon these creatures all are strung.
I know the thread's thread also, thus I know the mighty Bráhmana.

39When Agni passed between the earth and heaven devouring with his flame the all-consumer,
Where dwelt afar the spouses of one husband, where at that moment, where was Mátarisvan?

40Into the floods had Mátarisvan entered, the deities had past into the waters.
There stood the mighty measurer of the region: into the verdant plants went Pavamána.

41Over the Gáyatri, above the immortal world he strode away.
Those who by Song discovered Song — where did the Unborn see that thing?

42Luller to rest, and gatherer-up of treasures, Savitar like a God whose laws are constant, hath stood like Indra in the war for riches.

43Men versed in sacred knowledge know that living Being that abides.
In the nine-portalled Lotus Flower, enclosed with triple bands and bonds.

44Desireless, firm, immortal, self-existent, contented with the essence, lacking nothing,
Free from the fear of Death is he who knoweth that Soul courageous, youthful, undecaying.

1Binding the mouths of those who threaten mischief, against my rivals cast this bolt of thunder,
Indra first gave the Hundredfold Oblation, welfare of him who worships, foe-destroying.

2Thy skin shall be the Altar; let thine hair become the Sacred Grass.
This cord hath held thee firmly: let this pressing-stone dance round on thee:

3The holy water be thy hair: let thy tongue make thee clean, O Cow.
Go, Hundredfold Oblation, made bright and adorable, to heaven.

4He who prepares the Hundredfold Oblation gains each wish thereby:
For all his ministering priests, contented, move as fitteth them.

5He rises up to heaven, ascends to younder third celestial height.
Whoever gives the Hundredfold Oblation with the central cake.

6That man completely wins those worlds, both of the heavens and of the earth,
Whoever pays the Hundredfold. Oblation with its golden light.

7Thine Immolators, Goddess! and the men who dress thee for the feast, all these will guard thee, Hundredfold Oblation!
Have no fear of them.

8The Vasus from the South will be thy guards, the Maruts from the North,
Ádityas from the West; o'ertake and pass the Agnishtoma, thou!

9The Gods, the Fathers, mortal men, Gandharvas, and Apsarases,
All these will be the guards: o'ertake and pass the Atirátra, thou!

10The man who pays the Hundredfold Oblation winneth all the worlds,
Air, heaven, and earth, Ádityas, and Maruts, and regions of the sky.

11Sprinkling down fatness, to the Gods will the beneficent Goddess go.
Harm not thy dresser, Cow! To heaven, O Hundredfold Oblation, speed!

12From all the Gods enthroned in heaven, in air, from those who dwell on earth,
Draw forth for evermore a stream of milk, of butter, and of mead.

13Let thy head, let thy mouth, let both thine ears, and those two jaws of thine.
Pour for the giver mingled curd, and flowing butter, milk, and mead.

14Let both thy lips, thy nostrils, both thy horns, and these two eyes of thine.
Pour for the giver, etc.

15Let heart and pericardium, let thy lungs with all the bronchial tubes, etc.

16Let liver, and let kidneys, let thine entrails, and the parts within, etc.

17Let rectum and omentum, let thy belly's hollows, and thy skin, etc.

18Let all thy marrow, every bone, let all thy flesh, and all thy blood, etc.

19Let both thy shoulders and thy hump, thy forelegs, and their lower parts, etc.

20Let neck and nape and shoulder-joints, thy ribs and inter-costal parts, etc.

21So let thy thighs and thy knee-bones, thy hinder quarters, and thy hips, etc.

22So let thy tail and all the hairs thereof, thine udder, and thy teats, etc.

23Let all thy legs, the refuse of thy feet, thy heelropes, and thy hooves.
Pour for the giver mingled curd, and flowing butter milk, and mead.

24Let all thy skin, Ṣataudaná! let every hair thou hast, O Cow,
Pour for the giver mingled curd, and flowing butter, milk, and mead.

25Sprinkled with molten butter, let the two meal-cakes be sport for thee.
Make them thy wings, O Goddess, and bear him who dresses thee to heaven.

26Each grain of rice in mortar or on pestle, all on the skin or in the winnowing-basket,
Whatever purifying Mátarisvan, the Wind, hath sifted, let the
Hotar Agni make of it an acceptable oblation.

27In the priest's hands I lay, in separate order, the sweet celestial Waters, dropping fatness.
As here I sprinkle them may all my wishes be granted unto me in perfect fulness. May we have ample wealth in our possession.

1Worship to thee springing to life, and worship unto thee when born!
Worship, O Cow, to thy tail-hair, and to thy hooves, and to thy form!

