The Rig Veda/Mandala 10/Hymn 68

1. LIKE birds who keep their watch, plashing in water, like the loud voices of the thundering rain-cloud, Like merry streamlets bursting from the mountain, thus to Brhaspati our hymns have sounded. 2. The Son of Angirases, meeting the cattle, as Bhaga, brought in Aryaman among us. As Friend of men he decks the wife and husband: as for the race, Brhaspati, nerve our coursers. 3. Brhaspati, having won them from the mountains, strewed down, like barley out of winnowing- baskets, The vigorous, wandering cows who aid the pious, desired of all, of blameless form, well-coloured. 4. As the Sun dews with meath the seat of Order, and casts a flaming meteor down from heaven. So from the rock Brhaspati forced the cattle, and cleft the earth's skin as it were with water. 5. Forth from mid air with light he drave the darkness, as the gale blows a lily from the fiver. Like the wind grasping at the cloud of Vala, Brhaspati gathered to himself the cattle, 6. Brhaspati, when he with fiery lightnings cleft through the weapon of reviling Vala, Consumed.him as tongues cat what teeth have compassed: he threw the prisons of the red cows open. 7. That secret name borne by the lowing cattle within the cave Brhaspati discovered, And drave, himself, the bright kine from the mountain, like a bird's young after the egg's disclosure. 8. He looked around on rock-imprisoned sweetness as one who eyes a fish in scanty water. Brhaspati, cleaving through with varied clamour, brought it forth like a bowl from out the timber. 9. He found the light of heaven, and fire, and Morning: with lucid rays he forced apart the darkness. As from a joint, Brhaspati took the marrow of Vala as he gloried in his cattle. 10. As trees for foliage robbed by winter, Vala mourned for the cows Brhaspati had taken. He did a deed ne'er done, ne'er to be equalled, whereby the Sun and Moon ascend alternate. 11. Like a dark steed adorned with pearl, the Fathers have decorated heaven With constellations. They set the light in day, in night the darkness. Brhaspati cleft the rock and found the cattle. 12. This homage have we offered to the Cloud God who thunders out to many in succession. May this Brhaspati vouchsafe us fulness of life with kine and horses, men, and heroes.