Atharva Veda · 475 of 724
HYMN IV
A glorification of the Sun as the only Deity 1. Down looking, on the ridge of sky Savitar goes to highest heaven. 2. To misty cloud filled with his rays Mahendra goes encompassed round. 3. Creator and Ordainer, he is Vāyu, he is lifted cloud. 4. Rudra, and Mahādeva, he is Aryaman and Varuna. 5. Agni is he, and Siirya, he is verily Mahāyama. 6. Calves, joined, stand close beside him, ten in number, with one single head. 7. From west to east they bend their way: when he mounts up he shines afar. 8. His are these banded Maruts: they move gathered close like porters’ thongs. 9. To misty cloud filled with his rays Mahendra goes encompassed round, 10. His are the nine supports, the casks set in nine several places here. 11. He keeppeth watch o’er creatures, all that breatheth and that breatheth not. 12. This conquering might hath entered him, He is the sole the simple One, the One alone. 13. In him these Deities become simple and One 14. Renown and glory, and force and cloud, the Brāhman’s splendour, and food, and nourishment, 15. To him who knoweth this God as simple and one. 16. Neither second, nor third, nor yet fourth is he called; 17. He is called neither fifth, nor sixth, nor yet seventh 18. He is called neither eighth, nor ninth, nor yet tenth. 19. He watcheth over creatures, all that breatheth and that breatheth not. 20. This conquering might hath entered him. He is the sole, the simple One, the One alone, 21. In him these Deities become simple and One 22. Devotion and Religious Fervour, and renown and glory, and force and cloud, the Brāhman’s splendour, and food and nourishment. 23. And past and future, and Faith and lustre, and heaven and sweet oblation, 24. To him who knoweth this God as simple and One. 25. He, verily, is death, he is immortality, he is the monster, he is the fiend. 26. He is Rudra, winner of wealth in the giving of wealth; in uttering homage he is the sacrificial exclamation Vashat duly employed. 27. All sorcerers on earth obey with reverence his high behest. 28. All constellations yonder, with the Moon, are subject to his will. 29. He was brought forth from Day: and Day derives his origin. from him. 30. He was brought forth from Night: and Night derives her origins from him. 31. He was produced from Air: and Air derives its origin from him. 32. He was produced from Wind: and Wind derives his origin from. him. 33. From Heaven was he produced: and Heaven derives his origin from him. 34. He sprang from regions of the sky: from him the heavenly regions sprang. 35. He is the offspring of the Earth: Earth hath her origin from him. 36. He was produced from fire: and fire derives its origin from him. 37. He is the waters’ offspring: and from him the waters were produced. 38. From holy verses was he born: from him the holy verses sprang. 39. He is the son of sacrifice: and sacrifice was born from him. 40. Sacrifice, sacrifice’s Lord, he was made head of sacrifice. 41. He thundereth, he lighteneth, he casteth down the thunder-stone 42. For misery or happiness, for mortal man or Asura. 43. Whether thou formest growing plants, or sendest rain for happiness, or hast increased the race of man, 44. Such is thy greatness, liberal Lord! A hundred bodily forms are thine. 45. Millions are in thy million, or thou art a billion in thyself. 46. Stronger than immortality is Indra: stronger thou than deaths; 47. Yea, stronger than Malignity art thou, O Indra, Lord of Might. Calling thee Master, Sovran Chief, we pay our reverence to thee. 48. Worship to thee whom all behold! Regard me, thou whom all regard, 49. With food, and fame, and vigour, with the splendour of a Brāhman’s rank 50. We pay thee reverence calling thee strength, power, and might, and conquering force. 51. We pay thee reverence calling thee red power, the silvery expanse. 52. We pay thee reverence calling thee vast, wide, the good, the universe. 53. We pay thee reverence, calling thee extension, compass, width, and world. 54. We pay thee reverence, calling thee rich, opulent in this and that, with wealth unceasing and secure 55. Worship to thee whom all behold! Regard me, thou whom all regard. 56. With food, and fame, and vigour, with the splendour of a Brāhman’s rank.
p. 128