Atharvaveda 9.10

That the gāyatrī́-verse is set (ā-dhā) in the gāyatrī́-verse, or that they fashioned the triṣṭúbh-verse out of the triṣṭúbh-verse, or that the jágatī step is set in the jágatī (jágat)—whoever know that, they have attained immortality.

By the gāyatrī́-verse he measures off the song (arká), by the song the chant (sā́man), by the triṣṭúbh-vevse the hymn (vāká), by the hymn of two feet [or] of four feet the hymn; by the syllable they measure the seven tunes (vā́ṇi).

By the jágatī he established (skabh) the river in the sky; in the rathaṁtará he beheld (pari-paç) the sun; they call the three kindlers (samídh) the gāyatrī́-verse's; it was superior to them by bulk, by greatness.

I invite that well-milking milch-cow; a skilful-handed milker also shall milk her; may the impeller impel us the best impulse; the hot drink is kindled about: that may he kindly proclaim.

Lowing, mistress of good things, seeking her calf with her mind, hath she come unto [it]; let this inviolable one yield milk for the Açvins; let her increase unto great good-fortune.

The cow lowed toward the winking calf; she uttered hing at [its] head, in order to lowing; bellowing the mouth (? sṛ́kvan) unto the hot drink, she lows a lowing, she abounds with milk.

This one here twangs, by whom the cow is surrounded; she lows a lowing, being set (çritá) on the sparkler (dhvasáni); since she put down mortals by her thoughts (cittí), becoming the lightning, she threw (ūh) back the wrap.

Breathing lies the swift moving thing, living, stirring, fixed, in the midst of the abodes (pastyā̀); the living one moves at the will (? svadhā́bhis) of the dead one; the immortal one [is] of like source with the mortal.

The shaker-apart (? vidhú) that runs on the back of the sea, being young, the hoary one swallowed; see thou the poesy of the heavenly one with greatness; today he died, yesterday he received breath (sam-an).

He who made him knows not of him; [he is] verily out of sight now of him who saw him; he, enveloped within his mother's womb, with his much progeny, entered into perdition (nírṛti).

I saw the shepherd, not lying down, moving both hither and thither upon his roads; he, clothing himself in the collecting, he in the dispersing ones, rolls greatly on among existences.

The heaven our father, generator, navel here; this great earth our connection, mother; the womb (yóni) within the (two) outstretched cups (camū́); here the father hath set (ā-dhā) the daughter's embryo.

I ask of thee the extreme (pára) end of the earth; I ask the seed of the male (vṛ́ṣan) horse; I ask the navel of all existence; I ask the highest (paramá) firmament (vyòman) of speech.

This sacrificial hearth is the extreme end of the earth; this soma is the seed of the male horse; this sacrifice is the navel of all existence; this priest (brahmán) is the highest firmament of speech.

I do not distinguish what this is that I am; I go secret, fastened together with mind; when the first-born of righteousness hath come to me, then indeed I attain a share of this speech.

Offward, forward goes, seized by svadhā́, the immortal one, of like source with the mortal; the two, constantly going separate apart—the one they noted, the other they noted not.

Seven half-embryos, the seed of existence, stand in front (? pradíçā), in Vishṇu's distribution; they, by thoughts (dhītí), by mind, they, inspired, surround on all sides the surrounders.

In the syllable of the verse (ṛ́c) in the highest firmament, on which all the gods sat down: he who knoweth not that, what will he do with the verse? they who know that sit together yonder.

Shaping (kalpay-) with measure the step of the verse, they shaped by the half-verse all that stirs; the bráhman of three feet, many-formed, spread out (vi-sthā); by that do the four quarters live.

Mayest thou be well-portioned, feeding in excellent meadows; so also may we be well-portioned; eat thou grass, O inviolable one, at all times; drink clear water, moving hither.

The cow verily lowed, fashioning the seas; one-footed, two-footed [is] she, four-footed; having become eight-footed, nine-footed, thousand-syllabled, a series (pan̄tí) of existence; out from her flow apart the oceans.

Black the descent, the yellow eagles, clothing themselves in waters, fly up to the sky; they have come hither from the seat of righteousness; then, forsooth, with ghee they deluged the earth.

She that is footless goes first of them (fem.) that have feet: who understood (ā-cit) that of you, O Mitra and Varuṇa? the embryo brings (ā-bhṛ) the burden of her; she (?) fills (? pṛ) truth, protects (ni-pā) untruth.

Virā́j [is] speech, virā́j earth, virā́j atmosphere, virā́j Prajāpati; virā́j became death, the over-king of the perfectibles (sādhyá); in his control are what was, what is to be; let him put in my control what was, what is to be.

The dung-made smoke I saw from far, with the dividing one, thus beyond the lower; the heroes cooked a spotted ox (ukṣán); those were the first ordinances.

Three hairy ones look out seasonably; in the (a?) year one of them shears itself; another looks upon all with might (çácībhis); of one is seen the rush, not the form.

Speech [is] four measured out quarters (padá); those are known by Brahmans who are skilful; three, deposited in secret, they do not set in motion (in̄gay-); a fourth of speech human beings speak.

They call [him] Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni; likewise he [is] the heavenly winged eagle; what is one the sages (vípra) name (vad) variously; they call [him] Agni, Yāma, Mātariçvan.