The last suukta in Rgveda "written" by Diirghatamas, I 164,
might be one of the coolest suuktas. It's 39th verse is the
famous Rco akSare...
asya vaamasya palitasya hotus tasya bhraataa madhyamo asty ashnaH |
tR^itiiyo bhraataa ghR^itapR^iShTho asyaatraapashyaM vishpatiM saptaputram
|| EN{1}{164}{01}
sapta yu~njanti ratham ekacakram eko ashvo vahati saptanaamaa |
trinaabhi cakram ajaram anarvaM yatremaa vishvaa bhuvanaadhi tasthuH ||
EN{1}{164}{02}
imaM ratham adhi ye sapta tasthuH saptacakraM sapta vahanty ashvaaH |
sapta svasaaro abhi saM navante yatra gavaaM nihitaa sapta naama ||
EN{1}{164}{03}
ko dadarsha prathamaM jaayamaanam asthanvantaM yad anasthaa bibharti |
bhuumyaa asur asR^ig aatmaa kva svit ko vidvaaMsam upa gaat praShTum etat ||
EN{1}{164}{04}
paakaH pR^icChaami manasaavijaanan devaanaam enaa nihitaa padaani |
vatse baShkaye .adhi sapta tantuun vi tatnire kavaya otavaa u ||
EN{1}{164}{05}
acikitvaa~n cikituShash cid atra kaviin pR^icChaami vidmane na vidvaan |
vi yas tastambha ShaL imaa rajaaMsy ajasya ruupe kim api svid ekam ||
EN{1}{164}{06}
iha braviitu ya iim a~Nga vedaasya vaamasya nihitam padaM veH |
shiirShNaH kShiiraM duhrate gaavo asya vavriM vasaanaa udakam padaapuH ||
EN{1}{164}{07}
maataa pitaram R^ita aa babhaaja dhiity agre manasaa saM hi jagme |
saa biibhatsur garbharasaa nividdhaa namasvanta id upavaakam iiyuH ||
EN{1}{164}{08}
yuktaa maataasiid dhuri dakShiNaayaa atiShThad garbho vR^ijaniiShv antaH |
amiimed vatso anu gaam apashyad vishvaruupyaM triShu yojaneShu ||
EN{1}{164}{09}
tisro maatR^Is triin pitR^In bibhrad eka uurdhvas tasthau nem ava glaapayanti
|
mantrayante divo amuShya pR^iShThe vishvavidaM vaacam avishvaminvaam ||
EN{1}{164}{10}
dvaadashaaraM nahi taj jaraaya varvarti cakram pari dyaam R^itasya |
aa putraa agne mithunaaso atra sapta shataani viMshatish ca tasthuH ||
EN{1}{164}{11}
pa~ncapaadam pitaraM dvaadashaakR^itiM diva aahuH pare ardhe puriiShiNam |
atheme anya upare vicakShaNaM saptacakre ShaLara aahur arpitam ||
EN{1}{164}{12}
pa~ncaare cakre parivartamaane tasminn aa tasthur bhuvanaani vishvaa |
tasya naakShas tapyate bhuuribhaaraH sanaad eva na shiiryate sanaabhiH ||
EN{1}{164}{13}
sanemi cakram ajaraM vi vaavR^ita uttaanaayaaM dasha yuktaa vahanti |
suuryasya cakShuu rajasaity aavR^itaM tasminn aarpitaa bhuvanaani vishvaa ||
EN{1}{164}{14}
saakaMjaanaaM saptatham aahur ekajaM ShaL id yamaa R^iShayo devajaa iti |
teShaam iShTaani vihitaani dhaamasha sthaatre rejante vikR^itaani ruupashaH
|| EN{1}{164}{15}
striyaH satiis taam+ u me puMsa aahuH pashyad akShaNvaan na vi cetad andhaH |
kavir yaH putraH sa iim aa ciketa yas taa vijaanaat sa pituSh pitaasat ||
EN{1}{164}{16}
avaH pareNa para enaavareNa padaa vatsam bibhratii gaur ud asthaat |
saa kadriicii kaM svid ardham paraagaat kva svit suute nahi yuuthe antaH ||
EN{1}{164}{17}
avaH pareNa pitaraM yo asyaanuveda para enaavareNa |
kaviiyamaanaH ka iha pra vocad devam manaH kuto adhi prajaatam ||
EN{1}{164}{18}
ye arvaa~ncas taam+ u paraaca aahur ye paraa~ncas taam+ u arvaaca aahuH |
