Sukta 7

Mantra 1

सर्वाधारवर्णनम्। कस्मिन्नङ्गे तपो अस्याधि तिष्ठति कस्मिन्नङ्ग ऋतमस्याध्याहितम्। क्वऽ व्रतं क्वऽ श्रद्धास्य तिष्ठति कस्मिन्नङ्गे सत्यमस्य प्रतिष्ठितम्

In what, I pray thee, standeth the ardor of this? In what, O dear one, is the Order thereof laid up? Where stand its ordinance, where its Faith? In what, I pray thee, is its Truth established fast?

Mantra 2

कस्मादङ्गाद् दीप्यते अग्निरस्य कस्मादङ्गात् पवते मातरिश्वा । कस्मादङ्गाद् वि मिमीतेऽधि चन्द्रमा मह स्कम्भस्य मिमानो अङ्गम्

From what member of him doth Agni blaze? from what member doth Mātariśvan blow? From what member doth the Moon, measuring, mete out the mighty realm on high—measuring a member of Skambha?

Mantra 3

कस्मिन्नङ्गे तिष्ठति भूमिरस्य कस्मिन्नङ्गे तिष्ठत्यन्तरिक्षम्। कस्मिन्नङ्गे तिष्ठत्याहिता द्यौः कस्मिन्नङ्गे तिष्ठत्युत्तरं दिवः

In what member of him stands Earth? in what member stands the Mid-air? In what member stands Heaven, set in place? in what member stands the upper region of the sky?

Mantra 4

क्व१ प्रेप्सन् दीप्यत ऊर्ध्वो अग्निः क्व१प्रेप्सन् पवते मातरिश्वा । यत्र प्रेप्सन्तीरभियन्त्यावृतः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Whither, striving to attain, blazes the upward Agni? whither, striving, blows Mātariśvan? Where, striving to attain, the Waters go toward him, encompassed—declare thou that Skambha: which, pray, is he indeed?

Mantra 5

क्वाऽर्धमासाः क्वऽ यन्ति मासाः संवत्सरेण सह संविदानाः । यत्र यन्त्यृतवो यत्रार्तवाः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Whither go the half-months, whither go the months, in concord together with the year? Where go the seasons, where the seasonal ordinances? Declare thou that Skambha: which, pray, is he indeed?

Mantra 6

क्व१प्रेप्सन्ती युवती विरूपे अहोरात्रे द्रवतः संविदाने। यत्र प्रेप्सन्तीरभियन्त्यापः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Whither, striving to attain, go the two maidens, unlike of form—Day and Night—running on in mutual concord? Where, striving to attain, go the Waters toward him? Declare thou that Skambha: which, pray, is he indeed?

Mantra 7

यस्मिन्त्स्तब्ध्वा प्रजापतिर्लोकान्त्सर्वाँ अधारयत्। स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

In whom, when he had made firm, Prajāpati upheld all the worlds—declare thou that Skambha: which, pray, is He indeed?

Mantra 8

यत् परममवमं यच्च मध्यमं प्रजापतिः ससृजे विश्वरूपम्। कियता स्कम्भः प्र विवेश तत्र यन्न प्राविशत् कियत् तद् बभूव

What highest, what lowest, and what is middle—Prajāpati created, of universal form: by what measure did Skambha enter therein? what, that he entered not—how great was that become?

Mantra 9

कियता स्कम्भः प्र विवेश भूतं कियद् भविष्यदन्वाशयेऽस्य । एकं यदङ्गमकृणोत् सहस्रधा कियता स्कम्भः प्र विवेश तत्र

By what measure did Skambha enter the being that is past? how much of what shall be doth he attend thereafter? When he made the one member thousandfold—by what measure did Skambha enter therein?

Mantra 10

यत्र लोकांश्च कोशांश्चापो ब्रह्म जना विदुः । असच्च यत्र सच्चान्त स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Where worlds and sheaths, where Waters and Brahman, the knowing folk discern; where non-being and being are within—declare thou that Skambha: which, pray, is He indeed?

