A glorification of the Radiant Order, the bounty by which God sustains every kind of creature.

1 The Radiant Order at first was This. At birth all feared her; the thought, She will become this All, struck terror.

2 She rose, she entered the household hearth. He who knows this becomes lord of a household, performer of domestic worship.

3 She mounted up, she entered the eastward hearth. He who knows this becomes beloved of the angels, and his prayer is answered.

4 She mounted up, she entered the southward hearth. He who knows this becomes a fit performer of worship, meet for honour, shelter-giver.

5 She mounted up, she entered the Assembly. He who knows this becomes polite and courtly, and people come as guests to his assembly.

6 She mounted up, she passed within the meeting. He who knows this becomes fit for the meeting, and to his hall of meeting come the people.

7 She mounted up, she entered Consultation. Whoso knows this is fit to be consulted, and to his consultation come the people.

8 She mounted up, and, into four divided, she took her station in the air's mid-region.

9 Of her the angels and men said, This she knoweth. That we may both have life let us call her hither.

10 Thus did they cry to her:

11 Come, Strength! come, Food! come, Charmer! come, Free-giver!

12 Her calf, her well-beloved calf, was might; the cloud her udder.

13 Two teats she had, Rathantara and Brihat, two, Yajnayajniya and Vamadevya.

14 With the Rathantara they milked from her the plants, and all the wide expanse with Brihat.

15 They drew the waters forth with Vamadevya, with Yajnayajniya they milked out worship.

16 For him who knoweth this, Rathantara poureth out plants, and Brihat yieldeth wide expansion.

17 Waters from Vamadevya come, from Yajnayajniya worship.

18 She rose, she came unto the trees: they cut her down. A year went by and she again existed. Hence in a year the wounds of trees heal over.

19 She mounted up, she came unto the forebears: they consumed her: in a month she re-existed. Hence men give monthly charity for God's sake in remembrance of their forebears: who knows this, knows the path which they have trodden.

20 She rose, she came unto the angels: they consumed her; but in a fortnight she again was living. Fortnightly, hence, men make their offerings in God's name. Who knows this knows the way which the angels pass over.

21 She mounted up, she came to men: they consumed her. Presently she regained her life and being. Hence on both days they bring and offer food to men seated near in the dwelling,—whoso knows this.

22 She rose, approached the rebellious spirits: they called her: their cry was, Come, O Craft, come thou hither. Her dear calf was one of their chiefs: her milking-vessel was a pan of iron. Another of their chiefs milked her, yea, this Craft. The rebellious spirits depend for life on Craft. He who knows this becomes a fit supporter.

23 She mounted up, she came unto the forebears. The forebears called to her, O Food, come hither. Her pail was silvern. She was milked, even this sustenance. This food they make the sustainer of their lives. He who knows this becomes a meet supporter.

24 She mounted up, she came to men. They called her, Come unto us, come hither thou Free-giver! Earth was her milking-pail, the calf beside her Manu, the first of men. Prithi the son of Vena was her milker: he milked forth husbandry and grain for sowing. These men depend for life on corn and tillage. He who knows this becomes a meet supporter, successful in the culture of his corn-land.

25 She rose, she came unto the Seven Seers. They called her, Come, Rich in Devotion! hither. The soma was her calf, the moon her milk-pail. Brihaspati Angirasa, the seer, was her milker, and drew from her udder prayer and holy fervour. Fervour and prayer maintain the Seven Seers. He who knows this becomes a meet supporter, a teacher illustrious for his sacred knowledge.

26 She rose; she came unto the angels. They called her, crying, O Vigour, come to us, come hither! The sun, a sign of God, milked her, he milked forth vigour. The angels draw their strength from that vigour. He who knows this becomes a meet supporter.

27 She rose, approached the spirits of the air who love fragrance. They called her, Come to us, O Fragrant-scented! Her dear calf was one of those spirits, her pail a lotus-petal. Another of them milked and drew from her most delightful fragrance. That scent supports the spirits of fragrance. He who knows this becomes a meet supporter, and round him ever breathes delicious odour.

28 She mounted up, she came to the Hidden Folk. They called her, crying, Come, Concealment! hither. Her dear calf was the chief of their treasure, a vessel never fired was her milk-pail. One of their number milked her, and from her udder drew concealment. By that concealment live the Hidden Folk. He who knows this becomes a meet supporter, and makes all evil disappear and vanish.

29 She mounted up, she came unto the serpents. The serpents called her, Venomous! come hither. Her calf was a serpent: a bottle-gourd supplied a milking-vessel. Another serpent milked her, and from her udder drew forth only poison. That poison quickens and supports the serpents. He who knows this becomes a meet supporter.

30 One would ward off poison, for him who hath this knowledge, if with a bottle-gourd he sprinkled water.

31 And did he not repel it, if in his spirit he said, I drive thee back, he would repel it.

32 The poison that it drives away, that poison verily repels.