indrash ca yaa cakrathuH soma taani dhuraa na yuktaa rajaso vahanti ||
EN{1}{164}{19}
dvaa suparNaa sayujaa sakhaayaa samaanaM vR^ikSham pari Shasvajaate |
tayor anyaH pippalaM svaadv atty anashnann anyo abhi caakashiiti ||
EN{1}{164}{20}
yatraa suparNaa amR^itasya bhaagam animeShaM vidathaabhisvaranti |
ino vishvasya bhuvanasya gopaaH sa maa dhiiraH paakam atraa vivesha ||
EN{1}{164}{21}
yasmin vR^ikShe madhvadaH suparNaa nivishante suvate caadhi vishve |
tasyed aahuH pippalaM svaadv agre tan non nashad yaH pitaraM na veda ||
EN{1}{164}{22}
yad gaayatre adhi gaayatram aahitaM traiShTubhaad vaa traiShTubhaM
niratakShata |
yad vaa jagaj jagaty aahitam padaM ya it tad vidus te amR^itatvam aanashuH
|| EN{1}{164}{23}
gaayatreNa prati mimiite arkam arkeNa saama traiShTubhena vaakam |
vaakena vaakaM dvipadaa catuShpadaakShareNa mimate sapta vaaNiiH ||
EN{1}{164}{24}
jagataa sindhuM divy astabhaayad rathaMtare suuryam pary apashyat |
gaayatrasya samidhas tisra aahus tato mahnaa pra ririce mahitvaa ||
EN{1}{164}{25}
upa hvaye sudughaaM dhenum etaaM suhasto godhug uta dohad enaam |
shreShThaM savaM savitaa saaviShan no .abhiiddho gharmas tad u Shu pra vocam
|| EN{1}{164}{26}
hi~NkR^iNvatii vasupatnii vasuunaaM vatsam icChantii manasaabhy aagaat |
duhaam ashvibhyaam payo aghnyeyaM saa vardhataam mahate saubhagaaya ||
EN{1}{164}{27}
gaur amiimed anu vatsam miShantam muurdhaanaM hi~N~N akR^iNon maatavaa u |
sR^ikvaaNaM gharmam abhi vaavashaanaa mimaati maayum payate payobhiH ||
EN{1}{164}{28}
ayaM sa shi~Nkte yena gaur abhiivR^itaa mimaati maayuM dhvasanaav adhi
shritaa |
saa cittibhir ni hi cakaara martyaM vidyud bhavantii prati vavrim auhata ||
EN{1}{164}{29}
anac Chaye turagaatu jiivam ejad dhruvam madhya aa pastyaanaam |
jiivo mR^itasya carati svadhaabhir amartyo martyenaa sayoniH ||
EN{1}{164}{30}
apashyaM gopaam anipadyamaanam aa ca paraa ca pathibhish carantam |
sa sadhriiciiH sa viShuuciir vasaana aa variivarti bhuvaneShv antaH ||
EN{1}{164}{31}
ya iiM cakaara na so asya veda ya iiM dadarsha hirug in nu tasmaat |
sa maatur yonaa pariviito antar bahuprajaa nirR^itim aa vivesha ||
EN{1}{164}{32}
dyaur me pitaa janitaa naabhir atra bandhur me maataa pR^ithivii mahiiyam |
uttaanayosh camvoKp r yonir antar atraa pitaa duhitur garbham aadhaat ||
EN{1}{164}{33}
pR^icChaami tvaa param antam pR^ithivyaaH pR^icChaami yatra bhuvanasya
naabhiH |
pR^icChaami tvaa vR^iShNo ashvasya retaH pR^icChaami vaacaH paramaM vyoma ||
EN{1}{164}{34}
iyaM vediH paro antaH pR^ithivyaa ayaM yaj~no bhuvanasya naabhiH |
ayaM somo vR^iShNo ashvasya reto brahmaayaM vaacaH paramaM vyoma ||
EN{1}{164}{35}
saptaardhagarbhaa bhuvanasya reto viShNos tiShThanti pradishaa vidharmaNi |
te dhiitibhir manasaa te vipashcitaH paribhuvaH pari bhavanti vishvataH ||
EN{1}{164}{36}
na vi jaanaami yad ivedam asmi niNyaH saMnaddho manasaa caraami |
yadaa maagan prathamajaa R^itasyaad id vaaco ashnuve bhaagam asyaaH ||
EN{1}{164}{37}
apaa~N praa~N eti svadhayaa gR^ibhiito .amartyo martyenaa sayoniH |
