He rules the great self-luminous fold of cattle, and all the doors of light hath he thrown open.

9 Thus hath Brhaddiva, the great Atharvan, spoken to the Mighty as himself in person.

The spotless sisters, they who are his mothers, with power exalt him and impel him onward.

HYMN CXXI. Who Is the God?

1 In the beginning the Lord of all created beings was the Only One.

He fixed and holdeth up this earth and heaven. What God shall we adore with our offering?

2 Giver of vital breath, of power and vigour, He whose commandments all the angels acknowledge,

The Lord of death, whose shade is life immortal. What God shall we adore with our offering?

3 Who by His grandeur hath become Sole Ruler of all the moving world that breathes and slumbers;

He who is Lord of men and Lord of cattle. What God shall we adore with our offering?

4 His, through His might, are these snow-covered mountains, and men call sea and river His possession:

His power extends to these, His are these heavenly regions. What God shall we adore with our offering?

5 By Him the heavens are strong and earth is steadfast, by Him light's realm and sky-vault are supported:

By Him the regions in mid-air were measured. What God shall we adore with our offering?

6 To Him, supported by His help, two armies embattled look while trembling in their spirit,

When over them the risen sun is shining. What God shall we adore with our offering?

7 What time the mighty waters came, containing the universal germ, producing the light,

Thence sprang the one spirit of the angels into being. What God shall we adore with our offering?

8 He in His might surveyed the floods containing productive force and generating worship.

He is the God of all gods, and none beside Him. What God shall we adore with our offering?

9 Ne'er may He harm us who is earth's Begetter, nor He whose laws are sure, the heavens' Creator,

He who brought forth the great and lucid waters. What God shall we adore with our offering?

10 O Creator! Thou only comprehendest all these created things, and none beside Thee.

Grant us our hearts' desire when we invoke Thee: may we have store of riches in possession.

HYMN CXXII. The Radiant.

1 Praise the God of wondrous might, the Mighty, the lovely pleasant Guest whom all must welcome.

May the Lord, Master of the household, give hero strength and all-sustaining riches.

2 O Lord, graciously accept this song of mine, Thou passing wise who knowest every ordinance.

Enwrapped in holy oil further the course of prayer: the righteous bestow according to Thy holy law.

3 Deathless, wandering round the seven stations, give, a liberal Giver, to the pious worshipper,

Wealth, O Lord, with brave sons and ready for his use: welcome the man who comes with fuel unto Thee.

4 The seven who bring offerings worship Thee, the Strong, the first, the Great Chief, Ensign of worship,

The oil-anointed Bull, who hears, who sends as God full hero strength to him who freely gives.

5 First messenger art Thou, meet for election: accept Thy fill, invited to the sacred rite.

The storm-winds in the votary's house adorned Thee; with lauds the Bhrgus gave Thee light and glory.

6 Milking the teeming cow for all-sustaining food, O Wise One, for the worship-loving worshipper,

Thou, dropping oil, thrice lighting works of Law, showest Thy wisdom circling home and worship.

7 They who at flushing of this dawn appointed Thee their messenger, these men have paid Thee reverence.

The righteous strengthened Thee for work that must be glorified, while they made butter pure for worship.

8 Arrangers in our synods, while they sang Vasistha's sons have called Thee down, the Potent One.

Maintain the growth of wealth with men who worship. Ye righteous, preserve us with your blessings evermore.

HYMN CXXIII. The Heavenly Traveller.

1 See, the radiant one, born in light, hath driven hither, on chariot of the air, the calves of the speckled cow.

Singers with hymns caress him as an infant there where the waters and the sunlight mingle.

2 He draws up his wave from out the ocean, mist-born, the fair one's back is made apparent,

Brightly he shone aloft on Order's summit: the hosts sang glory to their common birthplace.

3 Full many, lowing to their joint-possession, dwelling together stood the darling's mothers.

Ascending to the lofty height of Order, the bands of singers sip the sweets of life.

4 Knowing his form, the sages yearned to meet him: they have come nigh to hear the wild bull's bellow.

Performing worship they reached the river: for the traveller found the immortal waters.

7 Erect, to heaven hath the traveller mounted, pointing at us his many-coloured weapons;

Clad in sweet raiment beautiful to look on, for he, as light, produceth forms that please us.

8 When as a spark he cometh near the ocean, still looking with a vulture's eye to heaven,

His lustre, joying in its own bright splendour, maketh dear glories in the lowest region.

HYMN CXXIV. The Convert.

