HYMN LXXII. The Gods. – Rig Veda – Book 10

देवानां नु वयं जाना पर वोचाम विपन्यया |
उक्थेषुशस्यमानेषु यः पश्यादुत्तरे युगे ||

बरह्मणस पतिरेता सं कर्मार इवाधमत |
देवानाम्पूर्व्ये युगे.असतः सदजायत ||

देवानां युगे परथमे.असतः सदजायत |
तदाशा अन्वजायन्त तदुत्तानपदस परि ||

भूर्जज्ञ उत्तानपदो भुव आशा अजायन्त |
अदितेर्दक्षोजायत दक्षाद वदितिः परि ||

अदितिर्ह्यजनिष्ट दक्ष या दुहिता तव |
तां देवान्वजायन्त भद्रा अम्र्तबन्धवः ||

यद देवा अदः सलिले सुसंरब्धा अतिष्ठत |
अत्रा वोन्र्त्यतामिव तीव्रो रेणुरपायत ||

यद देवा यतयो यथा भुवनान्यपिन्वत |
अत्रा समुद्रा गूळमा सूर्यमजभर्तन ||

अष्टौ पुत्रासो अदितेर्ये जातास्तन्वस परि |
देवानुपप्रैत सप्तभिः परा मार्ताण्डमास्यत ||

सप्तभिः पुत्रैरदितिरुप परैत पूर्व्यं युगम |
परजायै मर्त्यवे तवत पुनर्मार्ताण्डमाभरत ||

devānāṃ nu vayaṃ jānā pra vocāma vipanyayā |
uktheṣuśasyamāneṣu yaḥ paśyāduttare yughe ||

brahmaṇas patiretā saṃ karmāra ivādhamat |
devānāmpūrvye yughe.asataḥ sadajāyata ||

devānāṃ yughe prathame.asataḥ sadajāyata |
tadāśā anvajāyanta taduttānapadas pari ||

bhūrjajña uttānapado bhuva āśā ajāyanta |
aditerdakṣoajāyata dakṣād vaditiḥ pari ||

aditirhyajaniṣṭa dakṣa yā duhitā tava |
tāṃ devāanvajāyanta bhadrā amṛtabandhavaḥ ||

yad devā adaḥ salile susaṃrabdhā atiṣṭhata |
atrā vonṛtyatāmiva tīvro reṇurapāyata ||

yad devā yatayo yathā bhuvanānyapinvata |
atrā samudraā ghūḷamā sūryamajabhartana ||

aṣṭau putrāso aditerye jātāstanvas pari |
devānupaprait saptabhiḥ parā mārtāṇḍamāsyat ||

saptabhiḥ putrairaditirupa prait pūrvyaṃ yugham |
prajāyai mṛtyave tvat punarmārtāṇḍamābharat ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. LET US with tuneful skill proclaim these generations of the Gods,
That one may see them when these hymns are chanted in a future age.

2 These Brahmaṇaspati produced with blast and smelting, like a Smith,
Existence, in an earlier age of Gods, from Non-existence sprang.

3 Existence, in the earliest age of Gods, from Non-existence sprang.
Thereafter were the regions born. This sprang from the Productive Power.

4 Earth sprang from the Productive Power the regions from the earth were born.
Dakṣa was born of Aditi, and Aditi was Dakṣa’s Child.

5 For Aditi, O Dakṣa, she who is thy Daughter, was brought forth.
After her were the blessed Gods born sharers of immortal life.

6 When ye, O Gods, in yonder deep closeclasping one another stood,
Thence, as of dancers, from your feet a thickening cloud of dust arose.

7 When, O ye Gods, like Yatis, ye caused all existing things to grow,
Then ye brought Sūrya forward who was lying hidden in the sea.

8 Eight are the Sons of Adid who from her body sprang to life.
With seven she went to meet the Gods she cast Martanda far away.

9 So with her Seven Sons Aditi went forth to meet the earlier age.
She brought Martanda thitherward to spring to life and die again.