Fetching
One moment.
Fetching
One moment.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1as a treasure deposited for the Brahma/zas : they come here for her, with whom- soever she is born. 15. The Brahma^as come here for their own, when they come for the sterile cow. The refusal of her is, as though he were oppressing them in other concerns. 16. If she herds up to her third year, and no disease is discovered in her, and he finds her to be a sterile cow, O N&rada, then must he look for the Brahma/zas. 17. If he denies that she is sterile, a treasure de- posited for the gods, then Bhava and .Sarva, both, come upon him, and hurl their arrow upon him. 18. Though he does not perceive upon her either udder, or tits, yet both yield him milk, if he has prevailed upon himself to give away the sterile cow. 176 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA. 19. Hard to cheat, she oppresses him, if, when asked for, he refuses to give her. His desires are not fulfilled, if he aims to accomplish them without giving her away. 20. The gods did ask for the sterile cow, making the Brahma^a their mouthpiece. The man that does not give (her) enters into the wrath of all of these. 21. Into the wrath of the cattle enters he that gives not the sterile cow to the Brahma/zas ; if he, the mortal, appropriates the share deposited for the gods. 22. Even if a hundred other Brahma^as beg the owner for the sterile cow, yet the gods did say anent her : ' The cow belongs to him that knoweth thus/ 23. He that refuses the sterile cow to him that knoweth thus, and gives her to others, difficult to dwell upon is for him the earth with her divinities. 24. The gods did beg the sterile cow of him with whom she was born at first. That very one Narada recognised and drove forth in company with the gods. 25. The sterile cow renders childless, and poor in cattle, him that yet appropriates her, when she has been begged for by the Brahma/zas. 26. For Agni and Soma, for Kama, for Mitra, and for Vanma, for these do the Brahma/zas beg her : upon these he infringes, if he gives her not. 27. As long as the owner does not himself hear the stanzas referring to (the giving away of) her, she may herd among his cattle ; (only) if he has not heard (them) may she pass the night in his house. 28. He that has listened to the stanzas, yet has IX. PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS FOR BRAHMANS. I 77 permitted her to herd among the cattle, his life and prosperity the angry gods destroy. 29. The sterile cow, even when she rambles freely, is a treasure deposited for the gods. Make evident thy true nature when thou desirest to go to thy (proper) stable ! 30.
2permitted her to herd among the cattle, his life and prosperity the angry gods destroy. 29. The sterile cow, even when she rambles freely, is a treasure deposited for the gods. Make evident thy true nature when thou desirest to go to thy (proper) stable ! 30. She makes evident her nature when she desires to go to her (proper) stable. Then indeed the sterile cow puts it into the minds of the Brahmans to beg (for her). 31. She evolves it in her mind, that (thought) reaches the gods. Then do the Brahmans come to beg for the sterile cow. 32. The call svadha befriends him with the Fathers, the sacrifice with the gods. Through the gift of the sterile cow the man of royal caste incurs not the anger of (her), his mother. 33. The sterile cow is the mother of the man of royal caste : thus was it from the beginning. It is said to be no (real) deprivation if she is given to the Brahmans. 34. As if he were to rob the ghee ladled up for Agni (the fire) from the (very) spoon, thus, if he gives not the sterile cow to the Brahmans, does he infringe upon Agni. 35. The sterile cow has the puro^asa (sacrificial cake) for her calf, she yields plentiful milk, helps in this world, and fulfils all wishes for him that gives her (to the Brahmans). 36. The sterile cow fulfils all wishes in the king- dom of Yama for him that gives her. But they say that hell falls to the lot of him that withholds her, when she has been begged for. 37. The sterile cow, even if she should become [42] N 178 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA. fruitful, lives in anger at her owner : ' since he did regard me as sterile (without giving me to the Brahmans), he shall be bound in the fetters of death ! ' 38. He who thinks that the cow is sterile, and (yet) roasts her at home, even his children and grandchildren Brzhaspati causes to be importuned (for her). 39. Fiercely does the (supposed) sterile cow burn when she herds with the cattle, though she be a (fruitful) cow. She verily, too, milks poison for the owner that does not present her. 40. It pleases the cattle when she is given to the Brahmans ; moreover, the sterile cow is pleased, when she is made an offering to the gods (Brahmans). 41. From the sterile cows which the gods, re- turning from the sacrifice, created, Narada picked out as (most) terrible the vilipti. 42. In reference to her the gods reflected: 'Is she a sterile cow, or not ? ' And Narada in reference to her said : ' Of sterile cows she is the most sterile ! ' 43.
