Page:Atharva-Veda samhita volume 2.djvu/103

559 16. Offward, forward goes, seized by svadhā́, the immortal one, of like source with the mortal; the two, constantly going separate apart—the one they noted, the other they noted not.

17. Seven half-embryos, the seed of existence, stand in front (? pradíçā), in Vishṇu's distribution; they, by thoughts (dhītí), by mind, they, inspired, surround on all sides the surrounders.

18. In the syllable of the verse (ṛ́c) in the highest firmament, on which all the gods sat down: he who knoweth not that, what will he do with the verse? they who know that sit together yonder.

19. Shaping (kalpay-) with measure the step of the verse, they shaped by the half-verse all that stirs; the bráhman of three feet, many-formed, spread out (vi-sthā); by that do the four quarters live.

20. Mayest thou be well-portioned, feeding in excellent meadows; so also may we be well-portioned; eat thou grass, O inviolable one, at all times; drink clear water, moving hither.

21. The cow verily lowed, fashioning the seas; one-footed, two-footed [is] she, four-footed; having become eight-footed, nine-footed, thousand-syllabled, a series (pan̄tí) of existence; out from her flow apart the oceans.