Library·Atharvaveda Saṃhitā (Śaunaka)·10·10.10
नमस् ते जायमानायै जाताया उत ते नमः । बालेभ्यः शफेभ्यो रूपायाघ्न्ये ते नमः ॥१॥
namas te jāyamānāyai jātāyā uta te namaḥ | bālebhyaḥ śaphebhyo rūpāyāghnye te namaḥ ||1||
Homage to thee while being born, homage also to thee when born; to thy tail-tuft, hoofs, form, O inviolable one, be homage.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
यो विद्यात् सप्त प्रवतः सप्त विद्यात् परावतः । शिरो यज्ञस्य यो विद्यात् स वशां प्रति गृह्णीयात् ॥२॥
yo vidyāt sapta pravataḥ sapta vidyāt parāvataḥ | śiro yajñasya yo vidyāt sa vaśāṃ prati gṛhṇīyāt ||2||
Whoso may know the seven advances (? pravát), [and] may know the seven distances, whoso may know the head of the sacrifice—he may accept the cow (vaçā́).
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
वेदाहं सप्त प्रवतः सप्त वेद परावतः । शिरो यज्ञस्याहं वेद सोमं चास्यां विचक्षणम् ॥३॥
vedāhaṃ sapta pravataḥ sapta veda parāvataḥ | śiro yajñasyāhaṃ veda somaṃ cāsyāṃ vicakṣaṇam ||3||
I know the seven advances, I know the seven distances; I know the head of the sacrifice, and the outlooking soma in her.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
यया द्यौर् यया पृथिवी ययापो गुपिता इमाः । वशां सहस्रधारां ब्रह्मणाछावदामसि ॥४॥
yayā dyaur yayā pṛthivī yayāpo gupitā imāḥ | vaśāṃ sahasradhārāṃ brahmaṇāchāvadāmasi ||4||
By whom the sky, by whom the earth, by whom these waters are guarded—the cow, of a thousand streams (-dhā́rā), we address with worship (bráhman).
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
शतं कंसाः शतं दोग्धारः शतं गोप्तारो अधि पृष्ठे अस्याः । ये देवास् तस्यां प्राणन्ति ते वशां विदुर् एकधा ॥५॥
śataṃ kaṃsāḥ śataṃ dogdhāraḥ śataṃ goptāro adhi pṛṣṭhe asyāḥ | ye devās tasyāṃ prāṇanti te vaśāṃ vidur ekadhā ||5||
A hundred metal dishes (kaṅsá), a hundred milkers, a hundred guardians, upon the back of her; the gods that breathe in her, they know the cow singly.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
यज्ञपदीराक्षीरा स्वधाप्राणा महीलुका । वशा पर्जन्यपत्नी देवां अप्य् एति ब्रह्मणा ॥६॥
yajñapadīrākṣīrā svadhāprāṇā mahīlukā | vaśā parjanyapatnī devāṃ apy eti brahmaṇā ||6||
Having the sacrifice for feet, cheer (írā-) for milk, svadhā́ for breath, being mahī́lukā, the cow, having Parjanya for spouse, goes unto the gods with worship (bráhman).
