Atharvaveda Samhita — Kanda 9 — Chapter 10

AV 9 10.1

यद् गायत्रे अधि गायत्रम् आहितं त्रैष्टुभं वा त्रैष्टुभान् निरतक्षत । यद् वा जगज् जगत्य् आहितं पदं य इत् तद् विदुस् ते अमृतत्वम् आनुशुः

yad gāyatre adhi gāyatram āhitaṃ traiṣṭubhaṃ vā traiṣṭubhān niratakṣata | yad vā jagaj jagaty āhitaṃ padaṃ ya it tad vidus te amṛtatvam ānuśuḥ

The gāyatra measure that is set upon the gāyatrī, or the traiṣṭubha which they fashioned out of the triṣṭubh, or the jagat verse-line set in the jagatī — those who know that have attained immortality.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.2

गायत्रेण प्रति मिमीते अर्कम् अर्केण साम त्रैष्टुभेन वाकम् । वाकेन वाकं द्विपदा चतुष्पदाक्षरेण मिमते सप्त वाणीः

gāyatreṇa prati mimīte arkam arkeṇa sāma traiṣṭubhena vākam | vākena vākaṃ dvipadā catuṣpadākṣareṇa mimate sapta vāṇīḥ

With the gāyatrī he measures out the arka; with the arka, the sāman; with the traiṣṭubha, the recitation. With the recitation of two lines and of four lines (he measures) the recitation; with the syllable they measure out the seven voices.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.3

जगता सिन्धुं दिव्य् अस्कभायद् रथंतरे सूर्यं पर्य् अपश्यत् । गायत्रस्य समिधस् तिस्र आहुस् ततो मह्ना प्र रिरिचे महित्वा

jagatā sindhuṃ divy askabhāyad rathaṃtare sūryaṃ pary apaśyat | gāyatrasya samidhas tisra āhus tato mahnā pra ririce mahitvā

With the jagatī he propped the stream in heaven; in the rathaṃtara he surveyed the sun. They say the kindling-sticks of the gāyatra are three; from that he surpassed (all) in greatness, in might.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.4

उप ह्वये सुदुघां धेनुम् एतां सुहस्तो गोधुग् उत दोहद् एनाम् । श्रेष्ठं सवं सविता साविषन् नो ऽभीद्धो घर्मस् तद् उ षु प्र वोचत्

upa hvaye sudughāṃ dhenum etāṃ suhasto godhug uta dohad enām | śreṣṭhaṃ savaṃ savitā sāviṣan no 'bhīddho gharmas tad u ṣu pra vocat

I call this well-milking cow near, and let the deft-handed cow-milker milk her. May Savitṛ set in motion for us the best impulsion; the gharma is kindled — let him proclaim that well.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.5

हिङ्कृण्वती वसुपत्नी वसूनां वत्सम् इछन्ती मनसाभ्यागात् । दुहाम् अश्विभ्यां पयो अघ्न्येयं सा वर्धतां महते सौभगाय

hiṅkṛṇvatī vasupatnī vasūnāṃ vatsam ichantī manasābhyāgāt | duhām aśvibhyāṃ payo aghnyeyaṃ sā vardhatāṃ mahate saubhagāya

Making the sound 'hiṅ', mistress of goods, she has come seeking her calf with her mind. Let this inviolable cow yield milk for the two Aśvins; let her thrive for great good fortune.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.6

गौर् अमीमेद् अभि वत्सं मिषन्तं मूर्धानं हिङ्ङ् अकृणोन् मातवा उ । सृक्वाणं घर्मम् अभि वावशाना मिमाति मायुं पयते पयोभिः

gaur amīmed abhi vatsaṃ miṣantaṃ mūrdhānaṃ hiṅṅ akṛṇon mātavā u | sṛkvāṇaṃ gharmam abhi vāvaśānā mimāti māyuṃ payate payobhiḥ

The cow lowed toward her blinking calf; she made 'hiṅ' with her head, so as to low. Bellowing toward the hot (drink) at her jaws, she utters her cry and swells with streams of milk.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.7

अयं स शिङ्क्ते येन गौर् अभिवृता मिमाति मयुं ध्वसनाव् अधि श्रिता । सा चित्तिभिर् नि हि चकार मर्त्यान् विद्युद् भवन्ती प्रति वव्रिम् औहत

ayaṃ sa śiṅkte yena gaur abhivṛtā mimāti mayuṃ dhvasanāv adhi śritā | sā cittibhir ni hi cakāra martyān vidyud bhavantī prati vavrim auhata

