Sukta 19

Mantra 1

ब्रह्मगवि अतिमात्रमवर्धन्त नोदिव दिवमस्पृशन्। भृगुं हिंसित्वा सृञ्जया वैतहव्याः पराभवन्

The brahman-cows waxed beyond measure; yet reached they not, as though from on high, unto the heaven. Having done hurt to Bhṛgu, the Sṛñjayas—the Vaitahavyas—fell to overthrow.

Mantra 2

ये बृहत्सामानमाङ्गिरसमार्पयन् ब्राह्मणं जनाः । पेत्वस्तेषामुभयादमविस्तोकान्यावयत्

They who bestowed the great Bṛhat-sāman, Angirasa-born, upon the Brahman—those folk, the Pētvas—Amavi from either side did ward, and kept their drops (their little boons) from harm.

Mantra 3

ये ब्राह्मणं प्रत्यष्ठीवन् ये वास्मिञ्छुल्कमीषिरे। अस्नस्ते मध्ये कुल्यायाः केशान् खादन्त आसते

They who have spat in scorn against a Brahman, or who within this realm have sought to exact a fee—unbathed, in the midst of a ditch, they sit abiding, gnawing at their own hair.

Mantra 4

ब्रह्मगवी पच्यमाना यावत् साभि विजङ्गहे । तेजो राष्ट्रस्य निर्हन्ति न वीरो जायते वृषा

So long as the Brahman’s cow is being cooked, so long she assails: she smites away the kingdom’s fiery might; no hero, no bull-like champion is born.

Mantra 5

क्रूरमस्या आशसनं तृष्टं पिशितमस्यते । क्षीरं यदस्याः पीयते तद् वै पितृषु किल्बिषम्

Cruel is the eating of her—her flesh is devoured in greedy thirst; and the milk of her that is drunk, that verily is guilt among the Fathers.

Mantra 6

उग्रो राजा मन्यमानो ब्राह्मणं यो जिघत्सति । परा तत् सिच्यते राष्ट्रं ब्राह्मणो यत्र जीयते

A fierce king, deeming himself mighty, who would slay a Brahman—then is that realm poured away to ruin, where the Brahman is made to be conquered.

Mantra 7

अष्टापदी चतुरक्षी चतुःश्रोत्रा चतुर्हनुः । द्व्याऽस्या द्विजिह्वा भूत्वा सा राष्ट्रमव धूनुते ब्रह्मज्यस्य

Eight-footed, four-eyed, four-eared, four-jawed—becoming two-faced and two-tongued, she shakes the kingdom down, the dread power that cleaves to the Brahman-injurer.

Mantra 8

तद् वै राष्ट्रमा स्रवति नावं भिन्नामिवोदकम्। ब्रह्माणं यत्र हिंसन्ति तद् राष्ट्रं हन्ति दुच्छुना

Verily that realm runneth out and away, as water from a boat that is cloven. Where men do violence unto the Brahman, that realm—by evil ill-luck—he smiteth down.

Mantra 9

तं वृक्षा अप सेधन्ति छायां नो मोपगा इति । यो ब्राह्मणस्य सद् धनमभि नारद मन्यते

Him do the trees thrust back: ‘Approach not thou our shade,’ say they—whoso, O Nārada, doth set his thought upon the rightful wealth of a Brahman.

Mantra 10

विषमेतद् देवकृतं राजा वरुणोऽब्रवीत्। न ब्राह्मणस्य गां जग्ध्वा राष्ट्रे जागार कश्चन

‘A perilous thing is this, ordained of gods,’ King Varuṇa hath proclaimed: ‘No man, having eaten the Brahman’s cow, within the realm keepeth watch in safety.’

Mantra 11

नवैव ता नवतयो या भूमिर्व्यऽधूनुत । प्रजां हिंसित्वा ब्राह्मणीमसंभव्यं पराभवन्

Even nine—those companies of ninety—whom Earth cast off and scattered: for, having harmed the folk and wrought outrage upon a Brahmin woman, they fell to ruin, a deed intolerable.

Mantra 12

यां मृतायानुबध्नन्ति कूद्यंऽ पदयोपनीम्। तद् वै ब्रह्मज्य ते देवा उपस्तरणमब्रुवन्

That which they bind upon a dead woman—(as) a wall-covering, a foot-laid upper cloth—this verily the gods have ordained as bedding for the brahman-hurter.

Mantra 13

अश्रूणि कृपमानस्य यानि जीतस्य वावृतुः । तं वै ब्रह्मज्य ते देवा अपां भागमधारयन्

The tears of him that piteously lamenteth—those which have encompassed the conquered—him, verily, as Brahman-slayer, the Gods have held back from the Waters’ portion.

Mantra 14

येन मृतं स्नपयन्ति श्मश्रूणि येनोन्दते । तं वै ब्रह्मज्य ते देवा अपां भागमधारयन्

That wherewith they wash the dead, wherewith they moisten the beard—him, verily, as Brahman-slayer, the Gods have held back from the Waters’ portion.

Mantra 15

न वर्षं मैत्रावरुणं ब्रह्मज्यमभि वर्षति । नास्मै समितिः कल्पते न मित्रं नयते वशम्

No Mitra-Varuṇa rain raineth upon the Brahman-slayer; for him no assembly is made ready; no friend bringeth (aught) under his control.