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
अनु त्वाग्निः प्राविशद् अनु सोमो वशे त्वा । ऊधस् ते भद्रे पर्जन्यो विद्युतस् ते स्तना वशे ॥७॥
anu tvāgniḥ prāviśad anu somo vaśe tvā | ūdhas te bhadre parjanyo vidyutas te stanā vaśe ||7||
After thee entered Agni, after thee Soma, O cow; thine udder, O excellent one, is Parjanya; the lightnings are thy teats, O cow.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
अपस् त्वं धुक्षे प्रथमा उर्वरा अपरा वशे । तृतीयं राष्ट्रं धुक्षे ऽन्नं क्षीरं वशे त्वम् ॥८॥
apas tvaṃ dhukṣe prathamā urvarā aparā vaśe | tṛtīyaṃ rāṣṭraṃ dhukṣe 'nnaṃ kṣīraṃ vaśe tvam ||8||
The waters thou yieldest (duh) first, the cultivated fields after, O cow; thou yieldest kingdom third, food, milk, O cow.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
यद् आदित्यैर् हूयमानोपातिष्ठ ऋतवरि । इन्द्रः सहस्रं पात्रान्त् सोमं त्वापाययद् वशे ॥९॥
yad ādityair hūyamānopātiṣṭha ṛtavari | indraḥ sahasraṃ pātrānt somaṃ tvāpāyayad vaśe ||9||
When, called by the Ādityas, thou didst approach, O righteous one, Indra made thee drink a thousand vessels (pā́tra) of soma, O cow.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
यद् अनूचीन्द्रम् ऐर् आत् त्वा ऋषभो ऽह्वयत् । तस्मात् ते वृत्रहा पयः क्षीरं क्रुद्धो ऽहरद् वशे ॥१०॥ ३३
yad anūcīndram air āt tvā ṛṣabho 'hvayat | tasmāt te vṛtrahā payaḥ kṣīraṃ kruddho 'harad vaśe ||10|| 33
When thou didst go following (anváñc) Indra, then the bull called thee; therefore the Vṛitra-slayer, angry, took thy milk (páyas), milk (kṣīrá), O cow.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
यत् ते क्रुद्धो धनपतिर् आ क्षीरम् अहरद् वशे । इदं तद् अद्य नाकस् त्रिषु पात्रेषु रक्षति ॥११॥
yat te kruddho dhanapatir ā kṣīram aharad vaśe | idaṃ tad adya nākas triṣu pātreṣu rakṣati ||11||
When the lord of riches, angry, took thy milk, O cow, then this the firmament (nā́ka) now keeps (rakṣ) in three vessels.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
त्रिषु पात्रेषु तं सोमम् आ देव्य् अहरद् वशा । अथर्वा यत्र दीक्षितो बर्हिष्य् आस्त हिरण्यये ॥१२॥
triṣu pātreṣu taṃ somam ā devy aharad vaśā | atharvā yatra dīkṣito barhiṣy āsta hiraṇyaye ||12||
In three vessels the heavenly cow took that soma, where Atharvan, consecrated, sat on a golden barhís.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
सं हि सोमेनागत सम् उ सर्वेण पद्वता । वशा समुद्रम् अध्य् अष्ठद् गन्धर्वैः कलिभिः सह ॥१३॥
saṃ hi somenāgata sam u sarveṇa padvatā | vaśā samudram adhy aṣṭhad gandharvaiḥ kalibhiḥ saha ||13||
Since she has united (sam-gam) with soma, and with all that has feet, the cow has stood upon the ocean, together with the Gandharvas, the kalís.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
सं हि वातेनागत सम् उ सर्वैः पतत्रिभिः । वशा समुद्रे प्रानृत्यद् ऋचः सामानि बिभ्रती ॥१४॥
saṃ hi vātenāgata sam u sarvaiḥ patatribhiḥ | vaśā samudre prānṛtyad ṛcaḥ sāmāni bibhratī ||14||
Since she has united with the wind, and with all winged ones, the cow danced forth in the ocean, bearing the verses, the chants.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
सं हि सूर्येणागत सम् उ सर्वेण चक्षुषा । वशा समुद्रम् अत्य् अख्यद् भद्रा ज्योतींषि बिभ्रती ॥१५॥
saṃ hi sūryeṇāgata sam u sarveṇa cakṣuṣā | vaśā samudram aty akhyad bhadrā jyotīṃṣi bibhratī ||15||
Since she has united with the sun, and with all sight, the cow has overlooked the ocean, bearing excellent lights.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
अभीवृता हिरण्येन यद् अतिष्ठ ऋतावरि । अश्वः समुद्रो भूत्वाध्य् अस्कन्दद् वशे त्वा ॥१६॥
abhīvṛtā hiraṇyena yad atiṣṭha ṛtāvari | aśvaḥ samudro bhūtvādhy askandad vaśe tvā ||16||
As, O righteous one, thou didst stand decked (abhi-vṛ) with gold, the ocean, having become a horse, mounted (adhi-skand) thee, O cow.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
तद् भद्राः सम् अगछन्त वशा देष्ट्र्य् अथो स्वधा । अथर्वा यत्र दीक्षितो बर्हिष्य् आस्त हिरण्यये ॥१७॥
tad bhadrāḥ sam agachanta vaśā deṣṭry atho svadhā | atharvā yatra dīkṣito barhiṣy āsta hiraṇyaye ||17||
There the excellent ones united, the cow, the directress, also the svadhā́, where Atharvan, consecrated, sat on a golden barhís.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
वशा माता राजन्यस्य वशा माता स्वधे तव । वशाया यज्ञ आयुधं ततश् चित्तम् अजायत ॥१८॥
vaśā mātā rājanyasya vaśā mātā svadhe tava | vaśāyā yajña āyudhaṃ tataś cittam ajāyata ||18||
The cow is mother of the noble (rājanyà), the cow thy mother, O svadhā́; from the cow was born the weapon; from it was born intent (cittá).
