Atharva Veda 11.3 · Vedas – Griffith · Verses Across
Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 11.3A glorification of the Odana or oblation of boiled rice
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Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 11.3
A glorification of the Odana or oblation of boiled rice
GriffithEnglish
1. Of that Odana Brihaspati is the head, Brahma the mouth.
2. Heaven and Earth are the ears, the Sun and Moon are the eyes, the seven Rishis are the vital airs inhaled and exhaled.
Vision is the pestle, Desire the mortar.
Diti is the winnowing basket, Aditi is she who holds it, Vāta is the sifter.
Horses are the grains, oxen the winnowed ricegrains, gnats the husks.
Kabru is the husked grain, the rain cloud is the reed.
Grey iron is its flesh, copper its blood.
Tin is its ashes, gold its colour, the blue lotus flower its scent.
The threshing-floor is its dish, the wooden swords its shoulders, the car-shafts its backbones.
Collar-bones are its entrails, straps its intestines.
This earth, verily becomes the jar, and heaven the cover of the Odana as it is cooking.
Furrows are its ribs, sandy soils the undigested contents of its stomach.
Law is its water for the hands and family custom its aspersion.
The jar covered with the Rich has been solemnly directed by the priestly office.
Received by the Brāhman, it has been carried round.
The Brihat is, the stirring-spoon, the Rathantara the ladle.
The Seasons are the dressers, the Groups of Seasons kindle the fire.
The caldron flames round the oblation ( charu) whose mouth consists of five openings.
The sacrificial word, all worlds are to be won with Odana.
Whereon in order rest the three, the ocean, and the heaven, and earth.
Within the residue whereof the Gods arranged six eightieth parts—
I ask thee, of this Odana what is the mighty magnitude.
He who may know the magnitude of the Odana.
Would say, Not small, nor devoid of moistening sauce; not this, nor anything whatever.
He would not declare it to be greater than the giver imagines it to be.
The theologians say, Thou hast eaten the averted Odana and the Odana turned hither-ward.
Thou hast eaten the Odana and the Odana will eat thee.
Thou hast eaten this averted; thy inward breath will leave thee; so he said to this one.
Thou hast eaten this turned hitherward; thy downward breath will leave thee; so he said to this one.
I indeed have not eaten the Odana, nor has the Odana eaten me.
The Odana has just eaten the Odana.
And thence he said to this one, Thou hast eaten this with a different head from that with which the ancient Rishis ate: thy offspring, reckoning from the eldest, will die. I have eaten it neither turned downward, nor turned away, nor turned hitherward. With Brihaspati as head: with him I have eaten, with him have I come to it. Now this Odana is complete with all members, joints, and body. Complete, verily, with all his members, joints, and body is he who possess this knowledge.
And thence he said to him, Thou hast eaten this with other ears than those with which the ancient Rishis ate it. Thou wilt be deaf. I have eaten it neither, etc. (as in verse 32). With Heaven and Earth as ears, with these I have eaten it, with these I have come to it. Now this Odana, etc. (as in 32).
And thence he said to him. Thou hast eaten this with other eyes... thou wilt be blind. With Sun and Moon, etc.
And thence, etc... with other month. Thy offspring will die, reckoning from the head... With Brahma as mouth.
And thence, etc.... with other tongue... Thy tongue will die... With the tongue of Agni.
And thence, etc... With other teeth... Thy teeth will fall out... With the Seasons as teeth.
And thence, etc.... with other vital airs.... Thy vital airs will leave thee... With the Seven Rishis as the vital airs.
And thence, etc.... with other expanse... Consumption will destroy thee... With the firmament as expanse.
And thence, etc.... with other back.... Lightning will slay thee... With the heaven as back.
And thence, etc.... with other breast... Thou wilt fail in agriculture.... With the earth as breast.
And thence, etc.... with other belly... colic will destroy thee... With truth as belly.
And thence, etc.... with other abdomen... Thou wilt die in the water... With the sea as abdomen.
And thence, etc.... with other thighs... Thy thigh will perish... With Mitra-Varuna as thighs.
And thence, etc.... with other knees... Thou wilt become a sick man... With the knees of Tvashtar.
And thence, etc.... with other feet... Thou wilt become a wanderer... With the feet of the Asvins.
And thence, etc... with other fore-parts of the feet... A serpent will kill thee... With the fore-parts of Savitar's feet.
And thence, etc.... with other hands... The Brāhmana (divine power) will kill thee... With the hands of Right.
And thence, etc.... with other basis... Without standing-ground and resting-place thou wilt die... Having taken my stand on truth. With this I ate it, with this I came to it. Now this Odana is complete with all members, joints, and body. Complete, verily, with all his members, joints, and body is he who possesses this knowledge.
