Speculations on the Supreme Being and Cosmogonical and theological subjects

Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at sacred-texts.com

p. 27

HYMN VIII

Speculations on the Supreme Being and Cosmogonical and theological subjects

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. p. 28
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?
13In 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 Prajāpati 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. p. 29
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 Āditya, 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 behol-
   ding 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
  Brāhmana.
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. p. 30
  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 Brāh-
   mana.
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.
35Who gave command unto the wind that blowet!
  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 encom-
   passed air's mid-region.
  One, the Supporter, takes the heaven and bears it: some keep-
   ing watch guard all the quarters safely.
37The man who knows the drawn-out string on which these crea-
   tures all are strung,
  The man who knows the thread's thread, he may know the
   mighty Brāhmana. p. 31
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 Brah-
   ma na.
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 Mātarisvan?
  -40. Into the floods had Mātarisvan entered, the deities had past in-
   to the waters.
  There stood the mighty measurer of the region: into the ver-
   dant plants went Pavamāna.
41Over the Gāyatri, 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 es-
   sence, lacking nothing,
  Free from the fear of Death is he who knoweth that Soul cou-
   rageous, youthful, undecaying.

p. 32