Mantra 11

यत्र तपः पराक्रम्य व्रतं धारयत्युत्तरम्। ऋतं च यत्र श्रद्धा चापो ब्रह्म समाहिताः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Where tapas, having put forth its might, upholds the higher vow; where ṛta and faith, where Waters and Brahman are gathered in one—declare thou that Skambha: which, pray, is He indeed?

Mantra 12

यस्मिन् भूमिरन्तरिक्षं द्यौर्यस्मिन्नध्याहिता । यत्राग्निश्चन्द्रमाः सूर्यो वातस्तिष्ठन्त्यार्पिताः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

In whom are Earth, mid-air, and Heaven laid down as on a base; wherein stand Fire, Moon, Sun, and Wind, made fast in their appointed place—declare thou that Skambha: what manner of One, in very truth, is He?

Mantra 13

यस्य त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवा अङ्गे सर्वे समाहिताः । स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

In whose limbs the Thirty-three Gods, all of them, are gathered and laid away—declare thou that Skambha: what manner of One, in very truth, is He?

Mantra 14

यत्र ऋषयः प्रथमजा ऋचः साम यजुर्मही। एकर्षिर्यस्मिन्नार्पितः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Wherein the Seers, the first-born, and Ṛc and Sāman and Yajus, the Great, are founded; wherein the One-Seer is made fast—declare thou that Skambha: what manner of One, in very truth, is He?

Mantra 15

यत्रामृतं च मृत्युश्च पुरुषेऽधि समाहिते । समुद्रो यस्य नाड्यः१ पुरुषेऽधि समाहिताः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Wherein immortality and Death are both set together in the Person; whose channels in the Person are the Ocean laid within—declare thou that Skambha: what manner of One, in very truth, is He?

Mantra 16

यस्य चतस्रः प्रदिशो नाड्य१स्तिष्ठन्ति प्रथमाः । यज्ञो यत्र पराक्रान्तः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Whose primary channels are the four quarters standing firm; wherein the Sacrifice hath strode forth and spread abroad—declare thou that Skambha: what manner of One, in very truth, is He?

Mantra 17

ये पुरुषे ब्रह्म विदुस्ते विदुः परमेष्ठिनम्। यो वेद परमेष्ठिनं यश्च वेद प्रजापतिम्। ज्येष्ठं ये ब्राह्मणं विदुस्ते स्कम्भमनुसंविदुः

They who in Puruṣa know the holy power, they know the Highest-Stationed. Whoso knoweth the Highest-Stationed, and whoso knoweth Prajāpati; they who know the Brāhmaṇa as the pre-eminent—these, in due order, have full knowledge of Skambha.

Mantra 18

यस्य शिरो वैश्वानरश्चक्षुरङ्गिरसोऽभवन्। अङ्गानि यस्य यातवः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Whose head became Vaiśvānara, whose eye the Aṅgirases; whose limbs are the Yātus—Skambha: tell thou of him, which one, pray, is he indeed?

Mantra 19

यस्य ब्रह्म मुखमाहुर्जिह्वां मधुकशामुत। विराजमूधो यस्याहुः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Whose mouth, they say, is holy power; whose tongue moreover is honey-sweet; whose udder, they say, is Virāj—Skambha: tell thou of him, which one, pray, is he indeed?

Mantra 20

यस्मादृचो अपातक्षन् यजुर्यस्मादपाकषन्। सामानि यस्य लोमान्यथर्वाङ्गिरसो मुखं स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

From whom they hewed forth the Ṛc-verses, from whom they drew forth the Yajus; whose hairs are the Sāmans, whose mouth is Atharvāṅgiras—Skambha: tell thou of him, which one, pray, is he indeed?

Mantra 21

असच्छाखां प्रतिष्ठन्तीं परममिव जना विदुः । उतो सन्मन्यन्तेऽवरे ये ते शाखामुपासते

Men know a branch of untruth, standing established, as though it were the highest; and the lower sort deem it verily real—those who attend upon that branch.

