A hymn of riddles on the order of creation, worship and measure.

1 Whence were these two produced? which was that region? From what world, from which earth had they their being? Calves of the Radiant Order, these two arose from water. I ask thee of these twain, who was their milker.

2 He who prepared a threefold home, and made the water bellow through His greatness, fulfilling each wish, fashioned bodies far off, in secret.

3 Which are the three, the mighty three? The fourth divides the voice. This may the learned know by prayer: whereto belongs the one, whereto the other.

4 Out of the Brihat as the sixth five Samans have been fashioned forth: from Brihati was Brihat formed: whence was the Brihati composed?

5 On measure Brihati is based, and measure on the measurer: from wondrous might came wondrous might, from wondrous might came the measurer.

6 The image of the Light of all men is the sky above us, as far as the fire parted both spheres asunder. Thence from that region as the sixth come praise-songs, and every sixth day hence again go upward.

7 We, Kasyapa! six present seers, ask thee—for thou hast proved things tried and meet for trial—they call the Radiant Order the father of Devotion: tell her to us thy friends in all her figures.

8 She whom, advancing, sacrifices follow, and when she takes her station stand beside her, by whose control and hest the spirit moveth, she is the Radiant Order, in highest heaven, O seers.

9 Breathless, she moves by breath of living creatures. The Self-Sufficient precedes, the Radiant Order comes closely after. Some men behold her not, and some behold her, the fitly shaped, who hath regard to all existence.

10 Who hath perceived the duplication of the Radiant Order, perceived her seasons and her rule and practice? Who knows her steps, how oft, how far extended, who knows her home and number of her dawnings?

11 She here who first of all sent forth her lustre moves onward resting on these lower creatures. Exalted power and might are stored within her: the woman hath prevailed, the new-come mother.

12 Both Dawns on wings of song, with rich adornment, move on together to their common dwelling. The sun's two companions, Morning and Night, unwasting, most prolific, knowing their way, move, rich in light, together.

13 The three have passed along the path of Order—three warm libations have regarded offspring—one quickens progeny, one strengthens vigour, and one protects the kingdom of the pious.

14 She who was fourth was formed by the seers, by light and by the provision of God, as they formed both halves of worship: Gayatri, Trishtup, Jagati, Anushtup, Brihadarki, giving light to the worshipper.

15 Five milkings answer to the fivefold dawning, five seasons to the cow who bears five titles. The five sky-regions made fifteen in number, one head have these to one sole world directed.

16 Six elements arose, first-born of Order: the six-day time is carried by six Samans. Six-yoked the plough is, as each trace is numbered: they call both broad ones six; six, Earth and Heaven.

17 They call the cold months six, and six the hot ones. Which, tell us, of the seasons is redundant? Seven sages, eagles, have sat down together: seven metres match the seven consecrations.

18 Seven are the oblations, seven the logs for burning, seven are the streams of mead, and seven the seasons. Into the world have come seven streams of butter: those we have heard of as the Seven Vultures.

19 Seven metres, by four syllables increasing, each of the seven founded upon another—how are the hymns of praise on these supported, and how are these imposed upon the praise-songs?

20 How hath the Gayatri filled out three triads? On the fifteen how is the Trishtup moulded, Jagati fashioned on the three-and-thirty? How is Anushtup formed? how Ekavinsa?

21 Eight elements sprang up, first-born of Order: the divine priests are eight in number. Eight are the regions of the Boundless, eight her creations: for the eighth night is the libation destined.

22 So planning bliss for you have I come hither to win your friendship: kind am I, and gracious. Born from one source, propitious is your wisdom: knowing full well to all of you it cometh.

23 Eight for the Mighty, six for the Restrainer, seven for the seers, seven for each: the number five accompanies waters and men and healing herbs.

24 The heifer, all his own, poured forth for the Mighty control and milk at her first time of milking; and He then satisfied the four divisions, the angels and men and jinn and seers.

25 Who is the Cow? Who is the Single Seer? What is the law, what are the benedictions? What on the earth is the one only Spirit? Which of the number is the Single Season?

26 One is the Cow, one is the Single Seer, one is the law, single are the benedictions. The one act of worship on the earth is single: the Single Season never is transcended.