Sukta 17

Mantra 1

ब्रह्मजाया। तेऽवदन् प्रथमा ब्रह्मकिल्बिषेऽकूपारः सलिलो मातरिश्वा । वीडुहरास्तप उग्रं मयोभूरापो देवीः प्रथमजा ऋतस्य

‘The Brahman’s Wife’: thus have they declared. First, in the sin against holy power, there is a shoreless flood—Mātariśvan. Shame-removers, fierce is the ardour, well-being-bearing: the Waters, goddesses, first-born of Order.

Mantra 2

सोमो राजा प्रथमो ब्रह्मजायां पुनः प्रायच्छदहृणीयमानः । अन्वर्तिता वरुणो मित्र आसीदग्निर्होता हस्तगृह्या निनाय

Soma the King, first, restored again the Brahman’s Wife, himself unangered. In due attendance were Varuṇa and Mitra; Agni the Hotar, taking her by the hand, led her.

Mantra 3

हस्तेनैव ग्राह्यऽआधिरस्या ब्रह्मजायेति चेदवोचत्। न दूताय प्रहेया तस्थ एषा तथा राष्ट्रं गुपितं क्षत्रियस्य

By the hand alone is her pledge to be taken, if one pronounce, ‘She is the Brahman’s Wife.’ She is not to be sent away to a messenger: thus she stood; thus is the Kshatriya’s realm kept guarded.

Mantra 4

यामाहुस्तारकैषा विकेशीति दुच्छुनां ग्राममवपद्यमानाम्। सा ब्रह्मजाया वि दुनोति राष्ट्रं यत्र प्रापादि शश उल्कुषीमान्

Whom they call Tārakā, ‘the Dishevelled-haired,’ as she comes down upon the village with evil affliction—she, the Brahman’s Wife, rends the realm asunder, where the ulkuṣa-marked hare hath entered.

Mantra 5

ब्रह्मचारी चरति वेविषद् विषः स देवानां भवत्येकमङ्गम्। तेन जाया मन्वविन्दद् बृहस्पतिः सोमेन नीतां जुह्वं१ न देवाः

The Brahmacarin goes about, quivering, bearing poison; he becomes one member of the Gods. By that did Manu win a wife; Bṛhaspati—by Soma—led her, as the Gods (lead) the offering-ladle.

Mantra 6

देवा वा एतस्यामवदन्त पूर्वे सप्तऋषयस्तपसा ये निषेदुः । भीमा जाया ब्राह्मणस्यापनीता दुर्धां दधाति परमेव्योऽमन्

The Gods, in this matter, gave utterance; the ancient Seven Seers, who by austerity sat in solemn session. Fearful is the Brahman’s wife when she is borne away: she fasteneth an evil lot even upon the highest—so have they held.

Mantra 7

ये गर्भा अवपद्यन्ते जगद् यच्चापलुप्यते । वीरा ये तृह्यन्ते मिथो ब्रह्मजाया हिनस्ति तान्

What embryos fall away, what living order is marred, and what is lost and swept to ruin; what sons are crushed in mutual strife—those the Brahman’s wife smiteth.

Mantra 8

उत यत् पतयो दश स्त्रियाः पूर्वे अब्राह्मणाः । ब्रह्माचेद्धस्तमग्रहीत् स एव पतिरेकधा

And further: though of old a woman had ten husbands, men not Brahmins; if the Brahman took her hand, he—he alone—was husband, as one and without division.

Mantra 9

ब्राह्मण एव पतिर्न राजन्यो३ न वैश्यः । तत् सूर्यः प्रब्रुवन्नेति पञ्चभ्यो मानवेभ्यः

The Brahmin alone is husband—not the Rajanya, not the Vaiśya. This, the Sun proclaiming, goeth forth among the fivefold sons of Manu.

Mantra 10

पुनर्वै देवा अददुः पुनर्मनुष्या अददुः । राजानः सत्यं गृह्णाना ब्रह्मजायां पुनर्ददुः

Back, verily, the Gods gave her; back men gave her. The kings, taking hold of truth, gave back again the Brahman’s wife.

Mantra 11

पुनर्दाय ब्रह्मजायां कृत्वा देवैर्निकिल्बिषम्। ऊर्जं पृथिव्या भक्त्वोरुगायमुपासते

Having given back again the Brahman’s wife, and with the Gods made the sin to sink away, they, sharing Earth’s sustaining strength, sit near and worship Urugāya, the Wide-sung.

Mantra 12

नास्य जाया शतवाही कल्याणी तल्पमा शये । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्त्या

No wife of his, auspicious, bringing a hundred boons, lies down upon the marriage-bed, in that realm wherein one is held in check for the intent toward the Brahman’s wife.

Mantra 13

न विकर्णः पृथुशिरास्तस्मिन् वेश्मनि जायते । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्त्या

No split-eared, broad-headed birth is born within that house, in that realm wherein one is held in check for intent toward the Brahman’s wife.

Mantra 14

नास्य क्षत्ता निष्कग्रीवः सूनानामेत्यग्रतः । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्त्या

No neck-ornamented attendant of his goes forth in front of his sons, in that realm wherein one is held in check for intent toward the Brahman’s wife.

Mantra 15

नास्य श्वेतः कृष्णकर्णो धुरि युक्तो महीयते । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्त्या

No white, black-eared beast of his, yoked at the draught, is exalted or thrives, in that realm wherein one is held in check for intent toward the Brahman’s wife.

Mantra 16

नास्य क्षेत्रे पुष्करिणी नाण्डीकं जायते बिसम्। यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्त्या

In his domain no lotus-pond is found; no lotus-fibre is there brought forth—within that realm which is shut and held in durance by the intent that touches the Brahman’s wife.

Mantra 17

नास्मै पृश्निं वि दुहन्ति येऽस्या दोहमुपासते । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्त्या

For him the speckled cow yields not her milk to those who wait upon her milking—within that realm which is shut and held in durance by the intent that touches the Brahman’s wife.

Mantra 18

नास्य धेनुः कल्याणी नानड्वान्त्सहते धुरम्। विजानिर्यत्र ब्रह्मणो रात्रिं वसति पापया

No thriving milch-cow is his; no draught-ox bears the yoke—where discord is, and where the Brahman passes the night in evil wise.