Mantra 22

यत्रादित्याश्च रुद्राश्च वसवश्च समाहिताः । भूतं च यत्र भव्यं च सर्वे लोकाः प्रतिष्ठिताः स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

Wherein the Ādityas, and the Rudras, and the Vasus are gathered and set; wherein what hath been and what shall be, and all the worlds, are firmly founded—declare to us that Skambha: what, in very sooth, is He?

Mantra 23

यस्य त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवा निधिं रक्षन्ति सर्वदा। निधिं तमद्य को वेद यं देवा अभिरक्षथ

Whose treasure the Thirty-and-three Gods guard evermore—this treasure, who to-day doth know, which the Gods have encompassed and protected?

Mantra 24

यत्र देवा ब्रह्मविदो ब्रह्म ज्येष्ठमुपासते । यो वै तान् विद्यात् प्रत्यक्षं स ब्रह्मा वेदिता स्यात्

Where the Gods, as knowers of Brahman, do reverence Brahman, the Most-Excellent—whoever should know them with immediate knowledge, he would be Brahman-priest, a knower indeed.

Mantra 25

बृहन्तो नाम ते देवा येऽसतः परि जज्ञिरे। एकं तदङ्गं स्कम्भस्यासदाहुः परो जनाः

‘The Great’ by name are those Gods who from Non-being sprang forth. That One member of Skambha the men of old have called ‘Non-being’.

Mantra 26

यत्र स्कम्भः प्रजनयन् पुराणं व्यवर्तयत्। एकं तदङ्गं स्कम्भस्य पुराणमनुसंविदुः

Where Skambha, generating, set the Ancient Order in motion and turned it forth—this One member of Skambha, the Ancient, they have recognized and known in due succession.

Mantra 27

यस्य त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवा अङ्गे गात्रा विभेजिरे। तान् वै त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवानेके ब्रह्मविदो विदुः

He in whose body the Thirty-three Gods have severally portioned out their members—those very Thirty-three Gods, in sooth, certain knowers of sacred lore acknowledge.

Mantra 28

हिरण्यगर्भं परममनत्युद्यं जना विदुः । स्कम्भस्तदग्रे प्रासिञ्चद्धिरण्यं लोके अन्तरा

Hiraṇyagarbha, supreme, with uprising that none may stay, men hold in knowledge. Skambha, in the beginning, poured forth that golden essence within the interspaces of the world.

Mantra 29

स्कम्भे लोकाः स्कम्भे तपः स्कम्भेऽध्यृतमाहितम्। स्कम्भ त्वा वेद प्रत्यक्षमिन्द्रे सर्वं समाहितम्

In Skambha are the worlds; in Skambha is holy heat; in Skambha is Ṛta set and firmly laid. Skambha knows thee face to face: in Indra is all this wholly gathered and composed.

Mantra 30

इन्द्रे लोका इन्द्रे तप इन्द्रेऽध्यृतमाहितम्। इन्द्रं त्वा वेद प्रत्यक्षं स्कम्भे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्

In Indra are the worlds; in Indra is holy heat; in Indra is Ṛta set and firmly laid. Indra knows thee face to face: in Skambha all is founded and made to stand fast.

Mantra 31

नाम नाम्ना जोहवीति पुरा सूर्यात् पुरोषसः । यदजः प्रथमं संबभूव स ह तत् स्वराज्यमियाय यस्मान्नान्यत् परमस्ति भूतम्

Name by Name he calls unceasingly, in elder time, before the Sun, before the Dawn. When first the Unborn came to full becoming, then verily he won that self-sovereignty, than which no other being is higher.

Mantra 32

यस्य भूमिः प्रमान्तरिक्षमुतोदरम्। दिवं यश्चक्रे मूर्धानं तस्मै ज्येष्ठाय ब्रह्मणे नमः

Whose is the Earth as ordered measure, and the Mid-air also as the belly; who made Heaven for the head—unto that Eldest Brahman be reverence.

Mantra 33

यस्य सूर्यश्चक्षुश्चन्द्रमाश्च पुनर्णवः । अग्निं यश्चक्र आस्यं तस्मै ज्येष्ठाय ब्रह्मणे नमः

Whose eye is the Sun, and the Moon renewed again; who made Fire for the mouth—unto that Eldest Brahman be reverence.