taa shashvantaa viShuuciinaa viyantaa ny akp nyaM cikyur na ni cikyur anyam
|| EN{1}{164}{38}
***R^ico akShare parame vyoman yasmin devaa adhi vishve niSheduH |
yas tan na veda kim R^icaa kariShyati ya it tad vidus ta ime sam aasate ||
EN{1}{164}{39}***
suuyavasaad bhagavatii hi bhuuyaa atho vayam bhagavantaH syaama |
addhi tR^iNam aghnye vishvadaaniim piba shuddham udakam aacarantii ||
EN{1}{164}{40}
gauriir mimaaya salilaani takShaty ekapadii dvipadii saa catuShpadii |
aShTaapadii navapadii babhuuvuShii sahasraakSharaa parame vyoman ||
EN{1}{164}{41}
tasyaaH samudraa adhi vi kSharanti tena jiivanti pradishash catasraH |
tataH kSharaty akSharaM tad vishvam upa jiivati || EN{1}{164}{42}
shakamayaM dhuumam aaraad apashyaM viShuuvataa para enaavareNa |
ukShaaNam pR^ishnim apacanta viiraas taani dharmaaNi prathamaany aasan ||
EN{1}{164}{43}
trayaH keshina R^ituthaa vi cakShate saMvatsare vapata eka eShaam |
vishvam eko abhi caShTe shaciibhir dhraajir ekasya dadR^ishe na ruupam ||
EN{1}{164}{44}
catvaari vaak parimitaa padaani taani vidur braahmaNaa ye maniiShiNaH |
guhaa triiNi nihitaa ne~Ngayanti turiiyaM vaaco manuShyaa vadanti ||
EN{1}{164}{45}
indram mitraM varuNam agnim aahur atho divyaH sa suparNo garutmaan |
ekaM sad vipraa bahudhaa vadanty agniM yamam maatarishvaanam aahuH ||
EN{1}{164}{46}
kR^iShNaM niyaanaM harayaH suparNaa apo vasaanaa divam ut patanti |
ta aavavR^itran sadanaad R^itasyaad id ghR^itena pR^ithivii vy udyate ||
EN{1}{164}{47}
dvaadasha pradhayash cakram ekaM triiNi nabhyaani ka u tac ciketa |
tasmin saakaM trishataa na sha~Nkavo .arpitaaH ShaShTir na calaacalaasaH ||
EN{1}{164}{48}
yas te stanaH shashayo yo mayobhuur yena vishvaa puShyasi vaaryaaNi |
yo ratnadhaa vasuvid yaH sudatraH sarasvati tam iha dhaatave kaH ||
EN{1}{164}{49}
yaj~nena yaj~nam ayajanta devaas taani dharmaaNi prathamaany aasan |
te ha naakam mahimaanaH sacanta yatra puurve saadhyaaH santi devaaH ||
EN{1}{164}{50}
samaanam etad udakam uc caity ava caahabhiH |
bhuumim parjanyaa jinvanti divaM jinvanty agnayaH || EN{1}{164}{51}
divyaM suparNaM vaayasam bR^ihantam apaaM garbhaM darshatam oShadhiinaam |
abhiipato vR^iShTibhis tarpayantaM sarasvantam avase johaviimi ||
EN{1}{164}{52}
Griffith's translation:
HYMN CLXIV. ViÅvedevas.
1. OF this benignant Priest, with eld grey-coloured, the brother midmost of the
three is lightning.
The third is he whose back with oil is sprinkled. Here I behold the Chief with
seven male children.
2 Seven to the one-wheeled chariot yoke the Courser; bearing seven names the
single Courser draws it.
Three-naved the wheel is, sound and undecaying, whereon are resting all these
worlds of being.
3 The seven who on the seven-wheeled car are mounted have horses, seven in
tale, who draw them onward.
Seven Sisters utter songs of praise together, in whom the names of the seven
Cows are treasured.
4 Who hath beheld him as he sprang to being, seen how the boneless One supports
the bony?
Where is the blood of earth, the life, the spirit? Who may approach the man who
knows, to ask it?