This is he who whistles, by whom the cow, enveloped, lows her cry, resting upon the blast (of wind?). By her acts of insight she has brought mortals low; becoming lightning, she has thrust away her covering.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.8

अनच् छये तुरगातु जीवम् एजद् ध्रुवं मध्य आ पस्त्यानाम् । जीवो मृतस्य चरति स्वधाभिर् अमर्त्यो मर्त्येना सयोनिः

anac chaye turagātu jīvam ejad dhruvaṃ madhya ā pastyānām | jīvo mṛtasya carati svadhābhir amartyo martyenā sayoniḥ

Downward it lies, (yet) swift-moving, living, stirring, firm in the middle of the dwellings. The living one of the dead moves by its own powers, the immortal sharing a womb with the mortal.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.9

विधुं दद्राणं सलिलस्य पृष्ठे युवानं सन्तं पलितो जगार । देवस्य पश्य काव्यं महित्वाद्य ममार स ह्यः सम् आन

vidhuṃ dadrāṇaṃ salilasya pṛṣṭhe yuvānaṃ santaṃ palito jagāra | devasya paśya kāvyaṃ mahitvādya mamāra sa hyaḥ sam āna

The grey one has swallowed the (moon-like) one running on the surface of the flood, though he was young. Behold the wisdom of the god in its greatness: today he died, yesterday he was breathing.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.10

य ईं चकार न सो अस्य वेद य ईं ददर्श हिरुग् इन् नु तस्मात् । स मातुर् योना परिवीतो अन्तर् बहुप्रजा निरृतिर् आ विवेश

ya īṃ cakāra na so asya veda ya īṃ dadarśa hirug in nu tasmāt | sa mātur yonā parivīto antar bahuprajā nirṛtir ā viveśa

He who made it does not know of it; he who saw it — it is hidden from him indeed. He, wrapped about within the mother's womb, has entered into Nirṛti of many offspring.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.11

अपश्यं गोपाम् अनिपद्यमानम् आ च परा च पथिभिश् चरन्तम् । स सध्रीचीः स विषूचीर् वसान आ वरीवर्ति भुवनेष्व् अन्तः

apaśyaṃ gopām anipadyamānam ā ca parā ca pathibhiś carantam | sa sadhrīcīḥ sa viṣūcīr vasāna ā varīvarti bhuvaneṣv antaḥ

I saw the herdsman who never falls down, wandering by the paths hither and away. Clothing himself in what converges and what goes apart, he keeps turning about within the worlds.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.12

द्यौर् नः पिता जनिता नाभिर् अत्र बन्धुर् नो माता पृथिवी महीयम् । उत्तानयोश् चम्वोर् योनिर् अन्तर् अत्रा पिता दुहितुर् गर्भम् आधात्

dyaur naḥ pitā janitā nābhir atra bandhur no mātā pṛthivī mahīyam | uttānayoś camvor yonir antar atrā pitā duhitur garbham ādhāt

Heaven (is) our father, the begetter; the navel (is) here; this great Earth (is) our mother, our kin. Within the two upturned bowls (is) the womb; there the father laid the daughter's embryo.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.13

पृछामि त्वा परम् अन्तं पृथिव्याः पृछामि वृष्णो अश्वस्य रेतः । पृछामि विश्वस्य भुवनस्य नाभिं पृछामि वाचः परमं व्योम

pṛchāmi tvā param antaṃ pṛthivyāḥ pṛchāmi vṛṣṇo aśvasya retaḥ | pṛchāmi viśvasya bhuvanasya nābhiṃ pṛchāmi vācaḥ paramaṃ vyoma

I ask you about the farthest end of the earth; I ask where is the seed of the bull-horse; I ask about the navel of all the world; I ask about the highest vault of speech.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.14

इयं वेदिः परो अन्तः पृथिव्या अयं सोमो वृष्णो अश्वस्य रेतः । अयं यज्ञो विश्वस्य भुवनस्य नाभिर् ब्रह्मायं वाचः परमं व्योम

iyaṃ vediḥ paro antaḥ pṛthivyā ayaṃ somo vṛṣṇo aśvasya retaḥ | ayaṃ yajño viśvasya bhuvanasya nābhir brahmāyaṃ vācaḥ paramaṃ vyoma

This altar is the farthest end of the earth; this Soma is the seed of the bull-horse; this sacrifice is the navel of all the world; this brahman is the highest vault of speech.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.15