3re- turning from the sacrifice, created, Narada picked out as (most) terrible the vilipti. 42. In reference to her the gods reflected: 'Is she a sterile cow, or not ? ' And Narada in reference to her said : ' Of sterile cows she is the most sterile ! ' 43. ' How many sterile cows (are there), O Na- rada, which thou knowest to be born among men ? ' About these do I ask thee, that knowest : ' Of which may the non-Brahma^a not eat ? ' 44. Of the vilipti, of her that has born a sterile cow, and of the sterile cow (herself), the non-Brah- ma/za, that hopes for prosperity, shall not eat ! 45. Reverence be to thee, O Narada, that knowest thoroughly which sterile cow is the most terrible, by withholding which (from the Brahmans) destruction is incurred. 46. The vilipti, O Brzhaspati, her that has be- gotten a sterile cow, and the sterile cow (herself), IX. PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS FOR BRAHMANS. I 79 the non-Brahma^a, that hopes for prosperity, shall not eat ! 47. Three kinds, forsooth, of sterile cows are there : the vilipti, she that has begotten a sterile cow, and the sterile cow (herself). These he shall give to the Brahmans ; (then) does he not estrange himself from Pra^apati. 48. ' This is your oblation, O Br&hma^as,' thus shall he reflect, if he is supplicated, if they ask him for the sterile cow, terrible in the house of him that refuses to give her. 49. The gods animadverted in reference to Bheda and the sterile cow, angry because he had not given her, in these verses — and therefore he (Bheda) perished. 50. Bheda did not present the sterile cow, though requested by Indra : for this sin the gods crushed him in battle. 51. The counsellors that advise the withholding (of the sterile cow), they, the rogues, in their folly, conflict with the wrath of Indra. 52. They who lead the owner of cattle aside, then say to him : ' do not give/ in their folly they run into the missile hurled by Rudra. 53. And if he roasts the sterile cow at home, whether he makes a sacrifice of her, or not, he sins against the gods and Brahma/zas, and as a cheat falls from heaven. XI, 1. The preparation of the brahmaudana, the porridge given as a fee to the Brahmans. 1. O Agni, come into being! Aditi here in her throes, longing for sons, is cooking the porridge for the Brahmans. The seven 7?zshis, that did N 2 l80 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA. create the beings, shall here churn thee, along with progeny ! 2.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1as a treasure deposited for the Brahma/zas : they come here for her, with whom- soever she is born. 15. The Brahma^as come here for their own, when they come for the sterile cow. The refusal of her is, as though he were oppressing them in other concerns. 16. If she herds up to her third year, and no disease is discovered in her, and he finds her to be a sterile cow, O N&rada, then must he look for the Brahma/zas. 17. If he denies that she is sterile, a treasure de- posited for the gods, then Bhava and .Sarva, both, come upon him, and hurl their arrow upon him. 18. Though he does not perceive upon her either udder, or tits, yet both yield him milk, if he has prevailed upon himself to give away the sterile cow. 176 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA. 19. Hard to cheat, she oppresses him, if, when asked for, he refuses to give her. His desires are not fulfilled, if he aims to accomplish them without giving her away. 20. The gods did ask for the sterile cow, making the Brahma^a their mouthpiece. The man that does not give (her) enters into the wrath of all of these. 21. Into the wrath of the cattle enters he that gives not the sterile cow to the Brahma/zas ; if he, the mortal, appropriates the share deposited for the gods. 22. Even if a hundred other Brahma^as beg the owner for the sterile cow, yet the gods did say anent her : ' The cow belongs to him that knoweth thus/ 23. He that refuses the sterile cow to him that knoweth thus, and gives her to others, difficult to dwell upon is for him the earth with her divinities. 24. The gods did beg the sterile cow of him with whom she was born at first. That very one Narada recognised and drove forth in company with the gods. 25. The sterile cow renders childless, and poor in cattle, him that yet appropriates her, when she has been begged for by the Brahma/zas. 26. For Agni and Soma, for Kama, for Mitra, and for Vanma, for these do the Brahma/zas beg her : upon these he infringes, if he gives her not. 27. As long as the owner does not himself hear the stanzas referring to (the giving away of) her, she may herd among his cattle ; (only) if he has not heard (them) may she pass the night in his house. 28. He that has listened to the stanzas, yet has IX. PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS FOR BRAHMANS. I 77 permitted her to herd among the cattle, his life and prosperity the angry gods destroy. 29. The sterile cow, even when she rambles freely, is a treasure deposited for the gods. Make evident thy true nature when thou desirest to go to thy (proper) stable ! 30.