5 Unripe in mind, in spirit undiscerning, I ask of these the Godsâ
established places;
For up above the yearling Calf the sages, to form a web, their own seven
threads have woven.
6 I ask, unknowing, those who know, the sages, as one all ignorant for sake of
knowledge,
What was that ONE who in the Unborn's image hath stablished and fixed firm
these worlds' six regions.
7 Let him who knoweth presently declare it, this lovely Bird's securely founded
station.
Forth from his head the Cows draw milk, and, wearing his vesture, with their
foot have drunk the water.
8 The Mother gave the Sire his share of Order: with thought, at first, she
wedded him in spirit.
She, the coy Dame, was filled with dew prolific: with adoration men approached
to praise her.
9 Yoked was the Mother to the boon Cow's car-pole: in the dank rows of cloud
the Infant rested.
Then the Calf lowed, and looked upon the Mother, the Cow who wears all shapes
in three directions.
10 Bearing three Mothers and three Fathers, single he stood erect: they never
make him weary.
There on the pitch of heaven they speak together in speech all-knowing but not
all-impelling.
11 Formed with twelve spokes, by length of time, unweakened, rolls round the
heaven this wheel of during Order.
Herein established, joined in pairs together, seven hundred Sons and twenty
stand, O Agni.
12 They call him in the farther half of heaven the Sire five-footed, of twelve
forms, wealthy in watery store.
These others say that he, God with far-seeing eyes, is mounted on the lower
seven-wheeled, six-spoked car.
13 Upon this five-spoked wheel revolving ever all living creatures rest and are
dependent.
Its axle, heavy-laden, is not heated: the nave from ancient time remains
unbroken.
14 The wheel revolves, unwasting, with its felly: ten draw it, yoked to the
far-stretching car-pole.
The Sun's eye moves encompassed by the region: on him dependent rest all living
creatures.
15 Of the co-born they call the seventh single-born; the six twin pairs are
called á¹á¹£is, Children of Gods.
Their good gifts sought of men are ranged in order due, and various in their
form move for the Lord who guides.
16 They told me these were males, though truly females: he who hath eyes sees
this, the blind discerns not.
The son who is a sage hath comprehended: who knows this rightly is his father's
father.
17 Beneath the upper realm, above this lower, bearing her calf at foot the Cow
hath risen.
Witherward, to what place hath she departed? Where calves she? Not amid this
herd of cattle.
18 Who, that the father of this Calf discerneth beneath the upper realm, above
the lower,
Showing himself a sage, may here declare it? Whence hath the Godlike spirit had
its rising?
19 Those that come hitherward they call departing, those that depart they call
directed hither.
And what so ye have made, Indra and Soma, steeds bear as âtwere yoked to the
region's car-pole.
20 Two Birds with fair wings, knit with bonds of friendship, in the same
sheltering tree have found a refuge.
One of the twain eats the sweet Fig-tree's fruitage; the other eating not
regardeth only.
21 Where those fine Birds hymn ceaselessly their portion of life eternal, and
the sacred synods,
There is the Universe's mighty Keeper, who, wise, hath entered into me the
simple.
22 The, tree whereon the fine Birds eat the sweetness, where they all rest and
procreate their offspring,â"
Upon its top they say the fig is luscious: none gaineth it who knoweth not the
Father.
23 How on the GÄyatrÄ« the GÄyatrÄ« was based, how from the Triá¹£á¹up they
fashioned the Triá¹£á¹up forth,
How on the JagatÄ« was based the JagatÄ«,â"they who know this have won
themselves immortal life.
24 With GÄyatrÄ« he measures out the praise-song, SÄma with praise-song,
triplet with the Triá¹£á¹up.
The triplet with the two or four-foot measure, and with the syllable they form
seven metres.
25 With Jagatī the flood in heaven he stablished, and saw the Sun in the
Rathantara SÄman.
GÄyatrÄ« hath, they say, three brands for kindling: hence it excels in majesty
and vigour.
26 I invocate the milch-cow good for milking so that the milker, deft of hand,
may drain her.
May Savitar give goodliest stimulation. The caldron is made hot; I will
proclaim it.
27 She, lady of all treasure, is come hither yearning in spirit for her calf
and lowing.
May this cow yield her milk for both the AÅvins, and may she prosper to our
high advantage.
28 The cow hath lowed after her blinking youngling; she licks his forehead, as
she lows, to form it.
