A new approach to the Vedas : an essay in translation and exegesis

THREE VEDIC HYMNS

That One breathed (anit) breathless (avata) by intrinsic-power (svadha@), none other was, nor aught there-beyond. 2.

In the beginning (agre), Dark-Inert (tamas) was hid (giétha) by Dark-Inert (famas). This all was fluid (salila), indeterminate (apraketa) :

Void (tuccht) by void (abhu) was overlaid (apihita) : That One was born (aja@yat) by the all-might (mahz) of intension (tapas). 3.

In the beginning, Will (kama) arose (samavartat) therein, the primal seed (refas) of Intellect (manas), that was the first :

Searching the heart (vd) throughly by thought (manisa) wise-singers (kavayah) found there the kin (bandhu) of Existence (sat) in the Non-existent (asat). 4.

What trace was stretched across below, and what above ?

Seed (rvetas) was, Allmight (mahimdanah) was ; Intrinsic-power (svadha) below, Purpose (prayatt) above. 5.

Who knows it aright? who can here set it forth ? Whence was it born (adata), whence poured forth (visrtih)

These Angels (deva@h) are from its pouring-forth (visarjana), whence then it came-to-be (dbabhiiva), who knows ?

Whence outpoured (visystih) this came to be (ababhiva), or whether one appointed (dadhe) it or not,

35 E