Hinduism Index
Book 20 Index
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Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at
1Like birds who keep their watch, plashing in water, like the loud
voices of the thundering rain-cloud,
Like merry streamlets bursting from the mountain thus to
Brihaspati our hymns have sounded.
2The son of Angiras, meeting the cattle, as Bhaga, brought in
Aryaman among us.
As Friend of men he decks the wife and husband. As for the
race, Brihaspati, nerve our coursers.
3Brihaspati, having won them from the mountains, strewed down,
like barley out of winnowing-baskets,
The vigorous, wandering cows who aid the pious, desired of all,
of blameless form, well-coloured.
4As the Sun dews with meath the seat of Order, and casts a flam-
ing meteor down from heaven,
So from the rock Brihaspati forced the cattle, and cleft the
earth's skin as it were with water.
5Forth from mid-air with light he draye the darkness, as the gale
blows a lily from the river.
Like the wind grasping at the cloud of Vala, Brihaspati gathered
to himself the cattle.
6Brihaspati, when he with fiery lightnings cleft through the
weapon of reviling Vala,
Consumed him as tongues eat what teeth have compassed: he
threw the prisons of the red cows open.
7That secret name borne by the lowing cattle within the cave
Brihaspati discovered,
And draye, himself, the bright kine from the mountain, like a
bird's young after the eggs' disclosure.
8He looked around on rock-imprisoned sweetness as one who
eyes a fish in scanty water.
Brihaspati, cleaving through with varied clamour, brought it
forth like a bowl from out the timber. p. 276
9He found the light of heaven, and fire, and Morning: with lucid
rays he forced apart the darkness.
As from a joint, Brihaspati took the marrow of Vala as he
gloried in his cattle.
10As trees for foliage robbed by winter, Vala mourned for the
cows Brihaspati had taken.
He did a deed ne'er done, ne'er to be equalled, whereby the sun
and moon ascend alternate.
11Like a dark steed adorned with pearl, the Fathers have decorat-
ed heaven with constellations.
They set the light in day, in night the darkness, Brihaspati cleft
the rock and found the cattle.
12This homage have we offered to the Cloud-God who thunders
out to many in succession.
May this Brihaspati vouchsafe us fulness of life with kine and
horses, men, and heroes.