2permitted her to herd among the cattle, his life and prosperity the angry gods destroy. 29. The sterile cow, even when she rambles freely, is a treasure deposited for the gods. Make evident thy true nature when thou desirest to go to thy (proper) stable ! 30. She makes evident her nature when she desires to go to her (proper) stable. Then indeed the sterile cow puts it into the minds of the Brahmans to beg (for her). 31. She evolves it in her mind, that (thought) reaches the gods. Then do the Brahmans come to beg for the sterile cow. 32. The call svadha befriends him with the Fathers, the sacrifice with the gods. Through the gift of the sterile cow the man of royal caste incurs not the anger of (her), his mother. 33. The sterile cow is the mother of the man of royal caste : thus was it from the beginning. It is said to be no (real) deprivation if she is given to the Brahmans. 34. As if he were to rob the ghee ladled up for Agni (the fire) from the (very) spoon, thus, if he gives not the sterile cow to the Brahmans, does he infringe upon Agni. 35. The sterile cow has the puro^asa (sacrificial cake) for her calf, she yields plentiful milk, helps in this world, and fulfils all wishes for him that gives her (to the Brahmans). 36. The sterile cow fulfils all wishes in the king- dom of Yama for him that gives her. But they say that hell falls to the lot of him that withholds her, when she has been begged for. 37. The sterile cow, even if she should become [42] N 178 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA. fruitful, lives in anger at her owner : ' since he did regard me as sterile (without giving me to the Brahmans), he shall be bound in the fetters of death ! ' 38. He who thinks that the cow is sterile, and (yet) roasts her at home, even his children and grandchildren Brzhaspati causes to be importuned (for her). 39. Fiercely does the (supposed) sterile cow burn when she herds with the cattle, though she be a (fruitful) cow. She verily, too, milks poison for the owner that does not present her. 40. It pleases the cattle when she is given to the Brahmans ; moreover, the sterile cow is pleased, when she is made an offering to the gods (Brahmans). 41. From the sterile cows which the gods, re- turning from the sacrifice, created, Narada picked out as (most) terrible the vilipti. 42. In reference to her the gods reflected: 'Is she a sterile cow, or not ? ' And Narada in reference to her said : ' Of sterile cows she is the most sterile ! ' 43.
3re- turning from the sacrifice, created, Narada picked out as (most) terrible the vilipti. 42. In reference to her the gods reflected: 'Is she a sterile cow, or not ? ' And Narada in reference to her said : ' Of sterile cows she is the most sterile ! ' 43. ' How many sterile cows (are there), O Na- rada, which thou knowest to be born among men ? ' About these do I ask thee, that knowest : ' Of which may the non-Brahma^a not eat ? ' 44. Of the vilipti, of her that has born a sterile cow, and of the sterile cow (herself), the non-Brah- ma/za, that hopes for prosperity, shall not eat ! 45. Reverence be to thee, O Narada, that knowest thoroughly which sterile cow is the most terrible, by withholding which (from the Brahmans) destruction is incurred. 46. The vilipti, O Brzhaspati, her that has be- gotten a sterile cow, and the sterile cow (herself), IX. PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS FOR BRAHMANS. I 79 the non-Brahma^a, that hopes for prosperity, shall not eat ! 47. Three kinds, forsooth, of sterile cows are there : the vilipti, she that has begotten a sterile cow, and the sterile cow (herself). These he shall give to the Brahmans ; (then) does he not estrange himself from Pra^apati. 48. ' This is your oblation, O Br&hma^as,' thus shall he reflect, if he is supplicated, if they ask him for the sterile cow, terrible in the house of him that refuses to give her. 49. The gods animadverted in reference to Bheda and the sterile cow, angry because he had not given her, in these verses — and therefore he (Bheda) perished. 50. Bheda did not present the sterile cow, though requested by Indra : for this sin the gods crushed him in battle. 51. The counsellors that advise the withholding (of the sterile cow), they, the rogues, in their folly, conflict with the wrath of Indra. 52. They who lead the owner of cattle aside, then say to him : ' do not give/ in their folly they run into the missile hurled by Rudra. 53. And if he roasts the sterile cow at home, whether he makes a sacrifice of her, or not, he sins against the gods and Brahma/zas, and as a cheat falls from heaven. XI, 1. The preparation of the brahmaudana, the porridge given as a fee to the Brahmans. 1. O Agni, come into being! Aditi here in her throes, longing for sons, is cooking the porridge for the Brahmans. The seven 7?zshis, that did N 2 l80 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA. create the beings, shall here churn thee, along with progeny ! 2.
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
No commentary for this page.