1 Come to this worship of ours, O Radiant One, threefold, with seven threads and five divisions.

Be our bearer of offerings and preceder: Thou hast lain long enough in enduring darkness.

2 I come, foreseeing, from the false gods to immortality by secret pathways,

While I, ungracious one, desert the gracious, leave mine own friends and seek the kin of strangers.

3 I, looking to the guest of other lineage, have founded many a rule of Law and Order.

I bid farewell to the false god, the so-called father, and, for neglect, obtain my share of worship.

4 I tarried many a year within this altar: I leave the false father, for my choice is the Mighty.

Away pass the false lords. Rule ever changes: this I come to favour.

5 These powers have lost their magic. But Thou, O All-Seeing, if Thou dost love me,

O King, discerning truth and right from falsehood, come and be Lord and Ruler of my kingdom.

6 Here is the light of heaven, here all is lovely; here there is radiance, here is air's wide region.

Let us two overcome the foe. Forth! Thou art the gift: we therewith will serve Thee.

7 The Sage hath fixed His form by wisdom in the heavens: the All-Seeing with no violence lets the waters flow.

Like women-folk, the floods that bring prosperity have caught His hue and colour as they gleamed and shone.

8 These wait upon His loftiest power and vigour: He dwells in these who triumph in their faith;

And they, like people who elect their ruler, have in abhorrence turned away from the foe.

9 They call Him Swan, the abhorrent floods' Companion, moving in friendship with celestial waters.

The poets in their thought have looked on the Mighty swiftly approaching when the verse calls Him.

HYMN CXXV. The Word.

1 I travel with the angels and the bountiful, with all the righteous I wander.

I hold aloft the All-Seeing and the Friend, the Mighty and the Radiant, and the twin healers.

2 I cherish and sustain high-swelling provision, and the Maker I support, the Nourisher, and the Giver of portions.

I load with wealth the zealous worshipper who pours the juice and offers his gift.

3 I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who merit worship.

Thus the righteous have stablished me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in.

4 Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them, each man who sees, breathes, hears the word outspoken.

They know it not, but yet they dwell beside me. Hear, one and all, the truth as I declare it.

5 I, verily, myself announce and utter the word that the righteous and men alike shall welcome.

I make the man I love exceeding mighty, make him a sage, a seer, and a scholar.

6 I bend the bow for the Healer that his arrow may strike and slay the hater of devotion.

I rouse and order battle for the people, and I have penetrated earth and heaven.

7 On the world's summit I bring forth the Father: my home is in the waters, in the ocean.

Thence I extend o'er all existing creatures, and touch even yonder heaven with my forehead.

8 I breathe a strong breath like the wind and tempest, the while I hold together all existence.

Beyond this wide earth and beyond the heavens I have become so mighty in my grandeur.

HYMN CXXVI. All the Powers.

1 No peril, no severe distress, ye righteous, affects the mortal man,

Whom the Companion and the Friend lead, and the All-Seeing, of one accord, beyond his foes.

2 This very thing do we desire, All-Seeing, Friend, Companion,

Whereby Ye guard the mortal man from sore distress, and lead him safe beyond his foes.

3 These are, each one, our present helps, All-Seeing, Friend, Companion.

Best leaders, best deliverers to lead us on and bear us safe beyond our foes.

4 Ye compass round and guard each man, All-Seeing, Friend, Companion:

In Your dear keeping may we be, Ye who are excellent as guides beyond our foes.

5 The bountiful are beyond all foes, the All-Seeing, Friend, Companion:

The Healer with the host of storm-winds, the Mighty, the Radiant, let us call for weal beyond our foes.

6 These lead us safely over all, All-Seeing, Friend, Companion,

These who are Kings of living men, over all troubles far away beyond our foes.

7 May they give bliss to aid us well, All-Seeing, Friend, Companion:

May the bountiful, when we pray, grant us wide shelter and defence beyond our foes.

8 As in this place, O Holy Ones, ye freed even the captive when her feet were fettered,

So free us now from trouble and affliction: and let our life be lengthened still.

HYMN CXXVII. Night.

1 With all her eyes the Night looks forth approaching many a spot:

She hath put all her glories on.

2 Deathless, she hath filled the waste, she hath filled height and depth:

She conquers darkness with her light.

3 The Night as she comes hath set the Dawn her sister in her place:

And then the darkness vanishes.

4 So favour us this night, O Lord, whose pathways we have visited

As birds their nest upon the tree.

5 The villagers have sought their homes, and all that walks and all that flies,

Even the falcons fain for prey.

6 Keep off the she-wolf and the wolf, O Lord, keep the thief away;

Easy be the night for us to pass.