Atharva Veda · 461 of 724

HYMN V

A glorification of the Brahmachgri or religious student 1. Stirring both worlds the Brahmachāri moveth: in him the    deities are all one-minded.   He hath established firmly earth and heaven: he satisfies his   Master with his Fervour. 2. After the Brahmachārī go the Fathers, the heavenly hosts, all   Gods in separate order.   After him too have the Gandharvas followed, thirty and three,    three hundred, and six thousand. He satisfies all Gods with    his devotion. 3. The Master, welcoming his new disciple, into his bowels takes    the Brahmachāri.   Three nights he holds and bears him in this belly. When he is    born, the Gods convene to see him. 4. This log is earth, the second log is heaven: he fills the air’s mid    region with the fuel.   With fuel, with his zone the Brahmachāri contents the worlds,    with labour and with Fervour. 5. The Brahmachāri, earlier born than Brahma, sprang up through   Fervour, robed in hot libation.   From him sprang heavenly lore, the highest Brahma, and all the   Gods, with life that lasts for ever. 6. Lighted by fuel goes the Brahmachāri, clad in black-buck skin,    consecrate, long-bearded.   Swiftly he goes from east to northern ocean, grasping the worlds,    oft bringing them anear him. 7. The Brahmachāri, fathering Prayer, world, Waters, Virāj, Prajā-    pati, and Parameshthin,   Lay as a germ within the Immortal’s bosom, then became Indra    and destroyed the demons. 8. The Master fashioned both these cloudy regions, profound and    spacious pair, the earth and heaven.   The Brahmachāri guards them with his Fervour. In him the    deities are all one-minded. 9. The Brahmachāri first of all brought hither this ample earth as    alms, and heaven above it.   He makes these twain two fuel-logs, and worships, On these sup-    ported rest all living creatures. 10. Both treasuries of sacred lore lie hidden, one hitherward, beyond    heaven’s ridge the other.   The Brahmachārī with his Fervour guards them. He makes this    all his own as knowing Brahma. 11. Hitherward one, hence from the earth the other, two Agnis meet    between these cloudy regions.   Close to these two firm rays of light are clinging. The Brahma-    chāri enters them through Fervour. 12. Thundering, shouting, ruddy-hued, and pallid, he bears along the    earth great manly vigour.   Down on the ridge of earth the Brahmachāri pours seed, and    this gives life to heaven’s four regions. 13. The Brahmachāri stores with fuel Waters, and Fire, and Sun, and   Moon, and Mātarisvan.   The Water’s lights move separate in the rain-cloud, Man, rain,    and water are their molten butter. 14. The Master is Death, Varuna, Soma, the plants of earth, and    milk.   The thunder-clouds were men of war. By these this heavenly    light was brought. 15. Varuna, made a Master, takes at home the butter to himself.   Whatever with Prajāpati he sought, the Brahmachāri gave like   Mitra from his loftiest soul. 16. The pupil is the Master, yea, the pupil is Prajāpati.   Prajāpati shines bright; the bright Virāj grew potent Indra’s self. 17. By Fervour and by self-restraint the King protects the realm he    rules.   By self-restraint the Master seeks a Brahmachari to instruct. 18. By self-restraint a maiden finds a youth to be her wedded lord.   By self-restraint the ox and horse seek to win fodder for them-    selves. 19. By Fervour and by self-restraint the Gods draye Death away    from them,   And Indra brought by self-restraint heaven’s lustre to the deities. 20. The plants, what is and what shall be, day, night, the tall tree of    the wood,   The year with seasons of the year, all from the Brahmachāri    sprang. 21. All creatures of the earth and heaven, tame animals and sylvan    beasts,   Winged and wingless creatures, from the Brahmachāri sprang    to life, 22. All children of Prajāpati have breath distinctly in themselves.   The Brahma that is stored within the Brahmachāri guards them    all. 23. Piled up on high, but never yet ascended, that power of deities    is brightly shining.   From that sprang heavenly lore, the loftiest Brahma, and all the   Gods with, life that lasts for ever. 24. The Brahmachāri wields the radiant Brahma wherein all Gods    are woven close together;   Creating breath, inhaling and exhaling, voice, mind, and heart,   Brahma and holy wisdom. 25. Bestow on us the power of sight and hearing, glory and food and    seed and blood and belly. 26. These, standing on the flood, the Brahmachāri formed practising    in sea his hot devotion.   When he hath bathed, brown, yellow-hued, he shines exceedingly    on earth.