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. 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
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. ' 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
l80 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
create the beings, shall here churn thee, along with progeny !
2. Produce the smoke, ye lusty friends ; unharmed
by wiles go ye into the contest! Here is the Agni
(fire) who gains battles, and commands powerful
warriors, with whom the gods did conquer the
demons.
3. O Agni, to a great heroic deed thou wast
aroused, to cook the Brahman's porridge, O £ata-
vedas ! The seven i?zshis, that did create the beings,
have produced thee. Grant her (the wife) wealth
together with undiminished heroes !
4. Burn, O Agni, after having been kindled by
the firewood, bring skilfully hither the gods that are
to be revered ! Causing the oblation to cook for
these (Brahmans), do thou raise this (sacrificer) to
the highest firmament !
5. The threefold share which was of yore assigned
to you (belongs) to the gods, the (departed) Fathers,
and to the mortals (the priests). Know your shares !
I divide them for you : the (share) of the gods shall
protect this (woman) !
6. O Agni, possessed of might, superior, thou
dost without fail prevail ! Bend down to the ground
our hateful rivals ! — This measure, that is being
measured, and has been measured, may constitute
thy kin into (people) that render thee tribute !
7. Mayest thou together with thy kin be endowed
with sap ! Elevate her (the wife) to great heroism !
Ascend on high to the base of the firmament, which
they call ' the world of brightness ' !
8. This great goddess earth, kindly disposed,
shall receive the (sacrificial) skin ! Then may we
go to the world of well-doing (heaven) !
IX. PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS FOR BRAHMANS. l8l
9. Lay these two press-stones, well coupled, upon
the skin ; crush skilfully the (soma-) shoots for the
sacrificer ! Crush down, (O earth), and beat down,
those who are hostile to her (the wife); lift up high,
and elevate her offspring !
10. Take into thy hands, O man, the press-stones
that work together : the gods that are to be revered
have come to thy sacrifice ! Whatever three wishes
thou dost choose, I shall here procure for thee unto
fulfilment.
11. This, (O winnowing-basket), is thy purpose,
and this thy nature : may Aditi, mother of heroes,
take hold of thee ! Winnow out those who are
hostile to this (woman) ; afford her wealth and un-
diminished heroes !
1 2. Do ye, (O grains), remain in the (winnowing-)
basket, while (the wind) blows over you ; be separated,
ye who are fit for the sacrifice, from the chaff! May
we in happiness be superior to all our equals ! I bend
down under our feet those that hate us.
13. Retire, O woman, and return promptly! The
stable of the waters (water-vessel) has settled upon
thee, that thou mayest carry it : of these (the waters)
thou shalt take such as are fit for sacrifice ; having
intelligently divided them off, thou shalt leave the
rest behind !
14. These bright women, (the waters), have come
hither. Arise, thou woman, and gather strength !
To thee, that art rendered by thy husband a true
wife, (and) by thy children rich in offspring, the
sacrifice has come : receive the (water-) vessel !
15. The share of food that belongs to you of yore
has been set aside for you. Instructed by the 7?zshis
bring thou (woman) hither this water! May this
1 82 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
sacrifice win advancement for you, win protection,
win offspring for you ; may it be mighty, win cattle,
and heroes for you !
1 6. O Agni, the sacrificial pot has settled upon
thee: do thou shining, brightly glowing, heat it with
thy glow ! May the divine descendants of the i?zshis,
assembled about their share (of the porridge), full of
fervour, heat this (pot) at the proper time !
17. Pure and clear may these sacrificial women,
the waters bright, flow into the pot! They have
given us abundant offspring and cattle. May he
that cooks the porridge go to the world of the pious
(heaven) !
18. Purified by (our) prayer, and clarified by the
ghee are the soma-shoots, (and) these sacrificial
grains. Enter the water ; may the pot receive you !
When ye have cooked this (porridge) go ye to the
world of the pious (heaven) !
19. Spread out far unto great extent, with a thou-
sand surfaces, in the world of the pious ! Grand-
fathers, fathers, children, grandchildren — I am the
fifteenth one that did cook thee.
20. The porridge has a thousand surfaces, a hun-
dred streams, and is indestructible ; it is the road of
the gods, leads to heaven. Yonder (enemies) do I
place upon thee : injure them and their offspring ;
(but) to me that brings gifts thou shalt be merciful !
21. Step upon the altar (vedi) ; make this woman
thrive in her progeny ; repel the demons ; advance
her! May we in happiness be superior to all our
equals ! I bend down under our feet all those that
hate us.
22. Turn towards her with cattle, (thou pot), face towards her, together with the divine powers !
Ix. Prayers and Imprecations for Brahmans. I 83
Neither curses nor hostile magic shall reach thee ; rule in thy dwelling free from disease !
23. Properly built, placed with care, this altar (vedi)
has been arranged of yore for the Brahmans porridge.
Put it, O woman, upon the purified a^sadhri ; place
there the porridge for the divine (Brahma/zas) !
24. May this sacrificial ladle (sni/£), the second
hand of Aditi, which the seven i?zshis, the creators
of the beings, did fashion, may this spoon, knowing
the limbs of the porridge, heap it upon the altar !
25. The divine (Brahma/zas) shall sit down to
thee, the cooked sacrifice : do thou again descending
from the fire, approach them ! Clarified by soma
settle in the belly of the Brahma^as ; the descend-
ants of the i?zshis who eat thee shall not take harm !
26. O king Soma, infuse harmony into the good
Brahma/zas who shall sit about thee ! Eagerly do
I invite to the porridge the i?zshis, descended from
i?/shis, that are born of religious fervour, and gladly
obey the call.
27. These pure and clear sacrificial women (the
waters) I put into the hands of the Brahma/zas
severally. With whatever wish I pour this upon
you, may Indra accompanied by the Maruts grant
this to me !
28. This gold is my immortal light, this ripe fruit
of the field is my wish-granting cow. This treasure
I present to the Brahma/zas : I prepare for myself
a road that leads to the Fathers in the heavens.
29. Scatter the spelt into Agni Gatavedas (the
fire), sweep away to a far distance the chaff! This
(chaff) we have heard, is the share of the ruler of the
house (Agni), and we know, too, what belongs to
Nirrzti (destruction) as her share.