X, 168. To Vâta

MANDALA X, HYMN 168.

ASHTAKA VIII, ADHYÂYA 8, VARGA 26.

To Vâta.

1. Now for the greatness of the chariot of Vâta 1! Its roar goes crashing and thundering. It moves touching the sky, and creating red sheens 2, or it goes scattering the dust of the earth.

2. Afterwards there rise the gusts of Vâta 1, they go towards him, like women to a feast 2. The god goes with them on the same chariot, he, the king of the whole of this world.

3. When he moves on his paths along the sky, he rests not even a single day 1; the friend of the waters, the first-born, the holy, where was he born, whence did he spring?

4. The breath of the gods, the germ 1 of the world, that god moves wherever he listeth; his roars indeed are heard, not his form—let us offer sacrifice to that Vâta!

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NOTES.

Ascribed to Anila Vâtâyana, and addressed to Vâyu, here called Vâta. The metre is Trishtubh. This hymn does not occur in the other Vedas. See Muir, Sanskrit Texts, V, p. 145; Geldner and Kaegi, p. 95.

Verse 1.

Note 1. For this use of the accusative, see Pischel, Ved. Stud. p. 13.

Note 2. Arunâni is explained by Geldner, Ved. Stud. p. 274, as the reddish colours of the lightning.

Verse 2.

Note 1. Vishthâ means kind or variety. Anu seems to refer to ratha, which I take as the subject of the whole of the first verse.

Note 2. 'Sie gehn mit einander zum Tanz,' Geldner and Kaegi.

Verse 3.

Note 1. Geldner and Kaegi propose aha for ahah.

Verse 4.

Note 1. Vâta seems to be called the garbha of the world, in the sense of being its source or life.