Atharva Veda: Book 9: Hymn 9: Enunciation of mystico-theological and cosmological doctrine

Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895] 1The second brother of this lovely Hotar, hoary with eld, is the voracious Lightning. The third is he whose back is balmed with butter. Here have I seen the King with seven male children. 2The seven make the one-wheeled chariot ready: bearing seven names the single Courser draws it. The wheel, three-naved, is sound and undecaying: thereon these worlds of life are all dependent. 3The seven who on this seven-wheeled car are mounted have horses, seven in tale, who draw them onward. Seven sisters utter songs of praise together, in whom the Cows' seven names are held and treasured. 4Who hath beheld at birth the Primal Being, when She who hath no bone supports the bony? Where is the blood of earth, the life, the spirit? Who may ap- proach the man who knows, to ask it? 5Let him who knoweth presently declare it, this lovely Bird's securely-founded station. Forth from his head the Cows draw milk, and wearing his ves- ture with their foot have drunk the water. 6Unripe in mind, in spirit undiscerning, I ask of these the Gods' established places. High up above the yearling Calf the sages, to form a web, their own seven threads have woven. 7Here, ignorant, I ask the wise who know it, as one who knows not, for the sake of knowledge, What is That One, who in the Unborn's image hath stablished and fixed firm this world's six regions. 8The Mother gave the Sire his share of Order. With thought at first she wedded him in spirit. She, coyly loth, was filled with dew prolific. With adoration men approached to praise her. 9Yoked was the Mother to the boon Cow's car-pole; in humid folds of cloud the infant rested. Then the Calf lowed and looked upon the Mother, the Cow who wears all shapes in three directions. 10Bearing three mothers and three fathers, single he stood erect: they never made him weary. p. a383 On yonder heaven's high ridge they speak together in speech not known to all, themselves all-knowing. 11Upon the five-spoked wheel revolving ever, whereon all crea- tures rest and are dependent, The axle, heavy-laden, is not heated: the nave from ancient time remains unheated. 12They call him in the farther half of heaven the Sire five-footed, of twelve forms, wealthy in watery store. These others, later still, say that he takes his stand upon a seven- wheeled car, six-spoked, whose sight is clear. 13Formed with twelve spokes, too strong for age to weaken, this wheel of during Order rolls round heaven. Herein established, joined in pairs together, seven hundred sons and twenty stand, O Agni. 14The wheel revolves, unwasting, with its felly: ten draw it, yoked to the far-stretching car-pole. Girt by the region moves the eye of Sūrya, on whom dependent rest all living creatures. 15They 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. 16Of the co-born they call the seventh single-born: the six twin, pairs are called the Rishis, sons of Gods. Their good gifts sought of men are ranged in order due, and, various, form by form, move for their guiding Lord. 17Beneath the upper realm, above this lower, bearing her Calf at foot, the Cow hath risen. Whitherward, to what place hath she departed? Where doth she calve? Not in this herd of cattle. 18Who, that the father of this Calf discerneth beneath the upper realm, above the lower, Showing himself a sage, may here declare him? Whence hath the godlike spirit had its rising? 19Those that come hitherward they call departing, those that depart they call directed hither. Whatever ye have made, Indra and Soma! steeds draw, as' twere, yoked to the region's car-pole. 20Two Birds with fair wings, knit with bonds of friendship, in the same sheltering tree have found a refuge, p. a384 One of the twain eats the sweet Fig-tree's berry: the other, eat- ing not, regardeth only. 21The tree whereon the fine Birds eat the sweetness, where they all rest and procreate their offspring Upon the top, they say the fruit is luscious: none gaineth it who knoweth not the Father. 22Where the fine birds hymn ceaselessly their portion of life eter- nal, and the sacred synods. There is the Universe's Guard and Keeper who, wise hath entered into me the simple.