Atharva Veda · 597 of 724

HYMN XVI

HYMN XVI 1. Like birds who keep their watch, plashing in water, like the loud    voices of the thundering rain-cloud,   Like merry streamlets bursting from the mountain thus to   Brihaspati our hymns have sounded. 2. The son of Angiras, meeting the cattle, as Bhaga, brought in   Aryaman among us.   As Friend of men he decks the wife and husband. As for the    race, Brihaspati, nerve our coursers. 3. Brihaspati, having won them from the mountains, strewed down,    like barley out of winnowing-baskets,   The vigorous, wandering cows who aid the pious, desired of all,    of blameless form, well-coloured. 4. As the Sun dews with meath the seat of Order, and casts a flam-    ing meteor down from heaven,   So from the rock Brihaspati forced the cattle, and cleft the    earth’s skin as it were with water. 5. Forth from mid-air with light he draye the darkness, as the gale    blows a lily from the river.   Like the wind grasping at the cloud of Vala, Brihaspati gathered    to himself the cattle. 6. Brihaspati, when he with fiery lightnings cleft through the    weapon of reviling Vala,   Consumed him as tongues eat what teeth have compassed: he    threw the prisons of the red cows open. 7. That secret name borne by the lowing cattle within the cave   Brihaspati discovered,   And draye, himself, the bright kine from the mountain, like a    bird’s young after the eggs’ disclosure. 8. He looked around on rock-imprisoned sweetness as one who    eyes a fish in scanty water.   Brihaspati, cleaving through with varied clamour, brought it    forth like a bowl from out the timber. 9. He found the light of heaven, and fire, and Morning: with lucid    rays he forced apart the darkness.   As from a joint, Brihaspati took the marrow of Vala as he    gloried in his cattle. 10. As trees for foliage robbed by winter, Vala mourned for the    cows Brihaspati had taken.   He did a deed ne’er done, ne’er to be equalled, whereby the sun    and moon ascend alternate. 11. Like a dark steed adorned with pearl, the Fathers have decorat-    ed heaven with constellations.   They set the light in day, in night the darkness, Brihaspati cleft    the rock and found the cattle. 12. This homage have we offered to the Cloud-God who thunders    out to many in succession.   May this Brihaspati vouchsafe us fulness of life with kine and    horses, men, and heroes.