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Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at sacred-texts.com


p. 124

HYMN IV

A glorification of the Sun as the only Deity

1Down looking, on the ridge of sky Savitar goes to highest
   heaven.
2To misty cloud filled with his rays Mahendra goes encompassed
   round.
3Creator and Ordainer, he is Vāyu, he is lifted cloud.
4Rudra, and Mahādeva, he is Aryaman and Varuna.
5Agni is he, and Siirya, he is verily Mahāyama.
6Calves, joined, stand close beside him, ten in number, with one
   single head.
7From west to east they bend their way: when he mounts up he
   shines afar.
8His are these banded Maruts: they move gathered close like
   porters' thongs. p. 125
9To misty cloud filled with his rays Mahendra goes encompassed
   round,
10His are the nine supports, the casks set in nine several places
   here.
11He keeppeth watch o'er creatures, all that breatheth and that
   breatheth not.
12This conquering might hath entered him, He is the sole the
   simple One, the One alone.
13In him these Deities become simple and One
14Renown and glory, and force and cloud, the Brāhman's
   splendour, and food, and nourishment,
15To him who knoweth this God as simple and one.
16Neither second, nor third, nor yet fourth is he called;
17He is called neither fifth, nor sixth, nor yet seventh
18He is called neither eighth, nor ninth, nor yet tenth.
19He watcheth over creatures, all that breatheth and that breatheth
   not.
20This conquering might hath entered him. He is the sole, the
   simple One, the One alone,
21In him these Deities become simple and One
22Devotion and Religious Fervour, and renown and glory, and
   force and cloud, the Brāhman's splendour, and food and
   nourishment.
23And past and future, and Faith and lustre, and heaven and sweet
   oblation,
24To him who knoweth this God as simple and One.
25He, verily, is death, he is immortality, he is the monster, he is
   the fiend.
26He is Rudra, winner of wealth in the giving of wealth; in uttering
   homage he is the sacrificial exclamation Vashat duly employed.
27All sorcerers on earth obey with reverence his high behest.
28All constellations yonder, with the Moon, are subject to his will.
29He was brought forth from Day: and Day derives his origin.
   from him.
30He was brought forth from Night: and Night derives her origins
   from him.
31He was produced from Air: and Air derives its origin from him.
32He was produced from Wind: and Wind derives his origin from.
   him. p. 126
33From Heaven was he produced: and Heaven derives his origin
   from him.
34He sprang from regions of the sky: from him the heavenly
   regions sprang.
35He is the offspring of the Earth: Earth hath her origin from
   him.
36He was produced from fire: and fire derives its origin from
   him.
37He is the waters' offspring: and from him the waters were
   produced.
38From holy verses was he born: from him the holy verses
   sprang.
39He is the son of sacrifice: and sacrifice was born from him.
40Sacrifice, sacrifice's Lord, he was made head of sacrifice.
41He thundereth, he lighteneth, he casteth down the thunder-stone
42For misery or happiness, for mortal man or Asura.
43Whether thou formest growing plants, or sendest rain for
   happiness, or hast increased the race of man,
44Such is thy greatness, liberal Lord! A hundred bodily forms are
   thine.
45Millions are in thy million, or thou art a billion in thyself.
46Stronger than immortality is Indra: stronger thou than deaths;
47Yea, stronger than Malignity art thou, O Indra, Lord of Might.
  Calling thee Master, Sovran Chief, we pay our reverence to
   thee.
48Worship to thee whom all behold! Regard me, thou whom all
   regard,
49With food, and fame, and vigour, with the splendour of a
  Brāhman's rank
50We pay thee reverence calling thee strength, power, and might,
   and conquering force.
51We pay thee reverence calling thee red power, the silvery
   expanse.
52We pay thee reverence calling thee vast, wide, the good, the
   universe.
53We pay thee reverence, calling thee extension, compass, width,
   and world.
54We pay thee reverence, calling thee rich, opulent in this and that,
   with wealth unceasing and secure p. 127
55Worship to thee whom all behold! Regard me, thou whom all
   regard.
56With food, and fame, and vigour, with the splendour of a
  Brāhman's rank.

p. 128


Next: Hymn 1: On the Bridal of Sūryā, marriage ceremonies in general