न वि जानामि यद् इवेदम् अस्मि निण्यः संनद्धो मनसा चरामि । यदा मागन् प्रथमजा ऋतस्याद् इद् वाचो अश्नुवे भागम् अस्याः

na vi jānāmi yad ivedam asmi niṇyaḥ saṃnaddho manasā carāmi | yadā māgan prathamajā ṛtasyād id vāco aśnuve bhāgam asyāḥ

I do not understand what, as it were, I am here; hidden, bound together, I move with my mind. When the firstborn of ṛta came to me, then indeed I obtain a share of this speech.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.16

अपाङ् प्राङ् एति स्वधया गृभीतो ऽमर्त्यो मर्त्येना सयोनिः । ता शश्वन्ता विषूचीना वियन्ता न्य् अन्यं चिक्युर् न नि चिक्युर् अन्यम्

apāṅ prāṅ eti svadhayā gṛbhīto 'martyo martyenā sayoniḥ | tā śaśvantā viṣūcīnā viyantā ny anyaṃ cikyur na ni cikyur anyam

Westward, eastward he goes, grasped by his own power, the immortal sharing a womb with the mortal. The two, constant, going apart in opposite directions — the one they have perceived, the other they have not perceived.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.17

सप्तार्धगर्भा भुवनस्य रेतो विष्णोस् तिष्ठन्ति प्रदिशा विधर्मणि । ते धीतिभिर् मनसा ते विपश्चितः परिभुवः परि भवन्ति विश्वतः

saptārdhagarbhā bhuvanasya reto viṣṇos tiṣṭhanti pradiśā vidharmaṇi | te dhītibhir manasā te vipaścitaḥ paribhuvaḥ pari bhavanti viśvataḥ

The seven half-embryos, the seed of the world, stand by Viṣṇu's ordinance in the (cosmic) spreading-out. They, by insights, by mind — they, the inspired ones, encompassing, encompass on every side.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.18

ऋचो अक्षरे परमे व्योमन् यस्मिन् देवा अधि विश्वे निषेदुः । यस् तन् न वेद किम् ऋचा करिष्यति य इत् तद् विदुस् ते अमी सम् आसते

ṛco akṣare parame vyoman yasmin devā adhi viśve niṣeduḥ | yas tan na veda kim ṛcā kariṣyati ya it tad vidus te amī sam āsate

On the syllable of the ṛc, in the highest vault, on which all the gods have taken their seat — he who does not know that, what will he do with the ṛc? But those who do know it, they sit together here.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.19

ऋचः पदं मात्रया कल्पयन्तो ऽर्धर्चेन चकॢपुर् विश्वम् एजत् । त्रिपाद् ब्रह्म पुरुरूपं वि तष्ठे तेन जीवन्ति प्रदिशश् चतस्रः

ṛcaḥ padaṃ mātrayā kalpayanto 'rdharcena cakḷpur viśvam ejat | tripād brahma pururūpaṃ vi taṣṭhe tena jīvanti pradiśaś catasraḥ

Fashioning the verse-line of the ṛc by measure, with the half-verse they fashioned all that stirs. The three-footed brahman of many forms spread out; by it live the four regions.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.20

सूयवसाद् भगवती हि भूया अधा वयं भगवन्तः स्याम । अद्धि तृणम् अघ्न्ये विश्वदानीं पिब शुद्धम् उदकम् आचरन्ती

sūyavasād bhagavatī hi bhūyā adhā vayaṃ bhagavantaḥ syāma | addhi tṛṇam aghnye viśvadānīṃ piba śuddham udakam ācarantī

Feeding on good pasture, may you be blessed, and then may we too be blessed. Eat grass, inviolable one, at all times; drink pure water as you come along.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.21

गौर् इन् मिमाय सलिलानि तक्षती एकपदी द्विपदी सा चतुष्पदी । अष्टापदी नवपदी बभूवुषी सहस्राक्षरा भुवनस्य पङ्क्तिस् तस्याः समुद्रा अधि वि क्षरन्ति

gaur in mimāya salilāni takṣatī ekapadī dvipadī sā catuṣpadī | aṣṭāpadī navapadī babhūvuṣī sahasrākṣarā bhuvanasya paṅktis tasyāḥ samudrā adhi vi kṣaranti

The cow has indeed bellowed, shaping the waters; one-footed, two-footed she is, four-footed, having become eight-footed, nine-footed, thousand-syllabled — the row (of verses) of the world; from her the oceans flow forth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.22

