Atharva Veda: Book 11: Hymn 5: A glorification of the Brahmachgri or religious student

Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895] 1Stirring both worlds the Brahmachāri moveth: in him the deities are all one-minded. He hath established firmly earth and heaven: he satisfies his Master with his Fervour. 2After the Brahmachārī go the Fathers, the heavenly hosts, all Gods in separate order. After him too have the Gandharvas followed, thirty and three, three hundred, and six thousand. He satisfies all Gods with his devotion. 3The Master, welcoming his new disciple, into his bowels takes the Brahmachāri. Three nights he holds and bears him in this belly. When he is born, the Gods convene to see him. 4This log is earth, the second log is heaven: he fills the air's mid region with the fuel. With fuel, with his zone the Brahmachāri contents the worlds, with labour and with Fervour. 5The Brahmachāri, earlier born than Brahma, sprang up through Fervour, robed in hot libation. From him sprang heavenly lore, the highest Brahma, and all the Gods, with life that lasts for ever. p. 56 6Lighted by fuel goes the Brahmachāri, clad in black-buck skin, consecrate, long-bearded. Swiftly he goes from east to northern ocean, grasping the worlds, oft bringing them anear him. 7The Brahmachāri, fathering Prayer, world, Waters, Virāj, Prajā- pati, and Parameshthin, Lay as a germ within the Immortal's bosom, then became Indra and destroyed the demons. 8The Master fashioned both these cloudy regions, profound and spacious pair, the earth and heaven. The Brahmachāri guards them with his Fervour. In him the deities are all one-minded. 9The Brahmachāri first of all brought hither this ample earth as alms, and heaven above it. He makes these twain two fuel-logs, and worships, On these sup- ported rest all living creatures. 10Both treasuries of sacred lore lie hidden, one hitherward, beyond heaven's ridge the other. The Brahmachārī with his Fervour guards them. He makes this all his own as knowing Brahma. 11Hitherward one, hence from the earth the other, two Agnis meet between these cloudy regions. Close to these two firm rays of light are clinging. The Brahma- chāri enters them through Fervour. 12Thundering, shouting, ruddy-hued, and pallid, he bears along the earth great manly vigour. Down on the ridge of earth the Brahmachāri pours seed, and this gives life to heaven's four regions. 13The Brahmachāri stores with fuel Waters, and Fire, and Sun, and Moon, and Mātarisvan. The Water's lights move separate in the rain-cloud, Man, rain, and water are their molten butter. 14The Master is Death, Varuna, Soma, the plants of earth, and milk. The thunder-clouds were men of war. By these this heavenly light was brought. 15Varuna, made a Master, takes at home the butter to himself. Whatever with Prajāpati he sought, the Brahmachāri gave like Mitra from his loftiest soul. p. 57 16The pupil is the Master, yea, the pupil is Prajāpati. Prajāpati shines bright; the bright Virāj grew potent Indra's self. 17By Fervour and by self-restraint the King protects the realm he rules. By self-restraint the Master seeks a Brahmachari to instruct. 18By self-restraint a maiden finds a youth to be her wedded lord. By self-restraint the ox and horse seek to win fodder for them- selves. 19By Fervour and by self-restraint the Gods draye Death away from them, And Indra brought by self-restraint heaven's lustre to the deities. 20The plants, what is and what shall be, day, night, the tall tree of the wood, The year with seasons of the year, all from the Brahmachāri sprang. 21All creatures of the earth and heaven, tame animals and sylvan beasts, Winged and wingless creatures, from the Brahmachāri sprang to life, 22All children of Prajāpati have breath distinctly in themselves. The Brahma that is stored within the Brahmachāri guards them all. 23Piled up on high, but never yet ascended, that power of deities is brightly shining. From that sprang heavenly lore, the loftiest Brahma, and all the Gods with, life that lasts for ever. 24The Brahmachāri wields the radiant Brahma wherein all Gods are woven close together; Creating breath, inhaling and exhaling, voice, mind, and heart, Brahma and holy wisdom. 25Bestow on us the power of sight and hearing, glory and food and seed and blood and belly. 26These, standing on the flood, the Brahmachāri formed practising in sea his hot devotion. When he hath bathed, brown, yellow-hued, he shines exceedingly on earth.