His mouth she fondly calls to her warm udder, and suckles him with milk while
gently lowing.
29 He also snorts, by whom encompassed round the Cow laws as she clings unto
the shedder of the rain.
She with her shrilling cries hath humbled mortal man, and, turned to lightning,
hath stripped off her covering robe.
30 That which hath breath and speed and life and motion lies firmly stablished
in the midst of houses.
Living, by offerings to the Dead he moveth Immortal One, the brother of the
mortal.
31 I saw the Herdsman, him who never stumbles, approaching by his pathways and
departing.
He, clothed with gathered and diffusive splendour, within the worlds
continually travels.
32 He who hath made him cloth not comprehend him: from him who saw him surely
is he hidden.
He, yet enveloped in his Mother's bosom, source of much life, hath sunk into
destruction.
33 Dyaus is my Father, my begetter: kinship is here. This great earth is my kin
and Mother.
Between the wide-spread world-halves is the birth-place: the Father laid the
Daughter's germ within it.
34 I ask thee of the earth's extremest limit, where is the centre of the world,
I ask thee.
I ask thee of the Stallion's seed prolific, I ask of highest heaven where
Speech abideth.
35 This altar is the earth's extremest limit; this sacrifice of ours is the
world's centre.
The Stallion's seed prolific is the Soma; this Brahman highest heaven where
Speech abideth.
36 Seven germs unripened yet are heaven's prolific seed: their functions they
maintain by Viá¹£á¹u's ordinance.
Endued with wisdom through intelligence and thought, they compass us about
present on every side.
37 What thing I truly am I know not clearly: mysterious, fettered in my mind I
wander.
When the first-born of holy Law approached me, then of this speech I first
obtain a portion.
38 Back, forward goes he, grasped by strength inherent, the Immortal born the
brother of the mortal
Ceaseless they move in opposite directions: men mark the one, and fail to mark
the other.
39 Upon what syllable of holy praise-song, as twere their highest heaven, the
Gods repose them,â"
Who knows not this, what will he do with praise-song? But they who know it well
sit here assembled.
40 Fortunate mayst thou be with goodly pasture, and may we also be exceeding
wealthy.
Feed on the grass, O Cow, at every season, and coming hitherward drink limpid
water.
41 Forming the water-floods, the buffalo hath lowed, one-footed or two-footed
or four-footed, she,
Who hath become eight-footed or hath got nine feet, the thousand-syllabled in
the sublimest heaven.
42 From her descend in streams the seas of water; thereby the world's four
regions have their being,
Thence flows the imperishable flood and thence the universe hath life.
43 I saw from far away the smoke of fuel with spires that rose on high oâer
that beneath it.
The Mighty Men have dressed the spotted bullock. These were the customs in the
days aforetime,
44 Three with long tresses show in ordered season. One of them sheareth when
the year is ended.
One with his powers the universe regardeth: Of one, the sweep is seen, but his
figure.
45 Speech hath been measured out in four divisions, the Brahmans who have
understanding know them.
Three kept in close concealment cause no motion; of speech, men speak only the
fourth division.
46 They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuá¹a, Agni, and he is heavenly nobly-winged
GarutmÄn.
To what is One, sages give many a title they call it Agni, Yama, MÄtariÅvan.
47 Dark the descent: the birds are golden-coloured; up to the heaven they fly
robed in the waters.
Again descend they from the seat of Order, and all the earth is moistened with
their fatness.
48 Twelve are the fellies, and the wheel is single; three are the naves. What
man hath understood it?
Therein are set together spokes three hundred and sixty, which in nowise can be
loosened.
49 That breast of thine exhaustless, spring of pleasure, wherewith thou feedest
all things that are choicest,
Wealth-giver, treasure. finder, free bestower,â"bring that, SarasvatÄ«, that
we may drain it.
50 By means of sacrifice the Gods accomplished their sacrifice: these were the
earliest ordinances.
These Mighty Ones attained the height of heaven, there where the SÄdhyas, Gods
of old, are dwelling.
51 Uniform, with the passing days, this water mounts and fails again.
The tempest-clouds give life to earth, and fires re-animate the heaven.
52 The Bird Celestial, vast with noble pinion, the lovely germ of plants, the
germ of waters,
Him who delighteth us with rain in season, SarasvÄn I invoke that he may help
us.
Next: HYMN CLXV. Indra. Maruts.
