Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/313

143 the pravargya rite of the agniṣṭoma; and vs. 1 appears again in the agnicayana (28. 33) accompanying the deposition of a plate of gold. And the comm. further quotes the hymn as employed by the Nakṣ. K. (18) in the brāhmī mahāçānti, and by Pariç.. 11. 1 in the tūlāpuruṣa ceremony. There is nothing at all characteristic or explanatory in any of these uses. The hymn is quite out of the usual Atharvan style, and is, as it was doubtless intended to be, very enigmatical; the comm. does not really understand it or illuminate its obscurities, but is obliged at numerous points to give alternative guesses at its meaning; and the translation offered makes no pretense of putting sense and connection into its dark sayings.

Translated: Ludwig, p. 393; Deussen, Geschichte, i. 1. 255; Griffith, i. 129; Weber, xviii. 2.

1. The bráhman that was first born of old (purástāt; in the east?) Vena hath unclosed from the well-shining edge (sīmatás; horizon?); he unclosed the fundamental nearest shapes (viṣṭhā́) of it, the womb (yóni) of the existent and of the non-existent.

2. Let this queen of the Fathers (? pítrya) go in the beginning (ágre) for the first birth (janús; race?), standing in the creation; for it (him?) have I sent (hi) this well-shining sinuous one (? hvārá); let them mix (çrī; boil?) the hot drink for the first thirsty one (? dhāsyú).