कृष्णं नियानं हरयः सुपर्णा अपो वसाना दिवम् उत् पतन्ति । तं आववृत्रन्त् सदनाद् ऋतस्याद् इद् घृतेन पृथिवीं व्य् ऊदुः

kṛṣṇaṃ niyānaṃ harayaḥ suparṇā apo vasānā divam ut patanti | taṃ āvavṛtrant sadanād ṛtasyād id ghṛtena pṛthivīṃ vy ūduḥ

The tawny fair-winged ones, clothing themselves in the waters, fly up to heaven by the black descent. They have come back from the seat of ṛta, and then they drenched the earth with ghee.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.23

अपाद् एति प्रथमा पद्वतीनां कस् तद् वां मित्रावरुणा चिकेत । गर्भो भारं भरत्य् आ चिद् अस्या ऋतं पिपर्ति अनृतं नि पाति

apād eti prathamā padvatīnāṃ kas tad vāṃ mitrāvaruṇā ciketa | garbho bhāraṃ bharaty ā cid asyā ṛtaṃ piparti anṛtaṃ ni pāti

Footless she goes first of those that have feet — who of you two, Mitra and Varuṇa, has perceived that? The embryo bears the burden even of her; she fulfils ṛta and keeps down untruth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.24

विराड् वाग् विराट् पृथिवी विराड् अन्तरिक्षं विराट् प्रजापतिः । विराण् मृत्युः साध्यानाम् अधिराजो बभूव तस्य भूतं भव्यं वशे स मे भूतं भव्यं वशे कृणोतु

virāḍ vāg virāṭ pṛthivī virāḍ antarikṣaṃ virāṭ prajāpatiḥ | virāṇ mṛtyuḥ sādhyānām adhirājo babhūva tasya bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ vaśe sa me bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ vaśe kṛṇotu

Virāj is speech, Virāj the earth, Virāj the atmosphere, Virāj Prajāpati. Virāj has become Death, the overlord of the Sādhyas; what has been and what will be is in his control; may he put what has been and what will be in my control.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.25

शकमयं धूमम् आराद् अपश्यं विषूवता पर एनावरेण । उक्षाणं पृश्निम् अपचन्त वीरास् तानि धर्माणि प्रथमान्य् आसन्

śakamayaṃ dhūmam ārād apaśyaṃ viṣūvatā para enāvareṇa | ukṣāṇaṃ pṛśnim apacanta vīrās tāni dharmāṇi prathamāny āsan

From afar I saw the smoke of the dung, (rising) beyond, past the midpoint, by this nearer (one). The heroes cooked the dappled bull: those were the first ordinances.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

AV 9 10.26

त्रयः केशिन ऋतुथा वि चक्षते संवत्सरे वपत एक एषाम् । विश्वम् अन्यो अभिचष्टे शचीभिर् ध्राजिर् एकस्य ददृशे न रूपम्

trayaḥ keśina ṛtuthā vi cakṣate saṃvatsare vapata eka eṣām | viśvam anyo abhicaṣṭe śacībhir dhrājir ekasya dadṛśe na rūpam

Three long-haired ones appear in due season; one of them shears in the year; one surveys all with his powers; of one the rush is seen, not the form.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.27

चत्वारि वाक् परिमिता पदानि तानि विदुर् ब्राह्मणा ये मनीषिणः । गुहा त्रीणि निहिता नेङ्गयन्ति तुरीयं वाचो मनुष्या वदन्ति

catvāri vāk parimitā padāni tāni vidur brāhmaṇā ye manīṣiṇaḥ | guhā trīṇi nihitā neṅgayanti turīyaṃ vāco manuṣyā vadanti

Speech is measured out in four quarters; those the brāhmaṇas who are wise know. Three, deposited in secret, they do not set in motion; the fourth of speech men speak.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

AV 9 10.28

इन्द्रं मित्रं वरुणम् अग्निम् आहुर् अथो दिव्यः स सुपर्णो गरुत्मान् । एकं सद् विप्रा बहुधा वदन्त्य् अग्निं यमं मातरिश्वानम् आहुः

indraṃ mitraṃ varuṇam agnim āhur atho divyaḥ sa suparṇo garutmān | ekaṃ sad viprā bahudhā vadanty agniṃ yamaṃ mātariśvānam āhuḥ

They call (him) Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni; and (he is) that heavenly Suparṇa, Garutmān. What is one, the inspired poets speak of in many ways; they call (it) Agni, Yama, Mātariśvan.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition