Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VII/Hymn 6 (6, 7)
6 (6, 7). Praise of Aditi.
[Atharvan (as above).—dvyṛcam ⌊tathā param⌋. aditidevatyam: trāiṣṭubham: 2. bhurij; 3, 4. virāḍjagatī.]
Found (together with 7. 1) also in Pāipp. xx. (in the verse-order 6. 1; 7. 1; 6. 4, 2, 3); for other correspondences, see under the several verses. The numbering of the mss. on which our edition is founded is confused and unclear in these verses; but the Anukr. distinctly divides our hymn 6 into two, of two verses each, and this division, doubtless the correct one, is followed by SPP. Both numberings will accordingly be given here, from our 6. 3 on. The sixth hymn (that is, our 6. 1, 2: or merely its first verse) is prescribed by Kāuç. (59. 18) only in connection with hymn 2 etc.; see above, under 2. But its second verse is quoted at 52. 10, in a rite for welfare (svastyayana: in crossing water, comm.) with the direction iti taraṇāny ālambhayati; and again, at 79. 3, in the marriage ceremonies of the fourth day, with the direction iti talpam ālambhayati. Further, the second verse is associated with the third and fourth (properly a separate hymn, 7) at 71. 23, in the rites for preparing the house-fire, and at 86. 26, in the pitṛnidhāna ceremony, in each case in connection with embarking on a boat (and both times our second verse is quoted after the others). In Vāit. (6. 11), the first verse (or first and second?) is quoted as used, with other verses, at the end of the agnyādheya ceremony, and verse 3 (11. 11), or properly hymn 7, in the agniṣṭoma, when the sacrificer is made to sit down on the black-antelope skin; and further (29. 20), verse 4 in the agnicayana, with the offering of oblations called, from the first words of the verse, the vājaprasavīyahomas.
Translated: Ludwig, p. 533; Henry, 3, 51; Griffith, i. 330.—Cf. also Bloomfield, ZDMG. xlviii. 552.
1. Aditi [is] heaven, Aditi atmosphere, Aditi mother, she father, she son; all the gods [are] Aditi, the five races (jána); Aditi [is] what is born, Aditi what is to be born.
This verse is, without variation, RV. i. 89. 10 (also VS. xxv. 23; TA. i. 13. 2; MS. iv. 14. 4); only RV. (in F. M. Müller's editions: but probably by an error) divides the last word jáni-tvam in the pada-text, while AV., more correctly, leaves it undivided.
2. We call for aid verily on the great mother of them of good courses, the spouse of righteousness (ṛtá), on her of mighty authority, not growing old, wide-spreading, on the well-sheltering, well-conducting Aditi.
The verse is also VS. xxi. 5, and is found further in TS. (i. 5. 115), MS. (iv. 10. 1), K. (xxx. 4, 5), (ÇÇS. (ii. 2. 14), their only variant being (in all) huvema for havāmahe at end of b; and Ppp. has the same.
3 (7. 1). The well-preserving earth, the unenvious sky, the well-sheltering, well-conducting Aditi, the well-oared ship of the gods, unleaking, may we, guiltless, embark on in order to well-being.
This verse is also RV. x. 63. 10 (and VS. xxi. 6; TS. i. 5. 115; MS. iv. 10. 1; K. ii. 3 ⌊cf. MGS. i. 13. 16, and p. 157⌋), which (as also the others) reads ánāgasam at end of c. It and the preceding verse are associated in VS.TS.MS., and are so closely kindred in application and expression that, numbered as they are as successive verses in Bp., and lacking the usual sign of the end of a hymn after vs. 2, we naturally enough regarded them as belonging to one continuous hymn. The verse lacks but one syllable of a full jagatī. ⌊In c, Ppp. has suvidatrām (a faulty reminiscence of sv-aritrām) anāgasam.⌋
4 (7. 2). Now, in the impulse of might (vā́ja), will we commemorate (? karāmahe) with utterance (vácas) the great mother, Aditi by name, whose lap is the broad atmosphere; may she confirm to us thrice-defending protection.