DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0027
Vedism. 15
The following is a portion of a well-known hymn to the
Sky-god (Varuna) from the Atharva-veda (IV. 16) :—
The mighty Varuna, who rules above, looks down
Upon these worlds, his kingdom, as if close at hand.
When men imagine they do aught by stealth, he knows it.
No one can stand, or walk, or softly glide along,
Or hide in dark recess, or lurk in secret cell,
But Varuna detecte him, and his movements spies.
Two persons may devise some plot, together sitting,
And think themselves alone ; but he, the king, is there—
A third—and sees it all. Jiis messengers descend
Countless from his abode, for ever traversing
This world, and scanning with a thousand eyes its inmates.
Whate'er exists within this earth, and all within the sky,
Yea, all that is beyond, king Varuna perceives.
The winkings of men's eyes are numbered all by him :
He wields the universe as gamesters handle dice.
Here follow portions of hymns addressed to the Vedic
triad. First, the Rain-god (Indra):—
Indra, twin-brother of the god of fire,
When thou wast born, thy mother, Aditi,
Gave thee, her lusty child, the thrilling draught
Of mountain-growing Soma—source of life
And never-dying vigour to thy frame.
Thou art our guardian, advocate, and friend,
A brother, father, mother—all combined.
Most fatherly of fathers, we are thine,
And thou art ours. Oh ! let thy pitying soul
Turn to us in compassion when we praise thee,
And slay us not for one sin or for many.
Deliver us to-day, to-morrow, every day.
Vainly the demon1 dares thy might, in vain
Strives to deprive us of thy watery treasures.
Earth quakes beneath the crashing of thy bolts.
Pierced, shattered lies the foe—his cities crushed,
His armies overthrown, his fortresses
Shivered to fragments ; then the pent-up waters,
Released from long imprisonment, descend
In torrents to the earth, and swollen rivers,
Foaming and rolling to their ocean-home,
Proclaim the triumph of the Thunderer.
1 The demon Vritra, who is supposed to keep the waters imprisoned
in thick clouds.
The following is a portion of a well-known hymn to the
Sky-god (Varuna) from the Atharva-veda (IV. 16) :—
The mighty Varuna, who rules above, looks down
Upon these worlds, his kingdom, as if close at hand.
When men imagine they do aught by stealth, he knows it.
No one can stand, or walk, or softly glide along,
Or hide in dark recess, or lurk in secret cell,
But Varuna detecte him, and his movements spies.
Two persons may devise some plot, together sitting,
And think themselves alone ; but he, the king, is there—
A third—and sees it all. Jiis messengers descend
Countless from his abode, for ever traversing
This world, and scanning with a thousand eyes its inmates.
Whate'er exists within this earth, and all within the sky,
Yea, all that is beyond, king Varuna perceives.
The winkings of men's eyes are numbered all by him :
He wields the universe as gamesters handle dice.
Here follow portions of hymns addressed to the Vedic
triad. First, the Rain-god (Indra):—
Indra, twin-brother of the god of fire,
When thou wast born, thy mother, Aditi,
Gave thee, her lusty child, the thrilling draught
Of mountain-growing Soma—source of life
And never-dying vigour to thy frame.
Thou art our guardian, advocate, and friend,
A brother, father, mother—all combined.
Most fatherly of fathers, we are thine,
And thou art ours. Oh ! let thy pitying soul
Turn to us in compassion when we praise thee,
And slay us not for one sin or for many.
Deliver us to-day, to-morrow, every day.
Vainly the demon1 dares thy might, in vain
Strives to deprive us of thy watery treasures.
Earth quakes beneath the crashing of thy bolts.
Pierced, shattered lies the foe—his cities crushed,
His armies overthrown, his fortresses
Shivered to fragments ; then the pent-up waters,
Released from long imprisonment, descend
In torrents to the earth, and swollen rivers,
Foaming and rolling to their ocean-home,
Proclaim the triumph of the Thunderer.
1 The demon Vritra, who is supposed to keep the waters imprisoned
in thick clouds.