A new approach to the Vedas : an essay in translation and exegesis

THREE VEDIC HYMNS

From his mouth the King (Indra) and Fire (Agni) ; from his Breath (prdéua) Wind (Vayu). 13:

From his navel (nabhyah) was the Firmament (antariksam) ; from his head was turned-out (samavartat) Heaven (dhyauh) ;

From his feet the Earth (bhaimih): the Airts (diSah) from his ear: so they designed (akalpayan) the Three Worlds (lokan). 14.

With a sacrifice the Angels sacrificed unto the Sacrifice ; there were established the first Laws prathamam dharmani) :

These Almighty-powers (mahimanah) abide in (sacanta) the Empyrean (nakam) from of old (purve); there are the Saints (sddhyah), the Angels. 16.

This text, translated nearly in accordance with Professor Brown’s admirable version in J.A.O.S., 51, 108-118, requires but little additional comment. ‘‘ Rises up by food,” ie., ‘ exists,’ tisthati. It follows that amyta is not here “immortality,” but simply “life,” as also in X, 90, 2, where “ life’ and “‘ death ” are complementary aspects of mortality: in the same way we have seen that “ death ” (mytyu) may be either Death-absolute, the same as Immortality-absolute, or may be “ death ” as the complement to “ life” and “‘ death.”

The second half of the first verse clearly enunciates the same thought as that which finds expression in the Maitri Up., VI, 1, that of the exact correspondence of the outer and the inner tracks of the Self ; and this tends to confirm the traditional explanation of dasangulam as “ heart.’’125 With this curious term may be compared various measure-

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