Mantra 34

यस्य वातः प्राणापानौ चक्षुरङ्गिरसोऽभवन्। दिशो यश्चक्रे प्रज्ञानीस्तस्मै ज्येष्ठाय ब्रह्मणे नमः

Whose Wind became the in-breath and out-breath, whose eye the Angirases became; who set the Quarters as knowing powers—unto that Eldest Brahman be reverence.

Mantra 35

स्कम्भो दाधार द्यावापृथिवी उभे इमे स्कम्भो दाधारोर्व१न्तरिक्षम्। स्कम्भो दाधार प्रदिशः षडुर्वीः स्कम्भ इदं विश्वं भुवनमा विवेश

Skambha hath upheld these twain, Heaven and Earth; Skambha hath upheld the broad Mid-air. Skambha hath upheld the six wide regions; Skambha hath entered into this whole world of being.

Mantra 36

यः श्रमात् तपसो जातो लोकान्त्सर्वान्त्समानशे। सोमं यश्चक्रे केवलं तस्मै ज्येष्ठाय ब्रह्मणे नमः

Who, born of toil and holy ardour, hath encompassed all the worlds; who made Soma his alone—unto that Eldest Brahman be reverence.

Mantra 37

कथं वातो नेलयति कथं न रमते मनः । किमापः सत्यं प्रेप्सन्तीर्नेलयन्ति कदा चन

How is it that the Wind findeth no resting-place? how is it that the Mind taketh no delight (in repose)? Why do the Waters, seeking after Truth, at no time whatsoever come to settle?

Mantra 38

महद् यक्षं भुवनस्य मध्ये तपसि क्रान्तं सलिलस्य पृष्ठे। तस्मिन्छ्रयन्ते य उ के च देवा वृक्षस्य स्कन्धः परित इव शाखाः

A mighty Wonder standeth in the midmost of the world, set firm by Heat upon the surface of the Flood. Thereon repose whatever Gods there be, as branches round about the trunk of a tree.

Mantra 39

यस्मै हस्ताभ्यां पादाभ्यां वाचा श्रोत्रेण चक्षुषा । यस्मै देवाः सदा बलिं प्रयच्छन्ति विमितेऽमितं स्कम्भं तं ब्रूहि कतमः स्विदेव सः

To whom with hands, with feet, with speech, with hearing, with sight—to whom the Gods for ever render tribute: that Support, immeasurable within the measured (world), declare thou—what manner of one, in sooth, is He?

Mantra 40

अप तस्य हतं तमो व्यावृत्तः स पाप्मना । सर्वाणि तस्मिन् ज्योतींषि यानि त्रीणि प्रजापतौ

Away from him is smitten Darkness; turned aside is he with Evil. In him are all those Lights, the three, that are in Prajāpati.

Mantra 41

यो वेतसं हिरण्ययं तिष्ठन्तं सलिले वेद । स वै गुह्यः प्रजापतिः

Whoso knoweth the golden Reed that standeth in the Waters—he, verily, knoweth the secret Prajāpati.

Mantra 42

तन्त्रमेके युवती विरूपे अभ्याक्रामं वयतः षण्मयूखम्। प्रान्या तन्तूंस्तिरते धत्ते अन्या नाप वृञ्जाते न गमातो अन्तम्

One warp the two young Women, unlike in form, have mounted—six-rayed, the weaving’s engine. Forth one of them stretches out the threads; the other sets them in their places: they reach not, they attain not, the limit’s end.

Mantra 43

तयोरहं परिनृत्यन्त्योरिव न वि जानामि यतरा परस्तात्। पुमानेनद् वयत्युद्गृणन्ति पुमानेनद् वि जभाराधि नाके

Of those two, as though they circled in a dance, I cannot clearly know which stands beyond the other. By the Male is this woven; by the Male they hymn it up: by the Male hath it been brought forth and set on high in heaven.

Mantra 44

इमे मयूखा उप तस्तभुर्दिवं सामानि चक्रुस्तसराणि वातवे

These beams have propped the heaven up; they fashioned Sāman-harmonies—shuttles for the Wind.