2The man who knows the Seven Floods, who knows the seven distances,
Who knows the head of sacrifice, he may receive the holy Cow.

3I know the Seven Water-floods, I know the seven distances,
I know the head of sacrifice, and Soma shining bright in her.

4Hitherward we invite with prayer the Cow who pours a thousand streams,
By whom the heaven, by whom the earth, by whom these waters are preserved.

5Upon her back there are a hundred keepers, a hundred metal bowls, a hundred milkers.
The Deities who breathe in her all separately know the Cow.

6Her foot is sacrifice, her milk libation, Svadhá her breath, Mahíluká the mighty:
To the God goes with prayer the Cow who hath Parjanya for her lord.

7Agni hath entered into thee; Soma, O Cow, hath entered thee.
Thine udder is Parjanya, O blest Cow; the lightnings are thy teats.

8Thou pourest out the Waters first, and corn-lands afterward, O Cow.
Thirdly thou pourest princely sway. O Cow, thou pourest food and milk.

9When, Holy One, thou camest nigh invited by the Ádityas' call,
Indra gave thee to drink, O cow, a thousand bowls of Soma juice.

10The Bull, what time thou followedst the way of Indra, summoned thee:
Thence the Fiend-slayer, angered, took thy water and thy milk away.

11O Cow, the milk which in his wrath the Lord of Riches took from thee,
That same the vault of heaven now preserveth in three reservoirs.

12The Cow Celestial received that Soma in three vessels, where
Atharvan, consecrated, sate upon the Sacred Grass of gold.

13Come hither with the Soma, come with every footed thing; the Cow
With Kalis and Gandharvas by her side hath stepped upon the sea.

14Come hither with the Wind, yea, come with every creature borne on wings.
Laden with holy verse and song the Cow hath leapt into the sea.

15Come with the Sun, come hitherward with every creature that hath eyes,
Bearing auspicious lights with her the Cow hath looked across the sea.

16When, covered round about with gold, thou stoodest there, O Holy One,
The ocean turned into a horse and mounted on thy back, O Cow.

17Then came and met the Blessed Ones, Deshtri, the Cow, and Svadhá, where
Atharvan, consecrated, sate upon the Sacred Grass of gold.

18The Kshatriya's mother is the Cow, thy mother, Svadhá! is the Cow.
Sacrifice is the weapon of the Cow: the thought arose from her.

19From Brahma's summit there went forth a drop that mounted up on high:
From that wast thou produced, O Cow, from that the Hotar sprang to life.

20Forth from thy mouth the Gáthás came, from thy neck's nape sprang strength, O Cow.
Sacrifice from thy flanks was born, and rays of sunlight from thy teats.

21From thy fore-quarters and thy thighs motion was generated, Cow!
Food from thine entrails was produced, and from thy belly came the plants.

22When into Váruna's belly thou hadst found a passage for thyself,
The Bráhman called thee thence, for he knew how to guide and lead thee forth.

23All trembled at the babe that came from him who brings not to the birth.
He hath produced her — thus they cried — He is a cow, and formed by spells, he hath become skin to her.

24He only joineth battle, yea, he who alone controlleth her.
Now sacrifices have become victories, and the Cow their eye.

25The Cow hath welcomed sacrifice: the Cow hath held the Sun in place.
Together with the prayer the mess of rice hath passed into the Cow.

26They call the Cow immortal life, pay homage to the Cow as Death.
She hath become this universe, Fathers, and Rishis, hath become the Gods, and men, and Asuras.

27The man who hath this knowledge may receive the Cow with welcoming.
So for the giver willingly doth perfect sacrifice pour milk.

28Within the mouth of Váruna three tongues are glittering with light.
That which shines midmost of them is this Cow most difficult to hold.

29Four-parted was the Cow's prolific humour.
One-fourth is Water, one-fourth life eternal, one-fourth is sacrifice, one-fourth are cattle.

30The Cow is Heaven, the Cow is Earth, the Cow is Vishnu, Lord of Life.
The Sádhyas and the Vasus have drunk the out-pourings of the Cow.

31When these, Sádhyas and Vasus, have drunk the out-pourings of the Cow,
They in the Bright One's dwelling-place pay adoration to her milk.

32For Soma some have milked her: some worship the fatness she hath poured.
They who have given a cow to him who hath this knowledge have gone up to the third region of the sky.

33He who hath given a Cow unto the Bráhmans winneth all the worlds.
For Right is firmly set in her devotion, and religious zeal.

34Both Gods and mortal men depend for life and being on the Cow.
She hath become this universe: all that the Sun surveys is she.