Atharva Veda 10.8 · Vedas – Griffith · Verses Across
Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 10.8Speculations on the Supreme Being and Cosmogonical and theological subjects
18
Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 10.8
Speculations on the Supreme Being and Cosmogonical and theological subjects
GriffithEnglish
Worship 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!
Upheld 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.
Three 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.
One 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.
Discern thou this, O Savitar. Six are the twins, one singly born. They claim relationship in that among them which is born alone.
Though manifest, it lies concealed in the vast place they call the old: Therein is firmly stationed all the moving, breathing universe.
Up, 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? 13 In 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.
The 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
The 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.
That 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.
The 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
Within 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?
All 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.
With 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.
That, whence the Sun arises, that whither he goes to take his rest, That verily I hold supreme: naught in the world surpasses it.
Those 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.
This 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.
By truth he blazes up aloft by Brahma, he looks down below: He breathes obliquely with his breath, he on whom what is. highest rests.
The sage who knows the kindling-sticks whence by attrition wealth is drawn, Will comprehend what is most high, will know the mighty Brāhmana.
Footless at first was he produced, footless he brought celestial light. Four-footed grown, and meet for use, he seized each thing enjoyable.
Useful will he become, and then will he consume great store of food The man who humbly worshippeth the eternal and victorious God.
Him too they call eternal; he may become new again to-day. Day and Night reproduce themselves, each from the form the other wears.
A 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.
One is yet finer than a hair, one is not even visible. And hence the Deity who grasps with firmer hold is dear to me.
This 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.
Thou 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.
Either 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.
Forth 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.
Brought 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,
Known 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.
When 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.
Voices that never were before emitted speak as fitteth them. Whither they go and speak, they say there is the mighty Brāh- mana.
I 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.
Who 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?
One 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.
The 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 Brāhmana.
I 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 Brahma na.
When 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 verdant plants went Pavamāna.
Over the Gāyatri, above the immortal world he strode away. Those who by Song discovered Song—where did the Unborn see that thing?
Luller to rest, and gatherer-up of treasures, Savitar like a God whose laws are constant, hath stood like Indra in the war for riches.
Men versed in sacred knowledge know that living Being that abides. In the nine-portalled Lotus Flower, enclosed with triple bands and bonds.
Desireless, 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.
