Atharva Veda · 464 of 724

HYMN VIII

On the origin of some Gods and the creation of man 1. When Manyu brought his consort home forth from Sankalpa’s    dwelling-place,   Who were the wooers of the bride, who was the chief who    courted her? 2. Fervour and Action were the two, in depths of the great billowy    sea?   These were the wooers of the bride; Brahma the chief who    courted her. 3. Ten Gods before the Gods were born together in the ancient    time.   Whoso may know them face to face may now pronounce the    mighty word. 4. Inbreath and outbreath, eye and ear, decay and freedom from.    decay, Spiration upward and diffused, voice, mind have brought us    wish and plan. 5. As yet the Seasons were unborn, and Dilator and Prajāpati,   Both Asvins, Indra, Agni. Whom then did they worship as    supreme? 6. Fervour and Action were the two, in depths of the great billowy    sea;   Fervour sprang up from Action: this they served and worship-    ped as supreme. 7. He may account himself well versed in ancient time who knows    by name.   The earth that was before this earth, which only wisest Sages    know. 8. From whom did Indra spring? from whom sprang Soma?    whence was Agni born?   From whom did Tvashtar spring to life? and whence is Dilator’s    origin? 9. Indra from Indra, Soma from Soma, Agni from Agni sprang   Tvashtar from Tvashtar was produced, Dilator was Dhātar’s    origin. 10. Those Gods who were of old, the Ten begotten earlier than the   Gods,   What world do they inhabit since they gave the world unto    their sons? 11. When he had brought together hair, sinew and bone, marrow    and flesh.   And to the body added feet, then to what world did he depart? 12. Whence, from what region did he bring the hair, the sinews, and    the bones,   Marrow and limbs, and joints, and flesh? Who was the bringer,    and from whence? 13. Casters, those Gods were called who brought together all the    elements:   When they had fused the mortal man complete, they entered    into him. 14. The thighs, the knee-bones, and the feet, the head, the face,   Land both the hands,   The ribs, the nipples, and the sides—what I ishi hath constructed    that? 15. Head, both the hands, and face, and tongue, and neck, and inter-    coastal parts,   All this, investing it with skins, Mahi conjoined with bond and    tie. 16. What time the might body lay firmly compact with tie and bond,   Who gave its colour to the form, the hue wherewith it shines    to-day? 17. All Deities had lent their aid: of this a noble Dame took note,   Tsā, the Consort of Command. She gave its colour to the form. 18. When Tvashtar, Tvashtar’s loftier Sire, had bored it out and    hollowed it.   Gods made the mortal their abode, and entered and possessed    the man. 19. Sleep, specially, Sloth, Nirriti, and deities whose name is Sin,   Baldness, old age, and hoary hairs within the body found their    way. 20. Theft, evil-doing, and deceit, truth, sacrifice, exalted fame,   Strength, princely power, and energy entered the body as a    home. 21. Prosperity and poverty, kindnesses and malignities,   Hunger and thirst of every kind entered the body as a home. 22. Reproaches, freedom from reproach, all blamable, all blameless    deeds,   Bounty, belief, and unbelief entered the body as a home. 23. All knowledge and all ignorance, each other thing that one may    learn,   Entered the body, prayer, and hymns, and songs, and sacrificial    texts. 24. Enjoyments, pleasures, and delights, gladness, and rapturous    ecstasies.   Laughter and merriment and dance entered the body as a home. 25. Discourse and conversation, and the shrill-resounding cries of    woe,   All entered in, the motives and the purposes combined there-    with. 26. Inbreath and outbreath, ear and eye, decay and freedom from    decay.   Breath upward and diffused, voice, mind, these quickly with the    body move, p. 67 27. All earnest wishes, all commands, directions, and admonish-    ments.   Reflections, all deliberate plans entered the body as a home. 28. They laid in the abhorrent frame those waters hidden, bright,    and thick,   Which in the bowels spring from blood, from mourning or from    hasty toil. 29. Fuel they turned to bone, and then they set light waters in the    frame.   The molten butter they made seed: then the Gods entered into    man. 30. All Waters, all the Deities. Virāj with Brahma at her side:   Brahma into the body passed: Prajāpati is Lord thereof. 31. The Sun and Wind formed, separate, the eye and vital breath of    man.   His other person have the Gods bestowed on Agni as a gift. 32. Therefore whoever knoweth man regardeth him as Brāhman’s    self:   For all the Deities abide in him as cattle in their pen. 33. At his first death he goeth hence, asunder, in three separate    parts.   He goeth yonder with one part, with one he goeth yonder:    here he sinketh downward with a third. 34. In the primeval waters cold the body is deposited.   In this there is the power of growth: from this is power of    growth declared.