dome of the sky after measuring the six regions; or, again, the earth is said to have been spread out, as by Agni, Indra, the Maruts (storm-deities), and other gods. The similitude of a house leads to the question from what wood it was fashioned, and the doors of this house of the world are the portals of the east, through which comes the morning light. Both sky and earth are often said to be propped up, but the sky is also declared to be rafterless, and the marvel of its being unsupported is remarked. The earth is made fast with bands by Savitṛ (a form of the sun), and Viṣṇu fixed it with pegs. In the last and latest book of the Ṛgveda, however, these simple concepts are replaced by speculations in which mythology passes into philosophy. The most important of these theorizings is that contained in x. 129, which tells that nothing existed in the beginning, all being void. Darkness and space enveloped the undifferentiated waters. By heat the first existing thing came into being, whereupon arose desire, the first seed of mind, to be the bond of the existent and the non-existent. Thus the gods had their origin, but at this point the speculation concludes with an assertion of doubt. The hymn itself runs thus, in Muir's metrical rendering:[1]
"Then there was neither Aught nor Nought, no air nor sky beyond.
What covered all? Where rested all? In watery gulf profound?
Nor death was then, nor deathlessness, nor change of night and day.
That One breathed calmly, self-sustained; nought else beyond It lay.
Gloom hid in gloom existed first—one sea, eluding view.
That One, a void in chaos wrapt, by inward fervour grew.
Within It first arose desire, the primal germ of mind.
Which nothing with existence links, as sages searching find.
The kindling ray that shot across the dark and drear abyss,—
Was it beneath? or high aloft? What bard can answer this?
There fecundating powers were found, and mighty forces strove,—
A self-supporting mass beneath, and energy above.
Who knows, who ever told, from whence this vast creation rose?
No gods had then been born,—who then can e'er the truth disclose?
Whence sprang this world, and whether framed by hand divine or no,—
It's lord in heaven alone can tell, if even he can show."
- ↑ Original Sanskrit Texts, v. 356, note.