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
ऊर्ध्वो बिन्दुर् उद् अचरद् ब्रह्मणः ककुदाद् अधि । ततस् त्वं जज्ञिषे वशे ततो होताजायत ॥१९॥
ūrdhvo bindur ud acarad brahmaṇaḥ kakudād adhi | tatas tvaṃ jajñiṣe vaśe tato hotājāyata ||19||
The globule (bindú) went (car) up aloft, out of the summit (kákuda) of the bráhman; thence wast thou born, O cow; thence was the invoker born.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
आस्नस् ते गाथा अभवन्न् उष्णिहाभ्यो बलं वशे । पाजस्याज् जज्ञे यज्ञ स्तनेभ्यो रश्मयस् तव ॥२०॥ ३४
āsnas te gāthā abhavann uṣṇihābhyo balaṃ vaśe | pājasyāj jajñe yajña stanebhyo raśmayas tava ||20|| 34
From thy mouth came (bhū) the songs (gā́thā), from thy nape-bones, O cow, [came] force; from thy belly (? pājasyà) was born the sacrifice, from thy teats the rays.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
ईर्माभ्याम् अयनं जातं सक्थिभ्यां च वशे तव । आन्त्रेभ्यो जज्ञिरे अत्रा उदराद् अधि वीरुधः ॥२१॥
īrmābhyām ayanaṃ jātaṃ sakthibhyāṃ ca vaśe tava | āntrebhyo jajñire atrā udarād adhi vīrudhaḥ ||21||
From thy (two) fore-legs (īrmá) motion (áyana) was born, and from thy thighs (sákthi), O cow; from thine entrails were born eaters (attrá), out from thy belly (udára) the plants.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
यद् उदरं वरुणस्यानुप्राविशथा वशे । ततस् त्वा ब्रह्मोद् अह्वयत् स हि नेत्रम् अवेत् तव ॥२२॥
yad udaraṃ varuṇasyānuprāviśathā vaśe | tatas tvā brahmod ahvayat sa hi netram avet tava ||22||
When (yát), O cow, thou didst enter along the belly of Varuṇa, thence the priest (brahmán) called thee up; for he knew thy guidance (netrá).
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
सर्वे गर्भाद् अवेपन्त जायमानाद् असूस्वः । ससूव हि ताम् आहु वशेति ब्रह्मभिः क्ळ्प्तः स ह्य् अस्या बन्धुः ॥२३॥
sarve garbhād avepanta jāyamānād asūsvaḥ | sasūva hi tām āhu vaśeti brahmabhiḥ kḷptaḥ sa hy asyā bandhuḥ ||23||
All trembled at the embryo, while being born, of her who gives not birth (? asūsū́); for "the cow hath given birth," they say of her; shaped (m.) by charms (bráhman); for it is her connection.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
युध एकः सं सृजति यो अस्या एक इद् वशी । तरांसि यज्ञा अभवन् तरसां चक्षुर् अभवद् वशा ॥२४॥
yudha ekaḥ saṃ sṛjati yo asyā eka id vaśī | tarāṃsi yajñā abhavan tarasāṃ cakṣur abhavad vaśā ||24||
One combines (sam-sṛj) the fighters who alone is in control (vaçín) of her; the sacrifices became energies (? táras); the cow became the eye of energies.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
वशा यज्ञं प्रत्य् अगृह्णाद् वशा सूर्यम् अधारयत् । वशायाम् अन्तर् अविशद् ओदनो ब्रह्मणा सह ॥२५॥
vaśā yajñaṃ praty agṛhṇād vaśā sūryam adhārayat | vaśāyām antar aviśad odano brahmaṇā saha ||25||
The cow accepted the sacrifice; the cow sustained the sun; within the cow entered the rice-dish together with the priest (brahmán).
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
वशाम् एवामृतम् आहुर् वशां मृत्युम् उपासते । वशेदं सर्वम् अभवद् देवा मनुष्या असुराः पितर ऋषयः ॥२६॥
vaśām evāmṛtam āhur vaśāṃ mṛtyum upāsate | vaśedaṃ sarvam abhavad devā manuṣyā asurāḥ pitara ṛṣayaḥ ||26||
The cow they call immortality (amṛ́ta); the cow they worship (upa-ās) as death; the cow became this all—gods, men, Asuras, Fathers, seers.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
य एवं विद्यात् स वशां प्रति गृह्णीयात् । तथा हि यज्ञः सर्वपाद् दुहे दात्रे ऽनपस्फुरन् ॥२७॥
ya evaṃ vidyāt sa vaśāṃ prati gṛhṇīyāt | tathā hi yajñaḥ sarvapād duhe dātre 'napasphuran ||27||
Whoso knoweth thus, he may accept the cow; for so doth the all-footed sacrifice yield milk (duh) to the giver, unresisting.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
तिस्रो जिह्वा वरुणस्यान्तर् दीद्यत्य् आसनि । तासां या मध्ये राजति सा वशा दुष्प्रतिग्रहा ॥२८॥
tisro jihvā varuṇasyāntar dīdyaty āsani | tāsāṃ yā madhye rājati sā vaśā duṣpratigrahā ||28||
Three tongues glisten (dīdī) within the mouth of Varuṇa; of these, the one that shines (rāj) in the middle is the cow, hard of acceptance.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
चतुर्धा रेतो अभवद् वशायाः । आपस् तुरीयम् अमृतं तुरीयं यज्ञस् तुरीयं पशवस् तुरीयम् ॥२९॥
caturdhā reto abhavad vaśāyāḥ | āpas turīyam amṛtaṃ turīyaṃ yajñas turīyaṃ paśavas turīyam ||29||
The seed of the cow was quartered: the waters a quarter, the amṛ́ta a quarter, the sacrifice a quarter, the domestic animals a quarter.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
वशा द्यौर् वशा पृथिवी वशा विष्णुः प्रजापतिः । वशाया दुग्धम् अपिबन्त् साध्या वसवश् च ये ॥३०॥
vaśā dyaur vaśā pṛthivī vaśā viṣṇuḥ prajāpatiḥ | vaśāyā dugdham apibant sādhyā vasavaś ca ye ||30||
The cow [is] the sky, the cow the earth, the cow Vishṇu, Prajāpati; the yield (dugdhá) of the cow did the Perfectibles (sādhyá) and they who are Vasus drink.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
वशाया दुग्धं पीत्वा साध्या वसवश् च ये । ते वै ब्रध्नस्य विष्टपि पयो अस्या उपासते ॥३१॥
vaśāyā dugdhaṃ pītvā sādhyā vasavaś ca ye | te vai bradhnasya viṣṭapi payo asyā upāsate ||31||
Having drunk the yield of the cow, the Perfectibles and they who are Vasus—they verily worship the milk (páyas) of her at the summit of the ruddy one.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
सोमम् एनाम् एके दुह्रे घृतम् एक उपासते । य एवं विदुषे वशां ददुस् ते गतास् त्रिदिवं दिवः ॥३२॥
somam enām eke duhre ghṛtam eka upāsate | ya evaṃ viduṣe vaśāṃ dadus te gatās tridivaṃ divaḥ ||32||
Some milk her for soma; some worship ghee; they who gave the cow to the one knowing thus are gone to the triple heaven of the heaven.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो वशां दत्त्वा सर्वांल् लोकान्त् सम् अश्नुते । ऋतं ह्य् अस्याम् आर्पितम् अपि ब्रह्माथो तपः ॥३३॥
brāhmaṇebhyo vaśāṃ dattvā sarvāṃl lokānt sam aśnute | ṛtaṃ hy asyām ārpitam api brahmātho tapaḥ ||33||
Having given the cow to the Brahmans, one attains all worlds; for righteousness is set in her, also bráhman, likewise penance.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)
वशां देवा उप जीवन्ति वशां मनुष्या उत । वशेदं सर्वम् अभवद् यावत् सूर्यो विपश्यति ॥३४॥ ३५
vaśāṃ devā upa jīvanti vaśāṃ manuṣyā uta | vaśedaṃ sarvam abhavad yāvat sūryo vipaśyati ||34|| 35
On the cow the gods subsist; on the cow, men also; the cow became this all, so far as the sun looks abroad.
Translated by William Dwight Whitney (1905)